[Press release] Minthos Heavy Industries (MHI) unveils new rocket: Battlespire

[Minthos]

For immediate release

July 21, 2011

The brand new rocket, 'Battlespire rev. 3', has successfully completed final flight testing and will now be made available to the public. Its performance speaks for itself: 10481 m/s escape trajectory was achieved during recent flight testing. MHI expects the rocket to be capable of even higher velocities with more optimal trajectory.

MHI encourages experienced pilots to try this rocket for themselves to discover its limits.

Piloting instructions

* Before launch, ensure SAS is active and throttle is set to maximum.

* After the first stage solid rocket boosters burn out, jettison them.

* The second stage solid rocket boosters cannot be jettisoned. Do not attempt to do so until the second stage liquid fuel is expended.

* SAS is an absolute requirement for safe atmospheric flight.

* For optimum performance and safety, it is recommended to apply manual attitude corrections during atmospheric flight.

* During exoatmospheric flight we recommend liberal use of SAS in combination with manual control.

* The explosion before liftoff is normal. Do not be alarmed.

WARNING: DO NOT activate solid rocket boosters without SAS activated and course set. The rocket has very little control authority due to its great length, and the immense thrust provided by the SRBs can easily launch the rocket off course if they are activated prematurely.

Known issues

* When separating the first stage, it may collide with the second stage engines and damage them. If this happens, activating the second stage solid rocket boosters will cause the rocket to spin out of control. Mission abort is recommended.

http://files.minthos.com/KSP/Battlespire-003.craft

edit: New revision with more intuitive stage activation: http://files.minthos.com/KSP/Battlespire-004.craft

[Supraluminal]

Is it really worth stacking 8 liquid fuel tanks? Have you tested this with the top stage split into two 4-tank stages, or even one 4-tank and one 3-tank stage? I would imagine that the ability to jettison 4 empty tanks halfway through your final burn might make up for the weight cost of one more engine and decoupler.

Looks like some of the lower stages have very tall stacks as well....

[Minthos]

Is it really worth stacking 8 liquid fuel tanks? Have you tested this with the top stage split into two 4-tank stages, or even one 4-tank and one 3-tank stage? I would imagine that the ability to jettison 4 empty tanks halfway through your final burn might make up for the weight cost of one more engine and decoupler.

Looks like some of the lower stages have very tall stacks as well....

Empty fuel tanks have very low weight so yes, it's definitely worth it. The issues are more about structural integrity and mass to orbit. As soon as you're in orbit what you want to have is one engine and lots of propellant.

The four very long stacks of fuel tanks you see in the middle are because the engines attached to those tanks are used in both the first and second stages of the rocket. This cuts down the dry mass of the rocket, improving efficiency and letting us carry more propellant into space.

[Stinger1988]

Holy crap! This thing looks awesome!

[Minthos]

Thanks, I'm glad you like it

[chrislo27]

Ohmigosh. It is awesome.

[Rotten194]

Awesome rocket! You should post it here

* The explosion before liftoff is normal. Do not be alarmed.

Only in KSP...

[Minthos]

Awesome rocket! You should post it here

Thanks, and I already have, kind of.

[Itchono]

EPICNESS