Quest: Smallest SSTO?

[jbaltus123]

Hey guys i have a challenge for u!

(U read the title so u know where its about!)

Rules and goals:

Went to orbit: 10 points

Went to Kerbins moons: 20 points

Went to Eve, Duna or Laythe: 50 points

Went to other planets: 60 points

Went to space station: 25 points

Or rate somebodys post! (1-200 points to rate)

WIN: your name in my next challenge!

So everybody know you! And probably subscribe for your good work!

(Sorry for bad english. This thread is made on a phone, sorry guys!)

[BagelRabbit]

Can you specify whether the SSTO is supposed to be stock, and whether part-clipping and air hogging are allowed? There are plenty of ways to make an absolutely microscopic SSTO if you clip together a large number of air intakes.

Does part count or size even matter? I could make a 350-part behemoth weighing dozens of tons, and still get the same score as I would with a very small craft.

Does flying Kerbals count for extra points?

When you say "going to" planets, do you only have to enter the SOI of planets? Must you orbit, land, or return? Do you get any additional points for performing any of these actions?

How does a 1-point post rating differ from a 200-point post rating? Should a proper post review really put you at the head of the leaderboard? (The maximum amount of points I can see from a good SSTO is 95 points.)

This challenge has good intentions, but it has a lot of loopholes that need to be filled.

That being said, I just made this SSTO the other day. It doesn't do much, but it's a good place to start.

Edited August 8, 2014 by UpsilonAerospace

[problemecium]

Went to orbit for 10 points; can go to a LKO space station, although I didn't bother actually doing it, for 25 points, or return to be recovered on Kerbin for ??? points.

[Darren9]

Maybe there should be some points for smallest mass or size? Otherwise it seems more points available for the largest that'll go the furthest.

[Pecan]

From top to bottom; small docking port, okto2, FL-T200 fuel tank, 48-7S engine.

Gets to orbit and space-station.

Alternatively, this will SSTO 40t, which can then undock and go anywhere:

I mean - once you've SSTO'd, what's the point of carrying all those tanks the rest of the way? It's as daft as carry wings in space. Reusability isn't an issue as you can dock back into the launch-vehicle when you come back and use it for your descent.

[problemecium]

In that case I could just use my 80-ton SSTO lift rocket and strap pretty near any ol' interplanetary ship on the top.

[Kasuha]

I wonder why is the challenge name 'smallest SSTO' if size is not considered in evaluation.

[Pecan]

In that case I could just use my 80-ton SSTO lift rocket and strap pretty near any ol' interplanetary ship on the top.

Exactly :-)

The current fashion for reusability doesn't make designing for separate mission stages obsolete. Dedicated lander/mission vehicles, dedicated transfer vehicles, SSTO to get them into space in the first place.

[ihtoit]

1.077 tons pad weight, complete with ASAS, probe core, 40 static solar panels, 4x1k batteries, and com stick. TWR: 28.something (Luvodicus Super Atomic), 0-orbit in 24 seconds. My standard build for KSO comsats, though I may end up dropping the ASAS unit if the probe core has enough torque...

[SRV Ron]

SSTO

SSTM

[Nicholander]

Wait, What? SRV Rom, the pic on the bottom has a larger fuel tank then the 2 ones above it, and those are supposed to be the SSTM? Did you change the design or something, and accidentally uploaded an older pic?

[MarvinKitFox]

1.077 tons pad weight, complete with ASAS, probe core, 40 static solar panels, 4x1k batteries, and com stick. TWR: 28.something (Luvodicus Super Atomic), 0-orbit in 24 seconds. My standard build for KSO comsats, though I may end up dropping the ASAS unit if the probe core has enough torque...

Just a reminder to the non-cheating players out there.

This engine that ihtoit uses is:

0.2 tons

320 kn thrust

5000 isp.

yes, 5 thousand.

Why not just use hyperedit, it is less cheaty.

[ihtoit]

OP does NOT specify stock anything.

[Yakky]

I just built an ion-engine only SSTO that weighs 1.1 tons and uses unmodified stock parts. I flew the flight with FAR (I use FAR for all my flights.)

Post of successful orbital flight here:

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/85728-Ion-glider-collier-trophy%21?p=1343570&viewfull=1#post1343570

Pic of the craft showing stats:

Edited August 11, 2014 by Yakky

[ihtoit]

0.243t dry - with useful payload - 0.865t on the pad and a Rockomax stock engine, gets into orbit on 4370m/s dV. You're welcome.

Edited August 11, 2014 by ihtoit