SPOC Fleet - A SpacePlane+ loveletter

[TMS]

Introduction:

Despite using Spaceplane Plus for some time, the recent announcement that this excellent mod pack would be rolled into stock encouraged me explore it properly.

The result is the SPOC fleet: small, highly manoeuvrable SSTOs able to operate comfortably within 250km of Kerbin, deliver a payload or service a spacestation, then return to the runway.

In the end, I got slightly carried away with this concept. Small SSTOs are fun! I decided to make something that a new player could successfully get into orbit and use as part of their game. I mean something completely bombproof, and would be replicable when 0.25 is released. That means documentation, instructions and videos... so here goes!

Design:

There are three craft in the fleet: Crew Transfer Vehicle (CTV), Payload Delivery System (PDS) and the Personal Transfer Vehicle (PTV). All are built around three core principles:

It should look viable as a spaceplane:

• Swept delta wing design
  
• Consistent design across the fleet
  
• No intake spamming
  
• Each member of the fleet should serve a specific purpose
  

It should be easy to use:

• Advanced stabilisers to improve manoeuvrability
  
• Single turbojet to prevent asymmetric flameout
  
• Integrated stock RCS ports providing six-way control
  
• Slightly inclined landing gear to encourage early lift off on the runway
  
• Wide and reinforced wheelbase for stable take offs
  
• CoL accommodates moving CoM after fuel usage
  
• High-lift, low-speed gliding capability for easier landings
  
• Extensive instructions inside the craft file
  

It should be efficient:

• Rapid ascent profile
  
• Atmospheric engines capable of reaching a 150-200km apoapsis
  
• Oxidiser balanced for mission profile
  

The Fleet:

Payload Delivery System (PDS)

Download: http://1drv.ms/XVOdq0

Description:

This craft is designed for taking small probes or satellites into low Kerbin orbit and forms the design principle on which the rest of the fleet is based upon. It comes already laden with a 2500kg LFO science probe in the cargo bay. The probe has approximately 1900 Delta-V and is equipped for atmospheric and non-atmospheric landings. All instructions and quoted figures are based on that cargo being in place. Performance will vary according to payload mass.

Vital Statistics
=================================
Max AP:     160km (from air breathing ascent)
Delta-V:    400 (LFO vacuum)
Payload:    2,500kg (optimal)
Parts:      62 (empty); 90 (laden)
Cost:       31,795 (empty); 58,479 (laden)

Flight Instructions:

1. Press 'T' to engage SAS and go to max thrust.
   
2. Toggle AG1 to activate Turbojet.
   
3. Pull up continuously on runway. You will lift off at approximately 110 m/s.
   
4. Maintain 45° prograde vector until your apoapsis reaches around 20,000m.
   
5. At this point, flatten out so your prograde vector is just above horizon. This will probably require a heading of about 10°.
   
6. Ideally, as you reach 30,000m, your vertical velocity should be at or below 50m/s. You should maintain this for as long as possible, spooling down the Turbojet slightly after every flameout. Done correctly, your apoapsis can reach in excess of 160km with air breathing engines alone.
   
7. At final flameout, toggle AG1 to switch off Turbojet. Toggle AG2 to switch on LFO engines and close air intakes. Circularise as normal.
   

---

Crew Delivery Vehicle (CTV)

Download: http://1drv.ms/XVOoli

Description:

This craft is designed for bringing crew up to orbital stations or interplanetary craft/cruisers. It uses the same basic design as the PDS craft. All instructions and quoted figures are based on four Kerbals being carried as passengers, in addition to the two piloting the craft. Performance will vary according to payload mass.

Vital Statistics
=================================
Max AP:     192km (from air breathing ascent)
Delta-V:    450 (LFO vacuum)
Payload:    4 passengers (optimal)
Parts:      60 (empty)
Cost:       35811 (empty)

Flight Instructions:

1. Press 'T' to engage SAS and go to max thrust.
   
2. Toggle AG1 to activate Turbojet.
   
3. Pull up continuously on runway. You will lift off at approximately 80 m/s.
   
4. Maintain 45° prograde vector until your apoapsis reaches around 20,000m.
   
5. At this point, flatten out so your prograde vector is just above horizon. This will probably require a heading of about 10°.
   
6. Ideally, as you reach 30,000m, your vertical velocity should be at or below 50m/s. You should maintain this for as long as possible, spooling down the Turbojet slightly after every flameout. Done correctly, your apoapsis can reach in excess of 190km with air breathing engines alone.
   
7. At final flameout, toggle AG1 to switch off Turbojet. Toggle AG2 to switch on LFO engines and close air intakes. Circularise as normal.
   

---

Personal Transfer Vehicle (PTV)

Download: http://1drv.ms/XVOhWX

Description:

This craft is designed as a personal runabout for a pilot and co-pilot. It can be used for small crew rotation or attached to a long-range vessel for deployment on Laythe. All instructions and quoted figures are based on two Kerbals being carried.

Vital Statistics
=================================
Max AP:     205km (from air breathing ascent)
Delta-V:    950 (LFO vacuum)
Payload:    None
Parts:      61 (empty)
Cost:       30064 (empty)

Flight Instructions:

1. Press 'T' to engage SAS and go to max thrust.
   
2. Toggle AG1 to activate Turbojet.
   
3. Pull up continuously on runway. You will lift off at approximately 40 m/s.
   
4. Maintain 45° prograde vector until your apoapsis reaches around 18,000m.
   
5. At this point, flatten out so your prograde vector is just above horizon. This will probably require a heading of about 10°.
   
6. Ideally, as you reach 30,000m, your vertical velocity should be at or below 50m/s. You should maintain this for as long as possible, spooling down the Turbojet slightly after every flameout. Done correctly, your apoapsis can reach in excess of 200km with air breathing engines alone.
   
7. At final flameout, toggle AG1 to switch off Turbojet. Toggle AG2 to switch on LFO engines and close air intakes. Circularise as normal.
   

[gGATORr]

Very well done aesthetically! I'm sure they fly well too!

[Alias72]

Well my pride just took another blow. You on the other hand, get my approval. These look awesome. I wonder how well they handle FAR and DRE.

[Wanderfound]

Pretty.

Intended for FAR/NEAR or stock?

[TMS]

Cheers guys.

Built in/for stock. Haven't tried NEAR as yet.

[Virindi]

I love the look of these, so I had to make my own. I play FAR, which makes this problematic. A flying delta wing is inherently roll-unstable and FAR faithfully models it. In particular, the sideslip-to-roll derivative LBeta tends to be a large positive value. The result is a craft that rolls and explodes into the runway the moment you take off.

The secret to making this design roll-stable in FAR is to add a V-tail*. In my opinion, it doesn't compromise the delta flying wing look. (I also used realfuels, b9, and flag decals on this craft.)

*This solution is taken from the F-117 stealth aircraft, which has a very similar shape and employs a V-tail for stability. See: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a1/F-117_Nighthawk_Front.jpg

Edited August 31, 2014 by Virindi

[Voculus]

I love those SPOC planes!

[TMS]

I love the look of these, so I had to make my own. I play FAR, which makes this problematic. A flying delta wing is inherently roll-unstable and FAR faithfully models it. In particular, the sideslip-to-roll derivative LBeta tends to be a large positive value. The result is a craft that rolls and explodes into the runway the moment you take off.

The secret to making this design roll-stable in FAR is to add a V-tail*. In my opinion, it doesn't compromise the delta flying wing look. (I also used realfuels, b9, and flag decals on this craft.)

*This solution is taken from the F-117 stealth aircraft, which has a very similar shape and employs a V-tail for stability. See: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a1/F-117_Nighthawk_Front.jpg

Thanks for this contribution. I'm pretty much resolved to installing NEAR - probably for 0.25 - so will no doubt refer to this post again at some point.

[CavemanNinja]

Hehe, another set of wonderful SP+ craft. I've got some of my own SSTO's built around SP+, and I absolutely adore them. Good work.