SSTAA-Single Stage to Almost Anywhere Challenge

[Scourge013]

Hello Forums! Long time lurker and reader, first time challenge creator. Also, I've streamed KSP on Twitch for like 500+ hours. Don't call it a first post, I've been here for years. That seemed funnier before I wrote it down. Anyway, I've been working on a little project since teaching keeps me from my usual shenanigans. For some reason, it got into my head that I could design a Single Stage to Mun spaceplane. After looking at the forums, I saw that there was indeed at some ancient time a challenge related to this endeavor. However, it was several versions ago (like in the days of .19 or so) and it had some pretty arbitrary restrictions that I didn't like (such as restricting certain engines or flat-out stating that you had to cut your turbojets off at a predetermined altitude, etc.) Plus the scoring, and therefore the planning/playing of the challenge involved math. After finishing my PhD dissertation that involved using statistics, I have concluded that math sucks. I have therefore re-written and expanded the original challenge to be less restrictive and more fun (read: requires no math for me to score or for you to plan your scoring).

Wait, KSP and no math? That's crazy! But being crazy never stopped me before. Instead the basis of scoring AND the challenge itself is to create a single-stage craft capable of doing certain things during a mission. Let's call these "Achievements." Instead of having a big windy description of what I want you to do, we'll embrace the sandboxiness of the game itself and let you choose which Achievements you want to try for/think are reasonable for your skill level. The person who can bag the most Achievements in a single mission wins. In the event that multiple people do all the achievements in a single mission, then we shall have a lot of fun, because that's a lot of playing this wonderful game. The list of possible achievements can be expanded as people give feedback on the challenge. In cases where achievements are inclusive then both achievements are awarded. For example, if you achieve "Return to Sender (land on the runway/within the boundaries back at KSC intact)" you also get "Down Home on the Terrain (return to Kerbin's surface intact)." See? Two achievements for one--Blast! I just realized something. Scoring this challenge will require addition. Oh well. Nothing is perfect.

Ground rules:

1)

a) Stock parts only. *Exception for .24.2: You may use Spaceplane+ since that will soon be added to stock.* .25 and higher should use only stock parts.

Craft must be a single stage controlled by action grouping if you need to switch between engines.

c) It can be either a spaceplane or a rocket or a hybrid of both (i.e. a VTOL).

d) No refueling allowed. The only direction fuel may flow is out of your craft.

2) You may use Kerbal Engineer Redux.

3) You may NOT use Mechjeb (at least for piloting--using it in the VAB/SPH is fine).

4) List of acceptable mods not lucky enough to get their own line in the rules: TAC Fuel Balancer (or equivalent). Docking-Camera or Docking Alignment Indicator. Enhanced Navball(s). Anything that adds ONLY visuals or sound effects (Texture Replacer, EVE, etc.) ScanSat. RasterPropMontior. Basically anything that doesn't add fuel tanks and engines or too much difficulty (or ease). This is to make entries comparable.

5) FAR and NEAR are allowed, but will be recorded on their own score board.

6) With the exception of payloads, you may not detach anything from your craft. This includes "Litho-staging" spent tanks or engines by scraping them across the terrain in a controlled fashion. This also includes using over-heating to discard tanks/engines. This also also includes using action groups to "Jettison" engines. Any attempt where a craft loses parts is considered a failure.

7) A payload must have mass and (at least conceivably) serve a purpose. This means a "payload" cannot be a Kerbal in a capsule that you will transfer to a station, as said Kerbal won't add mass to the craft.

Acceptable payloads include but aren't limited to: Fuel tanks with docking ports left in an orbit (as fuel depots FOR OTHER CRAFT). Mapping or communications satellites (even if comms don't matter in the stock game), science modules that you literally drop onto the surface, mini-drone-based-lander-thingies (you know what I'm talking about), or perhaps a little rover for Kerbals to tour around in. Again it must: serve a conceivable purpose and have mass.

8) All landings must be done with the main craft--no sending a dockable lander!

9) To submit your entry take a screenshot or video of any of the achievement conditions. Make sure the UI is displayed and Resources Panel is visible. Make sure the screenie makes sense (i.e. take a pic of the map screen showing your Ap and Pe if you are trying to prove you have a stable orbit).

That's about all I can think of for now in terms of ground rules. Here are the achievements:

It's a Bird! It's a Plane! No! It's...Well, it's a Plane. (your craft is flyable as a spaceplane during your mission).

Rocketeer (your craft is flyable as a rocket during your mission)

I am Sir (or Lady) Mix-a-Lot! +3 (your craft can take off and land horizontally AND take off and land vertically during your mission)

I'm on a Ship! (Your craft is manned...er Kerballed).

I'm Here, I Can Steer, Get Used to It! (your craft doesn't rely on torque to navigate through the atmosphere) Note: The word "rely" is the key word here. This doesn't mean "not use" but it does mean you don't slap "excessive" amounts of SAS on your 5 turbojet spaceplane to counteract asymmetric thrust and/or drag forces.

I Can See My House From Here (your craft achieves a stable orbit around Kerbin during your mission).

It's a Small World After All (your craft achieves Keostationary orbit around Kerbin during your mission).

I'll Just Put This Here (your craft delivers a payload on a stable orbit or deposits a payload on a celestial body).

Goo-Goo Daddy-Oo (your craft could use Mystery Goo at least once during its mission).

Materially Immaterial (your craft could use the material bay at least once during its mission).

Hot or Not? (your craft could use a thermometer at least once during its mission).

He Who Felt It Dealt It (your craft could use a Seismometer at least once during its mission).

Under a Lot of Pressure (your craft could use the Barometer at least once during its mission).

Aww...I Wanted Ravioli (your craft could use the Gravioli detector at least once during its mission).

I Feel It Coming In the Air Tonight (your craft could use the Sensor Computing--nuts to it, the nose cone ma-bob, at least once during the mission).

A Miracle of Science! (your craft can perform all of the science experiments at least once during your mission).

I Could Do This All Day (your craft can recycle all expendable experiments during your mission i.e. it has a science lab on it).

Ground Control To Major Bob (your craft can transmit science data to KSC).

A Souvenir (you take a soil sample from the Mun).

It Tastes Like Burning (you take a soil sample from Minmus).

Out of This World (you take your craft to a different planet's SOI).

I Hope I Don't Forget It (you leave a payload in orbit around a different planet or a moon of a different planet).

Son of I Hope I Don't Forget It (you leave a payload on the surface of a different planet or a moon of a different planet).

A Romantic Rendezvous (you dock with a space station or other vessel during your mission and transfer fuel to the other vessel).

Ion? Try I-OFF! (you do not use Ion engines).

Don't Kiss Me, I've Got Mono (you use the new Mono prop engines during your mission).

Conscientious Objector (you do not use Nuclear engines or RTGs during your mission).

The Propulsion of Tomorrow...Today! (you use Ion Engines on craft during your mission).

Fallout 4 Confirmed (you use Nuclear Engines or RTGs during your mission).

Note: These last few achievements are added to balance play-styles. It's balanced so that you either 1) are encouraged to not use the super-high ISP engines OR 2) you are encouraged to use as many different fuel-types as possible. Either way, it should hopefully encourage some "emergent" gameplay not typically seen in our community.

Leave Nothing But Flags (you land on a body other than Kerbin, dropping off and RETRIEVING the same payload, taking it with you).

Seeing the Sights (you visit two other planet's SOIs during your mission).

Leisure Cruise (you visit three other planet's SOIs during your mission).

The Gold Package (you visit four other planet's SOIs during your mission).

The Platinum Package (you visit five other planet's SOIs during your mission).

Science Boat Diplomacy (you visit all six planets' SOIs during your mission).

Jool of the Orient (you land on Laythe during your mission).

Moon Hopping I-IX (you at least get a stable orbit with one or more Joolian moons during your mission (additional plus ones for landing on each moon for a total of 9 achievements (10 if you count the "special" achievement for Laythe).

The Easter Bunny (you visit at least one easter egg during your mission).

Oops Voucher +0 (you experience a catastrophic failure during your mission and you do not want to reload and continue--your entry is complete but this does not count towards your achievement total)

A Three Hour Tour +1 (you get stranded in an SOI other than Kerbin's during your mission--your entry is complete, counts as one achievement).

Close But No Cigar-Shaped UFO +2 (you get stranded in Kerbin's SOI during your mission--your entry is complete, counts as two achievements).

Back Home on the Terrain +3 (you return to Kerbin's surface intact--your entry is complete, counts as three achievements).

Return to Sender (you return to KSC, either on the runway or within the 100% part cost refund border--your entry is complete, counts as an achievement, giving you four total achievements for your return since you also get Back Home on the Terrain +3).

I am the Greetest! (yes, that's spelled right...you get all possible achievements in one mission, save the ones dealing with exclusive propulsion methods or failed return attempts (i.e. you do not have to get Ion? I-OFF! and The Propulsion of Tomorrow in the same mission and you MUST land at KSC).

Note: Hey...every classic sandbox game has to have an achievement that is unreasonable. That's how you know it's a classic game.

How to submit your entry (again):

Take a screenshot showing the UI and resources panel every time you, well, achieve one of the above conditions. Make sure the screenshot is proof of your accomplishment. I.e. if it's about achieving a stable orbit, make sure it is of the map screen or the orbital information from KER or something is displayed. For each screenshot verifying an achievement, you get the achievement. I'll try to keep a running list on the OP. These missions can take quite some time over multiple play sessions, so keeping a running total is important. I will only keep track of your mission with the most achievements for score purposes. You may also submit Youtube videos or Twitch highlights or something of the like.

I will submit my Single-Stage to Mun craft as an example and proof of concept later, and will edit this post when I do.

Stockton (stock aerodynamics scoreboard):

1. Overfloater: 13 Achievements for the Astro-Cruiser SSTO (Plane, gets to two planets in the same mission and can return to the runway)

2. Redshift OTF: 6 Achievements (could be worth more if I can see that it can get back to Kerbin)

*Celine Dion voice* NEAR...FAR...Wherever You Are (NEAR and/or FAR scoreboard):

Edited October 8, 2014 by Scourge013
Tallying Up People's Achievements

[TheFlyingPigs]

Coooool, I can't wait to see what people will put up!

[Overfloater]

I got one:

So unless i missed something and are disqualified, I should get:

-It's a Bird! It's a Plane! No! It's...Well, it's a Plane

-I'm on a Ship!

-I'm Here, I Can Steer, Get Used to It! (my craft relies on torque only on a flame-out. But that's high atmosphere :-P)

-I Can See My House From Here

-Out of This World

-Ion? Try I-OFF!

-Fallout 4 Confirmed

-Seeing the Sights

-Jool of the Orient

-Return to Sender

...this plane also flew to Eeloo and Dres (but only 1 at a time)

:-p

[The Jedi Master]

Hm, I think I'll try a single-stage to Mun. Should by interesting.

[Redshift OTF]

Hmmm, I was going to post this as a separate thing later on, (and still will), but an early reveal can't hurt.

It's an SSTLAB, Single Stage to Laythe and Back. Carries 3 Kerbals, (in a comfortable capsule), as well as some parachutes to ease the landing, (although the landing on Laythe was hella hard as you still need some jet thrust to land and it's a bit top heavy). Burn times weren't too bad, I think the LV-Ns had a starting TWR of 0.22 Kerbin gravity.

Has a nice ladder system as well.

Not very practical but then it was a challenge craft. Oh this was completely stock and no near/far used.

If you want the craft file let me know.

Edited September 23, 2014 by Redshift OTF

[Scourge013]

Just wanted to mention in case anyone is subscribed to the thread: I have updated the scores. Please let me know if you believe there to be an error.