COPYCAT: launch a copy of the lifter you used

[LABHOUSE]

Launch a rocket or space plane capable of lifting itself and a copy of itself into orbit.

It is possible (I used a rapier and some ions)

Rules:

No debug

No mechjeb controlling, do it yourself

No hyperedit

No abuse of glitches

No refuelling

You must not use any of the payload fuel or engines to reach orbit

Points:

No ions or nukes: 100 points

Weight: 20 points for every ton that reaches orbit

No jets: 200 points

Made it to another celestial body: 100 points more than the next closest planet or moon to kerbin (Eve and Gilly gets same points because it is the average altitude and well filly and eve are the same distance from kerbin)

Leaderboards:

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Edited November 4, 2014 by LABHOUSE

[Cmdr. Arn1e]

I think you need to check here: http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/24898-Challenge-Submission-Guide

No offense, but I have seen this challenge before - even one where the challenge was to get as many Launch Vehicles stacked on top of each other as possible, until the last one barely makes it back to orbit after lanidng back on kerbin! (EDIT: Launcherception, I think it was called...)

And, your attempt?

Edited November 2, 2014 by Cmdr. Arn1e

[LABHOUSE]

I said I just used a rapier and two ions. And I did not find the other thread.

And this is different it is like launching a mainsail with an orange tank and two ions strapped to the side to get a maintain with an orange tank and to ions strapped to the side into orbit (won't work just an example). You need all of the stages used to launch the payload into orbit to have a copy in orbit. No using payload fuel.

Edited November 2, 2014 by LABHOUSE

[TJPrime]

I have an idea for the challenge, but just two things needed to be clarified:

- when you say 'use the same lifter', do you mean 'use a sub-assembly' or 'don't recover/revert the flight'?

- if you mean the second one, is refueling allowed?

[MarvinKitFox]

Launch a copy of the lifter you used. All of the stages used to send the payload into orbit must have exact replicas in the payload.

Rules:

No mechjeb

You must not use any of the payload fuel or engines to reach orbit

So, the launcher(without payload) and the payload must consist of the same tanks+engines+controls?

*some* asymmetry is unavoidable, such as struts between the two layers. (cant have struts pointing to the sky from the top layer), etc.

Does only the structure need to be identical, or also fuel tank load?

My launcher, for example, uses 90% jet fuel in the launcher. In the space layer, oxidiser will be needed to be useful. Need I load the oxidiser tanks of the launch lifter to match?

No Mechjeb.

Just what have you got against mechjeb? It provides the same info as Engineer, or several kilograms of scribbled notepaper, but has a much more customisable interface. I always use it to calc delta-v, TWR, etc.. as the core game does NOT supply elementary info such as total vehicle mass in VAB.

And with the sort of silly things we will need to build for this silly sort of challenge, any/all of the automation tools are worse than useless. Do you *really* think MJ knows how to launch a 7500-ton two-storey apartment block, that is flying on jet engines?

Score: +20 per ton in orbit...

This is counting only the top "layer", right? Not including remnants of the launch layer?

+20 per ton in orbit??

This is a direct Whackjobian invitation to both the Kraken and the CPU-melter.

entry may follow......

Edited November 2, 2014 by MarvinKitFox

[LABHOUSE]

So, the launcher(without payload) and the payload must consist of the same tanks+engines+controls?

*some* asymmetry is unavoidable, such as struts between the two layers. (cant have struts pointing to the sky from the top layer), etc.

Does only the structure need to be identical, or also fuel tank load?

My launcher, for example, uses 90% jet fuel in the launcher. In the space layer, oxidiser will be needed to be useful. Need I load the oxidiser tanks of the launch lifter to match?

No Mechjeb.

Just what have you got against mechjeb? It provides the same info as Engineer, or several kilograms of scribbled notepaper, but has a much more customisable interface. I always use it to calc delta-v, TWR, etc.. as the core game does NOT supply elementary info such as total vehicle mass in VAB.

And with the sort of silly things we will need to build for this silly sort of challenge, any/all of the automation tools are worse than useless. Do you *really* think MJ knows how to launch a 7500-ton two-storey apartment block, that is flying on jet engines?

Score: +20 per ton in orbit...

This is counting only the top "layer", right? Not including remnants of the launch layer?

+20 per ton in orbit??

This is a direct Whackjobian invitation to both the Kraken and the CPU-melter.

entry may follow......

Doesn't matter what it is just get the payload and optionally extra into orbit bonus points no matter what.

[Pds314]

So wait, is the idea to launch a launch into space... using THAT SAME LAUNCHER?

Because that would be impossible with pure chemical rockets. Obviously, things are not so tough for spaceplanes...

[LABHOUSE]

So wait, is the idea to launch a launch into space... using THAT SAME LAUNCHER?

Because that would be impossible with pure chemical rockets. Obviously, things are not so tough for spaceplanes...

You can use ions, nukes, and chem.

[CavemanNinja]

I'm confused about the object of this challenge. Is it to stack a launcher on top of a lifter, which is put on top of another orbital lifter, etc...?

If so, I do believe I made a carbon copy of this challenge about 2 months back.

And if not, would you mind explaining the premise to me? (with pictures maybe?)

Thanks,

Caveman

(no hard feelings fellow kerbonaut )

[LABHOUSE]

You just put the same lifter on top of itself, not different lifters like in your thread, AN EXACT COPY OF THE LIFTER YOU USED. The lifter must get into orbit with all its fuel (the second lifter that is on top the first).

Edited November 4, 2014 by LABHOUSE

[GoSlash27]

Labhouse,

So we're talkin' an exact duplicate of the launcher complete with fuel and all? Basically a LV with payload fraction equal to or exceeding 50%?

Crazily, I think I know how to pull this off without glitch exploiting. For sure I can do it *with* glitch exploiting.

Best,

-Slashy

[Wooks]

Ok, I've read the OP and the comments twice, and I still don't understand the challenge. Maybe I'm to dense, but a clearer explanation of the objective and some proof of concept from our host would be nice.

[CavemanNinja]

oh, i see. Basically, you want a lifter that can lift itself and a copy of itself at the same time.

Thanks for the clarification!

[The_Rocketeer]

I know he didn't say it very well, but this challenge isn't really as confusing as some people are making it sound.

Basically:

1. Build a rocket, e.g. (working upwards) engine, fuel tank, command capsule.

2. On top of the rocket, add those same parts in the same order again, so that you have two identical rockets attached top to bottom, e.g. (working upwards) engine, fuel tank, command capsule, engine, fuel tank, command capsule.

3. Shut off all fuel flow and engines in the top half of the rocket.

4. Launch the whole assembly to orbit.

Get it?

[LABHOUSE]

I know he didn't say it very well, but this challenge isn't really as confusing as some people are making it sound.

Basically:

1. Build a rocket, e.g. (working upwards) engine, fuel tank, command capsule.

2. On top of the rocket, add those same parts in the same order again, so that you have two identical rockets attached top to bottom, e.g. (working upwards) engine, fuel tank, command capsule, engine, fuel tank, command capsule.

3. Shut off all fuel flow and engines in the top half of the rocket.

4. Launch the whole assembly to orbit.

Get it?

Thank you, I am terrible with words.