Starstreaker -- A Single Stage to Minmus Spaceplane

[Starwhip]

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The Starstreaker spaceplane, with it's nuclear engine totaling over 3300 m/s of Delta-V, is more than capable of a Minmus return mission. Presented here for your viewing and/or flying pleasure, this easy-to-fly craft is ready to go right out of the box: no refueling or assembly required!

[ALSO, this is the first time I've submitted a craft, so if I'm missing something please forgive me. ]

EDIT: Whoops, forgot the flight instructions! (I was in a hurry!)

Action Groups

1 - Toggle TurboJet Engines

2 - Toggle LV-N Atomic Rocket Motor

3 - Toggle Intakes

Ascent Profile

Takeoff speed is anything over about 80 m/s.

Pitch to 45 degrees for the main ascent. Continue until around 16,000 meters.

By 20,000 meters, pitch to 0 degrees.

Keep the vertical speed readout to zero or a little under zero until you stop rapidly accelerating.

Pitch up until the vertical speed readout shows a 10 m/s upward climb.

When you get between 1,500 m/s and 1,600 m/s (or more, if you can manage) ignite the nuke. (Action Group 2)

At this point, pitch to 15 or 25 degrees.

Soon, the jets will start to sputter. Throttle down to 75%, then to 66%, 50%, and finally 33%.

Once they start to fail at 33%, kill the jets with "1" and hit the gas with "z".

Pitch to 45 degrees until your apoapsis is at 60,000 meters.

Pitch to 0 until your apoapsis is at 100,000 meters.

Kill the nuke.

Circularize.

Profit!

(Note: I don't know if this is the most efficient profile, but I've gotten three Starstreakers to a Minmus station, the surface, and back to Kerbin with it, so it works.)

Edited November 26, 2014 by Starwhip

[NeatCrown]

That's seems a good craft: I'd better try it out!

[Guest]

Compact SSTO desing. You should try to get THIS awesome compact rover in it!