SSTO creation really makes for epic win moments

[DivisionByZero]

[\spoiler]

I have a career-mode game going and I decided I had just enough tech to design an SSTO for satellite launches. It matters as I'm using KCT and Fine Print and the recovery of funds makes for great motivation for all those satellite missions. I had just unlocked the thermal turbojet parts in KSPI and tried, initially, to create an SSTO with those on it. Well, the first-tier fission engines suck, so that was a no go. After going through a range of combinations from the advanced jet engine, including the B9 jet engine D-30F7, I settled on a design with 4 D-30F7s and 2 KW rocketry engines.

I was testing all the permutations with the "simulation" feature in KCT so I could figure out what was going on. Turns out, I needed WAY more rocket help than I initially wanted to include. Also, it seems to be a new feature but the jet engines start losing power at a certain speed. The B9 engines I picked have the highest top speed even though they spin up real slow. The top speed + lots of intakes and precoolers meant I could hang out at M=3.8 at 24km up before switching to the rocket engines. I gotta say, getting the thing to be stable on the way up and the way down with FAR+DREC makes for some challenging gameplay and a very satisfying feeling when it all works in the end.

Anyway, the payload for the first few missions is a KSO communications satellite for RT2 so I can send probes out beyond Kerbin SOI (see above).