The Heavy Booster Challenge

[linuxgurugamer]

Cute.

OK, I'll allow this, but still feel that you are taking advantage of the rules. Even though they are all connected, this is still essentially a single rocket which is cloned and then tied together. As you say, you can add as many as you like, but then you are in a category all by yourself instead of competing with others.

correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm counting a total of 36 engines in the first stage, including boosters.

Edited December 11, 2014 by linuxgurugamer

[linuxgurugamer]

Well, since there doesn't seem to be anybody submitting the low-power version, I'm putting one of mine in play.

This is rated as a 12 engine rocket, since there are a max of 12 engines in the first stage, although only 8 fire in the beginning. I used MechJeb to test this, along with the other entries. Other than that, this is a stock rocket, along with the weight mod I have in the nose.

This rocket lifted 18 Kt to orbit, and it can do more, I just haven't tested anything more than this yet. If you try this, engage SAS and do the initial ignition by hand. When the first set of boosters burn out, engage MechJeb. You have to do it this way otherwise MechJeb will fire the second set at the same time, which will overspeed the rocket. There is an interesting oscillation during the first MechJeb stage, probably due to unbalanced thrust, but it doesn't seem to hurt.

This is by no means finished. This is a rocket I'm building to set up a rescue attempt for a Kerbal who is lost in solar orbit.

This gets to the final orbit with plenty of fuel left over, it hasn't even jettisoned the extra fuel tanks in the 3rd stage yet.

Craft file: http://download1477./pnzu1cib7j7g/58hkbx8kz8qv67a/rescue+5.craft

The craft file contains a 15T load at top, just change it to 18 before testing if you like.

See the basic image I posted earlier for an overview and exploded image of the ship. Here are some images of the ascent, after the SRBs have been dropped:

Edited December 11, 2014 by linuxgurugamer

[Laie]

Cute.

OK, I'll allow this,

Nevermind. Basically, I was trolling... I wanted to make the point that "lift the heaviest weight" without further restrictions and qualifiers isn't very challenging in and of itself, but basically only a question of what part count you can endure. And if there's categories for the number of boosters, I thought I might fill in a lot of them with a single design. So if you could please open categories for (1+n)*3 boosters, where n can be 1,2,3,4 or any odd number >4? The corresponding payload would be n*20t. No? Well, I guessed as much.

"How much can you lift with a single rocket motor" would be more interesting, IMO. The basic limit is the Kerbodyne cluster: no more then 320 tons for the entire rocket, and the winning design will probably be more like 270 tons. (If every engine counts as "1 booster", regardless of whether it's the big kerbodyne or an ant drive, using any engine but the biggest one will only reduce the payload/booster). Stage two and three is where it gets interesting: There may be no single ideal solution, but I guess that development would converge on small number of basic designs. 50t with a single engine per stage is totally doable, 60t could be possible.

Edited December 11, 2014 by Laie

[Wavechaser]

What do you mean by "stockalike" parts mod? Like KW?

[linuxgurugamer]

Well, if a part does the same thing as stock, I'll allow it

[capi3101]

I had a question about this challenge. The Level 1 stuff - is the final rocket restricted to the parts unlocked by the specific technologies listed, or can you use the parts included in the prerequisite techs as well? Mainly I'm interested in whether or not the use of struts (a part from General Construction, which is NOT on the level 1 list but is a prerequisite for three of the techs on the list) would make the design Level 1 or Level 2.

Also by "fewest number of boosters", do you mean individual engines, or do you mean decoupler/fuel stack/engine combos?

[zekes]

Here's 1200 tonnes to orbit, on a 40 engine first stage. Level 2, Stock.

CIRA VI

Download: https://www./?8j35l61x6gy726c

ALBUM:

Javascript is disabled. View full album

[linuxgurugamer]

I had a question about this challenge. The Level 1 stuff - is the final rocket restricted to the parts unlocked by the specific technologies listed, or can you use the parts included in the prerequisite techs as well? Mainly I'm interested in whether or not the use of struts (a part from General Construction, which is NOT on the level 1 list but is a prerequisite for three of the techs on the list) would make the design Level 1 or Level 2.

Also by "fewest number of boosters", do you mean individual engines, or do you mean decoupler/fuel stack/engine combos?

You can use all parts which are unlocked.

Boosters, I really meant engines.

[linuxgurugamer]

Here's 1200 tonnes to orbit, on a 40 engine first stage. Level 2, Stock.

CIRA VI

Download: https://www./?8j35l61x6gy726c

ALBUM:

http://imgur.com/a/NkIl5

Nice, i'll look at the file and update the first page this evening