KT-1B Light Freighter

[Frozen_Heart]

Time to start posting capital ships again... and actually useful ones this time!

I've always been pretty poor at building specialised motherships so had another go at making something that both functions well while remaining as pretty as possible.

So without further ado, meet the KT-1B Light freighter!

The KT-1B is a sleek transport ship capable of moving cargo and kerbals as far as Duna and returning in one piece to be refuelled and used again. Its high TWR means that you aren't left waiting forever to escape LKO and the 10 ton (25 ton one way) capacity all the way out to the red planet means you can have plenty of fun once you get there. One way journeys as far as Laythe are also possible with significant cargo as long as you aerobrake well. Just make sure you have something on standby to refuel once you get there. Manoeuvring is also pleasant due to the ships light weight and ample reaction wheels.

The ship has been designed for aerobraking from the start. A balanced CoM and CoL combined with low drag means that the KT-1B cuts through the atmosphere like a knife, retaining full control all the while. Just make sure you aim lower than most would suggest due to the low drag construction.

I've taken the KT-1B out for some trial runs to the Mun to iron out any kinks and it performed perfectly. Apart from forgetting Jr docking ports (now corrected) the ship performed without a hitch and brought 12 tons of payload to LMO for deployment. A second run delivered a rover and lander as well as carried additional fuel. (Though a docking port glitch on the rover meant that the ship had to be retired on its return) CoM was perfectly in line with CoT so piloting was easy even for an inexperienced player.

The KT-1's small size makes it easy to launch to orbit and easy to refuel even for beginners. However this combined with its reusability does limit is payload quite heavily compared to disposable motherships. The payload is anything you can imagine as long as its balanced and it can take both standard and jr. sized ports.

Now onto the numbers:

Parts: 76

Mass: 48 Tons

Height: 3m

Width: 8m

Length: 19m

Cost: 102, 000 Kerbits

dV: 5396m/s

TWR: 0.78 fuelled

Payload to LMO return: 44 tons

Nodes: 2 jr, 5 standard

Powerplant: 6 LV-N

Seats: 5

Download: http://bit.ly/1BvEQOV

Edited January 22, 2015 by Frozen_Heart

[Volcanix]

Is this designed to take off from the launchpad or from the runway? With a TWR of 0,78 it seems more like you launch it from the runway, but I've never seen someone use only rocket engines on a spaceplane.

Or have I misunderstood anything?

[Frozen_Heart]

Is this designed to take off from the launchpad or from the runway? With a TWR of 0,78 it seems more like you launch it from the runway, but I've never seen someone use only rocket engines on a spaceplane.

Or have I misunderstood anything?

You have to build a launcher for it. A couple of LFB rockets (each with 2 orange tanks) makes it able to launch vertically and almost get to orbit. The Nukes take you the rest of the way once the boosters are jettisoned.

Edited January 20, 2015 by Frozen_Heart

[Volcanix]

You have to build a launcher for it. A couple of mainsail booster (each with 3 orange tanks) makes it able to launch vertically and almost get to orbit. The Nukes take you the rest of the way once the boosters are jettisoned.

http://i.imgur.com/hERPZgP.png

http://i.imgur.com/kXE9l7u.png

Ah, now I get the concept of a mothership

Thanks

Oh and by the way, if you got anything new to show off, I'd be interested

[Frozen_Heart]

Ah, now I get the concept of a mothership

Thanks

Oh and by the way, if you got anything new to show off, I'd be interested

Yeah. It stays in orbit while modules such as landers or rovers are attached and it is refuelled.

I'm working on a successor already. This one was simply to see if the idea was practical. Going to aim for higher dV to improve the next ones cargo capacity.

Building off the same frame though.

[Icklewiwi]

Oh my. I use this as more of a drop ship because it can come in at such a low speed. Later I might post the invincible drop pod I used. Loved the turning speed also

[Tangle]

The fuel stuff is wonky...

[Frozen_Heart]

The fuel stuff is wonky...

What do you mean?

I checked the fuel flow and its balanced. and didn't find any balance issues as it drained during its mission time.

I'll have a look. :/

Edit - Ah, the uploaded file was a glide test version. Just had all the fuel drained. (Note don't try to glide)

Put a basic launcher together for it as well which is now included.

Edited January 20, 2015 by Frozen_Heart

[Frozen_Heart]

Update - So I've got a second Mun mission planned using the KT-1A now. Equipped with a rover, dropship, and a kethane satellite. A small mining outpost, a hab module, and an orbiter will follow on a KT-2A.

There is already a lander waiting in orbit so no need to bring that along.