[stock]To the mun with one engine per stage.

[Newt0570]

So I\'ve been messing around with single-engined spacecraft. After a couple days of brute force testing, I made a craft that only has only 1 engine per stage that can land on the mun. Using stock parts only.

I went through about 15 different designs. And a few crazy ideas that might\'ve worked (but didn\'t).

CHALLENGE: who can figure out how to land on the mun with these rules first?

rules are relatively simple:

--stock parts only. (mechjeb is the only exception)

--bonus points to not using mechjeb

--max of one engine firing at any given time. (no cheaty-rule-bending)

--no explosions upon landing

--only reward is bragging rights.

>>Please don\'t post your crafts that you made before reading this challenge.

>>this is possible. I have one design that gets there with minimal fuel to spare.

>>Returning from the mun isn\'t possible (keep in mind that many things were thought to be impossible throughout history).

>>To clarify: You must safely land on the mun. (no explosions or breaking).

>>>>Also, if you want to figure this challenge out for yourself, don\'t read past the spoiler line.

--------->>>>>>SPOILER LINE<<<<<<<<-----------

--------->>>>>>SPOILER LINE<<<<<<<<-----------

--------->>>>>>SPOILER LINE<<<<<<<<-----------

--------->>>>>>SPOILER LINE<<<<<<<<-----------

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If you are having trouble, some data for you:

single engine tests

weight(){//pseudo code.

float weight=3;

weight+=tanks*2.5

float dryweight=3

if ((tanks*2)%2) { //if (whole number)

dryweight+=tanks*0.3

} else {

dryweight+=(tanks-0.5)*0.3+0.2

}

}

-----0.5

height achieved:12,381

speed achieved:425

-----1.0

height achieved:77,574

speed achieved:989

-----1.5

height achieved:304,150

speed achieved:1,741

-----2.0

height achieved:895,870

speed achieved:2,361

-----2.5

height achieved:3,176,000

speed achieved:2,802

-----3.0

height achieved:Escape

speed achieved:3,172

-----3.5

height achieved:Escape

speed achieved:3,437

-----4.0

height achieved:Escape

speed achieved:3,654

-----4.5

height achieved:Escape

speed achieved:3,786

-----5.0

height achieved:Escape

speed achieved:3,901

-----5.5

height achieved:Escape

speed achieved:3,936

-----6.0 << max speed

height achieved:Escape

speed achieved:3,958

-----6.5

height achieved:Escape

speed achieved:3,933

[sjwt]

--max of one engine firing at any given time. (no cheaty-rule-bending)

Why not go for only one Engine at all!

[UmbralRaptor]

Drop tanks allowed? Should be fairly simple, then. >_>

[foamyesque]

I know you can SS to a Munar orbit with minimal difficulty. Landing might prove more problematic.

[Newt0570]

Why not go for only one Engine at all!

using only a single engine is actually my second design for this challenge (stack decouplers are heavy). I almost have enough fuel to return from the mun. The only problem is that landing only consists of touching down, then immediately lifting off, due to high center of gravity on my landing stage.

Using some new found techniques, I should be able to get round-trip with Mk8 (most recent version). Even though I think it\'s possible to return, I\'ll leave the o.p. to say it\'s impossible. When someone returns safely, they\'ll think they achieved the impossible.

[Optical9090]

Done 8)

1 LV-T45

5 full tanks

1 Mechjeb for cheats

EDIT:

Redone it with 4 full tanks, 1 LV-T45 and a parachute, one full orbit of the mun and safe, watery return.

[Asaman]

One engine, one stage, one long rocket.

[Newt0570]

Apparently, I forgot the word 'safely' to the challenge. I thought the word 'land' would imply explosion-less, but whatever. BTW, It is possible to land on the mun without exploding. I\'ve done it.

It would also help if you described your method of getting to the mun. such as orbital height, TMI burn timing/speed, landing method/strategy, etc.

Oh, and bonus points for Asaman. Although you don\'t get the regular points for the challenge itself

[antbin]

With this ship I wind up about 10 m/s short of a proper TKI from the mun. Maybe I need to pack a mechjeb to make this flight...

[antbin]

Success, with a reorbit and return! 8)

http://imgur.com/a/pTPC0

The key was to bring only a small engine and one fuel tank to the Mun. That makes landing and re-orbiting much more fuel efficient.

After adding a coupler, I loaded the ship with as much fuel as its T-30 main engine can get off the ground. Removing the half-tank might actually make it more fuel efficient, who knows.

I tried doing the land & return challenge with only one engine, but as far as I can see, it\'s impossible. The T-30 is too heavy to take to the Mun fuel-efficiently.

[Asaman]

1) I still like the idea of dropping off weights.

2) It turned out that I launched at the best possible time ever. I got into Mun\'s SOI when I was reaching my apogee. Did not even do one full orbit around the planet.

3)....dammit I knew I should have attached legs.