Spaceplane X5s Vectus - Single stage to Duna and back - SSTO

[Dook_net]

STATS:

[TABLE=class: outer_border, width: 500]

[TR]

[TD]Part Count[/TD]

[TD]252[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Mass[/TD]

[TD]30,272kg[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Mass (full fuel w/orbital refuel)[/TD]

[TD]31,152kg[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]TWR Atomic Engines (2)[/TD]

[TD]0.39 (0.83 empty)[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]TWR Turbojet Engines (2)[/TD]

[TD]0.74 (1.57 empty)[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]DV Atomic Engines[/TD]

[TD]5,067 m/s[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]DV Atomic Engines (full fuel)[/TD]

[TD]5,656 m/s[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Parachutes[/TD]

[TD]4[/TD]

[/TR]

[/TABLE]

Description:

This craft is capable of doing a land and return mission from Kerbin to Duna with out refueling. Excess frontal lift makes dodging mountains threw Duna's thin atmosphere easy. Although landing a space plane on Duna is not novice friendly. The thrust to rate ratio of the atomic engines is excellent and will make escaping Duna quick and efficient.

v2 update: Fixed uncontrollable flight characteristics while very low on fuel. Should be relatively easy to land on the return to Kerbin. Moved center of lift back a bit and added more Lift to the back section. Added control surfaces to the front to maintain a high pitch ability. Something you want for Duna. Total loss of around 200 m/s delta V to make the craft more controllable. Decided to keep both atomic engines as the Delta V increase was only around 800 m/s.

Action Groups:

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[TR]

[TD]1 - Toggle Turbojet Engines[/TD]

[TD]6 - Toggle Both Radial Parachutes[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]2 - Toggle Atomic Engines[/TD]

[TD]7 - Cut Both Radial Parachutes[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]3 - Toggle Docking Port Shield[/TD]

[TD]8 - Toggle Both XL Parachutes[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]4 - Toggle All Parachutes[/TD]

[TD]9 - Cut Both XL Parachutes[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]5 - Cut All Parachutes[/TD]

[TD]10 - Toggle Ladder[/TD]

[/TR]

[/TABLE]

Flight Help:

Landing on Duna in a traditional plane sense can be difficult. Aim for low flat lands so the parachutes have a strong effect. When your speed has been sufficiently slowed due to air friction point the nose strait up away from Duna and use the atomic engines to control your pitch. You want to be between -5 and 5 on the pitch meter for landing (preferably zero). When you're finally skimming just above the surface, point the nose back to prograde (important) and activate your parachutes. When your velocity drops to 60ish m/s cut your chutes. This all happens quickly so i'd recommend quick saving before hand. Don't forget to repack the parachutes!

DOWNLOAD v2

Other Craft Files:

[stock craft] Space Plane X1s Argentus II - SSTO - Light body VTOL - 3000dv

[stock craft] Space Plane X3s Experior II - Forward swept wings SSTO

[stock craft] Space Plane X4s Orbita - Single Stage to Mun/Minmus and back.

[stock craft] Spaceplane X2s Paradisaea - SSTO to Laythe and back

Edited April 19, 2015 by Dook_net

[Yukon0009]

Oooh! Looks nice.

[Dook_net]

Thanks for liking my "spacePLACE" . Bad typo, hopefully i can get a mod to change the title.

[Rune]

Thanks for liking my "spacePLACE" . Bad typo, hopefully i can get a mod to change the title.

It's awesome! The lines look really good. If I had to suggest anything, it would be to take a look at the CoM/CoL when the tanks are empty. Nobody wants to lose control when they are approaching low over KSC!

Rune. And you can edit the title yourself by going into advanced editing, BTW.

[Cupcake...]

Very nice! My one suggestion would be to ditch one of the atomic engines. You should be able to get your DV closer to the 7k mark if you do that.

Cupcake...

[Majorjim!]

Very nice! My one suggestion would be to ditch one of the atomic engines. You should be able to get your DV closer to the 7k mark if you do that.

Cupcake...

Agreed! No need for two on a craft that small. Great job by the OP though.

[Dook_net]

Thanks for the feedback. After quick adjustments to a single atomic engine the control issue at very low fuel becomes manageable. Guess the craft is a bit too butt heavy. Will work on a variant that accommodates the alternate engine configuration as well as move the CoL slightly back. Should fix the control issue completely as well as adding lots of extra DV.

Edited February 18, 2015 by Dook_net