KerbalX

Description

This was Island Dynamics first SSTO, developed from a prototype military UAV during a money laundering scheme gone awry. It was able to just barely keep up with the marketing fluff, weighing in at just over 12.5t and capable of hauling four astronauts to orbit and providing a docking port. A carefully managed flight plan will allow some very slight margin for docking, but will likely require a monoprop refuel once it is on station. This small craft took the world by storm, and the additional attention from the public forced an innocent money-launderer into the Aerospace business.

INSTRUCTIONS

Take off from a runway, rotating at 80 m/s. Fly low, gaining speed just above the surface of the water until you reach 500m/s, then gently pull into a 15 deg. climb. Emphasis on gently, as dropping below 450m/s will mean the RAPIER will not be able to accelerate the craft during the climb.

Go hands off, relying only on SAS to maintain the climb, then select Prograde once the RAPIER automatically switches to Closed Cycle. Burn until your Apoapsis reaches the mid 70’s. Circularize at Apoapsis. Use whataver Delta-V the RAPIER has left, then finish out with monoprop thrusters. Extend the solar panel to charge your batteries.

Reenter using monoprop to decelerate. Use Action Group 1 to toggle into the reentry configuration, and use SAS to hold the nose high, allowing the whole body of the craft to slow you down. Once you’ve bled enough speed, Action Group 1 will toggle you back to regular controls. Toggle back to air breathing using Action Group 2 if you have any LF left.

A stock aircraft called Spaceman Crew. Built with 35 of the finest parts, its root part is mk2DroneCore.

Built in the SPH in KSP version 1.12.4.

Details

• Type: SPH
• Class: spaceplane
• Part Count: 35
• Pure Stock
• KSP: 1.12.4