KerbalX

ES-12 Sengi (European Spacecraft model 12, name of this →→ cute fast jumping mouse-like creature) is my trusted mid-career workhorse for small-scale LKO and Munar orbit missions before I gain access to SSTO technologies.

Key features

• Highly versitile and reliable mid-tech TSTO shuttle.
• 1400-2000 m/s dV @ LKO depending on payload configuration. Can reach Mun Space Station, refuel there if needed and return.
• Upper payload section (Mk2 crew cabine by default) can be easily changed.
• Orbitor has balanced and almost constant CoM regardless of fuel consumption, which lies within the lower cargo bay. Has decent controllability during the entire mission.
• Fully recoverable, actual launch cost <10000 cash if nicely recovered.
• Not a conventional space shuttle structure, thus relatively easy to fly (I admire anyone who can build and fly a functional space shuttle style craft in stock. I’m serious.)

Payload configuration examples

Fun fact

I have to write it down. This craft started as an emergency solution: I launched a tourism ship and forgot the parachutes! In order to avoid a major PR crisis, I have to rescue them fast. Since the tourism ship had no docking port and tourists couldn’t do EVA, the only way was to recover the whole command pod. But I didn’t have access to the Klaw unit at the time. Pretty desperate situation, then this crazy idea came up. An Mk2 cargo bay is just enough to hold a DLC spherical pod (not 100% closed! How kerbal!) and force the pod to reenter with the shuttle. Ended up as an epic rescue mission, and I got a very handy shuttle that I’ve been using ever since.

Typical rescue and part recover missions, some screenshots date back to the experimental X-12 phase.

How I fly her

First of all: gravity turn is an art, and I’m not a master at all. Suggestions welcome!

Ascent

• Launch at full throttle, gently turn at 1000m by pressing S(unless you changed its orientation in VAB), let it slowly reach a 45 degrees pitch at ~10000m.
• Keep a 30-40 degrees pitch on the rest of the ascent, wait for AP to reach desired value (recommended >85km) then shut down engines and hold prograde. Should still be some fuel left in the first stage.
• Use up first stage fuel and stage in upper atmosphere or in vacuum.
• Orbitor Circularization. Note that the burn time could be long (1m40s in most of my launches).
• Open cargo bay door and let solar panels enjoy sunlight.

First stage recovery

• Once stable orbit is achieved, quickly switch back to one of the first stage rockets and watch it land. This is essential if you want to recover them, otherwise the game won’t simulate the process and will simply think they hit the ground with orbital velocitiy.
• It’s OK to use 4x fast time, but touchdown / splashdown should happen in 1x time.
• Wait for all 4 rockets to land, but don’t bother to switch to other 3 rockets. It may lead to simulation errors and cause them to fall from a height and explode. Just go back to KSC and recover all 4.

Descent

• Set PE to 40km much further than landing target.
• Use 90 degrees pitch in upper atmosphere to aerobrake as much as possible, otherwise the cockpit might overheat later.
• The Orbitor is somehow draggy and will quickly lose speed in dense atmosphere, so it’s hard to predict its landing spot. It might require several trials to achieve a pin-point landing.
• Land like a glider plane, deploy droge chute before or after touchdown.
• Profit!

Wish you like this cute little sengi too. Happy landings!

Description

A stock rocket called ES-12 Sengi. Built with 114 of the finest parts, its root part is Mark2Cockpit.

Built in the VAB in KSP version 1.6.1.

Details

• Type: VAB
• Class: lifter
• Part Count: 114
• Pure Stock