KerbalX

Details

• Type: SPH
• Class: spaceplane
• Part Count: 77
• Mods: 10

Mods

• Adjustable Landing Gear
• Ferram Aerospace Research
• Hullcam VDS
• Procedural Parts
• RemoteTech
• Smart Parts
• Squad (stock)
• TweakScale - Rescale Everything!
• TweakableEverything
• Ven’s Stock Part Revamp

Description

Not-SSTO, uses a drop tank on the way to orbit. Dropping tank may be optional w/ reduced payload (configure the smartpart on the bottom of the drop tank and staging accordingly), since it only increases delta-V by 100m/s for the cost of 7.5k$ in funds. Have not attempted to land w/ drop tank attached- YMMV.

Has a payload capacity of at least 9 tons (2 FLT-800s) to LKO (85X85) with enough fuel to deorbit.

Flight Profile

Fairly easy to fly, T/W > 1:1 at altitude. Close bays, spin up engines before releasing the brakes; takeoff will use up most of the runway due to front landing gear being slightly too short.. Pitch up upon takeoff, maintain 100-130m/s climb. If close to overheating, increase climb rate (pitch) to lose speed, and possibly throttle back. When speed starts dropping around 20km, light up rocket by staging, pitching up to 20-25 degrees. Drop tank will automatically eject when emptied of oxidizer, unless the smartpart is configured otherwise. When apoapsis hits 80km or so, shut down engines and coast to circularization, setting SAS or mechjeb to face prograde to minimize drag.

Once in a stable orbit, deploy solar panels.

Before reentry burn, rebalance fuel, preferably into forward tanks. After reentry burn, shut down rockets (hit 1), face prograde, using SAS/Mechjeb if available and open airbrakes to slow down and prevent overheating upon reentry. Close airbrakes once speed is down to around 800m/s and restart jets. Be sure to disable RCS once in atmosphere. Control may be lost and tumbling may occur, but control should be regained once the atmosphere gets thicker between 12000 and 6000 meters.

For landing, approach runway at 250m/s and use front camera and NavHUD for aiming, opening airbrakes by applying brake action group ¼-½ a runway length before the runway.

Notes

Highly recommend
http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/100073-1-0-x-Pilot-Assistant-Atmospheric-piloting-aids-1-9-3-%28May-18%29
and mechjeb.

NavHUD is of great assist while landing, in conjunction with the the nose cam on this craft.

Revision History

• 3/6/15 - Replaced payload with two FLT-800’s, vernier with RCS thrusters, added Mk2 RCS tank, enlarged drop tank with one made with procedural tanks. Fixed landing gear steering bug.

A mod aircraft called KanoneZiel’s Orbital Spaceplane (FAR). Built with 77 of the finest parts, its root part is mk2Cockpit.Standard.

Built in the SPH in KSP version 1.0.2.