KerbalX

Description

A stock aircraft called Kronus Shuttle Configuration-2 MAKS. Built with 421 of the finest parts, its root part is fuelTankSmallFlat.

Built in the SPH in KSP version 1.3.1.

Details

• Type: SPH
• Class: spaceplane
• Part Count: 421
• Pure Stock

-Basic Description

This is a stock recreation of the MAKS (Multipurpose Aerospace System) Shuttle concept originally developed by the Soviet Union. The MAKS was a small launch vehicle which would be deployed from on top of an Antonov AN-225 and would carry small payloads into space, any other specifics about the vehicle do not seem to exist as it never made it past the early concept stages. This craft was actually the original reason I made the 747-100 Andean as the Kondor could barely even take off with the shuttle attached. The shuttle has a 15 ton payload capacity and with the ET attached has a mass of 274 tons, which is impressive considering that the Andean itself only has a mass of 320 tons. I decided that making an entire Antonov AN-225 would be unnecessary as my 747-100 would be capable enough. As far as I can tell this is the only MAKS on KerbalX. I have also only ever found 1 other person who has made a MAKS in KSP.

-How to Fly

After taking off from the runway pitch up to around 10 degrees, make any furthur adjustments necessary such that the vehicle reaches the deployment altitude. Detach the shuttle and pitch up, once you’re pitched to 60 degrees detach the SRBs and try to stabilize the craft at 75 degrees. Hold said pitch until the craft reaches 500 m/s, at which point pitch down towards the prograde marker to inititate your gravity turn, keep the craft about 5 degrees above prograde to compensate for the engine’s tilt. Circularize in your desired orbit, this craft can reach a fairly high orbit (Max of 120 km) using the LFOX engines. After detaching the external tank use the OMS monoprop Engine and RCS to maneuver and deorbit. Turn down the control authority of the wing flaps to 100 for reentry. The craft is fairly stable during reentry, but will flip out if you go more than 20-25 degrees away from the prograde marker. Try to get a reentry trajectory that gets you to the KSC with a relatively high airspeed as the shuttle has poor gliding characteristics.

-Flight Information

-Rotation Speed: 80 m/s
-Deployment Altitude: 8000 m
-Max Speed at DMNT ALT: ~200 m/s
-Max Payload Capacity:15 Ton
-OMS Delta-V: 360 m/s
-Shuttle Stall Speed: 70 m/s
-Chance of The Andean Being Destroyed: Guaranteed

-Known/Development Issues

As the shuttle weighs almost as much as the Andean itself, it goes without saying that my 747-100 was pushed to it’s breaking point. The sheer amount of tweaking and experimenting required to get this craft to work was immense and disproportional to the craft’s practicality.