SSTO from Eve.

[arnelilleseter]

So I'me building a base on Eve and I need some way to shuttle crew to and from the base. Since it's going to make many trips it has to be fully reusable and in one stage. I use mods (f.ex. athmosphere breathing engines) but nothing to overpowering.
Ideally it should carry at least 3 kerbals and be able to launch from sea level.
Any ideas on how to do this, if at all possible?

[RoofCat]

it is not possible*.

Engines, that would do that (Eve "airbreathing", "MK4" whatever, etc.) are just bs invented by people cheating with engine stats. Eve is designed to be hard. I can edit just as easy any engine config file and call it coaxium engine - that still wouldn't make sense in KSP. Why lie to yourself?

-----
quite a few people have "done" that in the past.
It involves landing on one particulat mountain plato 5km above sea level. Just google the coordinates and build perfect ship. Also old Rhino engines helped a lot if I'm not mistaken. Not anymore. Plato is still there though. If all you need is one spot and you are fine with targeting it at landing every time, you could probably do that too. From Sea level SSTO isn't possible though afaik. No stock engines support that. And modified ones can launch you from Sun if needed. With some bs plasma drive backstory invented by some 10y.o.

[Jupiter3927]

Stock propellers might work with an engine on the back.
Propellers work in any atmosphere except the sun's for obvious reasons.
The engine is just there for the final kick into space.

Playing with glitches could get a Kraken powered engine that uses no fuel.
I have one (totally stock) but it's very weak and near uncontrollable.
It's kind of creepy actually, just hovering around KSC without making any noise...

The Infernal Robotics mod lets you add motors and pistons and all the robotic stuff to your ship.
You can use that for propellers instead of relying on stock methods.


Those vector engines work nicely on Eve and they're pretty powerful so you can make a plane with them with mining stuff and everything.
Aerospike engines work too.

[RoofCat]

Originally posted by Jupiter3927:

Stock propellers might work with an engine on the back.
Propellers work in any atmosphere except the sun's for obvious reasons.

btw, how high stock propellers work in KSP? On Kerbin for example, are there any records?


Also I just got idea it actually doesn't have to be SSTO. Eve is known for low launch speeds at start. 80..100..160m/s.

So why not have 2 stage ship that can land first stage and get the second one up to orbit?
Then land orbital half too, refuel both with local mining rover, dock them back, fuel full, adjust staging and launch again? Rinse and repeat.

[Operation40]

definitely not stock but maybe this eve jet:

https://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/index.php?/topic/158717-131145-explodium-breathing-engines-v130-jet-engines-for-use-on-eve-03-sep-2018/

they get less isp than kerbin jets

and/or linear aerospike from
https://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/index.php?/topic/145635-131-141-quiztech-aero-pack-continued/

even with those engines I haven't successfully managed to SSTO eve..

[Jupiter3927]

I think I saw someone get a stock propeller plane up to mach 1 near Kerbin's sea level.

[CalmLlama]

I've tried it, its super hard to do. Part of the issue is around stability. Most things that fly well near sea level don't fly well at high altitude.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1430931808

That thing is old, but it used to have the DV to make orbit... it just couldn't do it every time. It's super hard to fly into orbit.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=792412869

That thing works better than the plane, but its still a difficult ascent.

[arnelilleseter]

Originally posted by RoofCat:

Originally posted by Jupiter3927:

So why not have 2 stage ship that can land first stage and get the second one up to orbit?
Then land orbital half too, refuel both with local mining rover, dock them back, fuel full, adjust staging and launch again? Rinse and repeat.

I've never considered that. That's actually a good idea. I'll try it out first chance I get.