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ES-96 PYTHON

ES-96 PYTHON (European Spacecraft model 96, PaYload Transport to High Orbit and returN) is a heavylift cargo SSTO spaceplane. It can easily deliever 55t payload to 500x500km orbit. If loaded with smaller payload together with extra fuel, it can even deliever the payload to Munar orbit and return to Kerbin, although it’s always more efficient to include a specialized vacuum transfer stage for missions beyond LKO.

- Skylon-ish + lifting body design grants balanced and almost constant CoM + good amount of body lift and extra fuel
- Decent maneuverablity and stability during the entire mission
- Comes with a 55t refueling module as example payload
- 850m/s dV @ 85x85km, 1400m/s dV after payload release
- 380m/s dV @ 500x500km, 630m/s dV after payload release
- Can survive aerobraking reentry from Munar orbit
- No atomic engines, risk-free reentry.

- This is originally just a testbed for the engine blocks, turns out to be quite a useful cargo spaceplane itself. Good for lazy and routine delieveries.
- Its avionics, batteries and reaction wheels are all contained in the two shock cones.
- The spaceplane itself doens’t have RCS and docking system, it’s only designed as a cargo lifter. Add them if necessary.
- Tech tree too high? The rear aerospikes mount can be replaced with its lower tier counterpart, and the large main landing gear can be replaced with medium ones.

In short: Rotate at 150m/s (usually near the end of KSC runway) and 5 Degrees to Space!

- Keep a 5 degrees (+/-5 degrees) pitch during the entire ascent. (Suggestions welcome!)
- Once airspeed hardly increases (>1500m/s), fire aerospikes and switch RAPIERs mode [AG1]
- Push AP to desired value, cut throttle, shut down all engines [AG0], then activate orbital propulsion engines only [AG2] for circularization.
- Activate fuel cell [AG9] if necessary. Its consumption is quite negligible (1 m/s dV in a few days) so I used this instead of solar panels.
- Burn PE to 40km above target zone for aerobraking landing.
- Use 10-30 degrees pitch to glide further as a waverider, higher pitch to brake harder.

Wish you enjoy and happy landings!

100% Stock, 151 parts (including example payload). Root part is the long cargo bay.