Kerbal Space Program

Kerbal Space Program

Not enough ratings
Minimalist SSTO III
   
Award
Favorite
Favorited
Unfavorite
Craft
Craft Type: Plane
File Size
Posted
104.227 KB
May 1, 2023 @ 1:44pm
1 Change Note ( view )

Subscribe to download
Minimalist SSTO III

In 1 collection by RHS | MelTdoWn
Meltdowns Minimalist Career Ships
12 items
Description
"Just a little bit more."

Low-tech stock single-stage-to-orbit plane to get one Kerbal into orbit, ideal for beginners and fresh campaigns..
This has much more range to MiSTO II, but you need additional research in Advanced Rocketry.
Requires Aerodynamics (tech level 5; 243 total science) and a pilot.
Runway level 2 is needed to launch this (75,000 Kerbucks upgrade).
Landing is still a challenge *)

MiSTO III: 2x Wheesley, 1x Swivel
Delta-v: about 650 m/s left in low Kerbin orbit
TWR: 0.95 at Kerbin sea level
Mass: 25.640 t
Price: 16,986

NOTE: there are no batteries on board, turn off SAS [T] when not in use to conserve energy! Do not transmit science!

*) The low-tech landing gear will burn away during ascent or at the latest during reentry; therefore you need to use a parachute to land. Open service bay before parachute deployment.

Launch procedure (KSC - Kerbin Orbit)
- Launch from SPH, assign a pilot
- In bottom left corner switch from stage view to maneuver view, this shows your apoapsis height
- [T] Engage SAS (you need a pilot for this)
- [Stage 2] Start rolling
- Take off at speed of about 90 m/s
- Start climbing very slowly, heading 90°
- Try to keep angle of attack as flat as possible while still climbing
- At about 400 m/s stop fiddling with controls as this will cause drag
- [Stage 1] Engage Swivel at 7.5k altitude
- Pitch up gently into 10° climb
- At about 27 km altitude you can start to point prograde and throttle down a little
- Keep burning prograde until your apoapsis is above the atmosphere (70 km)
- Keep pointed prograde after burn to reduce drag
- Wait with circularization burn until you are almost at apoapsis (climb rate ~ 10 m/s)
- Burn prograde until periapsis is above 70 km
- [T] Disengage SAS to conserve energy

Reentry procedure (Kerbin Orbit - KSC)
- Wait in orbit until you are on the opposite side of KSC
- [T] Engage SAS
- Turn so that you are pointed retrograde
- Do gentle burn until your periapsis is at 38.5 km
- [T] Disengage SAS to conserve energy
- Wait until you hit the atmosphere
- [T] Engage SAS and point radial out to increase drag, heading 90°
- Keep pointed at ~ 45° until ~ 38 km altitude
- Burn off landing gear
- At ~ 35 km SAS will be overwhelmed, pitch to prograde before this
- When you are slow and low enough the Wheesleys will function again
- Open service bay, parachute is inside to reduce drag
- [Stage 0] Deploy parachute at ~ 150m above runway
- Touchdown! (Some parts might get destroyed)