"KR-71 Inspire" SSTO with Cargo *Stock Parts Only

Description

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This is my first share.  This is also one of the few planes I have build that has been a successful SSTO.  I wanted a plane that incorporated the major parts of what a real live shuttle should have.  So it has the cockpit, crew module, docking module, and cargo bay.  The plane was designed without any intentional clipping of parts.  There is a lot of intakes, but there are also 6 engines, so I don't think it is air-hogging.

In the cargo bay, is an untested lander.  My desire was to create a realistic zero-lost-part-round-trip to Mun or Minmus using a SSTO  orbiter that would take a small lander into orbit.  The lander would then go to the Mun or Minmus, land, then return and dock with the plane.  The plane would then de-orbit and return to the launch center.  I wanted to open this up for everyone to try and possibly share their results and improvements.

The plane is inspired by the real SR-71 Blackbird in it's styling, but has many more engines.  This plan has elevons on the front of the wings to increase lift.  This plane will lift off around 140m/s.  Once in the air, it will climb about 90m/s until it reaches higher speed. Engines will switch to close cycle around 23,000m.

For takeoff,

1. Enable SAS.  (I have flown this without SAS, but since Center of Lift and center of Gravity are almost the same, the ship will easily flip)
2. Engage engines to full throttle (no need to hold brakes)
3. Once ship reaches 100m/s start pulling back to lift off
4. Around 140m/s the front wheels will lift up.  Hold a steady angle.  Do not pull back too much as the rear engines will hit the ground. The plane will smoothly lift off before the end of the runway.
5. Once in the air, gradually raise the nose to 25 degrees.
6. Climb to around 17,000m, and you will start experiencing plasma trails. 

I am not an expert at this, but I will try to level out around 20,000m and increase velocity to the max and slowly climb to 23,000 meters until the engines switch to close cycle.  then I will raise the nose to 45 degrees and climb until my apoapsis is 80Km. Once the ship climbs out of the dense atmosphere, I will define the orbit node and final burn.  There is generally more than enough fuel to deorbit and perform a controlled landing.

About Project

Created: January 8th 2024

Updated: January 8th 2024

Project ID: 54230

License: All Rights Reserved

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Game Versions:

1.01.03

1.01.03

1.01.03

1.01.03

1.01.03

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