If there was a competition or a show and tell of "if you have to get 50t / 100,000lbs to Low Droo Orbit, how do you do it?", this might be my submission.
Launch cost from Ali Pad: $24.6 million
Booster Recovery: $14.3 million
Total cost: $10.3 million
--Upper stage is also recoverable, which would bring this down further, below $10m for 50t to orbit. It's a good benchmark. I know it can be beaten by some margin, because this isn't my best.
Yup, kerolox pixies do have the thrust. TWR is perfect. And you can't argue with their cost or ISP. Sure I like meth too, it feels modern and trendy -- blue flame -- but rockets are not sports cars or art. A rocket must never be designed for looks, only performance. It's a tool for a job. So on this craft we go kerolox.
Yes, there are solar panels. Wait until you're outside atmosphere. (I'm confident the parachute on the upper stage is enough, but between you and me I've never landed it.)
Once the upper stage circularises, swap to booster and lock prograde. There is heat shielding on the interstage, but it's not necessary with the flight path you get with 50t on board.
Recovery from an Ali Pad launch is so good because it comes down just south of the DSC. It's super close. It's this nerdy efficiency that I aim for.
Yes, that's a light shining from inside the interstage.
GENERAL INFO
- Created On: Windows
- Game Version: 1.3.204.1
- Price: $19,351k
- Number of Parts: 45
- Dimensions: 50 m x 6 m x 6 m
PERFORMANCE
- Total Delta V: 5.4km/s
- Total Thrust: 5.6MN
- Engines: 10
- Wet Mass: 3.47E+5kg
- Dry Mass: 73,950kg
STAGES
| Stage | Engines | Delta V | Thrust | Burn | Mass |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7 | 2.9km/s | 4.7MN | 2.3m | 3.47E+5kg |
| 2 | 3 | 2.5km/s | 817kN | 4.3m | 1.17E+5kg |
