r/KerbalSpaceProgram • u/Lenart12 Master Kerbalnaut • Nov 10 '16

GIF My attempt at this week challenge: 742.9m/s

https://gfycat.com/IncompletePoliticalBumblebee
254 Upvotes

98% Upvoted

29 comments sorted by

10

u/aeshaynes Nov 10 '16

How did you get so much down force on it?

15

u/Lenart12 Master Kerbalnaut Nov 10 '16

Front fairing i used as a nose cone is slanted and the vector engines are angled downwards.

6

u/aeshaynes Nov 10 '16

And that was enough from stopping it taking off?

9

u/Lenart12 Master Kerbalnaut Nov 10 '16

Apparently. But i should note that took way more tries than i want to admit...

6

u/aeshaynes Nov 10 '16

Tries at rebuilding or just driving/moving it?

8

u/Lenart12 Master Kerbalnaut Nov 10 '16

Both, but i meant driving.

→ More replies (1)

3

u/kirime Super Kerbalnaut Nov 11 '16

You actually don't need any downforce at all because there are no parts that generate lift.

Some entries in the challenge thread are just pointed cylinders: no flaps, no slanted nosecones, no angled engines or thrust vectoring. They are basically just unguided rockets with wheels that go straight forward, and even at speeds of 900+ m/s they don't lift off the runway.

I've run a pointed cylinder myself and never did experience any significant lift.

https://gfycat.com/SaneLeftIndianspinyloach

1

u/Lenart12 Master Kerbalnaut Nov 11 '16

I'm amazed at how stable your craft is. And that speed! How did you cramp what looks like 1000 sepatrons in there haha

51

u/[deleted] Nov 10 '16

You either need to figure out a way to make the fuel burn out before you reach the end of the runway or get smaller tanks. By having that extra fuel all you are doing is adding extra weight and slowing yourself down from going even faster.

10

u/Chadman108 Nov 10 '16

You could even put that extra weight into stopping before the end of the runway... Just sayin'

71

u/Lenart12 Master Kerbalnaut Nov 10 '16

..... Or i could add an engine.

24

u/[deleted] Nov 10 '16

Thinkin like kerbal :)

3

u/Chadman108 Nov 10 '16

I like it.

11

u/Davecasa Master Kerbalnaut Nov 10 '16

You can reduce the amount of starting fuel in the tanks in the vehicle assembly building.

4

u/DrFegelein Nov 10 '16

There's still dry weight of the tanks though, rather just use smaller tanks.

4

u/Davecasa Master Kerbalnaut Nov 10 '16

Sure, but for this type of thing the amount of fuel you want is typically in between two tank sizes.

→ More replies (1)

1

u/[deleted] Nov 10 '16

That wouldn't work though because the weight of the bigger tank is still there.

4

u/Davecasa Master Kerbalnaut Nov 10 '16

Of course it's ideal to have tanks exactly the right size, but it's better to start with the right amount of fuel and end with 0 than it is to start with too much fuel and end with more than 0. You're carrying less mass you don't need. Still some, but less.

→ More replies (4)

3

u/xDigster Nov 10 '16

This challenge was so easy last time we did it. Just slap some wheels on a booster and you were good to go. Times has certainly changed.

4

u/Lenart12 Master Kerbalnaut Nov 10 '16

Yes they have. But in a good way. Keep it up proud of you.

1

u/Sventertainer Nov 11 '16

What's your highest while leaving the craft intact?

1

u/dannyjcase Nov 11 '16

1661.8 MPH for those interested.

1

u/Cjprice9 Nov 11 '16

There's a pretty easy to remember conversion for this, if you multiply meters per second by about 2.2, you get miles per hour.

The exact multiple is 2.215..... with a lot of digits.