How to design heavy lifter rocket
I'm building a space station that will make a trip to Jool, collect science from its moons and return. Here is my reusable science module (2600kg):
I tested my Laythe lander in Kerbin. The lander was able to leave Kerbin and stay in orbit with 2600m/s left in the tank. This is the lander with the science module:
8 tanks in asparagus around a nuke + science head, total of 56000kg
The problem is, I can't manage to bring this module to the space station!
I already tried many configurations, including sending the science module first and then the other part, but they all failed. Here is my last failed attempt:
What kind of configuration for a lifter would make me able to bring this 56000Kg to my space station?
Note about KSP configuration:
- Running 1.0.5
- Only MOD installed is the Kerbal Engineer Redux 1.0.19.4
- All techs except: High performance fuel, Aerospace tech, advanced unmanned and heavy landing.
Best Answer
I got the idea to add the lifters below the payload rockets after watching Scott Manley video. And thanks for the great hint from @PTwr to empty the fuel tanks
Here is the solution:
- Empty the tanks of your payload. Refuel them later when they are already in orbit.
Asparagus is great to send the ship above 30Km before starting to turn the ship. Doing that before will cause the ship to lose control.
T1 "Dart" did not give enough torque. The best fit here was RE-I5 "Skipper".
Structure to give enough space between one fuel tank to another. Otherwise, during the separation, they may (will) touch the engines and destroy them.
- Finally, a lot of EAS-4 Strut Connector or the payload will wobble like crazy.
NOTE: In this very specific case, the science module is a reusable detachable part, so it should be delivered separated from the rest of the body. It would spare an extra 2.5 tons from the entire payload.
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Answer 2
Empty the fuel tanks of the last stage and launch it into a low Kerbin orbit.
Then launch a second rocket which is just a large fuel tank, dock it with your first stage and use it to fuel it.
You can also launch and attach additional fuel tanks to it. You can then drop these one after another during the mission as soon as they are empty.
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