Difference between revisions of "Learstar A1"

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m (Possible Improvements: Forgot tons... Okay, I just forgot the weight savings. Also edited a bit for clarity.)
 
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The '''Learstar A1''' is a [[stock craft]] that resembles the [[w:Space Shuttle|Space Shuttle]]. It is recommended to tweak the thrust of the orbiter's main engines to 60% and tweak down the thrust of the [[Kerbodyne KR-2L Advanced Engine|Kerbodyne KR-2L]] engine at the bottom of the large fuel tank during the flight as fuel is being drawn from the tank.
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[[File:Learstar A1.jpg|thumb|right|On the launchpad...]]
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The '''Learstar A1''' is a [[stock craft]] that uses the Spaceplane Plus parts and was added into KSP 0.25. It resembles the [[w:Space Shuttle|Space Shuttle]] or [[w:Buran (spacecraft)|Buran]]. It is one of the three space shuttles included in stock.
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== Craft Description ==
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{{Quote|SSTO is overrated, payload capability and comfortable seats are all the rage these days.|Squad}}
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== Capabilities ==
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In [[0.25]] and [[0.90]], the Learstar had 6.4 km/s of delta-V when empty, or enough capacity to lift about 40 tons into low Kerbin orbit.  In [[1.0]], it had 5.9 km/s of delta-V when empty, or enough capacity to lift about 75 tons into LKO.  (The reduction in delta-V was outweighed by the reduction in delta-V required to make LKO by the aerodynamic update.)
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== Possible Improvements==
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* It is recommended to tweak the thrust of the orbiter's main engines to 60%. During flight, tweak down the thrust of the huge [[Kerbodyne KR-2L Advanced Engine|KR-2L "Rhino"]] engine because its power increases dramatically with altitude even as the weight of the fuel it has to lift decreases.
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* Replace the "Rhino" engine with an engine more suitable for launch from sea level. Compared to the Rhino, [[RE-M3 "Mainsail" Liquid Fuel Engine|RE-M3 "Mainsail"]] offers 114% power on the launchpad & 75% in vacuum while saving 3 tonnes. [[S3 KS-25 "Vector" Liquid Fuel Engine|S3 KS-25 "Vector"]] offers 78% & 50%, saving 5 tonnes. [[RE-I5 "Skipper" Liquid Fuel Engine|RE-I5 "Skipper"]] offers 47% & 33%, saving 6 tonnes.
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== Changes ==
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For [[1.0]], all of the engines' thrust and specific impulses were adjusted to balance them against the improved aerodynamics.  To compensate, its [[S1 SRB-KD25k]] solid rocket boosters were doubled.
  
 
{{Stock craft}}
 
{{Stock craft}}
 
[[Category:Stock craft]]
 
[[Category:Stock craft]]

Latest revision as of 10:06, 23 April 2021

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On the launchpad...

The Learstar A1 is a stock craft that uses the Spaceplane Plus parts and was added into KSP 0.25. It resembles the Space Shuttle or Buran. It is one of the three space shuttles included in stock.

Craft Description

SSTO is overrated, payload capability and comfortable seats are all the rage these days.

Squad

Capabilities

In 0.25 and 0.90, the Learstar had 6.4 km/s of delta-V when empty, or enough capacity to lift about 40 tons into low Kerbin orbit. In 1.0, it had 5.9 km/s of delta-V when empty, or enough capacity to lift about 75 tons into LKO. (The reduction in delta-V was outweighed by the reduction in delta-V required to make LKO by the aerodynamic update.)

Possible Improvements

  • It is recommended to tweak the thrust of the orbiter's main engines to 60%. During flight, tweak down the thrust of the huge KR-2L "Rhino" engine because its power increases dramatically with altitude even as the weight of the fuel it has to lift decreases.
  • Replace the "Rhino" engine with an engine more suitable for launch from sea level. Compared to the Rhino, RE-M3 "Mainsail" offers 114% power on the launchpad & 75% in vacuum while saving 3 tonnes. S3 KS-25 "Vector" offers 78% & 50%, saving 5 tonnes. RE-I5 "Skipper" offers 47% & 33%, saving 6 tonnes.

Changes

For 1.0, all of the engines' thrust and specific impulses were adjusted to balance them against the improved aerodynamics. To compensate, its S1 SRB-KD25k solid rocket boosters were doubled.