FM1 "Mite" Solid Fuel Booster

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FM1 "Mite" Solid Fuel Booster
Part image
Solid rocket booster by
Kerbodyne

Radial size Tiny, Radial mounted
Cost (total) 75.00 Funds
(dry) 51.00 Funds
Mass (total) 0.38 t
(dry) 0.08 t
Drag 0.2-0.3
Max. Temp. 2200 K
Volume  ?
Impact Tolerance 7 m/s
Research Propulsion systems.png Propulsion Systems
Unlock cost 1 200 Funds
Since version 1.8
Part configuration SolidBoosterFM1.cfg
Solid rocket booster
Maximum thrust (1 atm) 11.01 kN
(vacuum) 12.50 kN
Isp (1 atm) 185 s
(vacuum) 210 s
Fuel consumption 0.81 Units of fuel/s


Thrust vectoring No
Fuel 40.0 Units of fuel
Burn time (1 atm) 43.5 s
(vacuum) 49.4 s

The FM1 "Mite" Solid Fuel Booster is a the smallest conventional solid rocket booster, at just 1.8m tall with a diameter of 0.625m. Its name references its tiny size.

A pilot riding atop a single booster and probe core

Usage

The Mite provides too little thrust and impulse for most practical uses. In Career or Science mode games, it is hampered by its relatively deep position at Level 5 of the tech tree. It is unlocked well after much more effective boosters such as the Hammer, and by the time it is unlocked, the player is likely to have moved on from the kinds of short-range missions on Kerbin which this little booster could effectively help with.

It can be used to push stages away from a craft after they are decoupled, like the Sepratron, but the Sepratron actually has more thrust, at less than a fifth the mass. For separation, the Mite's much longer burn time isn't an advantage.

It may still be useful as a booster or cheap second stage for very, very small craft. The Shrimp is a more powerful alternative for these uses.

On a less practical note, like most other solid rocket boosters, it can also be used as an unreliable missile.

Product description

Solid fuel boosters come in a range of sizes and this one is distinctly on the low end of the scale. The Mite is still useful for many space programs that want a tiny kick motor to plant their probes firmly on the right trajectory, or just a bit more oomph to get their craft off the ground.

Kerbodyne

Changes

1.8
  • Initial Release