(Pt 1/2)
After a lot of work and even more frustration (dealing with niche unknown interactions that virtually never matter but ruin this build when not properly managed is not fun), I finally have another low mass record to present. Here is the low mass Venus return, vanilla noclip without part breakage, ion engines, or old parts.
This is one of the most cursed builds yet, and it's equally difficult to use. The ascent portion consists of the drop tank (the long fuel tank on the right side), the first stage (the part on the bottom with 2 valiants), and the second stage(the part on the top with 1 valiant). The remaining parts are the orbiter (just above the first stage), the lander (middle left), and the lander's Venus transfer tank (the small tank below stage 2).
To begin the ascent, the engines from stage 1, stage 2, and the orbiter all turn on. Fuel is transferred to all 3 of these sections by the drop tank. Juggling 3 different fuel transfers while performing a high thrust ascent is no walk in the park
.
Once the drop tank runs dry, it is precariously staged off, using a fast clear debris to not destroy everything. The first stage then takes over transferring fuel to the other 2 running stages.
Once the first stage runs out, the hard part of the ascent is over, as the fuel managing is done and the gravity turn becomes the only focus. The second stage transfers fuel to the orbiter engine without any extra input.
The second stage takes the remaining rocket most of the way to orbit, but it is not quite enough. Luckily, the orbiter doesn't need a full tank to perform it's later function.
After a tiny transfer of 1% fuel from the lander's Venus transfer tank to the orbiter, the lander and orbiter sections split apart.
After waiting for a Venus transfer in the right place, the lander stage begins the trans-Venus burn. This maneuver is split in half because of the low TWR, and also to prevent the heat shield below the lander's engine from melting.
Once the lander reaches the SOI of Venus, it performs a small correction with the last of the transfer tank's fuel.
The empty tank is then staged off, and the Venus descent begins. The periapsis was finely tuned to allow the lander to reach a very important location.
After a fiery descent, the lander pitches sideways to control it's drag to pinpoint the landing zone. Even the smallest miss means it will never return. Luckily, the lander descends straight over the small summit, the highest point on Venus. The parachute gently brings it to a touchdown, before being ditched with the heat shield for the next challenging step.
(Continued)
After a lot of work and even more frustration (dealing with niche unknown interactions that virtually never matter but ruin this build when not properly managed is not fun), I finally have another low mass record to present. Here is the low mass Venus return, vanilla noclip without part breakage, ion engines, or old parts.
This is one of the most cursed builds yet, and it's equally difficult to use. The ascent portion consists of the drop tank (the long fuel tank on the right side), the first stage (the part on the bottom with 2 valiants), and the second stage(the part on the top with 1 valiant). The remaining parts are the orbiter (just above the first stage), the lander (middle left), and the lander's Venus transfer tank (the small tank below stage 2).
To begin the ascent, the engines from stage 1, stage 2, and the orbiter all turn on. Fuel is transferred to all 3 of these sections by the drop tank. Juggling 3 different fuel transfers while performing a high thrust ascent is no walk in the park
.
Once the drop tank runs dry, it is precariously staged off, using a fast clear debris to not destroy everything. The first stage then takes over transferring fuel to the other 2 running stages.
Once the first stage runs out, the hard part of the ascent is over, as the fuel managing is done and the gravity turn becomes the only focus. The second stage transfers fuel to the orbiter engine without any extra input.
The second stage takes the remaining rocket most of the way to orbit, but it is not quite enough. Luckily, the orbiter doesn't need a full tank to perform it's later function.
After a tiny transfer of 1% fuel from the lander's Venus transfer tank to the orbiter, the lander and orbiter sections split apart.
After waiting for a Venus transfer in the right place, the lander stage begins the trans-Venus burn. This maneuver is split in half because of the low TWR, and also to prevent the heat shield below the lander's engine from melting.
Once the lander reaches the SOI of Venus, it performs a small correction with the last of the transfer tank's fuel.
The empty tank is then staged off, and the Venus descent begins. The periapsis was finely tuned to allow the lander to reach a very important location.
After a fiery descent, the lander pitches sideways to control it's drag to pinpoint the landing zone. Even the smallest miss means it will never return. Luckily, the lander descends straight over the small summit, the highest point on Venus. The parachute gently brings it to a touchdown, before being ditched with the heat shield for the next challenging step.
(Continued)
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