Completely absurd and unrealistic Heavy-Lift rocket

[SupremeDorian]

So I decided to make a heavy lift rocket without launchpad assembly, and it looks a bit odd.

The tested payload is about 403 Tonnes to LEO, though it would probably be more effective if the payload is a little lighter. Anyway, here's the rocket in all its glory:

And here's the second stage in orbit:

As I said, completely ridiculous. Post your thoughts here.

 

[TtTOtW]

You must have 450ish tons in there...

 

[SupremeDorian]

Here's the test payload for anyone curious

 

[TtTOtW]

510t... very impressive!

 

[SupremeDorian]

510t... very impressive!

Thank you! I'm going to attempt to use this for a manned mission to Venus and back.

 

[TtTOtW]

Should be interesting. Looking forward

 

[SupremeDorian]

Hmmm..

 

[Horus Lupercal]

Is this the 'go big or go home' thread?

 

[TtTOtW]

Pretty much yes

 

[SupremeDorian]

Thank you! I'm going to attempt to use this for a manned mission to Venus and back.

By the way, I did it like an hour ago now but I haven't posted it due to low battery.

 

[Horus Lupercal]

Well, if we;re going bold, may I humbly enter The Ark.

I know there`s bigger out there, but this is the biggest I can manage without going mental with the boosters and overlapping engines .bp style.

Tallest

Heaviest to LEO

The first is my 200+m tall Ganymede rover expedition (600t payload) the next is my station fuel blocks which are 623t apiece without the stage (200t dry, +80/100t fuel remaining. Total, just shy of 900tons). Launch weight is about 4600/4700tons Both of which can be put to 100km orbit

The numbers for nerds...

 

[SupremeDorian]

Well, if we;re going bold, may I humbly enter The Ark.

I know there`s bigger out there, but this is the biggest I can manage without going mental with the boosters and overlapping engines .bp style.

Tallest
View attachment 11837

Heaviest to LEO
View attachment 11838

The first is my 200+m tall Ganymede rover expedition (600t payload) the next is my station fuel blocks which are 623t apiece without the stage (200t dry, +80/100t fuel remaining. Total, just shy of 900tons). Launch weight is about 4600/4700tons Both of which can be put to 100km orbit

View attachment 11835

The numbers for nerds...

Or if you want one that doesn't require launchpad assembly, look no further than mine.

 

[Horus Lupercal]

Or if you want one that doesn't require launchpad assembly, look no further than mine.

If you're not assembling with zero g for an absurd sized rocket launch, you're not trying hard enough...

 

[TtTOtW]

If you're not assembling with zero g for an absurd sized rocket launch, you're not trying hard enough...

Hahaha! Sharper than a katana my man!

 

[SupremeDorian]

By the way, this is easily the most capable rocket i've ever made. Easy to use for how useful it is, too.

 

[SupremeDorian]

Here's the test payload for anyone curious
View attachment 11829

It occurs to me that I could probably modify that payload to be a huge refueling station rather easily.

 

[Horus Lupercal]

It occurs to me that I could probably modify that payload to be a huge refueling station rather easily.

Overlap the tanks, put it on top of an ion drive system and park them in random places in the solar system as a stop off point/refuel tanker

 

[SupremeDorian]

Overlap the tanks, put it on top of an ion drive system and park them in random places in the solar system as a stop off point/refuel tanker

By overlap the tanks do you just mean dock them together?

 

[Horus Lupercal]

By overlap the tanks do you just mean dock them together?

Nah, re-align/design the tanks so they overlap so you have one big one to draw from rather than 3 separate tanks

 

[Horus Lupercal]

Sort of like these, they're over 2 giant tanks wide (550 ish tons of fuel) but you can pull the entire capacity out in one hit

 

[SupremeDorian]

View attachment 11875

Sort of like these, they're over 2 giant tanks wide (550 ish tons of fuel) but you can pull the entire capacity out in one hit

Problem is, that wouldn't work with my design because of lack of fairing space.

 

[Horus Lupercal]

Problem is, that wouldn't work with my design because of lack of fairing space.

Don't need them, make the tanks aerodynamic in shape and throw some pointy bits at the front

 

[SupremeDorian]

Don't need them, make the tanks aerodynamic in shape and throw some pointy bits at the front

i keep forgetting aerodynamics is broken in this game

 

[Horus Lupercal]

Here's how those on the space station looked at take-off. Then you can just pull the nose when you hit 30km

 

[SupremeDorian]

View attachment 11879

Here's how those on the space station looked at take-off. Then you can just pull the nose when you hit 30km

I could give it a shot, but a design like that might be too tall for my rocket without resorting to launchpad assembly, which frankly is a pain to do. Anyway, I gotta head to bed. G'night.