"Should we really build one?"
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A planned successor for the SFA’s OODV, XSSTO is basically a reusable delivery vehicle intended to be operated in any typical aircraft runways. It has two cargo bays with one reserved for the docker module for Space Station Alpha. The spacecraft uses four MOX engines with two behind the fuselage. The spacecraft has also an extended wing profile for better in-atmosphere performance and better aero braking surface.
The XSSTO was intended to be a 7 engine monster capable of lifting a projected 20 metric tons to LEO with the use of four afterburning jet engines for gathering of speed in the upper atmospheric first before launching the KOX fueled engines to LEO. Unfortunately the KOX engines can not provide enough ?V to get above of sub orbital velocity. The use of MOX was better but still cannot reach sufficient velocities for LEO. The change of the jet engines to MOX has a theoretical ?V performance that through simulation, can reach LEO easily.
Unfortunately, the only prototype crashed mostly intact due to a programming error but the whole project was put on hold indefinitely
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Standard Aircraft Controls
AG1:
AG2:
AG3: Gyroscope
AG4: LowerMOX engines activation group
AG5: HigherMOX engines activation group
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GENERAL INFO
- Created On: iOS
- Game Version: 0.8.102.0
- Price: $37,840k
- Number of Parts: 182
- Dimensions: 9 m x 25 m x 34 m
PERFORMANCE
- Total Delta V: 3.3km/s
- Total Thrust: 9.1MN
- Engines: 4
- Wet Mass: 2.12E+5kg
- Dry Mass: -7,039kg
STAGES
| Stage | Engines | Delta V | Thrust | Burn | Mass |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 1.7km/s | 3.3MN | 83s | 2.12E+5kg |
| 2 | 2 | 1.7km/s | 5.8MN | 47s | 2.12E+5kg |
Not nearly enough delta V to get into orbit. What you have to understand is that a jet engine is essentially a rocket that makes use of a planet’s atmosphere for its oxidizer tank. Hence having a impulse ten times higher. Because of that instead of requiring 5 tons of fuel it can use merely 500kg to much the same effect. The inboard methalox engines can be kept while the outboard engines can siphon their fuel from the fuel tanks they can be connected to, which can have jet fuel in them.