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X-94 "Comet Tail" SSTO

Aug 30, 2019 Notice:
This is a rather old design of mine. Please check for modernized version:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1752435309
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Fully functional easy-to-fly 4-seat SSTO powered by one single RAPIER engine!

Inspired by some waverider-type hypersonic vehicles, this spaceplane is tailored for fast and easy LKO crew shuttle missions, orbital rescue operations and space tourism.


730dV @ 85x85km
500dV @ 250x250km
350dV after deorbit burn (250x40km aerobrake reentry path)
With >100 Units of Liquid Fuel left for possible atmospheric flight.
(But it glides like a dream with its flaps, powered landing is often not necessary.)



The X-94 is pretty stable without control input (with SAS of course), yet agile (more or less) with control input.
-Take-off speed (Vr): 90m/s
-Keep nose between 5-10 degrees for optimal acceleration.
-Climb to 20000m.
-If all goes well, it should be roaring at 1500m/s now. Try to keep a 10 degrees pitch. RAPIER begins to lose power.
-Wait for it to reach 25000m, then press 1 to switch RAPIER mode.
-Aim for prograde to avoid high AoA due to thrust offset.
-Raise AP to >80km and maintain. Kiss atmosphere goodbye.
-When doing the circularization burn, aim for maneuver and do it gently. (Keep the thrust offset in mind!)
-Recommend to use <30% thrust when in space.
-During reentry, pitch to >45 degrees and let SAS maintain it.
-Engage airbrakes and deploy flaps (hotkey: 3).
-It is stable and controllable during the entire flight thanks to balanced and constant CoM.
-Flaps are binded to the Landing Gears action group (G) and the hotkey 3. This is very helpful for take-off, landing and gliding.
-After touchdown, deploy drag chute by Spacebar.
-When landing on water, deploy flaps and airbrakes, glide above water, gently splash down as slow as possible (tested at <60m/s) with some AoA (let the tail splash down first).


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100% Stock
Parts count: 71
Weight: 17.1t

I'm quite satisfied with this craft, especially compared to my expansiver, complexer and overpowered X-88 DART. That thing carries 6 and goes beyond LKO, but actually I'm not sure if a relatively small Kerbin-based SSTO should be designed for long journeys at all. The features for atmospheric flight and heat-resistance seem to be waste of dV on the rest of the way, especially for smaller crafts. But that's just my idea - besides, those larger all-in-one SSTO interplanetary ships certainly have their unique charm.

Hope you enjoy this cutie as well. Happy landings!