I prefer to keep ships specialized, so my SSTOs just get passengers and cargo to Kerbin’s space station right above the atmosphere. Then another craft can take it from there.
In stock you can make a working SSTO with one RAPIER engine, a fuel tank, monoprop tank, some intakes and a rocket capsule. Last time I flew this configuration I would get to altitude with about 5% fuel remaining, do circularization, station rendezvous, and deorbiting with monoprop, and then land tail-down on that last sip of fuel.
SSTOs (spaceplanes) are the final boss of KSP. Landing your first one will take at least 100 quick save/loads.
Edit: Planes are probably just as hard. I never flew regular planes because I skipped straight to spaceplanes.
I’ll just keep researching KSPI nuclear engines until I can do propulsive SSTOs
You mean one that can fly in space too?
I prefer to keep ships specialized, so my SSTOs just get passengers and cargo to Kerbin’s space station right above the atmosphere. Then another craft can take it from there.
I mean ones that don’t rely on that “lift” nonsense and get to the orbital transfer station through good honest thrust to weight ratio over 1
In stock you can make a working SSTO with one RAPIER engine, a fuel tank, monoprop tank, some intakes and a rocket capsule. Last time I flew this configuration I would get to altitude with about 5% fuel remaining, do circularization, station rendezvous, and deorbiting with monoprop, and then land tail-down on that last sip of fuel.