KSP - Probe to orbit in 462 kg

I flew this mission a while ago and never got around to making a video. Recently I remembered this, improved the design a bit, and put this together.
This craft made it to orbit on my first try with a good amount of margin, so there's absolutely room for improvement. Iterating on this design can probably go as low as 425 kg with a good ascent profile. The engine ignition with the propeller still attached is intentional - the prop still produces a bit of thrust, so I might as well use it for a few extra m/s of delta-v. Also, this makes stage separation a lot more consistent.
Previous record was 543 kg by ZG Alpaca.
Music: Dance With The Dead - There's a Storm Coming

[@demariultraastra864]

I honestly can't believe you have so little subscribers, you've been pushing the limits of this game so much it's incredible!

[@manhhoanguc837]

I think its because the fan base of the game is not that large and is dying rn?

[@JakobB-hn9wd]

Very impressive!!

[@NickBDesigns]

Impressive work
I love that high altitude launcher

[@AndiePlaysGames]

Great video! I really enjoy watching you push the absolute limits of what is possible in KSP.

[@le_biblioteker9191]

And im here doing big ass rocket just for LKO with always thousand of delta V left because i think it look cool

[@mephisto8101]

Congrats to a new Kerbin record!

[@CheeseVRC]

Really creative!

[@littlebitmoreksp]

immensely impressive stuff!

[@radufieroiu4725]

Very good design, why not offset the propellers further for more higher spinning speed?

[@proxima_fish]

I'm limited by the power generation of that tiny solar panel, and a wider prop needs more torque (and therefore more power) for the same rpm. This was a good compromise between max altitude and power consumption.

[@minerscale]

@@proxima_fish How did you decide on the pitch of the blades?

[@proxima_fish]

@@minerscale I found in previous missions that 15 degrees pitch seemed to work pretty well, so I used that here. Maybe that's not optimal but it works.

[@minerscale]

@@proxima_fish Neat! Love the videos by the way :)

[@loveskngm31hstsdaily1]

someone call bradley

[@andreybushev3020]

Did you try to get horizontal momentum with it before staging? Maybe ion engine next?

[@matthewligon4386]

I thought that less than 1ton was impossible

[@linecraftman3907]

proxley fishtance out here breaking records, well done!!!!!!! Is using a motor lighter than spinning the whole craft with SAS?

[@proxima_fish]

Spinning the entire craft has the disadvantage that it's completely uncontrollable. Non-DLC props/bearings could work but are too heavy.

[@bravoalpha101st]

HOW

[@heavygaming007]

do you have the restock mod? if so that can lower mass of some parts, but it is still a record even if you have restock

[@proxima_fish]

Restock doesn't change part masses, but it does modify drag cubes of certain parts. Restock+ is the one that changes the parts more invasively. I don't use either one.
I remember an incident a while back when VAOS had to issue a correction after flying a low mass record using Restock. Are you thinking of that?

[@heavygaming007]

@@proxima_fish ​ yes, that was what i was thinking of, thank you for the correction

[@leonardobonanno5115]

Yes I remember of that incident, but VAOS was honest about it and made a second video using only stock parts. This was like 1 year ago, my record was about 840kg but your design is so much better, great job!​@@proxima_fish

[@25usd94]

Wat

[@Earthmoon373]

Unbelievable sfuff
But wait KSP1?
Almost everyone has switched to KSP2
But great one in less than 30 minutes

[@proxima_fish]

If you look at player counts, barely anyone switched to KSP 2, and now that the game is confirmed dead most will probably switch back.

[@Earthmoon373]

Oh yeah
Even Spacechip come to KSP1 I completely forgot about that