Triskelion — Automated Playtest

model: displacement (chain) — dv = ve·ln(total/(dry+cargo))

ALL CLEAR

missions pass

missions fail

design findings

data bugs

KeroloxHydroloxMethaloxSolidHypergolicNuclearIon∥ parallel · sub-grid

Numbers audit CLEAN

24 engines · 139 push-strip rows recomputed from the rocket equation.

10 cards round dry mass to tokens (expected — dry mass is a sub-ladder dial)

HEAVY HYDROLOX UPPER: shows 20t for 13t dry
HYPERGOLIC TRANSFER STAGE: shows 10t for 6t dry
MARS ASCENT VEHICLE: shows 40t for 4t dry
LIGHT DESCENT ENGINE: shows 10t for 2t dry
KEROLOX BOOSTER: shows 40t for 20t dry
HYDROLOX UPPER: shows 10t for 3t dry
NUCLEAR ENGINE: shows 20t for 18t dry
ION ENGINE: shows 10t for 12t dry
SOLID KICK MOTOR: shows 10t for 2.5t dry
KEROLOX SUSTAINER: shows 20t for 12t dry

Apollo 11 — land on the Moon and return (Apollo cards only)

PASS

19 dv delivered needs 18 dv +1 dv margin 👨‍🚀 2 mo · 1 Consumables

stage (bottom → top)	cargo	dv	leg
HEAVY KEROLOX BOOSTER K3	480t	4	surface → +4
HEAVY HYDROLOX CORE H3	120t	5	+4 → LEO (9)
HEAVY HYDROLOX UPPER H2	40t	3	LEO → Earth Escape (TLI)
HYPERGOLIC TRANSFER STAGE Hp2	10t	3	LOI + reserve TEI carries Crew Capsule + Atmospheric Return free
LIGHT DESCENT ENGINE L1	2t	2	Lunar Orbit → Surface carries Light Ascent (2.5t)
· LIGHT ASCENT ENGINE	—	2	Surface → Lunar Orbit equipment card, printed 2 dv lifting crew

TEI from the Transfer Stage's reserved dv; aerobrake home free (Atmospheric Return).

cards used

HEAVY KEROLOX BOOSTER

Saturn V S-IC (5 x F-1 engines)

KEROLOXGNDSUPER

Isp 263s

T: KKKK (2560t) ~2290t

F: KKKRRR (2400t)

D: R (160t)

Move spacecraft, keep remaining tokens

KKK	1920t	1
KRRR	1120t	2
K	640t	3
RRR	480t	4
R	160t	5
OOO	120t	6
O	40t	7

Successful launch with Kerolox Booster

HEAVY HYDROLOX CORE

Saturn V S-II (5 x J-2 engines)

HYDROLOXSPCHEAVY

Isp 421s

T: RRR (480t) ~481t

F: RROOO (440t)

D: O (40t)

Move spacecraft, keep remaining tokens

RR	320t	1
ROOO	280t	2
RO	200t	3
R	160t	4
OOO	120t	5
OO	80t	6
O	40t	7
YYY	30t	8
◆◆◆	3 eq	10

Successful launch with Heavy Hydrolox Upper

HEAVY HYDROLOX UPPER

Saturn V 3rd stage / Saturn IB

HYDROLOXSPCMEDIUM

Isp 421s

T: OOO (120t) ~119t

F: OOYYY (107t)

D: YY (13t)

Move spacecraft, keep remaining tokens

OO	80t	1
OYYY	70t	2
O	40t	3
YYY	30t	4
YY	20t	5
Y	10t	7
◆◆	2 eq	8

Successful launch with Hydrolox Upper

Hp2

HYPERGOLIC TRANSFER STAGE

Apollo CSM; Briz-M class

HYPERGOLICSPCMEDIUM

Isp 314s

T: O (40t) ~30t

F: YYYY (34t)

D: Y (6t)

Move spacecraft, keep remaining tokens

YY	20t	1
Y	10t	3
◆◆	2 eq	4
◆	1 eq	5

+ 2 equipment cards

Successful launch with Hypergolic Upper

LIGHT DESCENT ENGINE

Apollo LM descent stage

HYPERGOLICSPCLIGHT

Isp 311s

T: Y (10t)

F: Y (8t)

D: Y (2t)

Move spacecraft, keep remaining tokens

◆◆	2 eq	1
◆	1 eq	2

Lander — no precursor required

LIGHT ASCENT ENGINE

EQUIPMENT

Tiny hypergolic ascent stage. Provides 2 Dv lifting 1 equipment card (~2.5t). Single use.

LM ascent stage. Surface to lunar orbit.

Nova lunar landing — direct ascent (land the CSM, no LM)

PASS

18 dv delivered needs 18 dv +0 dv margin 👨‍🚀 2 mo · 1 Consumables

stage (bottom → top)	cargo	dv	leg
SUPER HEAVY KEROLOX BOOSTER K4	480t	4	surface → +4
HEAVY HYDROLOX CORE H3	120t	5	+4 → LEO
HEAVY HYDROLOX UPPER H2	40t	3	LEO → Earth Escape
HYPERGOLIC TRANSFER STAGE Hp2	0t	6	LOI + land + ascend + TEI (the CSM IS the lander) 40t CSM flies itself down and back — no separate Lunar Module

What we land: the whole 40t CSM, directly (Nova's design purpose). 4 stages, no LM. BUT the booster carries only a 480t core here, so Saturn (K3) flies the identical mission — Nova's extra lift is wasted unless you load a heavier core. Possible model flag: the board's flat 2-dv land/ascend doesn't penalise landing a heavy vehicle, so direct ascent is 'too cheap' vs the history that forced Apollo into Lunar-Orbit-Rendezvous.

cards used

SUPER HEAVY KEROLOX BOOSTER

Nova C8 — researched, never flown. 8x F-1, direct-ascent super-Saturn

KEROLOXGNDSUPER

Isp 263s

T: 6×K (3840t)

F: 5×KRR (3520t)

D: RR (320t)

Move spacecraft, keep remaining tokens

KKKK	2560t	1
KK	1280t	2
KRRR	1120t	3
K	640t	4
RR	320t	5
OOO	120t	6

Successful launch with Heavy Kerolox Booster

HEAVY HYDROLOX CORE

Saturn V S-II (5 x J-2 engines)

HYDROLOXSPCHEAVY

Isp 421s

T: RRR (480t) ~481t

F: RROOO (440t)

D: O (40t)

Move spacecraft, keep remaining tokens

RR	320t	1
ROOO	280t	2
RO	200t	3
R	160t	4
OOO	120t	5
OO	80t	6
O	40t	7
YYY	30t	8
◆◆◆	3 eq	10

Successful launch with Heavy Hydrolox Upper

HEAVY HYDROLOX UPPER

Saturn V 3rd stage / Saturn IB

HYDROLOXSPCMEDIUM

Isp 421s

T: OOO (120t) ~119t

F: OOYYY (107t)

D: YY (13t)

Move spacecraft, keep remaining tokens

OO	80t	1
OYYY	70t	2
O	40t	3
YYY	30t	4
YY	20t	5
Y	10t	7
◆◆	2 eq	8

Successful launch with Hydrolox Upper

Hp2

HYPERGOLIC TRANSFER STAGE

Apollo CSM; Briz-M class

HYPERGOLICSPCMEDIUM

Isp 314s

T: O (40t) ~30t

F: YYYY (34t)

D: Y (6t)

Move spacecraft, keep remaining tokens

YY	20t	1
Y	10t	3
◆◆	2 eq	4
◆	1 eq	5

+ 2 equipment cards

Successful launch with Hypergolic Upper

Deploy Hubble to LEO on the Shuttle stack

PASS

9 dv delivered needs 9 dv +0 dv margin

stage (bottom → top)	cargo	dv	leg
∥ HEAVY SOLID BOOSTER S3	—	1	liftoff (2 SRBs, parallel) 2x Heavy Solid Booster fire together; parallel dv does not add
HYDROLOX DROP TANK Sh1	105t	7	ascent to near-orbit carries Orbiter (80t) + 25t payload
ORBITER Sh1	25t	1	OMS circularization burns its own reserve

Orbiter re-enters on its built-in heat shield (free aerobrake). Hubble stays in LEO.

cards used

HEAVY SOLID BOOSTER

Space Shuttle SRB; Ariane 5; SLS

SOLIDGNDSUPER

Isp 242s

T: K (640t) ~590t

F: RRROO (560t)

D: OO (80t)

Move spacecraft, keep remaining tokens

RR	320t	1
R	160t	2
OOO	120t	3
O	40t	4
Y	10t	5

Successful launch with Light Solid Booster

Sh1

HYDROLOX DROP TANK

Space Shuttle external tank

HYDROLOXGNDSUPER

Isp 452s

T: K (640t) ~760t

F: RRROOO (600t)

D: O (40t)

Move spacecraft, keep remaining tokens

RRR	480t	1
RROO	400t	2
RR	320t	3
ROO	240t	4
R	160t	5
OOO	120t	6
OO	80t	7
OYYY	70t	8
◆◆◆	3 eq	12

Pairs with any hydrolox engine (Orbiter = Shuttle, Hydrolox Upper = SLS)

Sh1

ORBITER

Space Shuttle orbiter - 3x SSME

HYDROLOXG+SMEDIUM

Isp 452s

T: OO (80t) ~110t

F: O (40t)

D: O (40t)

Move spacecraft, keep remaining tokens

YYY	30t	1
Y	10t	2
◆◆	2 eq	3

+ 4 equipment cards

Pairs with Hydrolox Drop Tank

SLS Block 1 (Artemis I) — 2 SRBs + Drop Tank + ICPS (H1), Orion to lunar orbit

PASS

14 dv delivered needs 13 dv +1 dv margin 👨‍🚀 1 mo · 1 Consumables

stage (bottom → top)	cargo	dv	leg
∥ HEAVY SOLID BOOSTER S3	—	1	liftoff (2 SRBs, parallel) 2x Heavy Solid Booster fire together; parallel dv does not add
HYDROLOX DROP TANK Sh1	40t	9	core-stage burn to orbit the ICPS (H1) above burns the tank's fuel; carries H1 (30t) + Orion (10t)
HYDROLOX UPPER H1	10t	4	ICPS sends Orion translunar Orion = 10t (1 yellow)

The Shuttle tank reused as the SLS core: same Drop Tank card, but the hydrolox engine riding it is the small H1 upper (DCSS/ICPS heritage) instead of the Orbiter. Closes with margin — the tank-pairs-with-any-hydrolox-engine ruling makes SLS buildable from existing cards.

cards used

HEAVY SOLID BOOSTER

Space Shuttle SRB; Ariane 5; SLS

SOLIDGNDSUPER

Isp 242s

T: K (640t) ~590t

F: RRROO (560t)

D: OO (80t)

Move spacecraft, keep remaining tokens

RR	320t	1
R	160t	2
OOO	120t	3
O	40t	4
Y	10t	5

Successful launch with Light Solid Booster

Sh1

HYDROLOX DROP TANK

Space Shuttle external tank

HYDROLOXGNDSUPER

Isp 452s

T: K (640t) ~760t

F: RRROOO (600t)

D: O (40t)

Move spacecraft, keep remaining tokens

RRR	480t	1
RROO	400t	2
RR	320t	3
ROO	240t	4
R	160t	5
OOO	120t	6
OO	80t	7
OYYY	70t	8
◆◆◆	3 eq	12

Pairs with any hydrolox engine (Orbiter = Shuttle, Hydrolox Upper = SLS)

HYDROLOX UPPER

Centaur; DCSS; Ariane upper

HYDROLOXSPCLIGHT

Isp 440s

T: YYY (30t) ~23t

F: YYY (27t)

D: Y (3t)

Move spacecraft, keep remaining tokens

YY	20t	1
Y	10t	4
◆◆◆	3 eq	5
◆◆	2 eq	6
◆	1 eq	7

Family root (cross-fuel start; or launched heavy hydrolox tier first)

Starship to Mars — expendable, NO orbital refuel

PASS

9 dv delivered needs 9 dv +0 dv margin

stage (bottom → top)	cargo	dv	leg
SUPER HEAVY M3	1920t	2	surface → +2 (booster staging)
STARSHIP M2	120t	7	Starship climbs to LEO 120t payload

Reaches LEO but arrives EMPTY — zero dv left for trans-Mars injection.

cards used

SUPER HEAVY

Starship booster - 33 Raptor

METHALOXG+SSUPER

Isp 327s

T: 6×K (3840t) ~3600t

F: 5×KRR (3520t)

D: RR (320t)

Move spacecraft, keep remaining tokens

KKKK	2560t	1
KKK	1920t	2
KK	1280t	3
K	640t	4
RRR	480t	5
RR	320t	6
R	160t	7
O	40t	8

Successful launch with Starship

STARSHIP

Starship upper stage - 6 Raptor

METHALOXSPCSUPER

Isp 363s

T: KKK (1920t) ~1300t

F: KKRRR (1760t)

D: R (160t)

Move spacecraft, keep remaining tokens

KK	1280t	1
KRR	960t	2
K	640t	3
RRR	480t	4
RR	320t	5
R	160t	6
OOO	120t	7
O	40t	8
Y	10t	9

+ 4 equipment cards

Successful launch with Methalox Booster

Starship to Mars — refueled in LEO, aerobrake descent

PASS

7 dv delivered needs 6 dv +1 dv margin 👨‍🚀 8 mo · 2 Consumables

stage (bottom → top)	cargo	dv	leg
STARSHIP M2	120t	7	LEO → Mars orbit topped off to full fuel in LEO; 120t payload

Mars-orbit → surface is a FREE aerobrake with Atmospheric Return (not counted in the propulsive budget), so the stack only has to fund the 6 dv out to Mars orbit.

cards used

STARSHIP

Starship upper stage - 6 Raptor

METHALOXSPCSUPER

Isp 363s

T: KKK (1920t) ~1300t

F: KKRRR (1760t)

D: R (160t)

Move spacecraft, keep remaining tokens

KK	1280t	1
KRR	960t	2
K	640t	3
RRR	480t	4
RR	320t	5
R	160t	6
OOO	120t	7
O	40t	8
Y	10t	9

+ 4 equipment cards

Successful launch with Methalox Booster

Moon sample-return on a Kerolox/Hydrolox stack (no Apollo heritage)

PASS

18 dv delivered needs 18 dv +0 dv margin

stage (bottom → top)	cargo	dv	leg
HEAVY KEROLOX BOOSTER K3	480t	4	surface → +4
HEAVY HYDROLOX CORE H3	40t	7	+4 → LEO
HYPERGOLIC TRANSFER STAGE Hp2	10t	3	TLI + LOI + TEI reserve carries Sample Container + Atmospheric Return free
LIGHT DESCENT ENGINE L1	2t	2	land (robotic) carries Light Ascent
· LIGHT ASCENT ENGINE	—	2	ascend with samples

Uncrewed: no consumables. A generic (non-tuned) stack still closes a land-and-return.

cards used

HEAVY KEROLOX BOOSTER

Saturn V S-IC (5 x F-1 engines)

KEROLOXGNDSUPER

Isp 263s

T: KKKK (2560t) ~2290t

F: KKKRRR (2400t)

D: R (160t)

Move spacecraft, keep remaining tokens

KKK	1920t	1
KRRR	1120t	2
K	640t	3
RRR	480t	4
R	160t	5
OOO	120t	6
O	40t	7

Successful launch with Kerolox Booster

HEAVY HYDROLOX CORE

Saturn V S-II (5 x J-2 engines)

HYDROLOXSPCHEAVY

Isp 421s

T: RRR (480t) ~481t

F: RROOO (440t)

D: O (40t)

Move spacecraft, keep remaining tokens

RR	320t	1
ROOO	280t	2
RO	200t	3
R	160t	4
OOO	120t	5
OO	80t	6
O	40t	7
YYY	30t	8
◆◆◆	3 eq	10

Successful launch with Heavy Hydrolox Upper

Hp2

HYPERGOLIC TRANSFER STAGE

Apollo CSM; Briz-M class

HYPERGOLICSPCMEDIUM

Isp 314s

T: O (40t) ~30t

F: YYYY (34t)

D: Y (6t)

Move spacecraft, keep remaining tokens

YY	20t	1
Y	10t	3
◆◆	2 eq	4
◆	1 eq	5

+ 2 equipment cards

Successful launch with Hypergolic Upper

LIGHT DESCENT ENGINE

Apollo LM descent stage

HYPERGOLICSPCLIGHT

Isp 311s

T: Y (10t)

F: Y (8t)

D: Y (2t)

Move spacecraft, keep remaining tokens

◆◆	2 eq	1
◆	1 eq	2

Lander — no precursor required

LIGHT ASCENT ENGINE

EQUIPMENT

Tiny hypergolic ascent stage. Provides 2 Dv lifting 1 equipment card (~2.5t). Single use.

LM ascent stage. Surface to lunar orbit.

First Orbit — R-7 / Atlas (K2) + crew capsule (Sputnik · Gagarin · Glenn)

PASS

9 dv delivered needs 9 dv +0 dv margin

stage (bottom → top)	cargo	dv	leg
KEROLOX BOOSTER K2	2t	9	stage-and-a-half to orbit carries a sub-grid crew capsule (~2.5t), NOT a 10t cargo token

R-7 and Atlas both orbited a tiny capsule (Vostok 4.7t, Mercury 1.4t). As an equipment-scale payload, K2 makes 9 dv. Orbit is a tier-2 (R-7) feat — one unlock above the K1 suborbital start. Nobody orbits on their first rocket.

cards used

KEROLOX BOOSTER

R-7 / Soyuz; Falcon 9; Atlas

KEROLOXG+SHEAVY

Isp 300s

T: RRR (480t) ~440t

F: RROOOYY (460t)

D: O (20t)

Move spacecraft, keep remaining tokens

RR	320t	1
ROO	240t	2
R	160t	3
OOO	120t	4
OO	80t	5
O	40t	6
YYY	30t	7
Y	10t	8
◆◆	2 eq	9

Successful launch with Kerolox Sustainer

Level-1 K1 (Atlas sustainer) alone — suborbital ceiling

FALLS SHORT

7 dv delivered needs 9 dv -2 dv margin

stage (bottom → top)	cargo	dv	leg
KEROLOX SUSTAINER K1	2t	7	max climb with a capsule

K1 tops out ~7 dv: a suborbital hop (Redstone/Shepard) or a ballistic missile (V-2 — 'bomb London'), never orbit. Falling short of 9 here is CORRECT, not a bug.

cards used — ✗ rocket falls short of the required dv

KEROLOX SUSTAINER

Atlas-Mercury class; single-engine kerolox sustainer (generic)

KEROLOXGNDHEAVY

Isp 290s

T: R (160t) ~120t

F: OOOYYY (148t)

D: YY (12t)

Move spacecraft, keep remaining tokens

OOO	120t	1
OO	80t	2
O	40t	3
YYY	30t	4
YY	20t	5
Y	10t	6
◆	1 eq	7

Family root

Commercial launch — Falcon-9-class (K2) puts a satellite in LEO (private path)

PASS

9 dv delivered needs 9 dv +0 dv margin

stage (bottom → top)	cargo	dv	leg
KEROLOX BOOSTER K2	2t	9	payload to orbit 1 equipment: comsat / GPS sat / smallsat / tourist capsule

The private growth path needs no military contracts: telecom, GPS, and tourism. K2 (Falcon 9 / R-7 / Atlas) lofts ~1 equipment-scale payload to LEO — enough for the bread-and-butter commercial market. NOTE: K2 orbits ~2.5-5t, the R-7/Soyuz end of its heritage; real Falcon 9 lifts ~22t, so heavy or GEO commercial needs an upper stage or K3.

cards used

KEROLOX BOOSTER

R-7 / Soyuz; Falcon 9; Atlas

KEROLOXG+SHEAVY

Isp 300s

T: RRR (480t) ~440t

F: RROOOYY (460t)

D: O (20t)

Move spacecraft, keep remaining tokens

RR	320t	1
ROO	240t	2
R	160t	3
OOO	120t	4
OO	80t	5
O	40t	6
YYY	30t	7
Y	10t	8
◆◆	2 eq	9

Successful launch with Kerolox Sustainer

Falcon 9 — 20t commercial payload to LEO (K2 + Kerolox Upper, 2 stages)

PASS

9 dv delivered needs 9 dv +0 dv margin

stage (bottom → top)	cargo	dv	leg
KEROLOX BOOSTER K2	120t	4	9-Merlin first stage lifts the upper
KEROLOX UPPER Ku	20t	5	Merlin Vacuum → orbital insertion 20t payload (2 yellow)

The real Falcon 9, staged: K2 (9 Merlins) does liftoff, the single Merlin Vacuum (Ku) does orbital insertion → ~20t to LEO. K2 ALONE only orbits a sub-token capsule (Sputnik/Glenn stage-and-a-half); real tonnage needs the upper. Same way Soyuz = K2 + Blok-I.

cards used

KEROLOX BOOSTER

R-7 / Soyuz; Falcon 9; Atlas

KEROLOXG+SHEAVY

Isp 300s

T: RRR (480t) ~440t

F: RROOOYY (460t)

D: O (20t)

Move spacecraft, keep remaining tokens

RR	320t	1
ROO	240t	2
R	160t	3
OOO	120t	4
OO	80t	5
O	40t	6
YYY	30t	7
Y	10t	8
◆◆	2 eq	9

Successful launch with Kerolox Sustainer

KEROLOX UPPER

Falcon 9 2nd stage (Merlin Vacuum); Soyuz Blok-I — generic kerolox upper

KEROLOXSPCMEDIUM

Isp 348s

T: OOO (120t) ~115t

F: OOYYY (110t)

D: Y (10t)

Move spacecraft, keep remaining tokens

OO	80t	1
OYY	60t	2
O	40t	3
YYY	30t	4
YY	20t	5
Y	10t	6
◆◆◆	3 eq	7
◆	1 eq	8

Pairs with Kerolox Booster (K2)

Single Saturn V → crewed Mars landing + return (invariant: must FAIL)

CORRECTLY SHORT

6 dv delivered needs 12 dv -6 dv margin

stage (bottom → top)	cargo	dv	leg
HEAVY HYDROLOX UPPER H2	40t	3	TLI from LEO
HYPERGOLIC TRANSFER STAGE Hp2	10t	3	outbound + capture + return CSM carries 10t mission payload; must also fund descent, ascent, and the way home

Round trip ≈ 12 dv plus a lander, ascent stage, and 8 months of food for the crew. Saturn V cannot. THIS is the real 'Saturn V can't reach Mars'.

cards used — ✗ rocket falls short of the required dv

HEAVY HYDROLOX UPPER

Saturn V 3rd stage / Saturn IB

HYDROLOXSPCMEDIUM

Isp 421s

T: OOO (120t) ~119t

F: OOYYY (107t)

D: YY (13t)

Move spacecraft, keep remaining tokens

OO	80t	1
OYYY	70t	2
O	40t	3
YYY	30t	4
YY	20t	5
Y	10t	7
◆◆	2 eq	8

Successful launch with Hydrolox Upper

Hp2

HYPERGOLIC TRANSFER STAGE

Apollo CSM; Briz-M class

HYPERGOLICSPCMEDIUM

Isp 314s

T: O (40t) ~30t

F: YYYY (34t)

D: Y (6t)

Move spacecraft, keep remaining tokens

YY	20t	1
Y	10t	3
◆◆	2 eq	4
◆	1 eq	5

+ 2 equipment cards

Successful launch with Hypergolic Upper

Single Saturn V → Mars ORBIT, one-way, uncrewed (historically true — KEEP)

CLOSES

9 dv delivered needs 6 dv +3 dv margin

stage (bottom → top)	cargo	dv	leg
HEAVY HYDROLOX UPPER H2	40t	3	TLI from LEO
HYPERGOLIC TRANSFER STAGE Hp2	0t	6	injection toward Mars (probe / one-way) a probe or a stripped, one-way capsule — no return, no crew consumables

INTENDED: 1970s hardware DID reach Mars (Viking). A stripped one-way shot to Mars orbit is a true fact, so the board is allowed to permit it. The line that must hold is crewed landing+return (6a), not reaching Mars at all.

cards used

HEAVY HYDROLOX UPPER

Saturn V 3rd stage / Saturn IB

HYDROLOXSPCMEDIUM

Isp 421s

T: OOO (120t) ~119t

F: OOYYY (107t)

D: YY (13t)

Move spacecraft, keep remaining tokens

OO	80t	1
OYYY	70t	2
O	40t	3
YYY	30t	4
YY	20t	5
Y	10t	7
◆◆	2 eq	8

Successful launch with Hydrolox Upper

Hp2

HYPERGOLIC TRANSFER STAGE

Apollo CSM; Briz-M class

HYPERGOLICSPCMEDIUM

Isp 314s

T: O (40t) ~30t

F: YYYY (34t)

D: Y (6t)

Move spacecraft, keep remaining tokens

YY	20t	1
Y	10t	3
◆◆	2 eq	4
◆	1 eq	5

+ 2 equipment cards

Successful launch with Hypergolic Upper

One-way crewed Mars landing — chemical tech, NO return (a suicide shot)

PASS

16 dv delivered needs 15 dv +1 dv margin 👨‍🚀 8 mo · 2 Consumables

stage (bottom → top)	cargo	dv	leg
HEAVY KEROLOX BOOSTER K3	480t	4	surface → +4
HEAVY HYDROLOX CORE H3	120t	5	+4 → LEO
HEAVY HYDROLOX UPPER H2	40t	3	LEO → Earth Escape (TMI)
HYPERGOLIC TRANSFER STAGE Hp2	5t	4	Mars injection + capture Crew Capsule + Atmospheric Return ride free; +2 Consumables (8 mo food) as cargo

Aerobrake to the surface is free (Atmospheric Return). No ascent stage, no return propellant — they land ALIVE and STRANDED, food barely lasting. Physically possible, so the game permits it: the For All Mankind one-way gambit. Surviving needs a later rescue.

cards used

HEAVY KEROLOX BOOSTER

Saturn V S-IC (5 x F-1 engines)

KEROLOXGNDSUPER

Isp 263s

T: KKKK (2560t) ~2290t

F: KKKRRR (2400t)

D: R (160t)

Move spacecraft, keep remaining tokens

KKK	1920t	1
KRRR	1120t	2
K	640t	3
RRR	480t	4
R	160t	5
OOO	120t	6
O	40t	7

Successful launch with Kerolox Booster

HEAVY HYDROLOX CORE

Saturn V S-II (5 x J-2 engines)

HYDROLOXSPCHEAVY

Isp 421s

T: RRR (480t) ~481t

F: RROOO (440t)

D: O (40t)

Move spacecraft, keep remaining tokens

RR	320t	1
ROOO	280t	2
RO	200t	3
R	160t	4
OOO	120t	5
OO	80t	6
O	40t	7
YYY	30t	8
◆◆◆	3 eq	10

Successful launch with Heavy Hydrolox Upper

HEAVY HYDROLOX UPPER

Saturn V 3rd stage / Saturn IB

HYDROLOXSPCMEDIUM

Isp 421s

T: OOO (120t) ~119t

F: OOYYY (107t)

D: YY (13t)

Move spacecraft, keep remaining tokens

OO	80t	1
OYYY	70t	2
O	40t	3
YYY	30t	4
YY	20t	5
Y	10t	7
◆◆	2 eq	8

Successful launch with Hydrolox Upper

Hp2

HYPERGOLIC TRANSFER STAGE

Apollo CSM; Briz-M class

HYPERGOLICSPCMEDIUM

Isp 314s

T: O (40t) ~30t

F: YYYY (34t)

D: Y (6t)

Move spacecraft, keep remaining tokens

YY	20t	1
Y	10t	3
◆◆	2 eq	4
◆	1 eq	5

+ 2 equipment cards

Successful launch with Hypergolic Upper

Level-1 only — 1 equipment to ORBIT (Kerolox Sustainer + Hydrolox Upper)

PASS

11 dv delivered needs 9 dv +2 dv margin

stage (bottom → top)	cargo	dv	leg
KEROLOX SUSTAINER K1	30t	4	first-stage climb
HYDROLOX UPPER H1	2t	7	upper to orbit 1 equipment (~2.5t) — a capsule/satellite

Level-1 CAN reach orbit — but only with a sub-token (equipment) payload, not a 10t token. This is the Gagarin/equipment-row lesson: the high-dv regime lives below the token floor.

cards used

KEROLOX SUSTAINER

Atlas-Mercury class; single-engine kerolox sustainer (generic)

KEROLOXGNDHEAVY

Isp 290s

T: R (160t) ~120t

F: OOOYYY (148t)

D: YY (12t)

Move spacecraft, keep remaining tokens

OOO	120t	1
OO	80t	2
O	40t	3
YYY	30t	4
YY	20t	5
Y	10t	6
◆	1 eq	7

Family root

HYDROLOX UPPER

Centaur; DCSS; Ariane upper

HYDROLOXSPCLIGHT

Isp 440s

T: YYY (30t) ~23t

F: YYY (27t)

D: Y (3t)

Move spacecraft, keep remaining tokens

YY	20t	1
Y	10t	4
◆◆◆	3 eq	5
◆◆	2 eq	6
◆	1 eq	7

Family root (cross-fuel start; or launched heavy hydrolox tier first)

Military contract — deliver 10t to DV7, level-1 only (K1 + H1)

PASS

8 dv delivered needs 7 dv +1 dv margin

stage (bottom → top)	cargo	dv	leg
KEROLOX SUSTAINER K1	30t	4	first-stage climb
HYDROLOX UPPER H1	10t	4	throw the payload 10t (1 yellow) — 'don't ask questions'

ICBM-class throw: level-1 tech lobs a 10t payload to ~8 dv (≥ the DV7 contract). A 20t load would fall short — heavy military lift needs teching up.

cards used

KEROLOX SUSTAINER

Atlas-Mercury class; single-engine kerolox sustainer (generic)

KEROLOXGNDHEAVY

Isp 290s

T: R (160t) ~120t

F: OOOYYY (148t)

D: YY (12t)

Move spacecraft, keep remaining tokens

OOO	120t	1
OO	80t	2
O	40t	3
YYY	30t	4
YY	20t	5
Y	10t	6
◆	1 eq	7

Family root

HYDROLOX UPPER

Centaur; DCSS; Ariane upper

HYDROLOXSPCLIGHT

Isp 440s

T: YYY (30t) ~23t

F: YYY (27t)

D: Y (3t)

Move spacecraft, keep remaining tokens

YY	20t	1
Y	10t	4
◆◆◆	3 eq	5
◆◆	2 eq	6
◆	1 eq	7

Family root (cross-fuel start; or launched heavy hydrolox tier first)

[Mars A · nuclear] NERVA trans-Mars push of the crewed lander stack

PASS

6 dv delivered needs 6 dv +0 dv margin 👨‍🚀 8 mo · 2 Consumables

stage (bottom → top)	cargo	dv	leg
NUCLEAR ENGINE N1	20t	6	LEO → Mars orbit NERVA pushes a ~20t lander/ascent stack

Apollo-era Mars = Saturn V launches + NERVA (nuclear) deep-space stages, all expendable. One NERVA pushes ~20t to Mars orbit. The full lander+ascent+return+food stack is heavier, so the real plan CLUSTERS several NERVA modules assembled over multiple Saturn launches. Pure CHEMICAL can't do this leg at useful payload — that is WHY NERVA was funded.

cards used

NUCLEAR ENGINE

NERVA (US); RD-0410 (USSR)

NUCLEARSPCMEDIUM

Isp 850s

T: OO (80t)

F: OYYY (62t)

D: YY (18t)

Move spacecraft, keep remaining tokens

O	40t	3
YYY	30t	4
YY	20t	6
Y	10t	9
◆◆◆	3 eq	10
◆	1 eq	11

+ 4 equipment cards

Launch an RTG to deep space

[Mars A · nuclear] return — MAV ascent + NERVA, Mars surface → Earth

PASS

15 dv delivered needs 7 dv +8 dv margin 👨‍🚀 8 mo · 2 Consumables

stage (bottom → top)	cargo	dv	leg
· MARS ASCENT VEHICLE Hp3	—	4	Mars surface → orbit MAV lifts the crew (1 equipment) to Mars orbit — 4 dv
NUCLEAR ENGINE N1	2t	11	Mars orbit → Earth a second NERVA stage, sent fueled

Return needs its own pre-fuelled NERVA (no ISRU here). Verdict 'closes' = the return leg is feasible; the architecture's real cost is the launch count to assemble it all in LEO.

cards used

Hp3

MARS ASCENT VEHICLE

NASA DRA 5.0 MAV; SpaceX Starship-derived MAV

METHALOXMARSLIGHT

Isp 360s

T: YY (20t)

F: YY (16t)

D: O (4t)

Sub-grid stage (carries equipment, not tokens): 0 equipment: 6 Dv 1 equipment: 4 Dv 2 equipment: 3 Dv 3 equipment: 2 Dv 4 equipment: 1 Dv Refuelable from Methalox Refinery on Mars surface. Aerobrake-descend with Atmospheric Return. Single ascent use.

+ 4 equipment cards

Successful launch with Hypergolic Transfer Stage (CSM)

NUCLEAR ENGINE

NERVA (US); RD-0410 (USSR)

NUCLEARSPCMEDIUM

Isp 850s

T: OO (80t)

F: OYYY (62t)

D: YY (18t)

Move spacecraft, keep remaining tokens

O	40t	3
YYY	30t	4
YY	20t	6
Y	10t	9
◆◆◆	3 eq	10
◆	1 eq	11

+ 4 equipment cards

Launch an RTG to deep space

[Mars B · Starship+ISRU] outbound, LEO → Mars surface (crew + refinery)

PASS

8 dv delivered needs 6 dv +2 dv margin 👨‍🚀 8 mo · 2 Consumables

stage (bottom → top)	cargo	dv	leg
STARSHIP M2	30t	8	LEO → Mars orbit refuelled full in LEO; carries crew + Methalox Refinery + power + 30t supplies

Aerobrake to the surface free. Outbound needs ~15 LEO tanker flights to fill the ship (see the refuel analysis). On the surface, the Methalox Refinery + power make return propellant.

cards used

STARSHIP

Starship upper stage - 6 Raptor

METHALOXSPCSUPER

Isp 363s

T: KKK (1920t) ~1300t

F: KKRRR (1760t)

D: R (160t)

Move spacecraft, keep remaining tokens

KK	1280t	1
KRR	960t	2
K	640t	3
RRR	480t	4
RR	320t	5
R	160t	6
OOO	120t	7
O	40t	8
Y	10t	9

+ 4 equipment cards

Successful launch with Methalox Booster

[Mars B · Starship+ISRU] return, Mars surface → Earth (ISRU-fuelled)

PASS

9 dv delivered needs 7 dv +2 dv margin 👨‍🚀 8 mo · 2 Consumables

stage (bottom → top)	cargo	dv	leg
STARSHIP M2	2t	9	Mars surface → Mars orbit → Earth topped off by ISRU on Mars; crew only, Earth aerobrake free

ISRU is the cheat code: you don't haul return propellant from Earth, you make it on Mars. One Starship does the whole round trip, refuelled twice (LEO tankers, then Mars ISRU).

cards used

STARSHIP

Starship upper stage - 6 Raptor

METHALOXSPCSUPER

Isp 363s

T: KKK (1920t) ~1300t

F: KKRRR (1760t)

D: R (160t)

Move spacecraft, keep remaining tokens

KK	1280t	1
KRR	960t	2
K	640t	3
RRR	480t	4
RR	320t	5
R	160t	6
OOO	120t	7
O	40t	8
Y	10t	9

+ 4 equipment cards

Successful launch with Methalox Booster

[Mars C · split] CARGO: pre-position a fuelled return vehicle on Mars (uncrewed)

PASS

8 dv delivered needs 6 dv +2 dv margin

stage (bottom → top)	cargo	dv	leg
STARSHIP M2	20t	8	deliver the MAV to Mars surface refuelled in LEO; carries the fuelled MAV (20t) as cargo, aerobrakes it down

Sent on an earlier window, uncrewed. The MAV waits on the surface, already fuelled — no in-situ production needed.

cards used

STARSHIP

Starship upper stage - 6 Raptor

METHALOXSPCSUPER

Isp 363s

T: KKK (1920t) ~1300t

F: KKRRR (1760t)

D: R (160t)

Move spacecraft, keep remaining tokens

KK	1280t	1
KRR	960t	2
K	640t	3
RRR	480t	4
RR	320t	5
R	160t	6
OOO	120t	7
O	40t	8
Y	10t	9

+ 4 equipment cards

Successful launch with Methalox Booster

[Mars C · split] CREW: fly out light (return vehicle already waiting)

PASS

8 dv delivered needs 6 dv +2 dv margin 👨‍🚀 8 mo · 2 Consumables

stage (bottom → top)	cargo	dv	leg
STARSHIP M2	30t	8	LEO → Mars surface crew + supplies only — carries NO return propellant, so it flies lighter

Because the return ride is pre-positioned, the crew vehicle doesn't haul ascent/return mass.

cards used

STARSHIP

Starship upper stage - 6 Raptor

METHALOXSPCSUPER

Isp 363s

T: KKK (1920t) ~1300t

F: KKRRR (1760t)

D: R (160t)

Move spacecraft, keep remaining tokens

KK	1280t	1
KRR	960t	2
K	640t	3
RRR	480t	4
RR	320t	5
R	160t	6
OOO	120t	7
O	40t	8
Y	10t	9

+ 4 equipment cards

Successful launch with Methalox Booster

[Mars C · split] RETURN: cached MAV ascent + return stage to Earth

PASS

9 dv delivered needs 7 dv +2 dv margin 👨‍🚀 8 mo · 2 Consumables

stage (bottom → top)	cargo	dv	leg
· MARS ASCENT VEHICLE Hp3	—	4	Mars surface → orbit the pre-positioned MAV lifts the crew (1 equipment) — 4 dv
HYPERGOLIC TRANSFER STAGE Hp2	2t	5	Mars orbit → Earth a pre-positioned hypergolic return stage; Earth aerobrake free

Mars Direct / split-mission, no ISRU: the answer to 'can we do it without making fuel on Mars?' — yes, by sending the return vehicle ahead on a cheaper uncrewed window.

cards used

Hp3

MARS ASCENT VEHICLE

NASA DRA 5.0 MAV; SpaceX Starship-derived MAV

METHALOXMARSLIGHT

Isp 360s

T: YY (20t)

F: YY (16t)

D: O (4t)

+ 4 equipment cards

Successful launch with Hypergolic Transfer Stage (CSM)

Hp2

HYPERGOLIC TRANSFER STAGE

Apollo CSM; Briz-M class

HYPERGOLICSPCMEDIUM

Isp 314s

T: O (40t) ~30t

F: YYYY (34t)

D: Y (6t)

Move spacecraft, keep remaining tokens

YY	20t	1
Y	10t	3
◆◆	2 eq	4
◆	1 eq	5

+ 2 equipment cards

Successful launch with Hypergolic Upper

1970s Mars probe (Viking-class) — deliver 1 equipment to the Martian surface

PASS

17 dv delivered needs 15 dv +2 dv margin

stage (bottom → top)	cargo	dv	leg
HEAVY KEROLOX BOOSTER K3	480t	4	surface → +4
HEAVY HYDROLOX CORE H3	120t	5	+4 → LEO
HEAVY HYDROLOX UPPER H2	40t	3	LEO → Earth Escape
HYPERGOLIC TRANSFER STAGE Hp2	2t	5	Earth Escape → Mars (injection) 1 science instrument; capsule/heat shield ride free, aerobrake to surface

70s chemical tech lands a light robotic payload on Mars — no nuclear, no refuel. NOTE: modeled on a Saturn-class stack because the deck lacks a Titan-class hypergolic booster; the real Viking flew on the smaller Titan IIIE-Centaur, so this over-states the rocket needed. The point stands: the uncrewed probe path is wide open — it's CREWED Mars that's hard.

cards used

HEAVY KEROLOX BOOSTER

Saturn V S-IC (5 x F-1 engines)

KEROLOXGNDSUPER

Isp 263s

T: KKKK (2560t) ~2290t

F: KKKRRR (2400t)

D: R (160t)

Move spacecraft, keep remaining tokens

KKK	1920t	1
KRRR	1120t	2
K	640t	3
RRR	480t	4
R	160t	5
OOO	120t	6
O	40t	7

Successful launch with Kerolox Booster

HEAVY HYDROLOX CORE

Saturn V S-II (5 x J-2 engines)

HYDROLOXSPCHEAVY

Isp 421s

T: RRR (480t) ~481t

F: RROOO (440t)

D: O (40t)

Move spacecraft, keep remaining tokens

RR	320t	1
ROOO	280t	2
RO	200t	3
R	160t	4
OOO	120t	5
OO	80t	6
O	40t	7
YYY	30t	8
◆◆◆	3 eq	10

Successful launch with Heavy Hydrolox Upper

HEAVY HYDROLOX UPPER

Saturn V 3rd stage / Saturn IB

HYDROLOXSPCMEDIUM

Isp 421s

T: OOO (120t) ~119t

F: OOYYY (107t)

D: YY (13t)

Move spacecraft, keep remaining tokens

OO	80t	1
OYYY	70t	2
O	40t	3
YYY	30t	4
YY	20t	5
Y	10t	7
◆◆	2 eq	8

Successful launch with Hydrolox Upper

Hp2

HYPERGOLIC TRANSFER STAGE

Apollo CSM; Briz-M class

HYPERGOLICSPCMEDIUM

Isp 314s

T: O (40t) ~30t

F: YYYY (34t)

D: Y (6t)

Move spacecraft, keep remaining tokens

YY	20t	1
Y	10t	3
◆◆	2 eq	4
◆	1 eq	5

+ 2 equipment cards

Successful launch with Hypergolic Upper

Analysis — Starship LEO refueling

Park an expended Starship in LEO (no reuse), then fly tankers until you have delivered its full propellant load total − dry = 1760t. Super Heavy gives 2 dv lifting a full Starship, so each tanker must add 7 dv to reach orbit.

15 tanker flights
dumping everything to just reach LEO (120t/flight)

44 tanker flights
keeping 1 dv for rendezvous/dock (40t/flight)

SpaceX has publicly floated ~15 — the result lands in this band once rendezvous margin is counted.

The cost of dv — theoretical vs historical

Payload 10t, log mass axis. Each dot is the lightest launchable stack that reaches that dv — hover any dot (either line) to see its tower. The gap between the lines is exactly what the paper rockets (NERVA, Sea Dragon, Nova, the pressure-fed Super Hydrolox upper) buy you: at Mars-return the cheapest tower drops from ~9,600t (flown hardware) to ~3,850t.

Theoretical — every cardHistorical — flew in reality

9Orbit (LEO)

15Moon / Mars landing (one-way)

18Apollo — Moon land + return

20Deep space (Voyager +8)

23Mars land + return

hover a point on either curve to reveal its tower ↑

Which cards are good? — uses across the cheapest towers

card	theoretical	historical	1-card dv@10t
NUCLEAR ENGINE never flew	33×	—	9
HEAVY HYDROLOX CORE	10×	8×	9
SUPER HEAVY	5×	3×	8
KEROLOX BOOSTER	4×	3×	8
SUPER HYDROLOX UPPER never flew	4×	—	11
HYDROLOX DROP TANK	3×	8×	11
HYDROLOX UPPER	3×	30×	4
KEROLOX SUSTAINER	3×	3×	6
METHALOX BOOSTER	3×	1×	6
SEA DRAGON never flew	3×	—	7
HEAVY HYDROLOX UPPER	2×	0×	7
ORBITER	2×	2×	2
HEAVY KEROLOX BOOSTER	1×	1×	7
HEAVY SOLID BOOSTER	0×	0×	5
HYPERGOLIC TRANSFER STAGE	0×	0×	3
KEROLOX UPPER	0×	0×	6
LIGHT DESCENT ENGINE	0×	0×	—
LIGHT SOLID BOOSTER	0×	1×	3
SOLID KICK MOTOR	0×	0×	3
STARSHIP	0×	0×	9
SUPER HEAVY KEROLOX BOOSTER never flew	0×	—	6

The Hydrolox Drop Tank (Shuttle external tank) lands top-3 in both columns — the engine-less-tank trick (engines above drink from a dumb tank, hauling no dead engine mass) is genuinely efficient. Vindication for the ET, if not the orbiter bolted to its side. Rows marked never flew are theoretical-only.

Mission cost — theoretical vs historical

board mission	needs	theoretical (every card)	historical (flown)
Earth → LEO	9	10 dv · 2 st · ~250.0t	9 dv · 3 st · ~290.0t
Moon: land + return (Apollo)	18	18 dv · 3 st · ~1,370.0t	18 dv · 4 st · ~1,920.0t
Mars: one-way crewed landing	15	15 dv · 3 st · ~730.0t	15 dv · 3 st · ~770.0t
Mars: land + return (crewed)	23	23 dv · 4 st · ~5,210.0t	23 dv · 5 st · ~10,240.0t
Deep space: Voyager +8	20	20 dv · 4 st · ~2,010.0t	20 dv · 5 st · ~5,120.0t

dv ceiling: theoretical 29 dv @ ~38,490t (bundled Sea Dragons) · historical 23 dv @ ~10,370t. Flown hardware can't crack the deep-space ceiling without nuclear — which is the whole point of gating NERVA behind the public-outcry mechanic.

Generated by build_playtest_report.py — regenerate with python3 playtest.py && python3 tower_search.py && python3 build_playtest_report.py