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ES-12 "Sengi"

ES-12 Sengi (European Spacecraft model 12, name of a cute fast jumping mouse-like creature) is my trusted mid-career workhorse for small-scale LKO and Munar orbit missions before I gain access to SSTO technologies.

-Highly versitile and reliable mid-tech TSTO shuttle.
-1400~2000 m/s dV @ LKO depending on payload configuration. Can reach Mun Space Station, refuel there if needed and return.
-Upper payload section (Mk2 crew cabine by default) can be easily changed.
-Orbitor has balanced and almost constant CoM regardless of fuel consumption, which lies within the lower cargo bay. -Has decent controllability during the entire mission.
-Fully recoverable, actual launch cost <10000 cash if nicely recovered.
-Not a conventional space shuttle structure, thus relatively easy to fly (I admire anyone who can build and fly a functional space shuttle style craft in stock. I’m serious.)

First of all: gravity turn is an art, and I’m not a master at all. Suggestions welcome!

-Launch at full throttle, gently turn at 1000m, let it slowly reach a 45 degrees pitch at ~10000m.
-Keep a 30-40 degrees pitch on the rest of the ascent, wait for AP to reach desired value (recommended >85km) then shut down engines and hold prograde. Should still be some fuel left in the first stage.
-Use up first stage fuel and stage in upper atmosphere or in vacuum.
-Orbitor Circularization. Note that the burn time could be long (1m40s in most of my launches).
-Open cargo bay door and let solar panels enjoy sunlight.
-Once stable orbit is achieved, quickly switch back to one of the first stage rockets and watch it land. This is essential if you want to recover them, otherwise the game won’t simulate the process and will simply think they hit the ground with orbital velocitiy.
-It’s OK to use 4x fast time, but touchdown / splashdown should happen in 1x time.
-Wait for all 4 rockets to land, but don’t bother to switch to other 3 rockets. It may lead to simulation errors and cause them to fall from a height and explode. Just go back to KSC and recover all 4.
-Set PE to 40km much further than landing target.
-Use 90 degrees pitch in upper atmosphere to aerobrake as much as possible, otherwise the cockpit might overheat later.
-The Orbitor is somehow draggy and will quickly lose speed in dense atmosphere, so it’s hard to predict its landing spot. It might require several trials to achieve a pin-point landing.
-Land like a glider plane, deploy droge chute before or after touchdown.
-Profit!
Wish you like this cute little sengi too. Happy landings!

100% Stock, 114 parts.