Space Shuttle Help

[SamTheShark 16]

So I tried to make a space shuttle to carry small payloads to my space station, however upon starting the engines, it abruptly heads toward the VAB direction, the opposite of which direction intend for. Any tips on correcting this unbalance? 

[Xd the great 818]

1. Rotate your engines. Check if the CoT goes through CoM.

This is true for all space shuttles that are space shuttle-like.

[SamTheShark 16]

1 minute ago, Xd the great said:

1. Rotate your engines. Check if the CoT goes through CoM.

This is true for all space shuttles that are space shuttle-like.

Is it preferable to have the CoT through the CoM or is that what should be avoided?

[Xd the great 818]

Preferable.

[SamTheShark 16]

@Xd the greatThanks, I will try it out

[Raideur Ng 72]

Space shuttles are one of the most difficult things to get stable and overall make work. You have an unsymmetrical vehicle with control surfaces on one side, etc. 

A much more stable option for small payloads would be to have the orbiter at the top of the rocket, possibly inside a fairing. Far more stable, at the cost of throwing away more of the rocket.

[SamTheShark 16]

1 minute ago, Raideur Ng said:

Space shuttles are one of the most difficult things to get stable and overall make work. You have an unsymmetrical vehicle with control surfaces on one side, etc. 

A much more stable option for small payloads would be to have the orbiter at the top of the rocket, possibly inside a fairing. Far more stable, at the cost of throwing away more of the rocket.

I suppose that's true, but wouldn't a smaller-sized shuttle be more likely to burn up during re-entry?

[Raideur Ng 72]

Quite the opposite, a lighter object is far less likely to burn up. Heavy objects like a shuttle need more wing surface area to slow down. That's why you usually want to eject extra stages and deplete fuel prior to entry if you know its a toasty ride.

[bamslamkabam 9]

Practice and experimentation komrade. There is no concrete guide. Just do what you think will work and you will eventually get it. That's how I did my shuttles anyway.