Jump to content

[1.1.x] Space Shuttle Engines (2016-07-03)


sarbian

Which parts of the pack do you use?  

117 members have voted

  1. 1. Which parts of the pack do you use?

    • X2 Engine
      91
    • BB engines
      58
    • Aerospike
      60
    • Attachment points
      69
    • Auto Stagers
      41
    • Fuel Controllers
      38
    • Radio Controller
      27
    • Tank System
      91
    • OMS system
      87


Recommended Posts

I still really can't balance my thrust, even using this.
I'm getting good at this. I'll send you some pics, this design I'm on right now should be my final design, just working on the boost-stage decoupling.

I think you can get rid of most fuel flow breakers by attaching only one fuel line at the top of your external tank. This will keep your CoM up. The engines should be able to handle it. Would you try ity?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think you can get rid of most fuel flow breakers by attaching only one fuel line at the top of your external tank. This will keep your CoM up. The engines should be able to handle it. Would you try ity?

I'll try it once I'm done with a plane I'm making. with an unmanned go, but I actually think that it became more and more stable because the CoM moved upwards due to fuel flow. It was a bit shaky at launch, but once the bottom 3 tanks became about half-empty each, it just stayed the exact place I pointed it. Might have just been something to do with SAS.

EDIT: Wait, just realised that that type of pumping WOULD move the CoM up.

EDIT2: Yep, more stable. Thanks for the suggestion.

Edited by Liam Sheepman
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Superb mod, many thanks.

Got my B9 fleet of shuttles carrying reasonable payload up to orbit and return; your tanks+engines work like a charm.

Would you post some pictures here? I'd like to make a collection / inspirational album. Thanks in advance!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'll try it once I'm done with a plane I'm making. with an unmanned go, but I actually think that it became more and more stable because the CoM moved upwards due to fuel flow. It was a bit shaky at launch, but once the bottom 3 tanks became about half-empty each, it just stayed the exact place I pointed it. Might have just been something to do with SAS.

EDIT: Wait, just realised that that type of pumping WOULD move the CoM up.

EDIT2: Yep, more stable. Thanks for the suggestion.

Would you keep me posted how your craft evolves?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Would you post some pictures here? I'd like to make a collection / inspirational album. Thanks in advance!

Mods used on both shuttles

B9

NovaPunch

Mechjeb

Space Shuttle Engines (engines+orange tanks)

Remote tech (just in case I leave both kerbals at the orbital station so the shuttle could return - "by remote") ;)

Midget shuttle for small payloads

0BF80E181C2ADC2AB41A55D71AA84474099DF2A4

3D4B946599A110659BAE83E9107100FFF2B1181B

C70D30D94150A172CA5494CA01EA59174EB6B676

CE60916B0823803FB19DB3C6445F8666A542B367

347ED3989E7635E128EE7506867FB8980DCF35B8

0E0B7A7E792D9FD36546EE30AD665608BC865526

3C938B3220178CBE9BDA369C4B3927505117EE96

Midget's big brother

This one doesn't need much to glide... actually >37ms is enough for a very stable controlled glide. Just wish the NP solid fuel rockers could give a bit of more punch

4A6BBF64090C22FA474BA8601B4728D24FC61C99

2B22030CF71B3C9722E459F5A7C4BB81CA9B82CA

8D8D69E3BC7A1F8A063E78C7F87B1B356A6743A1

E3D03A8E06D2451A3F380D327A8B344718D1B589

6266CCDACB86F5F154C3A810769D5BB9D06E2604

Edited by DomDiaemus
Link to comment
Share on other sites

This may be a dumb question but what do I do with the source folder in the download? In most other mods I've downloaded that's usually not there and the readmes say where things should go. I don't have a folder named source in my KSP directory like I do GameData or Ships etc.

EDIT: Well this was a dumb question. Found my answer in like 5 seconds after posting. Oh well.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Mods used on both shuttles

B9

NovaPunch

Mechjeb

Space Shuttle Engines (engines+orange tanks)

Remote tech (just in case I leave both kerbals at the orbital station so the shuttle could return - "by remote") ;)

Midget shuttle for small payloads

0BF80E181C2ADC2AB41A55D71AA84474099DF2A4

3D4B946599A110659BAE83E9107100FFF2B1181B

C70D30D94150A172CA5494CA01EA59174EB6B676

CE60916B0823803FB19DB3C6445F8666A542B367

347ED3989E7635E128EE7506867FB8980DCF35B8

0E0B7A7E792D9FD36546EE30AD665608BC865526

3C938B3220178CBE9BDA369C4B3927505117EE96

Midget's big brother

This one doesn't need much to glide... actually >37ms is enough for a very stable controlled glide. Just wish the NP solid fuel rockers could give a bit of more punch

4A6BBF64090C22FA474BA8601B4728D24FC61C99

2B22030CF71B3C9722E459F5A7C4BB81CA9B82CA

8D8D69E3BC7A1F8A063E78C7F87B1B356A6743A1

E3D03A8E06D2451A3F380D327A8B344718D1B589

6266CCDACB86F5F154C3A810769D5BB9D06E2604

WoW The midget shuttle looks awesome nice work :-)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Getting the CoM right, requires some practice even with this mod. Some hints:

If you go nose down, set your tank higher. This will reduce the required angle of the engines. If your CoM shifts too much during flight, you can use the new fuel flow breakers and fuel lines to segment larger tanks and avoid strong shifting CoMs.

Would you post a picture or send me one ( vab with CoM and CoT) and a beauty shot of your vessel?

Any chance you could help me? I tried to make a shuttle like OP, but I just can't get it off the ground without falling backwards. Not sure where to begin.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Any chance you could help me? I tried to make a shuttle like OP, but I just can't get it off the ground without falling backwards. Not sure where to begin.

Sure! Have you read my previous post about the CoM and the position of the external tank? Could you post some pictures of your craft, including a side view with CoM and CoT?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Can't make it work for large shuttles, the engines don't seem to be efficient for large load ups. To get into 100k orbit it consumes nearly all fuel, adding more tanks to compensate only reduces the efficiency. I also tried to use the big engine but I don't see the point of it, not powerful enough for combination of large tank + shuttle. So ditched the large tank and large engine.

This one it can get into 100km orbit but without cargo... adding cargo then the fuel wouldn't be enough.

0A0E744335EB974E387E6CD304CE3996F0C6C713

76A74BF6AEDE2E0B70623EA2F478729A01383C81

AD3DABF34FDC690EEBB654CD58490CBA10DEC332

6A18C13D846B498EBACAA2FB3B79A37E99F1F1D2

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Can't make it work for large shuttles, the engines don't seem to be efficient for large load ups. To get into 100k orbit it consumes nearly all fuel, adding more tanks to compensate only reduces the efficiency. I also tried to use the big engine but I don't see the point of it, not powerful enough for combination of large tank + shuttle. So ditched the large tank and large engine.

This one it can get into 100km orbit but without cargo... adding cargo then the fuel wouldn't be enough.

It sounds as if your TWR is bad. You also might want to add some more boosters because the stock boosters are just not good enough. For my KM Atlantis I used four boosters instead of two. It looks nice, too.

I think you'll like what I am currently adding for the next release...

A stronger version of the X2. I has the same efficiency and TRW as the mainsail. It packs 500kN. So three of these will be exactly the same as the mainsail or the large BB1. Using four or five will give you quite some more thrust.

Edited by dtobi
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sure! Have you read my previous post about the CoM and the position of the external tank? Could you post some pictures of your craft, including a side view with CoM and CoT?

Yes, but I have to admit, I'm really unsure if I'm too high or too low. I honestly think my center of thrust is just way vs center of mass. Or something's wrong with my lift. Probably my lift surfaces. I'm very lost!

screenshot63_zps2000a2cc.png

screenshot64_zps41be6647.png

For reasons of simplicity/performance/avoiding headaches, I've tried to reduce the number of parts I'm using while having enough delta-V to go into high orbit.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

dtobi: I'm liking these engines!

A suggestion/request: can you please not include any images or textures your models don't use? Any image files left in gamedata will be loaded into RAM whether or not they're ever actually used by the game, which is...very bad.

Just for the two OMS engine alone, there's like three-odd textures (old versions of your textures?) that you don't use.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yes, but I have to admit, I'm really unsure if I'm too high or too low. I honestly think my center of thrust is just way vs center of mass. Or something's wrong with my lift. Probably my lift surfaces. I'm very lost!

I am pretty sure that you have way too much thrust on your tank side. In addition the shuttle is too high on the tank. The shuttles engines must be able to turn the shuttle as the CoM shifts. Your CoM is almost at the same height as the shuttle engines. The best thing the engines can do here is pushing the shuttle sideways but they can hardly turn it.

Try reducing the thrust on your tank side or increase the thrust on the shuttle side. In addition try to have the CoM higher.

I hope this helps.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

dtobi: I'm liking these engines!

A suggestion/request: can you please not include any images or textures your models don't use? Any image files left in gamedata will be loaded into RAM whether or not they're ever actually used by the game, which is...very bad.

Just for the two OMS engine alone, there's like three-odd textures (old versions of your textures?) that you don't use.

Thanks. I'll remove all duplicates in the next release.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This thread is quite old. Please consider starting a new thread rather than reviving this one.

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...