Orion Enthusiasts: A little help please?

[noonespecial]

Well hello there.

You've probably assumed by the name, but I'm modeling the Orion MPCV. Now, I could just call it finished, slap on a texture, and release it as a regular everyday pod. But, I want to do as accurate a representation as possible, including integrated RCS and such.

Here is the model so far (the last picture is just a rough projection of an image and is not in any way the texture)

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Here is all the reference material I have available.

Boeing SLS Brochure, May 2014

Boeing SLS Mission Booklet, Jan 2014

Orion Design Review, 2009

Orion Flight Test-1 (probably most informative)

What I need to know is, where precisely are the RCS ports and if at all possible, the angles the RCS ports are facing relative to the surface.

Additionally... what the hello-kitty are these? Is this just a fanciful video using the RCS ports or a demonstration of a deorbit system I haven't read about yet?

Thanks,

NOS

[Mechie_PhD]

1) Looking at slide 12 of your last link, it looks like the bulk of the RCS ports are located at the window cavity side ( 2 pairs of tangential and 1 pair of normal RCS thrusters). There seem to be 3 pairs of RCS on the other three sides of the MPCV.

2) The animation is depicting re-entry precursor steps. After the pod detaches, RCS is used to rotate it to the correct orientation for optimum entry angle. After that, the normal RCS thrusters fire for a short duration to increase the distance between the fuel tanks and the command module (you don't want them smashing into each other when they hit atmo).

[noonespecial]

That I am aware of:

6 forward facing RCS ports along the top.

4 RCS ports in the front.

2 RCS ports slightly offset from center on the left/right side.

What I'm really looking forward, for the sake of having a balanced RCS configuration, is exact placement and angles. The exact placements I can guesstimate from available photographs, but the angles of the RCS ports are, as far as I've found, completely undocumented. I could guess, compile, load in ksp, test, reconfigure the transforms, compile, load in ksp, test N-times, but if anyone already knows this information, it would be very helpful.

[Guest]

Note, the Orion likely has two RCS systems. One for the CM, the other for the CM+SM combination. This is likely why it doesn't use the 6x forward ports for deorbit. On Apollo at least, the CM system used hydrazine monoprop, while the SM used MMH+NTO.

You don't have to bother with balancing the RCS system on the CM, as it would only be used for rotation.

[OrianCEV]

Additionally... what the hello-kitty are these? Is this just a fanciful video using the RCS ports or a demonstration of a deorbit system I haven't read about yet?

http://i.imgur.com/fxpFYc2.gif

Thanks,

NOS

They're probably just moving the spacecraft away from the SM, It doesn't have anything to do with the reentry.

[Razgriz1]

That I am aware of:

6 forward facing RCS ports along the top.

4 RCS ports in the front.

2 RCS ports slightly offset from center on the left/right side.

Actually, as far as I'm aware, those indents around the top are not RCS thrusters. From Aerojet Rocketdyne's website (they made Orion's RCS):

Twelve AR 160-pound-thrust monopropellant thrusters, designated as MR-104G engines, will be arranged in four single-engine pods and four dual-engine pods, including: two pitch-up pods with a single rocket engine; two pitch-down pods, each with a single rocket engine; one right and one left roll pods, each with dual rocket engines; and one right and one left yaw pods, each with dual rocket engines.

Source: http://www.rocket.com/eft1

Unfortunately, I could find no more information as to the correct placement and angles of these thrusters. I'll keep trying though. Keep up the good work NOS!

[TopHatDragon]

http://www.space.com/19292-nasa-orion-space-capsule-explained-infographic.html

has a good picture of rcs placement and there intended purpose (roll, pitch, yaw) which may help with figuring out angles

[noonespecial]

Actually, as far as I'm aware, those indents around the top are not RCS thrusters. From Aerojet Rocketdyne's website (they made Orion's RCS):

Unfortunately, I could find no more information as to the correct placement and angles of these thrusters. I'll keep trying though. Keep up the good work NOS!

You're right, the top indents are not RCS, they are the mounting points for the launch abort tower.

http://www.space.com/19292-nasa-orion-space-capsule-explained-infographic.html

has a good picture of rcs placement and there intended purpose (roll, pitch, yaw) which may help with figuring out angles

Thanks, it's very helpful!