pTrevTrevs

This gives me anxiety.

Google reverse image search indicates the first photo is of the Apollo 14 launch and the second is of Apollo 4.

Oh heck yeah, I've been waiting for this mod to be resurrected. Definitely gonna add it to the shopping list for my next modded career save.

#StuffElonSays Seriously, I bet right now that's about as likely to happen as Crew Dragon making a propulsive landing on a helipad was when Elon promised it years ago.

It looks like my problem wasn't directly related to this mod after all, because it still happens exactly the same way even when I remove all the Modular Launch Pads hardware from the craft file and test it on the pad. Fortunately by doing that, I was able to get a better look at what exactly was happening to the ship, and it seems that whenever an animation was triggered, such as a cargo bay opening or landing gear extending, all the radial decouplers would break off. So the SRBs and Orbiter all fell off the ET, which became unsupported and fell to the ground and exploded. Switching the SRB decouplers for bigger and stronger ones seemed to fix the problem. I think I can likely chalk the problem down to one of the dependencies for this mod, probably Animated Attachments. Having said that, I now see the disclaimer in the original post regarding that particular mod. It seems you were not the one to whom I ought to have raised this issue.

Yeah, I thought about that after I closed the game, but I don't think I moved the Mobile Launcher at all since my last flight; only the FSS and RSS. I'll double check and let you know.

I tried to launch my shuttle tonight using the most recent update of this mod. For an unknown reason, when I have the shuttle sitting on the pad and activate one of this mod's part animations, such as rolling back the RSS or retracting the ET intertank access gantry, my left solid rocket booster seems to just fall off the ET, right before the entire vehicle stack explodes and scatters debris in about a 150m radius around the pad. This happens even if I trigger a part like the hammerhead crane, which is clearly far enough from the shuttle itself to be causing this. The entire sequence happens really slowly to me because I run the game on such a bad computer, but here's the best screenshot I could capture: Now, in fairness, I don't know for certain that Modular Launch Pads is causing the problem. I'm using a lot of mods right now, and my shuttle itself is made from stock parts while I know your shuttle launch infrastructure was designed to be used with SOCK or Cormorant Aeronology. Even so, this mod is the only one I've updated recently, and I've previouly launched seven shuttle missions in my current save without issue, with no changes unique to this flight except the payload. Since the only substantial change to this craft file was the switchover to the new Shuttle FSS/RSS, I think it's pretty likely the issue lies there.

Such a big update, I'm wondering if it will break any of my existing craft.

Was this in JNSQ or a similar rescaled planet pack?

To be honest I don’t remember, this was a few weeks ago. I’m pretty sure it was over 5000 meters though since I had a few minutes of free flight time from separation to touchdown.

Before Pathfinder made its first flight, I conducted an Approach and Landing Test with a prototype orbiter. I think it fits the profile for STS-1T too. The only relevant difference between this orbiter and the spaceworthy ones is that this one has no fuel in its tanks. Orbiters preparing reentry will dump their unused OMS fuel before atmospheric contact, but will retain whatever RCS monopropellant is left in the fore tanks, while the ALT orbiter flies its tests entirely dry.

Yep, those are the RoveMate probe cores; they’re a really great part for all kinds of aesthetic uses, especially now that they have silver and gold mylar versions. I do have TAC Life Support hardware hidden inside the shuttle cockpit, but like I said, they don’t really affect the function of the shuttle.

Well, I've got a shuttle I've started using in my career save. Didn't design it with this challenge in mind but I think the last mission I flew fits the profile for STS-1A. Relevant parts mods include TAC Life Support, Conformal Decals, Kerbal Engineer, Near Future (only used on the payload), and Modular Launch Pads (irrelevant after launch). Technically this is STS-2 in my own save, but the first flight probably doesn't qualify since it landed short of the runway. The orbiter used on this flight is OV-101 Pathfinder, carrying a crew of two Kerbals for a two day flight. STS-2 is the second R&D flight for the shuttle and the first mission to carry an operational payload. Its primary objective include the testing of the Shuttle Robotic Manipulator Arm, deployment of the QBESAT-DataTracker 1, and the operation of several scientific instruments mounted on a pallet in the shuttle's payload bay. Like all planned R&D Shuttle missions the targeted landing site is the Kojave Sands Air Base from KerbinSide. Launch pad is LC-39A from Tundra Space Center. Literally a few hundred meters north of the stock KSC launch pad. I'm using StageRecovery to recover the solid rocket boosters after their jettison. The external tank, of course, is not reusable, and burns up in Kerbin's atmosphere after the shuttle reaches orbit. The payload includes the Shuttle Robotic Manipulator Arm, a scientific instrument carrier pallet, and a small satellite held inside a protective housing to the rear. The SRMA test involves grappling the QBESAT and extracting it from its storage tube. The satellite itself uses several Near Future parts, and the scientific instrument carrier has a Near Future capacitor and a set of solar panels, but none of them proved influential to the mission. I'm also using the Trajectories mod to navigate during deorbit and reentry.

@Yukon0009, Shuttle Pathfinder thanks you for its new look: Might make a thread in Mission Reports to show off my missions with Pathfinder and her soon-to-be-commissioned sister ships. I'm using this in a career mode save, after all.

My man! Finally... some delicious freaking WIP.

Dumb question, maybe, but what did you use to make the custom flags for the markings on the shuttle? I want to make a set of nametapes for my own shuttle.

Action is coming

Yeah man, if you don't do a remastered version to outdo the old one I might just do it myself! If I knew literally anything about recording and editing, anyway...

Whoa man, I had no idea you were still around. I still watch your old Constellation mission every now and then and it's still great.

Reached a point in my current career game where I plan to start flying Shuttle hardware and capsules/ELVs concurrently, so I'm working on getting that STS/Saturn hodgepodge vibe for rockets launching from LC-39.

Can't wait to find a set of Space Shuttle nametapes or historic mission patches for these new decals. I'd make some myself if I knew where to start.

Testing shuttles in career mode is more monotonous than one would think. After all, I am air-launching it from the back of an airliner at cruising altitude and gliding it to a landing. If that don't put hair on your chest I reckon nothing will.

What's the serial number? If it's above 254000 it's probably one of the models built with outsourced chinesium parts. Nothing beats the classic Dinklestein manufacturing, but it's so hard to find these days.

Is that on the roadmap?

The other day I realized that LC-17 actually has an animated service structure. Was wondering if any other pads have this as well.