Zorg

Nose cone switch for GEM63 and GEM63XL so you can get both versions on each. The decoupler also now has a length switch to better match the XL. This is probably better suited to generic use on other rockets as the decoupler will not match the points on the Atlas V. If you really wanted to use the XL on Atlas V, its better to use the short version of the decoupler even if the top sits a little below the nose cone and the corresponding mounting hardware on the SRB. Visually at least the GEM 63 with the conical nose should be a very good match for the CELV's Castor. Also, the AJ60 and regular GEM63 now have their nozzles canted outwards 3 degrees. Due to an oversight only the XL nozzle had this previously. This has been corrected in a commit yesterday.

Unfortunately due to the way the RS68 is constructed, the thrust structure is integral to the whole thing. You have various support struts and even the gimbal mechanism hanging off of it. Taking into account the baked AO from all the pieces that connect to or pass near each other, making an even more compact version than the "compact" version shown here would mean redoing the power-head entirely. Almost 70% of the effort of making the whole engine.

Updated CELV parts are up on github. The tanks have been remade and the extension tanks have been consolidated into b9ps switches in a cylindrical and conical part. The skirt has gotten a texture refresh while the aft sustainer mount tank only got a couple of minor tweaks. Its suggested to use Atlas II roll thrusters and the AJ60 motor for this build (the actual proposal called for a larger Castor of about that size). With this commit I believe the Atlas revamp has now reached parity with all the old stuff with the exception of the LR101 in line variant, which is modeled but not yet textured. Everything else remaining on the list would be all new.

This is about calculating a rough physical volume for inventory items using a bounding box, not tank volumes.

Yes its on the list on github. @EStreetRockets made an excellent one for his Kistler mod. Essentially I am considering it a generic mount but it will take styling inspiration from that drawing and will fit the NK33.

J1A (also known as J1U ie J1 Upgrade, or even J2) was then spiritually succeeded by Galaxy Express. J1 was a NASDA project I think while Galaxy Express was a private venture. I havent fully untangled the lineage though. Galaxy Express is literally an Atlas III first stage with the same or similar methalox upper stage as J1A.

Nope. I don't want to add a new 2k texture just for that thin strip.

The RD180 derived 2.5m mount is up on github now. Available in 1x, 2x and 4x flavours. And each is available with and without the Atlas V lox pipe connection.

Never tried it. Some of the smaller rockets might struggle. Not sure how the mid size will do. The very large rockets should be fine. Since KSP fuel mass fractions are higher than IRL, larger rockets gain more advantage from their size relative to the real world.

That’s more of less what SMURFF did. To buff parts for even larger scales. I dunno if it had a nerf. Anyway this isn’t something I intend to give a lot of thought to even as a thought experiment but you can do… something certainly. But even then BdB is complex with a lot of b9 switches etc.

BDB is balanced against stock. The thing is the stock balance is itself an overpowered balance in order to make the game easy to get into. Consider the size of a rocket made using entirely stock parts to send a 3 person capsule to the moon in the default size stock system. Then compare with a real rocket required to do the same mission. to put it another way balancing against stock and balancing for 2.5x means the same thing. If you play with BDB with the default system it will be overpowered. Just like stock parts. If you use 2.5x scale it will be quite realistic. Just like stock parts. if you don’t want to use a larger system just build smaller rockets. We’re not going to to rebalance 1300 parts in a way no one else does. This is planned (I need to copy the bottom from the atlas A skirt). As for the decoupling you should be able to disable staging in the part action window. If that’s not there I’ll add the toggle when I can check on it.

There is an RO user by the name of Skyphoenix (not sure if they’re in the forums) who is currently undertaking a massive effort to update BDB configs for RO (idk about RP1). Even a lot of the dev stuff are being integrated. Not sure if that work has been merged into RO yet and I would guess not for our dev stuff until it’s released anyway.

I just want to point out that the first stage crossing the Karman line during its burn is not unusual for rockets optimised for high energy orbits. Just about every typical mission profile detailed in the Atlas V users guide (on ULAs website) show stage sep well above the Karman line. Compare with Falcon 9 which usually separates around 65-75km. This would be less prevalent in KSP though due to scaling issues.

The CW stands for channel wall (nozzle) hence the deliberate soviet styling inspiration. I like the way it looks tbh! It looks more F1 like still and we have an RS25 wannabe in the RS68 regen anyway

We took the stance of wait and see in the sense that we wouldn’t start work for KSP2 until a decent modding pipeline and support for key functionality like part switching (whether through official or modded options) was available. We never stopped working on KSP1. There was a bit of a months long dip that at least for my part didn’t have much to do with KSP2. And the resumption of the current fast pace of dev on Atlas and X15 happened before all the KSP2 news broke. as we’ve said before we’re disappointed with what happened with KSP2. It was a massive missed opportunity. But we also now have the relief coming from having clarity about what’s ahead now.

Fact of the matter is most of what I'm interested in, is in BDB's scope. Its why I do this. If there were something I desperately wanted to make that wasn't in BDB's scope I would consider making it separately. But thats just not the case for me personally right now.

F1 was always open cycle. Dumping the exhaust into the nozzle for film cooling as the original did doesn't really count as closed cycle. The entire F-1B redesign was based around adapting the F-1 to modern production methods. In fact it would been difficult to remake the original as it was from what I understand.

yeah given that we work on this in our free time, actual contributions come in fits and starts depending on what else we have going on. And the current projects are quite extensive and complex. Even internally we tend to find out ourselves when a release is feasible quite late once most things have come together. You can keep an eye on the todo lists in the github issues if you wish to track progress. But just dont consider it any sort of indicator of a time line.

No plans for Vulcan. The XL was just an easy modification to the model and something fun to play with. A generic separate mount for use with other engines is planned. Both with and without pipe. Probably with 1,2 and 4 node options.

Blackrack's volumetric EVE. Currently only available on his Patreon page, its supposed to get a public release when out of dev at some unspecified point in the future.

Variants on github now We also have grey, white, and a slight variation on the IRL atlas colours on the RD180 engine mount. I put some accent colours in there for fun but its a separate switch to the metal ring so you can keep the shroud all white if you want.

Nope

Coming hopefully tomorrow. Finished the alternate variants for the new Atlas V. incl 4 levels of oxidation and 3 fictional paints Tanks, raceway, avionics pod & lox tank all independent switches, so you can mix & match A grey switch for the engine mount also coming This is my favourite thing As is traditional now the Atlas life cycle. Every atlas seems unique when you look at pics. Took some inspiration from various models and colours ofc adjusted to a KSP palette.

Nope

Before anyone asks again Pappystein has been discussing some of his research over last couple of weeks with me and Agena 2000 is under consideration for making at some point in the future. That is to say under consideration but not confirmed on the to do list.