inigma

Challenge posted: http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/112399-STS-Space-Shuttle-Challenge-PROVE-YOUR-PILOTING-METTLE!-Earn-a-Badge!

[table] [tr] [td][/td] [td][/td] [td][/td] [td][/td] [td][/td] [/tr] [/table] All STS Space Shuttle & Subassembly Downloads Anyone who can get the STS Space Shuttle into orbit can become an STS Astronaut, but can you earn a place on the Leaderboard? STS Space Shuttle Leaderboard (Leaderboard closed after KSP 1.0.5) KSP 1.0.4 and Earlier: Name - Shuttle Name - STS Fuel Pod Periapsis - Rating 1. Aphobius - Space Shuttle Like a Baws - 400,053m - STS Pilot I 2. TeeJaye85 - Space Shuttle Fortunate - 303,640m - STS Commander I 3. kookoo_gr - Space Shuttle Intrepid - 301,592m - STS Commander I 4. FlipNascar - Space Shuttle Indefatigable - 211,489 - STS Pilot I 5. trooperMNG - Space Shuttle White-Grissom-Chaffee 206,981 - STS Pilot I Only the top five will be listed. If you get bumped off, try again! STS Astronaut Corps (Corps Roster Closed after 1.0.5, but challenge remains self-certifying to new attempts) 1.0.4 and earlier roster: inigma - Space Shuttle Intrepid Tangle - Space Shuttle Ranger ExplorerKlatt - Space Shuttle Challenger ilo - Space Shuttle Inigma Jackvony - Space Shuttle Archimeades Yukon0009 - Space Shuttle Pathfinder DMSP - Space Shuttle Columbus ExplorerKlatt - Space Shuttle Horizon xoknight - Space Shuttle Hubble Frannington - Space Shuttle Myshka NoPanShabuShabu - Space Shuttle Yossha Ikuzou Columbia - Space Shuttle Columbia kookoo_gr - Space Shuttle Intrepid ☆Aphobius - Space Shuttle Like a Baws ☆totalitor - Space Shuttle Bounty 1Revenger1 - Space Shuttle Oddysey Death Engineering - Space Shuttle Discovery pTrevTrevs - Space Shuttle Enterprise willshmo258 - Space Shuttle Excalibur TeeJaye85 - Space Shuttle viewfull=1#post1784113'>Fortunate Kelderek - Space Shuttle Icarus Indy - Space Shuttle Rodger Young​ Nansuchao - Space Shuttle Challenger FlipNascar - Space Shuttle Indefatigable ☆boostme - Space Shuttle Dauntless Angel-125 - Space Shuttle Falcon boostedM - Space Shuttle Hermes trooperMNG - Space Shuttle White-Grissom-Chaffee ☆Special Commendation Award (for meritorious action during unplanned emergency events) Missions Earn the following merit badges in the following order to rank up. It is possible to meet the goals of several proficiency ratings in a single mission. Keep track of your proficiency progress on your own, and as you meet all goals, reward yourself with a new forum badge! As a general rule, STS Astronauts are those who can fly the STS Space Shuttle (or any stock variant). Mission Specialists are those who can get stuff to orbit. Pilots are those who can get stuff to orbit and land at KSC. Commanders are those who can get stuff to orbit, land at KSC, and survive emergencies. Legends are those who earn their place in the Academy Hall of Fame forever until someone else unseats them. Which astronaut are you? Mission: STS Space Shuttle Maiden Flight Description: The Kerbal Space Program administration team wants you and your crew to fly the maiden launch of the STS Space Shuttle, and hopefully make it back alive. STS Space Shuttle Astronaut To earn this badge and get listed in the Astronaut corps: -Fly an STS Space Shuttle at least once above 70km -Post in this thread your space shuttle name and a screenshot. Then feel free to wear this, and/or others you earn below proudly in your forum signature. Mission Specialist Qualification -Orbit above 70km. -Make two complete orbits. Pilot Qualification - Complete a roll program between launch and 10km or your gravity turn, whichever comes first. (Your tail must face the ocean for most of your launch) - Complete another roll program before jettisoning your External Tank. (by 50km is a good time to do this) - Achieve a circularized orbit greater than 120km over Kerbin. (Pe and Ap must be within 100m of each other) - Land the Space Shuttle intact on Kerbin. Commander Qualification - Achieve a circularized orbit greater than 200km over Kerbin (Pe and Ap must be within 100m of each other) - Land at KSC Runway or KSC Island (Bad weather is reported at KSC with wind shears capable of harming your shuttle wings. Try landing at KSCI to avoid a .90 wing collision bug, though its not required) Mission: STS Fuel Pod Deployment - Hall of Fame Mission Description: KSP mission planners require a fuel pod to be delivered into orbit for future missions. KSP weather forecasters warn of bad weather at KSC and recommend an alternate landing site to avoid wing damage (a bug in .90), but they leave that decision up to you. Mission Specialist I: - Deploy the STS Fuel Pod into orbit above 70km. - All crew must survive returning to Kerbin. Crash landings are acceptable. Pilot I: - All Pilot Qualification goals must be achieved on your attempt. - Deploy the STS Fuel Pod into a circularized orbit above 200km. (Pe and Ap of STS Fuel Pod must be within 100m of each other) - You may not use any of the STS Fuel Pod liquid fuel. - You may only use 5 units of STS Fuel Pod monopropellant to extract the pod from the cargo bay, and fine tune the orbit. - You must not alter the STS Space Shuttle or STS Fuel Pod in anyway, except to adjust fuel amounts pre-launch (I suggest filling up all tanks). - You must land the shuttle back at KSC or KSC Island to qualify for having your attempt ranked in the Hall of Fame. Commander I: - All Pilot I goals are included in this rating attempt. - You must complete a separate RTLS (Return to Launch Site) abort mission: At least 1m 30s into the flight while during your gravity turn above 10km and over the water, prematurely eject the boosters. Then attempt to make it back to KSC without ditching your cargo. You may of course use the fuel in your attached External Tank, and even the STS Fuel Pod in an attempt to dump some of the weight. KSC doesn't care how much fuel you burn up as they just want the STS Fuel Pod, the Shuttle, and your bodies all back in once piece. Land at either KSC runway or KSC Island. .- Relaunch and deploy the STS Fuel Pod into a circularized orbit above 300km. (Pe and Ap of STS Fuel Pod must be within 100m of each other) Hall of Fame Requirements: - Complete Pilot I or Commander I ratings. - Highest STS Fuel Pod Periapsis wins! - Must post screenshot of STS Fuel Pod periapsis. - Must post screenshot of tank deployed STS Fuel Pod tank values. - Must follow all rules listed at the bottom of this post for Hall of Fame submissions. Mission: STS Fuel Pod Rendezvous & Retrieval Description: KSC director Gene Kerman wants you and your crew to test the feasibility of retrieving the orbiting STS Fuel Pod in preparation for future space station missions. Mission Specialist II - Mission Specialist I is required before attempting. - Simulate an ATO (Abort to Orbit) by shutting down one or two SSMEs (Space Shuttle Main Engines) after passing 30km up, prior to achieving orbit. - Achieve orbit with periapsis above 70km. - Land on the Africa-like landmass that KSC is on. Crew survival is required. Crash landings are ok. Pilot II - Pilot I is required before attempting. - Simulate an ATO per the Mission Specialist II goals above. This can be done in a separate mission or during the same mission. - All Pilot Qualification goals are required during your attempt. - Rendezvous and dock with your deployed STS Fuel Pod (you may refuel as necessary) - Return to KSC or KSC Island. Commander II - Commander I is required before attempting. - Simulate an ATO per the Mission Specialist II goals above. This can be done in a separate mission or during the same mission. - Rendezvous with the STS Fuel Pod and stow it in your cargo bay. You may modify the cargo bay anyways you wish for this mission. (I recommend using 2 Sr. docking ports at either end of the bay) - Return the the Space Shuttle with STS Fuel Pod in the cargo bay, to KSC or KSC Island. You may use the STS Fuel Pod fuel to burn it off or use it for your flight home to make the shuttle easier to land. Mission: STS ComSat Deployment & Servicing Description: KSP has received the first commercial contracts willing to pay the premium for hands-on Kerbal deployment of their cargo into orbit which the STS (Space Transportation System) offers. Launch the SBS and Anik ComSats into orbit! Be wary, installing the cargo into your space shuttle will require you to adjust and plan your staging accordingly. Each satellite is deployed via a decoupler which trigger sepatrons to spin stabilize the sats. After they clear the orbiter, their PAM (Payload Assist Module) fires them into orbit while spinning, (you manually kill the rotation after you achieve the target apoapsis), and decouples from the satellite. Mission Specialist III - Mission Specialist II is required before attempting. - Deploy both STS ComSats into orbit at any altitude and inclination of your choice. Satellite spin launch is not required. - Decouple the PAMs from the satellites to let them orbit freely. - Land intact anywhere on Kerbin. Shuttle must not be damaged (KSC bug excepted). Pilot III - Pilot II is required before attempting. - All Pilot Qualification goals are required during your attempt. - Deploy both STS ComSats from the orbiter using spin stabilization - Use the PAMs to have the satellites reach Kerbin synchronous orbit on opposite sides of Kerbin from each other. - Decouple the PAMs. - Land at KSC or KSC Island (KSC Island preferably) or else a previously marked (with a flag) alternate landing site. Commander III - The Service Module subassembly is required to be installed in the orbiter cargo bay prior to launch (along with KIS, KAS, IR, and Tweakscale mods), in addition to the STS ComSat subassembly in order to complete this rating. - Commander II is required before attempting. - All Pilot Qualification goals are required during your attempt. - Deploy one STS ComSat from the orbiter using spin stabilization - Use the PAM to deploy one successful satellite to Kerbin synchronous orbit. - Deploy the other STS ComSat but don't allow its PAM to fire. - Capture and return the defunct satellite back to Kerbin (feel free to use KAS struts to accomplish this). - Bad weather at KSC. Mission Control orders you to land at KSC Island or else any previously marked (with a flag) alternate landing site. Mission: STS Orbital Construction Mission Specialist IV - Mission Specialist III is required before attempting. - Deploy the STS Space Telescope above 120km. - Assemble the STS Space Telescope solar array and deploy them via EVA. - Land the shuttle intact on the Africa-like landmass that KSC is on. Crew survival is required. Shuttle must not be damaged (KSC bug excepted). Pilot IV - Pilot III is required before attempting. - Mission Specialist IV is required before attempting. - Design, construct, and launch a space station core and 3 modules for a space station in 120km orbit. One module must be a habitat and command module, another a science module, a third a fuel module. - Assemble your station in orbit in two or more separate launches. - One of your landings must be at KSC Island or alternate previously marked (with a flag) landing site simulating a bad weather report at KSC. Commander IV - Commander III is required before attempting. - Mission Specialist IV is required before attempting. - Design, construct, and launch a space station core and 5 modules for a space station in 120km orbit at a 55 degree inclination. One module must be a habitat module, a second a command module, a third a science module, a fourth a fuel module, a fifth a docking array module. - Assemble your station in orbit in three or more separate launches. - KSC reports the command module is faulty and needs replaced. In a separate launch rendezvous and retrieve the command module and replace it with another. Return the faulty command module to KSC Island so it can be serviced there. Honorary Badges STS Engineer Award Given by an STS Architect for developing a subassembly for use with the STS Space Shuttle, or for assisting in the development of an STS Space Shuttle. If you have a subassembly you'd like to be reviewed, post it here in the STS Space Shuttle development thread. STS Mission Control Award Awarded for completing any of the STS Space Shuttle missions using a NASA style space shuttle other than the STS Space Shuttle developed by inigma. Post your attempt in this thread. STS Flight Director Award Awarded to anyone completing any of the STS Space Shuttle missions using a NASA style space shuttle that they have developed on their own. Post your attempt and your craft file in this thread. STS Space Shuttle Architect The award given to the designer of the STS Space Shuttle, or awarded by inigma to anyone developing an aesthetically pleasing spin off to the STS Space Shuttle aesthetics design. PM me if you have a design you'd like me to look at! Downloads and Instructional Videos for All Missions: STS-4 Space Shuttle STS Elevator STS Astrovan STS Fuel Pod STS ComSats STS Operations Module STS Service Module STS-4 Pre-Launch Sub Assembly Installation Video STS Fuel Pod Deployment: RTLS Abort: There are no rules on how you accomplish a mission, unless you intend to compete for the Hall of Fame. Hall of Fame Rules: (Hall of Fame is closed to new entries after KSP 1.0.5) 1. You must use the STS-4 Space Shuttle. 2. STS Fuel Pod liquid fuel is locked and must not be touched during the STS Fuel Pod deployment mission. 3. You may unlock the STS Fuel Pod monopropellant to activate its onboard RCS to extract the payload from the bay and fine tune its circular orbit, but only 5 units of STS Fuel Pod monoprop are permitted for this purpose. All other use is restricted. 5. STS Fuel Pod payload must remain in circular orbit with only a 100m difference between Pe and Ap. Hint: use your RCS to fine tune your orbit. 6. You may not modify the STS-4 Space Shuttle, STS Fuel Pod, or STS ComSats in anyway except to adjust pre-launch fuel amounts (I suggest filling up all tanks), and staging orders. 7. You must land the shuttle back at the KSC to qualify for the leaderboard for all Hall of Fame missions. All other participants will be recorded in the STS Astronaut Corps Honor Roll. Hall of Fame Allowances: - All flight information, navigation, and control mods are allowed (MechJeb, Kerbal Enginer Redux, Trajectories, etc.). It is worth noting here that I believe the best Shuttle Commanders will actually manually beat those who use computer aided flight controllers exclusively. As an extreme example, I have been able to achieve 300km orbital payload insertion, and have enough monopropellant left in the orbiter tanks to make it back to KSC runway. - F5 saves are permitted. The goal is to learn the STS flight characteristics and enjoy completing these missions to the max, not make it a chore for you. That said, if you can fly any or all missions without saves, the experience is well worth it. General Requirements for Submitting Your Entries: Hall of Fame: 1. Name of your Space Shuttle 2. Picture of your launch 3. Picture of your completed roll program. 4. Picture of your space shuttle's or deployed payload's orbital altitude periapsis and apoapsis (either map view or mod info window view) 5. For the STS Fuel Pod mission: picture of your deployed STS Fuel Pod with tank levels. Liquid tank must be 100% full. Monopropellant must have 745 units or higher remaining. Other Missions: 6. For the RTLS Abort mission, all I need is a picture of your abort start point (showing altitude), and a picture of your rested shuttle with bay open and fuel amounts displayed on the STS Fuel pod. 7. For the STS Fuel Pod Retrieval mission, picture of your landed shuttle with pod fuel amounts showing. 8. For the STS ComSats mission, picture of a satellite being deployed 9. For the STS Orbital Construction mission, picture of the STS Space Telescope constructed in orbit, or completed Space Station. All Entries: 10. More screenshots as desired to tell your story. 11. Videos of all or any of the above are greatly desired in lieu of screenshots. You may award yourself if you know you've met the requirements, but if you want me to check your work, give me 72 hours to respond. Else assume you've earned your badge and wear it proudly!

No worries Jack. I believe you. Once I finalize the designs, you are welcome to any of your pic, no challenge entry required.

Sampa, I made this for you. I had to learn how to land this using MechJeb the first time. After watching how MechJeb did it, this is what I discovered best:

I call it the Snow Cat Utility Truck. KAS, Proceedural Fairings, Karbonite, and Remote Tech required. Pre .90. Transports 7 Kerbals. Carries lots of tow cables and parts for rescuing and pulling things. I'm looking forward to developing a new Snow Cat soon. It even came with a Cargo Airlifter IV I made to transport it and other cargo: Here is the Cargo Airlifter after dropping off a Karbonite Mining Rig in the background at Area 51. The shuttlecraft in the midground is a modified Neutron (see my sig).

I was thinking about starting starting a series of challenges using the STS Space Shuttle and reward successful pilots and commanders with mission patches for their forum signature and elsewhere. The first challenge would be to successfully fly the STS Space Shuttle, orbit at least once, and then land back at the KSC runway. The second challenge would be to launch the STS Fuel Pod to the highest possible orbit using the STS Space Shuttle, and land back at KSC runway. The third challenge would have to do with station construction using the STS Space Shuttle. Completing any one would earn someone a mission patch with STS Pilot mentioned at the bottom. Completing all three would have a unique mission patch with STS Commander mentioned at the bottom. I might solicit help for such mission badge rewards. If anyone has creative mission patch/reward ideas they'd like to submit, I'm all for it!

The prettiest and most capable of all my STSs: STS-4

Its incidents like these that kinda makes one want to scout out and flag alternate landing sites...

Was reading this. The suspense had me on the edge of my seat. I've sepped the boosters early before. I figured out if I pack a bit more fuel in the ET it helps cover emergencies like this. That moment when you have to decide RTLS or ATO is a harrowing one. Well done on saving the mission and the shuttle. I've lost many prototypes and Kerbals to mountain landing zones. Looking forward to pics or vid!

Thank you! OP updated!

Very creative solution to think of stashing and EVAing the solar panels.

Absolutely amazing. Just wow. Awesome!!! I love how an EVA is required to assemble this payload in orbit. All stock too it looks like? What's the tonnage? I'll list it in the OP ASAP (aka after I wake up, lol since I'm just headed to bed after shutting KSP down for the night) Well designed! Be sure to share it in the Cargo Bay showcase that is sticked in Spacecraft Exchange too! It looks like you've got the panel concept down for the cargo subs. I was thinking creatively...have you tried experimenting with the art of hiding panels inside the walls and the floor of the cargo bay? No worries on this sub, just wanted to share with other engineers reading this. Some subs like this it does a great job to make the bay look like it was used! Hidden panels or not, this is a well done subassembly! I will fly it on my next shuttle mission and post a screenie! Don't forget to share this on reddit. If you don't do reddit, let me know and I'll share it! Tonight I was playing with rooting the STS-4 cargobay and testing various cockpit subassembly ideas I have. I think with the next generation I'll root the bay for this purpose going forward to give STS sub engineers more room to play with than just cargo bay subs. ...and had this random thought of offering some sort of challenge on the Challenge forum requiring the use of the STS.

I had the same thought last night playing with bays. Looked a bit weird with the open doors...wishing I could cut them off or fill in the space with another modules. Then I realized I could just make a bay with wingparts.

ok, so where are your craft files for your ship? i have been inspired.

Thank you! Let me know how she flies!

Reddit: http://www.reddit.com/r/KerbalSpaceProgram/comments/2xtf02/space_shuttle_columbus_mission_an_intrepid_class/.compact Kaboom. Sounds interesting... will check it out. I love your shuttle mission. Well screenshotted. op updated.

Glad you like!

Kaboom delay? What's that sounds exciting! Kliper 1 went down? Is there a story to this? Very Beautiful! Be sure to share this on Reddit and in the KSP Forums Fan Works>Mission Reports forum! If you don't have reddit, and I can share it there for you if you wish. Let me know and I'll post it there for ya!

Mission Control is certainly featured in this video!

Intrepid - An Epic STS-4 Space Shuttle Showcase Film:

We have a rep-worthy thread somewhere around here. Suggest we use that unless there are objections.

Step 1: build skyscraper. Step 2: attach engines. Step 3: open astro moving company for business.

Great pics! Is the download link broke? - - - Updated - - - Great drawing! I'm flattered! Pathfinder is a good shuttle name.

Thanks! Can you post pictures in your post, as well as list any mods required, and the tonnage of the subassembly? - - - Updated - - - Looking forward to it. It's about time I start a new section showcasing STS Space Shuttle spinoffs... however if you could make the ET and thus the launch stack as an attachable subassembly that'd be even more amazing. Will take a bit of engineering to make it so, but you can attach whatever you wish to the STS-4 cubic strut in the cargo bay that holds the current launch stack in place.

Lol awesome! ill add it to the op as a registered shuttle. Can you find a way to engineer the payload as a single subassembly so I can list it in the sub library too?