"Massless" parts

[Warzouz]

"Massless parts" are parts where "PhysicsSignificance = 1" in the CFG file.

In Beta, those parts had no mass and no drag.

In 1.0, those parts have drag. Their mass is now added to the parent part.

So I have to protect them from airflow (bay or fairing) but I don't have to balance them. Am I right ?

Edited May 14, 2015 by Warzouz

[Coga19000]

Pretty much spot on. However, depending on the rest of the rocket (how aerodynamic it already is, how much control authority you have over it, the speed you're going to operate at), you can sometimes get away with the opposite: balancing them, but leaving them exposed. Once again, it depends on your design.

[cicatrix]

I've been wondering about the strange logic in that. Shouldn't 'PhysicsSignificance' be zero for such parts (according to logic, not the program code)?

[Crzyrndm]

I've been wondering about the strange logic in that. Shouldn't 'PhysicsSignificance' be zero for such parts (according to logic, not the program code)?

It's not a boolean switch that it's selecting but an enumerator (list of states). It just so happens to only have two defined states (FULL=0 and NONE=1) so it can be easily mistaken for a boolean

[cicatrix]

(FULL=0 and NONE=1)

Logical, intuitive, smart!

[Coga19000]

It's not a boolean switch that it's selecting but an enumerator (list of states). It just so happens to only have two defined states (FULL=0 and NONE=1) so it can be easily mistaken for a boolean

Oh, I see. I had also thought of that, but now it makes sense!