SpaceM Nastybird 2 - Stock Mk2 Shuttle

[moogoob]

Since the Nastybird GL Rev. 4 was discontinued due to changes in aerodynamics, it has been a goal of SpaceM Skunkworks, a collaboration of the Launch Systems and Aeronautic Systems divisions of the company, to revamp the Nastybird concept for a new age. Today, we are proud to present to you the SpaceM Nastybird 2!

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Dropbox link for .craft files:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/xxb0paniythxpch/AABaZsOj8RnBRKwpe7kWOt_Ua?dl=0

Download the normal one if you have Mechjeb installed, otherwise use the one with "no mj" in the filename.

Action groups:

Lights: This turns the cabin lights on and off. Luxurious!

Brakes: Toggles wheel and air brakes as default.

Abort: Does nothing.

Gear: Gear up and down.

1: Landing prep - toggles front gear lights and unlocks front gear steering

2: Open/close docking port

3. Open/close service bay.

How to fly:

Ascent: Ascend like any other rocket - do a normal gravity turn, in other words. Mechjeb has no problem with using the default curve.

In flight: Firstly when you get to orbit it is essential to open your service bay and turn on one of the fuel cells as she has no solar power. Rendezvous and docking is pretty straightforward, though due to engine limitations of the inline docking port you'll have to eyeball the final approach.

Deorbit and landing: IMPORTANT: drain any remaining fuel to the forward tank before deorbiting AND do not attempt re-entry with more than 1/3rd fuel remaining (burn it off if you have to). This is because the centre of mass is fairly daintily balanced on the centre of lift already and having fuel in the back tank (or too much in the front) makes it too rear-heavy.

Deorbit as normal, aiming for a 25km or so periapsis. I use Mechjeb to help focus on a landing site. Point your nose into the airflow, and wait until your speed lowers to a sane value.

Then engage SAS if you haven't already and glide towards the runway at KSC (if your're close) or a flat-looking piece of land (if you're not). Any remaining fuel can be used to boost your speed if you find yourself too far out. Use a combination of gentle gliding and airbrakes to get your speed down before touchdown and just land as normal.

Typical mission: Fuel loadout is designed to ascend to 80km, circularize (boosters run out and have to be ejected before circularization finishes), rendezvous with a station or other craft in low or medium Kerbin orbit, and deorbit to land at the runway at KSC while transporting four Kerbal passengers, plus pilot and co-pilot.

With orbital refueling I've taken it to Minmus, but fuel starts getting pretty low pretty quickly in this scenario.

So have fun and please let me know what you think if you give it a try!

Edited May 30, 2015 by moogoob
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[SHiftER2O]

And this is nasty in what sense? XD Not seeing any nastiness

[moogoob]

And this is nasty in what sense? XD Not seeing any nastiness

It's one of those cases where I've been calling it the Nastybird so long that I can't really remember why. It has something to do with its sister 1-Kerbal shuttle the Angrybird, but I have no idea where the nasty part came in.

[SHiftER2O]

It's one of those cases where I've been calling it the Nastybird so long that I can't really remember why. It has something to do with its sister 1-Kerbal shuttle the Angrybird, but I have no idea where the nasty part came in.

HAHA hmmm, now that you've brought it up, would you be redoing this "Angrybird" you speak of?

[moogoob]

HAHA hmmm, now that you've brought it up, would you be redoing this "Angrybird" you speak of?

I'll think about getting the craft file up once I do some more re-entry tests. Not sure whether or not to give it wings or just keep it as a 1-kerbed cockpit-fuel-thing that uses parachutes.

[moogoob]

Did some more re-entry testing today, and have one more thing to add: make sure you're light on fuel before re-entry. Even if you have only 50% remaining AND put it all into the front tank, she gets awfully flippy high up and can break apart when this happens. Drain some into other docked ships or burn it off somehow in other ways.

Shephat and Sibie Kerman died for this information. May they rest in peace, brave test pilot and engineer.

[SHiftER2O]

You can try shifting the fuel levels before reentry and see if the CoM balances

[moogoob]

You can try shifting the fuel levels before reentry and see if the CoM balances

I did! It's even in the instructions. I just need to do another revision - move the wings back a tad. If you've got 1/3rd fuel left it's not too much a problem but this is making re-entry just a bit difficult. :/