Project Mercury

[MrPwner]

Hello everybody,

--Description--

VincentMcConnell and I are working on recreating the spacecraft and launch vehicles from Project Mercury, the first American manned space program. I am doing the modelling while VincentMcConnell is texturing.

For both of us it's to practice modding for KSP and 3D modelling and texturing.

So it may start out as a very global 'outline' version, adding more details as we get more proficient in modelling and texturing.

We're also planning on adding the launch vehicles Mercury-Redstone (suborbital flights), Atlas LV-3B (orbital flights) and maybe even Little Joe (used to test LES).

--Images--

Fully assembled Mercury spacecraft

Exploded view

The boosters are three separate boosters placed with 3 symmetry.

The adapter is the one used in the test release. Probably won't be present in full release.

Mercury-Redstone

Mercury Spacecraft Functional testrelease (.craft only works in 0.15.2)

Download

This (untextured) release is for people who wanted to testfly the Mercury.

It has an adapter/decoupler to connect it to 2m parts.

Currently the LES doesn't work, it won't come off the ground. This is fixed in the release.

--Progress--

Mercury Spacecraft

The Mercury Spacecraft will consist of the following parts (from up to down)

• Launch Escape System model texture cfg
  
• LES Decoupler model texture cfg
  
• Drogue Chute model texture cfg
  
• Drogue Decoupler model texture cfg
  
• Main parachute model texture cfg
  
• ASAS Module model texture cfg
  
• RCS Thrusters model texture cfg
  
• RCS Fueltank model texture cfg
  
• Command Pod model texture cfg
  
• Retropack decoupler model texture cfg
  
• Retropack Deorbit Booster model texture cfg
  
• Retropack Separation Booster model texture cfg
  

Mercury-Redstone Launch Vehicle

• Adapter/separation ring (decoupler) model texture cfg
  
• Aft section/electronics compartment (ASAS) model texture cfg
  
• Fuel Tank model texture cfg
  
• Rocket motor model texture cfg
  
• Fins/rudders (control surfaces) model texture cfg
  

Mercury-Atlas/Atlas LV-3B

• Adapter/decoupler model texture cfg
  
• Fuel Tank model texture cfg
  
• Liquid Fuel Engine model texture cfg
  
• Vernier pods model texture cfg
  
• Solid Rocket Booster Stage Decoupler model texture cfg
  
• Solid Rocket Booster Stage model texture cfg
  

Thoughts/suggestions?

Edited August 4, 2012 by MrPwner

[Emilio]

That\'s really not bad ! could you show the 'split' model (all parts separated) ?

[MrPwner]

Thanks! I added the exploded view.

[Phoenix Aerospace]

If I were you, I\'d make that drogue \'chute an ASAS. It\'s really hard to get to orbit without one, and there\'s no real need for a drogue when you take into account the current drag system.

[MrPwner]

Thanks for the suggestion. I\'ll try to incorporate ASAS somewhere.

I\'m not, however, going to change the drogue, I like it because the real one has it and it\'s just something extra, even if there\'s not much use for a drogue.

[Dolan]

Nice, I might be able to help with the decals,

btw, are you planning of releasing it?

[MrPwner]

I want to release it, yes.

But as stated in the OP, this is a learning process for me. Modelling is going reasonably well atm, I haven\'t looked into texturing for KSP yet so that might take some figuring out as well.

Of course I\'m going to try everything to make it work.

[popeter123]

you want me to help with testing?

[JebThrillMaster]

Higher Polygon version later?

[MrPwner]

Very probably so, yes:P

[VincentMcConnell]

I will also gladly help with the testing of this spacecraft if you have room for testers. Thanks!

--EDIT--

Will this be a 1m pack?

[MrPwner]

I\'m also planning on adding the launch vehicles Mercury-Redstone, Atlas LV-3B and maybe even Little Joe (used to test LES)

So probably yes.

And the parts are scaled up by 23% so the diameter of the top part of the pod is 1m, the diameter at heat shield is around 2,3m atm. But anything can change.

[JebThrillMaster]

Will the Escape tower jettison and work?

[AveXx]

Yeaaaahhh I will finally able to build a Mercury-Redstone/Atlas =D

[Lord Wasteland]

As a space historian, I will gladly help, to ensure this spacecraft\'s accuracy.

[MrPwner]

I want to make the escape tower work yes, like in NovaPunch (except it\'s one part).

[Emilio]

If you want I can do the CFG files for you, just specify what you want.

[MrPwner]

Emilio, I appreciate the offer very much.

But I want to learn how to do it myself.

I could use the help when I have some questions, tho, like in my CFG node rotation topic.

LOL: When i try to search for Mercury pictures on google, I get Dolan\'s avatar in the results now too

[Lord Wasteland]

As a note, the Mercury capsule retropack, fired one after another, so if you could simulate that, that could be great! Also the posigrade rockets are not used for reentry, but to clear the Mercury capsule from the rocket firing for one second.

[MrPwner]

Lord Wasteland, thanks for the information, but yes i already knew that

I can\'t simulate it in the parts, all i can do is make three separate boosters (i did) for the retroburn and tell people they should be ripplefired 5 seconds from one another. Also, just one should be enough for a deorbit if the other two fail.

All the timing of rockets, the thrust etc will be as realistic as possible.

[Lord Wasteland]

Just thought of something, will someone be able to make a plugin, to disable the LES, if there is no emergency. Will you also count in the drogue, main, and reserve chutes in the design, or will you make that entire section a parachute?

[MrPwner]

As you can see in the OP there are a drogue and main chute, yes. The reserve may be added later.

[Lord Wasteland]

As you can see in the OP there are a drogue and main chute, yes. The reserve may be added later.

Ah. Thanks for clarifying.

[Emilio]

If you want to do de-orbit boosters that fires at interval, they must be very close one from each other, or have small thrust, or have a powerful ASAS system, otherwise the capsule will be sent fleeing in all directions.

[VincentMcConnell]

How is the LES going to work? You\'ll have a hard time working around KSP\'s staging quadrant. Because you want the tower to jettison if you don\'t need it, but you also want it to fire and rip you away earlier if you DO need it. Is that possible?