Shuttle Challenge.

[Martian Emigrant]

Hey all.

I am starting on the Shuttle challenge and I am looking to get licensed on em.

I just Completed the STS-1a.

Imgur album: http://imgur.com/a/qKrgX

My shuttle design use two tanks as I can't for the life of me understand how the DELETED-EXPLETIVE can possibly fly straight.

The build wasn't too complicated as all the parts just click together.

 

I built and tested the Ship as a aeroplane first to test it's flying by taking off and landing from the runway. Gave it a good gob of Delta-V then put boosters on it.

Seem to be working as I am claiming the first two badges at once second badge for my first try.

I claim 

 

I admit I was lucky. The de-orbit burn was taking me too far over the KSC and in the sea. But I decided to try a Split-S and came back from the other side.

Actually landing at the KSC is still very new to me.

I still find it to be rare and remarkable.

Here are the pics.

In retrospect the chute is more for show than actually useful as the landing speed isn't so great.

 

Anyway, good fun was had by all Kerbals on board.

 

On to the next badge.

 

ME

 

Edited February 14, 2017 by Martian Emigrant

[Martian Emigrant]

Hey all.

 

This is the phase two of the challenge. Imgur album: http://imgur.com/a/qKrgX

The last time was the STS-1a and STS-1b parts.

 

This time I claim to have completed STS-1B.

And I therefore claim the Badge.

 

For this part of the challenge one must fly up a fuel tank of 40t.

The given tank being built in 1.1.2 isn't compatible with my version. I run 1.2.0

So I reverse engineered the tank.

I also had to re-examine my orbiter. More delta-V was required. The COG changed too much. I developed control issues on re-entry. Plus coming from higher orbits meant I had to put in more robust components. Some of them tended to explode on re-entry.

The tank loaded in my re-designed orbiter.

On the lauch pad. Fuelly loaded fully loaded.

And lift-off.

I will skip the climb as it is virtually the same as before and you are all familiar with the process.

 

 

 

Jeb to Bill (Slightly high-piched-voice):

Quote

Stop chewing and help me on the Brakes!

The return was more luck than talent.

I was able to "Hit" the KSC on second try. The first "Simulation" got me in the Western Ocean.

As for the touchdown....I did perhaps 12 before It was successful.

Very glad the runway is as long and wide as it is.

Maybe having a chute isn't so bad after all.

 

This conclude the report.

 

The next part is to fly two satellites to Keosynchronous orbit.

ME

Edited February 13, 2017 by Martian Emigrant

[Martian Emigrant]

Hey all.

 

It as been a few days since I posted here.

Good news and bad news.

The bad first.

I failed.

The challenge was to put 2 satellite in Kerbisynchronous Equatorial Orbit.

I did that but failed to remember that the shuttle had to be above 200km....

Don't matter that was for the Pilot badge. I will do the commander next. All if forgiven.

Here are a few pic and a vid.

I won't bother with the take-off and de-orbit. All looks the same.

2 KEO Relay satellites loaded

Release (Too low....Now I know)(I had the delta-V too)

Climbing . Hey look it's the KSC below.

Yes!

Final cnstellation.

The return found me a bit short of the runway.....22km.

But Jeb said:

Quote

Hey I know this place. I have been lost here before. The KSC is that way.

 

My next report will be about the next phase of the challenge.

Putting 3 KEO in equidistant orbit.

I have already done it. Just need to load the pics.

I'll be right back.

 

ME

 

 

 

 

 

[Soda Popinski]

Cool shuttle!  I have yet to try to build a proper one.  I'm either using expendables to send up big payloads, or SSTOing up small ones.

I recently started using KSP Trajectories.  I'm not sure sure how you feel about mods, but it's a much more efficient way to estimate your landing site.  Should make hitting KSC a snap.

[Martian Emigrant]

10 minutes ago, Soda Popinski said:

Cool shuttle!  I have yet to try to build a proper one.  I'm either using expendables to send up big payloads, or SSTOing up small ones.

I recently started using KSP Trajectories.  I'm not sure sure how you feel about mods, but it's a much more efficient way to estimate your landing site.  Should make hitting KSC a snap.

Shuttles are hard. Very hard to do.

Almost uncontrollable they are.

I use mods for look or for stuff I just can't do. My PC is a potato.

On this run it didn't matter. The rules were to get back to Kerbin. I would have been fine if not for the altitude thing.

 

ME

[Martian Emigrant]

Now.

STS-2a Commander.

Imgur album: http://imgur.com/a/qKrgX

Quote

Reach an orbit of 350+km and deploy three or more comsats with spin stabilization to equidistant geostationary orbits. De-orbit and land at either at the KSC, the Island Airfield just off of KSC, or at any Kerbal Konstructs airport.

For this one. I built a tug and fitted 3 small satellites on it.

I figured they need to be small because I am putting more in the the cargo bay....

I could have gone bigger. They look lost in there.

The take-off was routine.

I transfered fuel and dumped only one of my external tanks as I was unsure of Delta-V needed to get back down.

The tug has been released. The Orbiter is RCSsing down and away from it.

Going down at reduced thrust due to the offset COG.

After establishing a lower orbit and correcting the orbital plane.

Dumped the tank and did a routine de-orbiting.

Barely made the tarmac.

Now back to the tug

While the tug climbs to the proper altitude the Periapsis is raised to 1225km.

If you look at the time to PE and AP you will see a difference of 2 hours (10secondes off)

A round trip take 4 hours. Kerbin days are 6 hours. That's a difference of 2 hours or 1/3rd of an orbit.

So the tug releases a satellite (Anywhere but PE is good). Later said satellite will circularize it's orbit at AP.

The 3 new satellites are at 1, 4 and 9 o'clock.

Done.

So pleased.

 

ME

 

 

Edited February 14, 2017 by Martian Emigrant

[Martian Emigrant]

Hey there.

Next step STS-2b. Retrieve the 40t fuel tank we left in orbit previously.

Imgur album: http://imgur.com/a/qKrgX

Night departure.

Waited till the target was directly overhead.

Run of the mill climb to orbit.

Once there I immediately setup an encounter with the target.

Took two more correction to get it down to 0.1km

Stopped the relative speed with the main engines on low.

Sorry its so dark. Separated the external tanks.

Then proceeded on RCS with the gear down to shine the landing lights on the target.

Retracted the solar panels set the shuttle as target and lined up the tank with the orbiter.

The orbiter was turned arounf the controls passed to the cargo bay docking port. Thankfully the sun started to rise. I didn't want to stop and wait for it as everything was just right.

As the orbiter got closer the pitch was manually tilted to get the engines out of the way.

Some RCSsing was done to keep the tank aiming at the hold.

The tip is in! RCS up-up-up. Close the door.

Got'cha

Now we go home.

My Orbiter had a hard time with the new load. I think the COG was too far back. I would loose control.

On my last (And successful) attempt The speed was kept high and the manoeuvring kept to a minimum.

Didn't dare to try lining up with the runway.

But there was enough speed left (I cut the chut off)  to climb the embankment.

I'm on the runway.

Mission accomplished.

Conclusion.

Loading the tank was harder than when I practised it. My orbiter as a hard time with the load.....Was fine on testing....Go figure.

 

ME

 

 

 

Edited February 16, 2017 by Martian Emigrant

[Thedrelle]

nice. i'm liking this

 

what's next?

 

Edited February 15, 2017 by Thedrelle

[Martian Emigrant]

On 2017-02-15 at 1:04 PM, Thedrelle said:

nice. i'm liking this

 

what's next?

 

Hello Theddrelle. Thanks.

After the tank retrieval the challenge calls for :

STS-3:  Can You See Me?

Your mission here involves some design and orbital construction - you are to launch a Space Telescope into orbit and deploy it. This will require assembly with the 2 MMUs you will design, as the solar panels need to be attached on-orbit with Kerbals.

STS Commander - Rank 3

Launch the space telescope to a 550+km circular orbit inclined at 25-30 degrees and assemble it. After deployment, land at either at the KSC, the Island Airfield just off of KSC, or at any Kerbal Konstructs airport.

 

 

So with no further ado here is my take on it.

Being on the equator any launch for the KSC with an inclination can be North or South. But I chose to go South as that looks like flights from Florida or Baikonur (They both are North of the Equator. The first less than  the second).

The ship was turned in the VAB to save turning after takeoff.

Usual take-off and circularisation.

Followed with a raise of the altitude to meet the challenge of 550km+

Darn it to Heck.

I thought I took a picture of the orbital inclination But can’t find it.

I clicked on the Mun to set it as target to give the inclination (The Mun is over the Equator).

The inclination is 28°.

Because the challenge calls to land at the KSC I will need gobs of fuel.

I transferred the fuel from the top tank to the bottom one. To help offset the asymmetric thrust the fuel was put in the foremost tank.

And that's where I found a mistake.

The telescope was built using 2 fuel tanks. And they were "Supposed" to be empty......They are not.

My telescope weigh 12t.... Oh well. I am the king!

Jeb got out to take advantage of the day cycle.

Followed closely by Bill.

Jeb and Bill flying out on their MMUs with the solar panels.

The Telescope is free. Jeb goes first

Bill is not far behind. He is on the shaded side but his helmet lights are on.

Jeb flies back to the Orbiter.

 

Then goes back inside. You're on now alone Bill.

Beauty.

 

Edited February 18, 2017 by Martian Emigrant

[Martian Emigrant]

Part 2 of STS 3.

The Mun is used again to find the equator. The plane is changed at low thrust due to the offset COG.

The altitude was also changed to reduce the speed and heat during re-entry.

Telescope final altitude, weight and Inclination.

Re-entry.

Dove in to kill some speed....A bit early....The challenge says "just off of KSC". I am good.

Haw. Who knew?

 

 

ME

Edited February 17, 2017 by Martian Emigrant

[Martian Emigrant]

Hello all.

Today I finished STS4 and STS-4R

Quote

Launch your first space shuttle into an 350+km orbit with 6 crew at an inclination of 25-30 degrees, then send your second shuttle to rendezvous with it and rescue its crew. Land at either at the KSC, the Island Airfield just off of KSC, or at any Kerbal Konstructs airport.

So that's what I did.

Imgur: http://imgur.com/a/qKrgX

 

Like the telescope the shuttle was turned in the VAB to get our 30° with the equator.

The shuttle has on board the Spacelab. They are going up for science.

Usual climb and orbit.

Orbit finalized at 351x355 km, inclined 28.9°

The extra tank was jettisoned, the doors were opened......And that's when they had a problem.

The doors are jammed and they can't come back down.

 

Time for a rescue.

 

A new orbiter, Rescue-One, was pulled out of the VAB and then waited for the orbit of the Spacelab to come over the KSC.

The Commander is Val. The only veteran not on duty. She is accompanied by rookies.

 

Pretty good. If I say so myself.

 

 

Matching speed.

 

Transferring fuel prior to ditching the Topside-Tank.

Just a little more.

 

Adjusting the fuel prior to the descent.

The thrust will be low as the COG if quite offset.

Right before departure this conversation happened:

Quote

Valentina: Hey Jeb do you mind if I siphon some gas? I am a little short right now.

Jeb: Na, I don't care. It's company gas.

 

The burns have to be spread out on several orbit as the thrust is low.

The Mun is used to find the equator.

When busy Val would forget the name of the Newbs. So she reverted to the formal Hey, Hey-you and that-guy.

 

Finally

 

 

Too low.

 

 

Quote

Val: SHOOT, Cut the chute!

Quote

Val: Piece of cake.

Quote

Jeb (From the back) Are you expecting applauses?

So this conclude my adventures with shuttles.

I learned quite a bit about them. I think I know how to build something better now.

But that will be for another time.

 

Be well,

 

ME

Edited February 18, 2017 by Martian Emigrant

[StupidAndy]

sooo...moar or not moar? I like this, so I hope moar it looks awesome!

great job!

[xendelaar]

Very cool ship. you performed a lot of missions with this baby

[Martian Emigrant]

Thank you.

It's a learning process.

A few more years and I might actually know what is going on .

 

ME