Shuttle Challenge v5 - The STS thread [Stock and Mod Friendly] - MAJOR CHALLENGE ANNOUNCEMENT! - 30.3.2020

[4x4cheesecake]

21 minutes ago, Barzon Kerman said:

Can I use this mod for a space shuttle?

https://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/index.php?/topic/161096-12-13-14-15-release-mk25-spaceplane-parts-rebuilt-expanded/ 

There are just very few restrictions regarding mods:

1) No atmospheric altering mod (except FAR)
2) No overpowered engines
3) No MechJeb while in the atmosphere

Since the mod doesn't add any engines, I don't see any reasons to disallow the parts Well, you will probably get the 'modded' badge after finishing a mission (silver colored elements instead of gold) but the difference doesn't really matter (at least in my opinion, the challenges are still challenging, even with modded parts )

[michal.don]

15 hours ago, FCISuperGuy said:

Absolutely incredible to see this challenge still in action! Just wanted to pop in and say well done, guys - it's been awesome scrolling through the 47 pages and seeing everything everyone's done (and those nice fancy badges in everyone's signatures)... Maybe I should make something and get back in the game?

Of course you should - I'm always happy to see the "Great ones" of this challenge show up and fly shuttles a bit  We have quite a shuttle-adicted community around here, and I think you'll fit in just fine  Welcome back!

12 hours ago, Barzon Kerman said:

Can I use this mod for a space shuttle?

Sure thing! as @4x4cheesecake said, you can use almost any mods you like, this challenge is very mod friendly (I flew most of missions in modded shuttles, too  )

Welcome to the challenge!

 

Michal.don

Edited November 4, 2018 by michal.don

[Petrovich]

No mission report yet, still working on the space station

but here's a demonstration of a new shuttle I'm working on: https://imgur.com/a/zMfrHLV

Based mainly off the shuttle II study from Johnson Space Center

[4x4cheesecake]

5 hours ago, Petrovich said:

but here's a demonstration of a new shuttle I'm working on: https://imgur.com/a/zMfrHLV

Really cool shuttle The deployable cockpit looks interesting...does it have any glide capabilities through the canards or is it more like a 'regular' abort and some chutes will pop up after beeing in a save distance?

[Petrovich]

5 hours ago, 4x4cheesecake said:

does it have any glide capabilities through the canards or is it more like a 'regular' abort and some chutes will pop up after beeing in a save distance?

It actually glides pretty well on those canards, however I may add parachutes in the future for convenience's sake.

I might attach it to the space station later down the line to act as a CERV

[Dman Revolution]

@michal.don

I don't know if this challenge would benefit from it but I have a compact stock robotic arm subassembly I could submit.

This is a video of the initial version. The elbow is a little more robust at this point, but can still break if you're not careful. (This is also a version that was not a subassembly)

 

[4x4cheesecake]

18 minutes ago, Dman Revolution said:

stock robotic arm subassembly

This is amazing!

Do you use the thermometers as hinges? Does it survive on-rails timewarp?

[michal.don]

12 hours ago, Dman Revolution said:

I don't know if this challenge would benefit from it but I have a compact stock robotic arm subassembly I could submit.

This is a video of the initial version. The elbow is a little more robust at this point, but can still break if you're not careful. (This is also a version that was not a subassembly)

Wow, that's a first here - I don't recall anybody building a stock robotic arm for this challenge! To be honest, I'm have pretty much zero experience with stock hinges and stuff like that, would you share more details about your robotic arm? How does it operate? How many parts? How about the on-rails-timewarp? Is it reattachable? I think most of us here would appreciate more insight very much  

Thanks,

Michal.don

[4x4cheesecake]

@michal.don I'm on a testflight for STS - 4T and I want to use two MMUs on this mission. I know, refuelling is not allowed when there is no 'support package' available for a mission but how about transfering some mono prop from the orbiter to the MMUs?

[mythic_fci]

On 11/3/2018 at 7:25 PM, 4x4cheesecake said:

Do it!

On 11/4/2018 at 2:45 AM, michal.don said:

Of course you should - I'm always happy to see the "Great ones" of this challenge show up and fly shuttles a bit  We have quite a shuttle-adicted community around here, and I think you'll fit in just fine  Welcome back!

3

Do I see a new Shuttle being test-fired?

16 hours ago, Dman Revolution said:

I don't know if this challenge would benefit from it but I have a compact stock robotic arm subassembly I could submit.

 

 

I have to add my voices to the rabble and say - tell us more! Does it work post-time-accel? What's the mass limit on it, if any? I could definitely see myself using this...

Edited November 6, 2018 by mythic_fci

[michal.don]

20 minutes ago, mythic_fci said:

Do I see a new Shuttle being test-fired?

New shuttle, new name, I sense great things coming....

[Dman Revolution]

Honestly haven't really tested a max payload movement with it. I think the tank in that video is the highest I've gone.

 

The current iteration of the arm starts docked to the left side inside the bay. It uses 3 docking ports, 1 for each portion of the arm: manipulator, elbow and shoulder. It does NOT work when in time warp, but due to the docking ports you can just redock the arm to make it through that. Usually I just mount whatever I'm moving to the main port on the shuttle when I need to time warp. Nice thing about the arm though is if your do lose it a lot of times the magnetic force of the docking ports allows you to line up a lost arm and redock it and it'll actually just pop back into its hinge!

 

Now, how it actually works:

Ill start at the shoulder, it's a ball joint using a linear rcs and thermometers to hold it in. It then has small reaction wheels on the other end with a small probe core and an rig. Basically you're using the mass of the shuttle to hold the ball joint end from moving. This is then connected using a hinge to the next piece of the arm. It's made using a mess of thermometers and comm antennas. To make it stable I had to add a few more than are in the video. This is controlled in a similar way to the shoulder, but it's a hinge. At the end of this is one of the "new" tiny rcs ball tanks. Now why use that instead of another linear rcs? Docking reloads the physics. This causes clipping. So if I were to use one it would just clip through the thermometers because of its tiny collider. This problem is exacerbated by the magnetism of the docking port. You have to line it up pretty well so the arm doesn't get yanked and put in a bad spot for the physics reload.

 

 

All together it can be kinda finicky and I can probably use collidascope to clean it up a bit more, but if any of you can figure out a mission for it, that'd be cool. I'm thinking maybe a hard mode for all the station missions. Instead of just floating it away, using a tug or mmu you have to somehow use the arm to do it.

 

 

Edit:

Oh and as a bonus here's a pic of my newest version of the shuttle, working srbs and all:

https://imgur.com/gallery/45F6549

Edited November 6, 2018 by Dman Revolution

[4x4cheesecake]

@michal.don Uhm...I guess you missed my question, did you?^^

On 11/6/2018 at 11:17 AM, 4x4cheesecake said:

I know, refuelling is not allowed when there is no 'support package' available for a mission but how about transfering some mono prop from the orbiter to the MMUs?

 

[michal.don]

1 hour ago, 4x4cheesecake said:

Uhm...I guess you missed my question, did you?

Umm, no, I just... thought very hard about that... yeah.... Yes, I missed it, thanks for the reminder

I think that is alright, the orbiter can refuel the MMUs, I don't see why not. Go for it

 

[4x4cheesecake]

1 minute ago, michal.don said:

Umm, no, I just... thought very hard about that... yeah.... Yes, I missed it, thanks for the reminder

I think that is alright, the orbiter can refuel the MMUs, I don't see why not. Go for it

 

Hopefully, I don't have to transfer mono prop from the orbiter to the MMUs but during some testflight I've experienced some unplanned acceleration of parts during docking maneuvers which causes some light modules like the docking adapter to float far away from the Skylab/Orbiter

But it is good to know that a fuel transfer would be a valid alternative to 'quicksave/load until it works like intended'

[sturmhauke]

I'm working on STS-2a, getting my GeoCom constellation in place. I got the orbits all nice and stationary, only to discover that my spacing was off. Hopefully the sats have enough fuel left for adjustments...

[4x4cheesecake]

Unfortunately, I'm still suffering from a herniated vertrebal disc which prevents me to do long KSP sessions, so I hope you forgive me to take the 'lazy' attempt for STS - 4T: Skylab boost mission (I used the Skylab provided by @michal.don on KerbalX and put it in orbit via debug menu)

I had a lot of fun during this mission, just because I love orbital docking/assembling...many precise maneuvers, tight space between parts...that's my favourite playstyle Also, I revived my first shuttle for these flights since an interplanetary capable shuttle seems to be an overkill for a mission in LKO. I just added some spark engines as OMS and build a new launch vehicle which actually uses SRBs^^
Nevertheless, I messed up the docking sequence during the second flight a bit, but I was able to fix it Enough said, here's my entry for:

STS - 4T : Skylab boost mission

First flight:

Spoiler

Skylab in orbit (~86km, 51° inclination)

Lift-off for the first shuttle!

Rendevouz with skylab:

Docking the orbiter to skylab:

Preparing the old solar/comm array to deorbit:

Most parts of the array survived the reentry but are destroyed after hitting the ocean:

Docking the booster stage to skylab:

Removed the hab-module and placed it inside the cargo bay:

One MMU will remain at the station, the other will return to Kerbin already. Undocking the orbiter from skylab:

After boosting skylab into a 250km orbit, the booster stage is almost emtpy (7m/s dV left)

Got a lucky timing for reentry, so let's go for it:

Flying a curve to align with the runway:

Save landing at the KSC

Second flight:

Spoiler

Lift-off for Shuttle no. 2:

Enjoying some polar lights:

Rendevouz with skylab and docking the orbiter:

There is just enough space too place the new solar/comm array:

Picking up the new hab-module:

This is the moment I messed up the sequence...actually, I should put the hab-docking adapter back into the cargo bay but instead, I removed the empty booster stage first...

The booster stage got saved in the cargo bay, Let's pick up the no longer necessary docking port from the solar/comm array:

I already placed everything back in the cargo bay...

...and while transfering the crew, I noticed that I forgot the hab-docking adapter:

Well, Val hops back into the MMU and releases the little piece of debris into the cargo bay (so it doesn't float away)

Putting the hab-adapter into the cargo bay:

Re-dock to the little piece of debris:

And everything is back in place where it belongs

The docking adapter will remain at the station to provide access for further shuttle missions (that's hopefully fine):

The timing is not perfect, so while setting up the landing trajectory, I also burn in normal direction to adjust the inclination:

Enjoying the ride through the atmosphere:

Unfortunately, I overshot the KSC so bad that I have to set the Island Airfield as my new landing target

Approaching the runway:

Landed and stopped in time. MIssion complete

Album for the first flight: https://imgur.com/a/H4JUQQE
Album for the second flight: https://imgur.com/a/tvk1xES

[mythic_fci]

Answering the contract for a new Space Transportation System laid out by @michal.don Industries et al., MythicDyne responds with the new Space Shuttle Program, headed up by her first shiny new orbiter, the SSV-1 Halcyon...

This mission report for her first flight (SSP1-H1; aka Space Shuttle Program Mission 1 - Halcyon Flight 1), taking the MulletDyne 40T Fuel Pod to a ~83000km high Kerbin orbit, should satisfy the criteria for missions STS1A and 1B Commander's Rank: https://imgur.com/a/GKOOJQ8

(If anyone could tell this old hasn't-been-on-the-forums-in-a-year geezer how to embed Imgur albums again on this newfangled forum software...that'd be much appreciated!)

Edited November 8, 2018 by mythic_fci
fixing the album

[sturmhauke]

1 hour ago, mythic_fci said:

(If anyone could tell this old hasn't-been-on-the-forums-in-a-year geezer how to embed Imgur albums again on this newfangled forum software...that'd be much appreciated!)

Apparently that feature is broken. You can still embed individual images though.

[mythic_fci]

7 minutes ago, sturmhauke said:

Apparently that feature is broken. You can still embed individual images though.

Ah damn. Well, looks like future mission reports are coming in the form of images in spoilers for me then.

[sturmhauke]

I completed STS-2a with 4 comsats. I think my orbiter got stealth krakened though; after reentry it seemed to have more drag than expected, and the jet engines couldn't keep the speed up very well. I've been having problems with the core booster separation, it might be related to that.

Anyway, here's the screenshots. Full album: https://imgur.com/a/9Ja9I99

Spoiler

 

[4x4cheesecake]

@mythic_fci Beautiful flight, I hope to see more

@sturmhauke The spacing of your comsats looks totally fine though, nice laser show Did you fixed it afterwards or did you go for a new attempt? And what's the issue with the core booster separation? Can't see anything unusual in your screenshots.
Regarding the drag issue: I've experienced some unusual drag after installing missing history and was able to fix it by deleting the 'PartDatabase.cfg' in the KSP install folder (the file will be recreated automatically on the next start of KSP), you might want to give it a try.

[Kerbolitto]

19 hours ago, 4x4cheesecake said:

Unfortunately, I'm still suffering from a herniated vertrebal disc which prevents me to do long KSP sessions, so I hope you forgive me to take the 'lazy' attempt for STS - 4T: Skylab boost mission (I used the Skylab provided by @michal.don on KerbalX and put it in orbit via debug menu)

I had a lot of fun during this mission, just because I love orbital docking/assembling...many precise maneuvers, tight space between parts...that's my favourite playstyle Also, I revived my first shuttle for these flights since an interplanetary capable shuttle seems to be an overkill for a mission in LKO. I just added some spark engines as OMS and build a new launch vehicle which actually uses SRBs^^
Nevertheless, I messed up the docking sequence during the second flight a bit, but I was able to fix it Enough said, here's my entry for:

STS - 4T : Skylab boost mission

First flight:

  Hide contents

Skylab in orbit (~86km, 51° inclination)

Lift-off for the first shuttle!

Rendevouz with skylab:

Docking the orbiter to skylab:

Preparing the old solar/comm array to deorbit:

Most parts of the array survived the reentry but are destroyed after hitting the ocean:

Docking the booster stage to skylab:

Removed the hab-module and placed it inside the cargo bay:

One MMU will remain at the station, the other will return to Kerbin already. Undocking the orbiter from skylab:

After boosting skylab into a 250km orbit, the booster stage is almost emtpy (7m/s dV left)

Got a lucky timing for reentry, so let's go for it:

Flying a curve to align with the runway:

Save landing at the KSC

Second flight:

  Hide contents

Lift-off for Shuttle no. 2:

Enjoying some polar lights:

Rendevouz with skylab and docking the orbiter:

There is just enough space too place the new solar/comm array:

Picking up the new hab-module:

This is the moment I messed up the sequence...actually, I should put the hab-docking adapter back into the cargo bay but instead, I removed the empty booster stage first...

The booster stage got saved in the cargo bay, Let's pick up the no longer necessary docking port from the solar/comm array:

I already placed everything back in the cargo bay...

...and while transfering the crew, I noticed that I forgot the hab-docking adapter:

Well, Val hops back into the MMU and releases the little piece of debris into the cargo bay (so it doesn't float away)

Putting the hab-adapter into the cargo bay:

Re-dock to the little piece of debris:

And everything is back in place where it belongs

The docking adapter will remain at the station to provide access for further shuttle missions (that's hopefully fine):

The timing is not perfect, so while setting up the landing trajectory, I also burn in normal direction to adjust the inclination:

Enjoying the ride through the atmosphere:

Unfortunately, I overshot the KSC so bad that I have to set the Island Airfield as my new landing target

Approaching the runway:

Landed and stopped in time. MIssion complete

Album for the first flight: https://imgur.com/a/H4JUQQE
Album for the second flight: https://imgur.com/a/tvk1xES

You're using a new design ?

[4x4cheesecake]

26 minutes ago, Kerbolitto said:

You're using a new design ?

Nope

20 hours ago, 4x4cheesecake said:

Also, I revived my first shuttle for these flights since an interplanetary capable shuttle seems to be an overkill for a mission in LKO. I just added some spark engines as OMS and build a new launch vehicle which actually uses SRBs^^

 

[sturmhauke]

6 hours ago, 4x4cheesecake said:

@sturmhauke The spacing of your comsats looks totally fine though, nice laser show Did you fixed it afterwards or did you go for a new attempt? And what's the issue with the core booster separation? Can't see anything unusual in your screenshots.
Regarding the drag issue: I've experienced some unusual drag after installing missing history and was able to fix it by deleting the 'PartDatabase.cfg' in the KSP install folder (the file will be recreated automatically on the next start of KSP), you might want to give it a try.

Thanks! I was able to adjust the orbits, it didn't take as much fuel as I thought it would. I had to look up some math though.

Re: the booster - Staging it away tends to shake the entire ship rather violently, and sometimes causes misaligned parts. I tried turning the decouple force to 0 and turning off autostruts across the joint, but that doesn't seem to make much difference. Reloading seems to work, but maybe there was something out of alignment I couldn't see. Might also be that the decoupler is clipped too far inside other parts. On the next mission I'm gonna try a flatter decoupler and see if that makes a difference. I'll also delete that part database file.