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


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Welcome to the shuttle club @Yakez! Cool stuff so far.

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Tyty. That challenge feels like whole different game now =).

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So now some serious action. STS-2 finally repaired, STS-5 and STS-4 was joint mission, STS-6 , 7 , 8 are done. And some bonus stuff.

Here are STS-2 repairs, STS-4 and STS5 report:

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STS-6:

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STS-7:

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STS-8:

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Bonus content:

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  On 3/21/2020 at 7:28 PM, Vanamonde said:

That is one of the larger shuttles I have seen. 

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It was bigger... Prototype had dope forward MK3 ramp with small wings, and I think 1 extra  cargo segment and 1 extra fuel segment. Quite long... never was able to balance lift and moving center of mass. Whole Idea behind fuel distribution system was to have that extra fuel, technically not on board of the craft. Prototype had 4 vectors connected via docking port straight to the back. I even thought about recovering them inside cargo bay every mission... And it had 4 rapiers inside cargo to put it on the back. Laythe testing was against such weak jet power, so I finally went with 6 fixed Whiplash's for extra comfort and mach 3 shenanigans. 

Edited by Yakez
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This is the report of a new STS Whynot, I went back to Duna with 2 different Shuttles to deploy a large outpost, using 2 assembly rovers :)

 

https://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/index.php?/topic/187136-spaceshuttle-shorpa-sts-jool-5-most-certainly-part-3-laythe-and-kerbin-heavy-beauty-pics/&do=findComment&comment=3759618

 

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Edited by Kerbolitto
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In my preparation for the Mun missions was busy at Kerbin testing Heavy Launch System and retrieving my SMM02 - Quintina Calvus.

Bonus mission (rescue of Quintina Calvus)

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And then I finally went for the Mun. Thought that I have overengineered delta V... landed almost on fumes... but it is most due to my inefficient reentry to Kerbin. 

MUN STS-1:

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  On 3/23/2020 at 9:37 PM, Yakez said:

MUN STS-1:

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I don't think I've seen anyone swap engines on and off the orbiter like that before. Might have to steal that one.

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  On 3/23/2020 at 11:18 PM, sturmhauke said:

I don't think I've seen anyone swap engines on and off the orbiter like that before. Might have to steal that one.

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This is the whole reason for my shuttle program btw...  :wink:

It all had started with me recreating this craft https://kerbalx.com/Yakuzi/Blizzard-Class-Heavy-Transport-TSTO

I felt like clipping fuel tanks is somewhat unfair (and here I am using fuel switch mod and clipping crew modules into tanks... half empty tanks :P)

Then I  was looking into the solution how to convert it into more controllable manned craft. First version had 4 Vectors as retrievable engine cluster and 4 Rapiers for powered landing. And this pretty much had sparked into all this switcheroo bonanza. Nervs was pretty much no brainier from there. And then I was like... "can I fit 4 Nervs vertically into the cargo bay for Minmus landing?"

Sad part is that VTOL eats up effectively half of the cargo bay. And fuel balancing during decent/ascent is necessary for moderate  RCS fuel usage. During test landings I was using Oxidizer as ballast to balance craft with top and bottom tanks.

Edited by Yakez
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  On 3/23/2020 at 11:44 PM, Yakez said:

 4 Rapiers for powered landing. And this pretty much had sparked into all this switcheroo bonanza. Nervs was pretty much no brainier from there. And then I was like... "can I fit 4 Nervs vertically into the cargo bay for Minmus landing?"

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That's a good solution to cover the first ones but in the end it might hamper you to finish the high dV missions. I used that idea to dock 2 shuttles back to back and go / return to Jool but the crafts were not that efficient individually. Ultimately it's possible to create a 200t. Tylo shuttle but even with 0.12 nuke TWR it's barely manageable, so having a few tons of unused engine is a risk.

Regardless, this is good creativity and it's quite cool to use your shuttle as a toolbox, ready for almost anything :)

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  On 3/24/2020 at 5:44 AM, Kerbolitto said:

That's a good solution to cover the first ones but in the end it might hamper you to finish the high dV missions. I used that idea to dock 2 shuttles back to back and go / return to Jool but the crafts were not that efficient individually. Ultimately it's possible to create a 200t. Tylo shuttle but even with 0.12 nuke TWR it's barely manageable, so having a few tons of unused engine is a risk.

Regardless, this is good creativity and it's quite cool to use your shuttle as a toolbox, ready for almost anything :)

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During initial design of SMM, before discovering this thread I was designing for Jool 5. Idea was to have 2 Shuttles docked (yea the same idea before I saw your cool creation). Also to have small refinery package for Bop/Pol. One shuttle for Laythe with 4 permanent Rapiers and ability to attach 4 more. Then leave it after Laythe mission in the parking orbit for future generations. Take the Rapier cluster back to second craft leave for Bop/Pol refinery, then do glorious vertical  landing on docking port under power of 3 orbital engines. Resupply and go for other moons. I did not tested Tylo, Vall and Pol landings, but as I checked I have TWR of 0.16 with extra fuel tank (FMCS). So it is doable on current craft.

This monstrosity:  https://imgur.com/a/hZyhxjz Is insane test rocket fuel transfer stage and obviously do not qualify for the STS challenge (4 launches).

So I need to rethink second craft to be fuel tanker/refinery and maybe use double docked FMCS as transfer stage to Jool and back. Maybe I would do Ike or Dres pit stop...

I do not want to have refinery on board of main craft. Feels just wrong. So I need to be able to land on Laythe, Tylo, Vall and return back to orbit for refueling with what I have. Maybe I would go for double Nerv cluster for Tylo landing. It can be done with current design. Refinery taxi needs second cluster anyway if I want to be more fast and "realistic".

And as usual everything would change 10 times before actual thing. Also it would be my second visit to Jool in thousands of hours of KSP... lol so I would fail measurably and need a lot of testing.

Edited by Yakez
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  On 3/24/2020 at 10:00 AM, Yakez said:

So I need to rethink second craft to be fuel tanker/refinery and maybe use double docked FMCS as transfer stage to Jool and back. Maybe I would do Ike or Dres pit stop...

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Jool injection is only 2k m/s, could go even lower if you use Eve ! I don't know what would be the dV difference if you split the injection at Duna.. You can use the refinery as part of the Laythe outpost, as I did, so you only need to land on Laythe, deploy the thing, re-orbit and come back home :).

  On 3/24/2020 at 10:00 AM, Yakez said:

Maybe I would go for double Nerv cluster for Tylo landing. It can be done with current design. Refinery taxi needs second cluster anyway if I want to be more fast and "realistic".

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Im not sure you can save a lot of dV by deorbiting on Tylo with nukes, the thing is you will reduce your horizontal speed quite significantly and will need a lot of rocket TWR to avoid falling directly on the surface.

By looking roughly at my screens, I burned 62ms from Pol, +100m/S correction, 700m/S to capture at 30x30 above Tylo, 2450 or so to land (1.7 Vectors TWR). So once you empty LiquidFuel and shut the nukes, it's not that hard to come with 2500 +/- rocket dV. You could also leave the nuke's pod in orbit and save lots of weight this way. Or detach un-necessary parts of Laythe's outpost !

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  On 3/24/2020 at 3:12 PM, Kerbolitto said:

Jool injection is only 2k m/s, could go even lower if you use Eve ! I don't know what would be the dV difference if you split the injection at Duna.. You can use the refinery as part of the Laythe outpost, as I did, so you only need to land on Laythe, deploy the thing, re-orbit and come back home :).

Im not sure you can save a lot of dV by deorbiting on Tylo with nukes, the thing is you will reduce your horizontal speed quite significantly and will need a lot of rocket TWR to avoid falling directly on the surface.

By looking roughly at my screens, I burned 62ms from Pol, +100m/S correction, 700m/S to capture at 30x30 above Tylo, 2450 or so to land (1.7 Vectors TWR). So once you empty LiquidFuel and shut the nukes, it's not that hard to come with 2500 +/- rocket dV. You could also leave the nuke's pod in orbit and save lots of weight this way. Or detach un-necessary parts of Laythe's outpost !

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I just want to roleplay spaceasteroid mining operations in far from home Jool system :D.

Laythe is okay if I have fully fueled shuttle in orbit to start. It is by far the easiest place to land and to ascend. I think my shuttle is a bit under-powered with 6 Whiplash's and definitely with 6 Rapiers. 8 Rapiers were fine, tho. I would just need Rapier cluster to make trip far more comfortable and boost myself into orbit... After that cluster is absolute, or I can use it for return of refining shuttle to Kerbin and do not outfit it with Jets initially! (if I ever want to return refinery shuttle)

Tylo is the biggest concern for me,  do not want to bring that dirty rocket fuel... My Kerbals believe in atom! If 8 Nukes would fail... from engineering standpoint it is more viable to bring lander over 100t shuttle landing. And technically it is still Jool 5.

Anyway Duna would most likely be the testing ground for more powerful VTOL, since 4 nukes and 17 shoots was not enough, hit the ground at 50 m/s... vertically...

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  On 3/24/2020 at 4:32 PM, Yakez said:

Laythe is okay if I have fully fueled shuttle in orbit to start. It is by far the easiest place to land and to ascend. I think my shuttle is a bit under-powered with 6 Whiplash's and definitely with 6 Rapiers. 8 Rapiers were fine, tho. I would just need Rapier cluster to make trip far more comfortable and boost myself into orbit

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If it flies well on 4 Rapiers (w/o cargo, low fuel) you can use them to provide a bit of boost when ascending Laythe on Vectors ! If you're shuttle is Tylo capable and has a sleek design you'll have enough dV to get out of the atmosphere.

  On 3/24/2020 at 4:32 PM, Yakez said:

Tylo is the biggest concern for me,  do not want to bring that dirty rocket fuel... My Kerbals believe in atom! If 8 Nukes would fail... from engineering standpoint it is more viable to bring lander over 100t shuttle landing. And technically it is still Jool 5.

Anyway Duna would most likely be the testing ground for more powerful VTOL, since 4 nukes and 17 shoots was not enough, hit the ground at 50 m/s... vertically...

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That's the problem, nukes can only kill horizontal velocity, they're just too heavy to be usefull on descent.. even on Vall it's hard, you'd need 6 nukes for a 150t. craft to get 1TWR, and it would still be very dangerous to not impact. That would represent 15t. of LF (826dV) + rocket TWR to kill vertical velocity. So a lightweight solution could be to use 1 Dart and give it 200-300m/s.

Following this idea on Tylo, you'd need 50t. of LF to get 2430dV (150 -> 110t.) but 20 nukes to get 1 TWR, 60 tons of engines, which leaves only 40t. for the structure of the craft, minus the weight of the empty tanks D:
And it would still be very hard to land it :p

I like nukes too but even with 1.73TWR from 30k altitude I had troubles not to impact Tylo, I reloaded for maybe 1h30 before starting the retroburn at the precise second and still landed on the tail.

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So I was very busy with Mun. I like how my Mun missions become harder further down the line. Due to the nature of double missions I was forced to do everything in almost one go... But thematically it do fit reality, when you can do rotation of several shuttles staying at the Mun. In theory I even could cut one mission bringing total launches for 6 challenges into 3. But Kerbal Space Agency only learning to operate SMM... 

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MUN STS-2:

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 MUN STS-3 and MUN STS-5:

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MUN STS-6:

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MUN STS-4 and MUN STS-7:

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Edited by Yakez
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So the only challenge that I do not done in Commander format so far is STS-3. Went a bit beyond... yea I do know that technically I do not meet requirements for STS-3 commander due to orbit of 90 over 25-30... But I just wanted to test some things. And it was ages ago when I made polar launch. Nuclear engine used is from Restock+ and it is analogue of 4.66(6) Nerv engines with better cooling and vectoring. Lets say it is designed for SMM with Moho in mind ;)

Other modded parts are JX2Antenna mod for telescope "dishes" and the cooling module on the telescope from Heat Control. Aside Near Future Solar panels everything else is stock as usual.

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"STS-3 Commander":

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Edited by Yakez
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I think this is the last time when I do double mission... to much hustle doing the same burns twice. So that imply that I need to do more engineering to rely on 1 SMM launch for any mission.  Now I am aiming to do some Minmus testing for Duna  and Laythe landing missions.

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Duna STS-1:

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Edited by Yakez
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Hello there. It's me again.

First of all, I'd like to apologize for not being around lately. The beginning of the year was quite busy for me, but lately it's been another issue - I got a proper case of "KSP burnout" - I haven't played the game in months (which would have been unthinkable before :) ), and haven't even visited the forums.

When I came back and saw the new entries and people around here, I couldn't help myslef and felt ashamed - the shuttle community here is going strong, new designs and amazing mission reports are appearing here, and I am, simply put, not doing my part. A community as involved and amazing as this one needs and deserves someone who has the time, the enthusiasm and energy for running this challenge.

So, after two years and a few months, 89 pages of over 2,200 entries (and with over 120 000 views, wow...) , I decided to retire as the challenge moderator, and let somebody else take my place, and create a v6 of this challenge.

And, since he was so kind to agree to take on the challenge, this guy will be @sturmhauke, one of the most involved people in this community, who you all know so well.

From now on, I won't be judging your entries (and I apologize to all of you who were waiting for the review for quite some time), but Sturmhauke will judge the ones in this thread and award you the proper badges before this thread will be locked and a new one, "Shuttle Challenge v6" will be started.

So, big thanks to all of you, who shared your mission reports and great shuttle designs with me and with this whole community, it has been a great pleasure to run this challenge for you, good luck to our new challenge moderator @sturmhauke, and see you soon in the new thread. I hope and believe that you guys make it even more awesome than this one.

Michal.don

 

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  On 3/30/2020 at 7:25 PM, michal.don said:

So, big thanks to all of you, who shared your mission reports and great shuttle designs with me and with this whole community, it has been a great pleasure to run this challenge for you, good luck to our new challenge moderator @sturmhauke, and see you soon in the new thread. I hope and believe that you guys make it even more awesome than this one.

Michal.don

 

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Big thanks for the support and keeping this challenge alive. I myself had Path of Exile burnout and KSP was the thing that I haven't played for several years. So I tried it again on day 2 of PoE Delirium league and somehow stumbled on this challenge. 

I was a quite sick (not THE virus) after my travels at beginning of March so this challenge kept me busy and entertained. And now I do have at least 1 week of quarantine related to THE virus in my country, so it is quite handy to have all the stuff to do.

Thanks!

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OK, here we go with my first official certifications.

  On 1/6/2020 at 4:45 PM, Togu said:

I also have a new mission ready, the STS-4T. Are two videos again, have fun with it.:cool: @QF9E

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A nice, traditional shuttle design, and two textbook missions. Well done! Here is your badge:

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  On 1/29/2020 at 11:00 PM, cantab said:

So I guess this actually qualifies as an STS-1a, since it flew to orbit and landed back on Kerbin. Sure, the orbit might have been around the Sun ... and Dres ... and landed there. But details.

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...And here we have a distinctly non-traditional shuttle design. Also an overachiever. I like it! :D However, since you landed on a hill somewhere rather than a runway, that's a Pilot badge for you. Feel free to demonstrate a runway landing if you want an upgrade.

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  On 3/19/2020 at 6:39 PM, Yakez said:

Hey... I am really new to this challenge stuff, so I maybe did not capture everything that I need... sorry. To be fair this is my fist KSP plane/shuttle that can actually fly. It had couple of iterations, but finally I want to show this one. So I started doing STS challenges on clean save. And missions went, slightly off... as expected in the space exploration.
Mods: I could not live without Near Future Solar panels and use some more cosmetic/roleplay stuff from Restock+. Everything else is fully stock and mainly utility mods, half of witch I do not use anyway.

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First off, let me say that I really like your shuttle designs. I'm also a big fan of the Near Future suite, and I like all your swappable modules.

However, and I really hate to do this to you, I can't in good conscience award you all of the mission badges yet. The missions are intended to be flown according to spec and in a specific order. STS-1 and 1a can be flown together, as well as STS-2 and 2a, but you've charged out of the gate and gotten way off in the distance, as well as mixed other missions together. This makes it difficult to judge whether the requirements have been met. So here's what I have for you so far:

STS-1 - A solid first mission, and a nice landing. Here is your Commander badge:

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STS-1a - Unfortunately your orbit was out of spec. At the time of release of the fuel pod, your screenshot shows an Ap of 100.774 km and a Pe of 99.0139 km, for a difference of 1.7601 km. The mission spec requires a difference of 100 m or less at that height. I'm willing to overlook this, in light of some of the more serious issues I'll get to later... Here is your badge:

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STS-2a - I'm sorry, but I cannot award a badge for this one at this time. While your 3 comsats appear to be in the correct orbits, I can't tell from your screenshot if they are arranged in an equilateral triangle. It also took multiple launches before you got them repaired and into position, when it should have only taken one. Please fly the mission again in a single launch, and be sure to show the final arrangement from one of Kerbin's poles so that I can see the geometry. Here is mine for reference:

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STS-2b - Pod goes up, pod comes down, badge goes here:

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STS-3 - Telescope looks good, and I like your MMUs. Here is your Pilot badge:

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STS-4/4R - There are a few problems with this one. First of all, you don't have enough labels on your albums. That plus the liberal mixing of missions makes it very difficult to verify the mission requirements. Now, while the stranded shuttle appears to be in the higher, inclined orbit for the Commander level, the rescue shuttle ran off the edge of the runway and broke its nose gear. I'll allow a Pilot badge; if you would like a Commander badge please redo the rescue and landing portion of the mission.

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STS-5-8 - I like big stations and I cannot lie. But as before, the landings need some work. The shuttles need to stick the landing on the runway for that Commander badge. Here's a Pilot badge for now:

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I'll get to your Mun missions another time, but it appears you started the LOP-G series before completing the ground base series. That is definitely not the intended mission order, but I'll sort that out later. In the future, please be more careful about following the mission specs, mixing missions (when in doubt, ask first, or just don't), and labeling your screenshots better. Keep up with the cool designs though, those are good.

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  On 3/31/2020 at 8:25 AM, sturmhauke said:

First off, let me say that I really like your shuttle designs. I'm also a big fan of the Near Future suite, and I like all your swappable modules.

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Tyty. I want to create separate topic in missions reports to analyse my launch systems, engine clusters, upcoming LAME module. And also to post some unrelated to challenge stuff. There would be full mod list and most likely some craft files for key stepping stone missions when I feel that my SMM is on end spectrum of development.

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STS-2a - I'm sorry, but I cannot award a badge for this one at this time. While your 3 comsats appear to be in the correct orbits, I can't tell from your screenshot if they are arranged in an equilateral triangle. It also took multiple launches before you got them repaired and into position, when it should have only taken one. Please fly the mission again in a single launch, and be sure to show the final arrangement from one of Kerbin's poles so that I can see the geometry. Here is mine for reference:

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Absolutely, I knew that I screw it up, but it was the matter of me fixing that damn thing. After first failed attempt to fix it I just wanted to scrap everything... But anyway I do intend to launch better satellites with higher capacity and it would be my second geostationary launch ever...

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STS-4/4R - There are a few problems with this one. First of all, you don't have enough labels on your albums. That plus the liberal mixing of missions makes it very difficult to verify the mission requirements. Now, while the stranded shuttle appears to be in the higher, inclined orbit for the Commander level, the rescue shuttle ran off the edge of the runway and broke its nose gear. I'll allow a Pilot badge; if you would like a Commander badge please redo the rescue and landing portion of the mission.

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Would rescue of 16 Kerbals count? I have some Ideas with first commercial Hotel disaster... ;)

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But as before, the landings need some work. The shuttles need to stick the landing on the runway for that Commander badge.

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In some cases I was just making weird parking maneuver clearing the runway, I do not know why... I think I just do not understand correctly challenge conditions of: 

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Land either at the KSC runway, the Island Airfield just off of the KSC, the Dessert Airfield from MH, or at any Kerbal Konstructs airport

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Does that mean that I can land on runway and deviate from it or... wait... I just read it one more time and now understand that it meant about Island airfield just off the KSC... My English is not the first language and I do talk a lot of not proper English on my work, so yea I can miss some simple obvious things. Maybe you can reword that, so weird people like me would not confuse this "just off" mentioning with real just off...

I actually got firm grip on the landing/breaking with only with my recent Duna mission, so I know that Commander mastery hiding not in the F5 and F9 keys... And landing SMM without nosecone is a pain...

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I'll get to your Mun missions another time, but it appears you started the LOP-G series before completing the ground base series. That is definitely not the intended mission order, but I'll sort that out later. In the future, please be more careful about following the mission specs, mixing missions (when in doubt, ask first, or just don't), and labeling your screenshots better. Keep up with the cool designs though, those are good.

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No hurry. Just enjoy the slideshow. In the end I was making these albums for the pleasant view and maybe sometimes do miss the labeling while making cool screenshot without interface.

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