Shuttle Adventures: An Album of Kerbalized Space Shuttle Missions

[lemon cup]

EDIT: I've decided to try and make good use of this space

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Page 3 was very busy and full of awesome missions. In case you missed some, and want to avoid a long scroll and image load time, here is a quick mission list:

Proposed - Challenger - Boeing "Orbital Space Tug" Maiden Flight - Beccab
STS-41-B  - Challenger - Dual Satellite Deployment/ First Flight of NASA MMU - Kuiper_Belt
Proposed - Multiple Orbiters -  Construction of the Boeing "Space Operations Center" Station - Beccab
(Canceled)STS-61-F - Challenger - Launch of Centaur G and Ulysses Probe - lemon cup
Proposed - Discovery - "Very Large Space Telescope" Concept - Beccab
Proposed - Multiple Orbiters - Assembly of NASA "Lunar Transfer Vehicle" - Beccab
Concept - Orion MPCV - Study of Shuttle C, Shuttle HLV, and Shuttle C/Orion Crew Vehicle - Kuiper_Belt
Proposed - Shuttle C - Upgrading the Boeing SOC for Lunar Transfer Vehicle Missions - Beccab
(Cancelled)STS-2a - Columbia - "Saving Skylab" - Kuiper_Belt

 

5 hours ago, pTrevTrevs said:

What parts are being used to form that thin gold-foiled deck near the front of the payload bay, just behind the docking assembly? I know most of the other greebles are Near Future probe bus parts.

I'll be posting the full mission soon so more details will be visible, but those are two of the stock structural panels, with ReStock textures. Also present are some ScanSAT parts and some micro landing gear legs, also ReStock gold foil textures I think.

Edited June 16, 2021 by lemon cup

[Heliotrope]

Absolutely loving this so far, just caught up reading all the posts. I'm trying to copy your mod list now because it has a lot of good stuff!! I just had a quick question as well. How did you get Kerbal Konstructs working? I have KSRSS and Katniss Cape Canaveral, but Ctrl-K does nothing and all the buildings are in the default position. Honestly I have no idea what I am doing wrong... if you knew anything I would love to hear a fix, but otherwise keep up the good work! I am eagerly looking forward to the next entry.

[Kuiper_Belt]

16 hours ago, lemon cup said:

EDIT: I've decided to try and make good use of this space

PREVIOUS  PAGE  ROUNDUP
Page 3 was very busy and full of awesome missions. In case you missed some, and want to avoid a long scroll and image load time, here is a quick mission list:

Proposed - Challenger - Boeing "Orbital Space Tug" Maiden Flight - Beccab
STS-41-B  - Challenger - Dual Satellite Deployment/ First Flight of NASA MMU - Kuiper_Belt
Proposed - Multiple Orbiters -  Construction of the Boeing "Space Operations Center" Station - Beccab
(Canceled)STS-61-F - Challenger - Launch of Centaur G and Ulysses Probe - lemon cup
Proposed - Discovery - "Very Large Space Telescope" Concept - Beccab
Proposed - Multiple Orbiters - Assembly of NASA "Lunar Transfer Vehicle" - Beccab
Concept - Orion MPCV - Study of Shuttle C, Shuttle HLV, and Shuttle C/Orion Crew Vehicle - Kuiper_Belt
Proposed - Shuttle C - Upgrading the Boeing SOC for Lunar Transfer Vehicle Missions - Beccab
(Cancelled)STS-2a - Columbia - "Saving Skylab" - Kuiper_Belt

 

I'll be posting the full mission soon so more details will be visible, but those are two of the stock structural panels, with ReStock textures. Also present are some ScanSAT parts and some micro landing gear legs, also ReStock gold foil textures I think.

This is awesome! Incredibly useful for navigating the sea of images that is that page... 

50 minutes ago, Heliotrope said:

Absolutely loving this so far, just caught up reading all the posts. I'm trying to copy your mod list now because it has a lot of good stuff!! I just had a quick question as well. How did you get Kerbal Konstructs working? I have KSRSS and Katniss Cape Canaveral, but Ctrl-K does nothing and all the buildings are in the default position. Honestly I have no idea what I am doing wrong... if you knew anything I would love to hear a fix, but otherwise keep up the good work! I am eagerly looking forward to the next entry.

First make sure you have "CustomPreLaunchChecks" installed in the GameData folder. Are you doing ctrl-k inflight (like on the launch pad) or at the KSC menu (where you select the VAB SPH etc) because the Menu only opens in flight. Do you have the patch to get Katniss Cape working for 2.5x KSRSS? If not you can find that here. If none of this fixes it I'd suggest clearing out your GameData (Except for Squad and Squad Expansion) and slowly add mods. I'd personally start with KSRSS and Sigma Rescale so you can actually test Katniss Cape, then move on to visual and part mods. I'm not really a tech support guy so my explanation probably isn't the best. Hopefully this helps 

[lemon cup]

              STS-109   -   March 1st, 2002           

 

Launched aboard Space Shuttle Discovery in 1990,  the Hubble Space Telescope was designed with careful consideration regarding how to keep it functioning for many years. Of particular importance was the reliance on manned servicing missions, which would allow astronauts to change out old components and install new, better instruments as they were developed. However, scientists quickly discovered a huge problem soon after depoyment: images taken by the space telescope were blurry. When it was revealed that the 2.4m mirror had been manufactured incorrectly, causing spherical aberration, many feared the entire program was a failure. But after carefully analyzing the flaw, scientists managed to design an instrument capable of acting as "glasses" for the Hubble, which was successfully flown and installed by Endeavour on the first servicing mission in 1993. This saved the Hubble.

Servicing missions were vital to keeping the Hubble operational. Space Shuttle Columbia was at first not scheduled to participate in missions of this type as it was determined to be too heavy, but after its 26th mission Columbia was taken in for an extensive overhaul, where over 1000 pounds of test wiring was removed, along with many other weight saving modifications. This meant that Columbia could carry out SM3B, which would install a new instrument (the Advanced Camera for Surveys), repair an old one (NICMOS), and replace the ESA-designed roll-out solar panels with NASA-designed rigid ones.*

This would be Space Shuttle Columbia's last successful mission before it was lost in the tragedy of 2003.

STS-109 launched just before sunrise from Launch Pad 39-A in order to match orbital planes with Hubble. The crew of seven consisted of the commander, pilot, primary robotic arm operator, and 4 EVA specialists. 

*Authors note: I do not show the replacement of the solar panels for... technical reasons.

This mission was surprisingly challenging to put together but also a ton of fun! These are a handful of images, you can view the full album HERE.

Edited June 21, 2021 by lemon cup

[Kuiper_Belt]

Truly an Iconic Duo.

Approach and Landing Test coming at some point in the future...

The SCA is still in the prototype stage and I need to make the runways at Edwards yet so this is still a little while away. 

2 hours ago, lemon cup said:

                 STS-109 - March 1st, 2002                   

 

Launched aboard Space Shuttle Discovery in 1990,  the Hubble Space Telescope was designed with careful consideration regarding how to keep it functioning for many years. Of particular importance was the reliance on manned servicing missions, which would allow astronauts to change out old components and install new, better instruments as they were developed. However, scientists quickly discovered a huge problem soon after depoyment: images taken by the space telescope were blurry. When it was revealed that the 2.4m mirror had been manufactured incorrectly, causing spherical aberration, many feared the entire program was a failure. But after carefully analyzing the flaw, scientists managed to design an instrument capable of acting as "glasses" for the Hubble, which was successfully flown and installed by Endeavour on the first servicing mission in 1993. This saved the Hubble.

Servicing missions were vital to keeping the Hubble operational. Space Shuttle Columbia was at first not scheduled to participate in missions of this type as it was determined to be too heavy, but after its 26th mission Columbia was taken in for an extensive overhaul, where over 1000 pounds of test wiring was removed, along with many other weight saving modifications. This meant that Columbia could carry out SM3B, which would install a new instrument (the Advanced Camera for Surveys), repair an old one (NICMOS), and replace the ESA-designed roll-out solar panels with NASA-designed rigid ones.*

This would be Space Shuttle Columbia's last successful mission before it was lost in the tragedy of 2003.

STS-109 launched just before sunrise from Launch Pad 39-A in order to match orbital planes with Hubble. The crew of seven consisted of the commander, pilot, primary robotic arm operator, and 4 EVA specialists. 

*Authors note: I do not show the replacement of the solar panels for... technical reasons.

This mission was surprisingly challenging to put together but also a ton of fun! These are a handful of images, you can view the full album HERE.

Beautiful mission! Loved seeing the Kerbals out on EVA & on the Canadarm.

[Heliotrope]

4 hours ago, Kuiper_Belt said:

First make sure you have "CustomPreLaunchChecks" installed in the GameData folder. Are you doing ctrl-k inflight (like on the launch pad) or at the KSC menu (where you select the VAB SPH etc) because the Menu only opens in flight. Do you have the patch to get Katniss Cape working for 2.5x KSRSS? If not you can find that here. If none of this fixes it I'd suggest clearing out your GameData (Except for Squad and Squad Expansion) and slowly add mods. I'd personally start with KSRSS and Sigma Rescale so you can actually test Katniss Cape, then move on to visual and part mods. I'm not really a tech support guy so my explanation probably isn't the best. Hopefully this helps 

Thanks! I restarted my mod list and got it working. Not sure what has broken it, but I probably wouldn't have restarted my mods if you hadn't recommended it, was close to giving up on the mod. Luckily I find installing mods rather relaxing so it works out Thanks again!

[Kuiper_Belt]

23 minutes ago, Heliotrope said:

Thanks! I restarted my mod list and got it working. Not sure what has broken it, but I probably wouldn't have restarted my mods if you hadn't recommended it, was close to giving up on the mod. Luckily I find installing mods rather relaxing so it works out Thanks again!

Glad to be of service! 

[Teslamax]

 

On 6/15/2021 at 9:58 PM, Kuiper_Belt said:

STS-2a: Skylab Reboost Mission, Late 1979

After the final boost conducted by the Apollo CSM,  the crew of Skylab 4 undocked with Skylab for the final time on February 8th, 1974, at 2:33 UTC. Afterwards Skylab's orbit would slowly decay over the following years. On July 11, 1979, Skylab reentered the atmosphere and debris landed in the Indian Ocean and Western Australia. When the crew of Skylab 4 undocked from Skylab, they left the hatch unlocked for the next crewed mission. Skylab 5 was suggested utilizing the Saturn 1B and Apollo CSM of the Skylab Rescue Mission (Which was assembled in the VAB for a problem with Skylab 4's CSM that was discovered in orbit.) but was ultimately not launched for either mission. NASA at the time was developing the Space Transportation System and in 1978 NASA had found that It was possible to reboost Skylab and awarded a $26 million contract to Martin Marietta to construct the Teleoperator Retrieval System. The second Space Shuttle Mission would launch to save Skylab. 

STS-2a would have probably launched from Pad 39-A and flown by Columbia. As an early Shuttle Mission the External Tank would have been White.

After boosting Skylab, several more missions would be sent to Skylab to refurbish, attach additional solar panels and expand Skylab to support more missions. Columbia would be eventually be reflown on another Shuttle Mission.

In reality Skylab would of course burn up due to orbital decay. Skylab also was reentered earlier than predicted due to increased solar activity. In addition to the solar activity The Shuttle Program was delayed for a multitude of reasons but lead to the impossibility of Skylab being able to be saved by The Space Shuttle. The TRS was also considered to be launched on the Titan III and Atlas Agena Launch Vehicles but plans ultimately fell through as well which lead to the demise of Skylab that we all know.

I brought back the warm TUFX config for the old flight. I intend to do another flight or two to Skylab and document it but It would be much more speculation than this. The next mission I intend to do will be a little different and will take a little time to make the craft. More missions coming in the near future!

Reviving & Reusing Skylab in the Shuttle Era

Check the “Inspiration” section.

——————————————————————

Some time ago I thought about making a part mod for the Power Module.

25 kW Power Module (ca 1978, MSFC)

Edited June 17, 2021 by Teslamax

[Beccab]

The crewed Lunar Transfer Vehicle and Lunar Excursion Module have docked at Space Operations Center Freedom!



With that part of the launch complete, Space Shuttle Discovery has been moved to the launch pad, ready to take the first crew back to the moon after decades! The launch is coming soon

Edited June 18, 2021 by Beccab

[Beccab]

First crewed landing on the Space Exploration Initiative lunar base (Cancelled program)
After two launches on the Shuttle-C of unmanned landers carrying the initial modules, the base is ready to sustain the first crew for a two weeks mission on the surfact of the Moon. Both the LTV and LEV are already in orbit and docked at Freedom, so Discoveryhere is only carrying the crew to orbit.
Launch and docking to Freedom:






Assembly of the transfer vehicle and lunar landing:

Quote

For the near future, this is the end of my work on the SEI. I like how it came out, but taking it to this point was very hard (the station is now extremely cramped and with a lack of docking ports, just like the ISS) and doing just expansions to the lunar base would be boring. I have the docs I need to work out the expansion to make it capable of replicating a martian crewed mission, but it would be very time consuming and I'm not much excited about it now -  perhaps in the future though. For now, I will concentrate to proposed shuttle missions shorter and unrelated to the SEI, like maybe observing the Halley comet with a particularly designed observatory mounted in the payload bay of the Orbiter. I hope you enjoyed it!

Edited June 18, 2021 by Beccab
You saw nothing

[lemon cup]

4 hours ago, Beccab said:

Columbia here is only carrying the crew to orbit.

Oops! The dang orbiter technicians painted the wrong name on her twice! (Love this shot by the way, the composition is really nice).

This lunar architecture is impressive to see you pull off - there is a ton of moving pieces. Wonder what the whole program would have cost, given what we now know about the Shuttle’s operating demands.

[Beccab]

2 minutes ago, lemon cup said:

Oops! The dang orbiter technicians painted the wrong name on her twice! (Love this shot by the way, the composition is really nice).

Whoops

3 minutes ago, lemon cup said:

This lunar architecture is impressive to see you pull off - there is a ton of moving pieces. Wonder what the whole program would have cost, given what we now know about the Shuttle’s operating demands.

Thank you! The part I like (and also quite hate) of the station is that it really feels like a real space station by how cramped everything is and how hard it is to dock without destroying something, even with mechjeb. The lunar base was relatively easier, mostly thanks to the tripod crane I carried on the first landing and that moved everything else since. For the cost, the "90 days study" done on the whole architecture of the SEI was an astonishing 500 billions, which knowing aerospace industry would have either increased of something like 100 billions or have most of its parts cut out due to budget restrictions (or both, after all this is the Space Shuttle thread)

[lemon cup]

STS-57 coming soon.

Edited June 19, 2021 by lemon cup

[AmateurAstronaut1969]

On 6/11/2021 at 9:58 PM, Kuiper_Belt said:

I'd just ask to be informed of the specific mission before hand so we don't have two of the same mission.

Okay so I’ve found some free time this weekend, and I’m going to launch either Space Station Columbia or Space Station Enterprise. It will likely be Columbia, but I might have a change of heart. Just checking to see if I’m clear to upload these 

[Spaceman.Spiff]

14 minutes ago, AmateurAstronaut1969 said:

Space Station Columbia

That’s the SLS one right?

I may have dabbled with that on my own….

Spoiler

 

[AmateurAstronaut1969]

3 minutes ago, Spaceman.Spiff said:

That’s the SLS one right?

Nononono...

This was a real concept, it’s much like SS Enterprise:

However, I might do my own take on it, using this as a sort of basis

Edited June 19, 2021 by AmateurAstronaut1969

[Kuiper_Belt]

24 minutes ago, AmateurAstronaut1969 said:

Okay so I’ve found some free time this weekend, and I’m going to launch either Space Station Columbia or Space Station Enterprise. It will likely be Columbia, but I might have a change of heart. Just checking to see if I’m clear to upload these 

I appreciate the heads up. All good with me! Can’t wait to see it!

[AmateurAstronaut1969]

1 minute ago, Kuiper_Belt said:

I appreciate the heads up. All good with me! Can’t wait to see it!

Alright then, here’s a little teaser...

And yes, that is Enterprise on the Pad 

(It’s only got the White cockpit tiles so you can tell which Orbiter it is in this image lol)

Edited June 19, 2021 by AmateurAstronaut1969

[lemon cup]

     June 21st, 1993   -   STS-57     

 

The Space Shuttle was unlike any other vehicle in the way that it was reusable and possessed an extremely modular cargo bay. This quality was utilized in an innovative manner in the form of retrievable "free-flying" material-science satellites that could be deployed from the Shuttle, operate various extended exposure experiments, and then be brought back to Earth later for analysis. One such satellite was the European Retrievable Carrier, or "EURECA," built in Germany on behalf of ESA. It was deployed by Space Shuttle Atlantis on July 31st, 1992 and logged dozens of X-ray and gamma ray readings, as well as recorded protein growth and fluid dynamics over the course of 11 months. In June of 1993, Space Shuttle Endeavour launched on its 4th flight -STS-57 - to bring it back.

Also onboard Endeavour was the SPACEHAB Single Module, which was performing its maiden flight. The idea of SPACEHAB is rudimentary and easy enough to grasp - it was a drop-in pressurized habitat that provided extra space for the crew to live, sleep, perform experiments, and carry equipment. But the technology that made it possible was cutting edge, and dramatically enhanced the orbiter's crew science capabilities. Apart from SPACEHAB, STS-57 also carried additional experiments, most notably "SHOOT" - a system for testing cryogenic fluid transfer in the form of two large liquid Helium canisters mounted in the middle cargo bay. 

The mission called for one planned 6-hour EVA in order to explore and refine techniques for carrying out utility tasks in zero-g, which would prove invaluable in the future for servicing Hubble and building the ISS. But after EURECA's antennas failed to retract, the EVA plan was slightly modified to allow the astronauts to manually stow them. 

Endeavour and her crew of 6 launched from Kennedy LC-39B in the early afternoon of June 21st and returned with EURECA ten days later. EURECA was transported to Switzerland for analysis and processing so that it may fly again, but the mission was later canceled before it got the chance. It is currently on display in the Swiss Museum of Transport. Space Shuttle Endeavour's next flight would be STS-61, the first Hubble servicing mission.

FULL IMGUR ALBUM

Edited July 1, 2021 by lemon cup

[Kuiper_Belt]

The Dawn of an Era

After a complete overhaul with the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft I've finally got it to an acceptable state in my opinion, though if you guys have any suggestions please feel free to give me some advice! I'm now working on the tail cone and once that's done I can actually begin the process of doing the mission and with that being said...

Approach and Landing Test coming soon...

[AmateurAstronaut1969]

A Little Teaser...

And yes, I know you are gonna ask why I left the heat shield on - 1, masking it with white conformal decals was just such a pain, and it really didn’t look good, and 2, it still looks cool with it on, and it looks better than it did.

 

So this should be releasing at the weekend as I’m busy moving house etc... but I thought I’d give a little teaser of what I’ve done so far, just so you know what’s up

 

[KeaKaka]

On 6/19/2021 at 1:03 AM, Beccab said:

Why launch in the "heads-up" position?

[lemon cup]

STS-93 coming soon(ish).

[Kuiper_Belt]

ALT-12 August 12, 1977

The Approach and Landing tests were the first Aerodynamic tests of the Space Shuttle and the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft. All the ATL missions would not go to space and were conducted at Edwards Airforce Base in California.  OV-101 or Space Shuttle Enterprise flew all on all of the ATL flights and was the first production orbiter.  Space Shuttle Enterprise was not fitted with several systems that would make it spaceflight worthy such as a thermal protection system or proper Orbital Maneuvering System pod mounts. As a result for all the ATL test it was placed with ballasts to make it fly properly. In addition Enterprise was fitted with a nose probe to get high fidelity airspeed readings . After the ATL tests Space Shuttle Enterprise was meant to be returned and fitted with the missing systems to make it spaceflight worthy, but even once the ballasts were removed Enterprise would become the heaviest orbiter in the fleet resulting in severely limited payload capability. In combination to design differences with the other orbiters ( would solidify its fate for use for atmospheric tests only. OV-99 or the Structural Test Article for the Space Shuttles would be converted into Challenger due to it being both cheaper and having a more useable payload weight tolerances. After both Challenger and Columbia disasters, NASA considered refurbishing Enterprise but both times concluded it would be too expensive. In the case of Challenger, It was determined that a new orbiter could be constructed from structural spares which culminated to Space Shuttle Endeavour. After being rolled out of Palmdale in September of 1976 it was taken by road to Edwards to meet her carrier aircraft, the SCA.

The Shuttle Carrier Aircraft or SCA is a modified Boeing 747-100. Designated N905NA the first Shuttle Carrier Aircraft was acquired from American Airlines and in the Approach and landing test the AA Cheatlines can be spotted on the fuselage.  The second Shuttle Carrier Aircraft designated  N911NA was acquired from Japan Airlines and was a 747-100SR after the Challenger Disaster. N911NA enter service in 1990 and her first mission was to deliver Endeavour from Palmdale to the Kennedy Space Center.

The first 3 ALT (ALT 1-3 )tests would be taxi tests and would never leave the ground. The next 5 (ALT 4-8) would be captive-inert flights where the SCA would fly with Enterprise but all of Enterprises systems were inactive as well as no crew was in Enterprise. The next 3 (ALT 9-11) would be-captive active flights with Enterprise being active with crew on board.  The crew alternated with sets of two. Crew 1 consisted of Commander Fred Haise and Pilot Charles Fullerton. Crew 2 consisted Commander Joe Engle and Pilot Richard Truly. SCA-12 was the first Free Flight and flown by Haise and Fullerton. 

N905NA and Enterprise lifted off from Runway 22 at Edwards and would begin to climb to 30,000 feet at which point they would begin the pushover maneuver and separate at 3:47 PM.

Space Shuttle Enterprise would land on lakebed runway 17 with touchdown occurring at at 3:53 pm with a total free flight time of 5 minutes 22 second and a total mission time of 54 minutes.  The 2 next missions would mimic the same flight profile (ATL 13 - 14) where the ATL 15 would fly Enterprise without the tailcone and mockup engines. ATL 16 would have an actual runway landing without the tailcone.  

 After the Approach and Landing Tests, Enterprise was flown to the KSC where she was used for testing of procedures such as mating with the External Tank and boosters, roll out testing and launchpad procedures.

This was the hardest mission for me to recreate by far. The SCA was rather difficult to make due to various factors but I found a way using a couple mods I discovered. You can find them here & and here. The SCA took heavy inspiration from CaptainShamu & Yukon0009's SCA replicas. I had a lot of fun  doing the mission and I that the mountains surrounding Edwards really made it look nice. Hope you enjoy more missions coming soon! 

Edited June 25, 2021 by Kuiper_Belt

[pTrevTrevs]

13 hours ago, lemon cup said:

STS-93 coming soon(ish).

Great, I guess I have yet another question for you...

Where’d you get the Chandra?