multiple contract craft.

[strider3]

I wish to create a craft for multiple contracts in Kerbin orbit. I have a repair contract, a part recovery contract and a satellite launch (Kerbin orbit) contract. I want to make the satellite a payload item (a la Shuttle) and once at the required orbit, release the satellite. I am unsure how to do this. I have put an OKTO with a small battery, antenna (required) and small solar panels (required) in a 2.5m Service Bay. My question is...how do I get the darn thing out, once I'm in orbit?

[DeadJohn]

38 minutes ago, strider3 said:

how do I get the darn thing out, once I'm in orbit?

Add some tiny RCS and monopropellant to your probe. Use a small decoupler inside the payload bay and decrease its decoupling strength in VAB so you don't explode your probe parts against the service bay interior.

Decouple in orbit then control the satellite to wiggle it out of the bay.

 

[jimmymcgoochie]

If you have RCS on the shuttle, use that to move the shuttle away from the satellite; alternatively use the satellite’s propulsion system (you do have one, right?) to give a brief impulse away from the shuttle.

Alternatively, mount the satellite on a decoupler that’s angled so that when it decouples the satellite gets thrown out of the shuttle payload bay with the decoupling force.

[strider3]

6 hours ago, jimmymcgoochie said:

If you have RCS on the shuttle, use that to move the shuttle away from the satellite; alternatively use the satellite’s propulsion system (you do have one, right?) to give a brief impulse away from the shuttle.

Alternatively, mount the satellite on a decoupler that’s angled so that when it decouples the satellite gets thrown out of the shuttle payload bay with the decoupling force.

I can't seem to get the satellite to mount to a decoupler? There seems to be some problem for me in the VAB with 2 "pods"?

[strider3]

Well, this isn't working. The contract requirement of "build a new unmanned probe that has an antenna and can generate power. The probe must be fully assembled when launched."

Now that I have launched, with the probe in the service bay, the requirement for the "new unmanned yadda, yadda" is not met.