Reusable spacecraft launch

[Fuzzy Dunlop]

If you want to do this stock there may be a way. Place pairs of the small radial engines pointing a right angles to the main engines, then tie the pair to actions groups, when the shuttle starts tipping over fire the pair that points in the opposite direction. You'll have to keep toggling it all the way up but it is possible.

[stupid_chris]

The game won't allow you to do the shift+wasd for engines put on the very bottom of fuel tanks.

If it'S a tricoupler you put at the bottom, then it will allow you to flip it. Then you just put your engines on the tricoupler's attachment nodes

[Colonel_Panic]

If it'S a tricoupler you put at the bottom, then it will allow you to flip it. Then you just put your engines on the tricoupler's attachment nodes

I routinely use cubit octagonal struts as angled attachment nodes for engines in engine clusters. If you turn on clipping you can even mount them flush with the above tank and hide the hackery.

That said angling your shuttle engines is a bad idea here. Sure it will help you get your rocket in space, but then what? Now you have a gimped shuttle with off-center thrust that can't do anything without its ascent booster.

[stupid_chris]

I routinely use cubit octagonal struts as angled attachment nodes for engines in engine clusters. If you turn on clipping you can even mount them flush with the above tank and hide the hackery.

That said angling your shuttle engines is a bad idea here. Sure it will help you get your rocket in space, but then what? Now you have a gimped shuttle with off-center thrust that can't do anything without its ascent booster.

Nope, if the engines can gimbal more than 5 degrees you can fly straight. That's how the shuttle did. With the help of the ASAS you should be good.

[Colonel_Panic]

Nope, if the engines can gimbal more than 5 degrees you can fly straight. That's how the shuttle did. With the help of the ASAS you should be good.

Except for the fact that you won't be able to turn the other way, and will need constant correction to stay on course. ASAS won't do a good job of it, and even mechjeb won't be of much help. It'll be a lot of work making it fly at all.

I'm not saying it's not doable, just that it would be way more trouble than it's worth as opposed to other solutions.

[stupid_chris]

Except for the fact that you won't be able to turn the other way, and will need constant correction to stay on course. ASAS won't do a good job of it, and even mechjeb won't be of much help. It'll be a lot of work making it fly at all.

I'm not saying it's not doable, just that it would be way more trouble than it's worth as opposed to other solutions.

More than 5 degrees. That way you can counter balance the 5 degree initial orientation. 10 degrees like the actual space shuttles used to makes it possible to keep a heading. No engine in the game has 5 degree of gimbal. Having five in a direction and fifteen in the other will make the controls very precise.

That way you get 15 degrees on liftoff to control the weight under balance.

[Frederf]

One thing you can do is have a non-throttle engine (solid) with a throttleable engine offbalance to achieve balance.

[rhoark]

One thing you can do is have a non-throttle engine (solid) with a throttleable engine offbalance to achieve balance.

That's the way Jeb would do it.