Enclosing exposed satellite

[VivaDaylight3]

I've been making a few satellites to orbit around Kerbin and up until recently, I thought that you had to have the satellite exposed on the launcher, but I saw in a video that someone had enclosed it in some kind of casing which could be decoupled. What part do I use to achieve this?

[matt_cain]

Payload fairings are including with the KW Rocketry mod (http://kerbalspaceprogram.com/0-18-1-kw-rocketry-overhauled/), there is also the Fairing Factory at: http://nathannifong.com/FairingFactory/ which generates part files for you, although I have not tried that one myself. Hope that helps, have fun.

Edit: Details on updating the part file for the fairing factory can be found here in a post by Tek_604: http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/showthread.php/25061-Part-generator-Version-2-X-release-open-beta?p=438598&viewfull=1#post438598

Edited June 23, 2013 by matt_cain

[Kimberly]

I'd also be interested in this. I'm just starting up my space program (first stable unmanned orbit achieved! Beautiful re-entry, too.) and now I'm looking to launch some satellites, but it feels awfully silly just having them on the end of the rocket. I can't imagine it's aerodynamic, either.

[VivaDaylight3]

Thanks! That's what I was looking for

[Sirrobert]

I'd also be interested in this. I'm just starting up my space program (first stable unmanned orbit achieved! Beautiful re-entry, too.) and now I'm looking to launch some satellites, but it feels awfully silly just having them on the end of the rocket. I can't imagine it's aerodynamic, either.

Don't bother with the aerodynamics to much, it hardly makes a difference as long as you don't have odd bits sticking out of the side (and that's still hardly a problem if it's symetrical)

[Black_Tomcat]

I'd also be interested in this. I'm just starting up my space program (first stable unmanned orbit achieved! Beautiful re-entry, too.) and now I'm looking to launch some satellites, but it feels awfully silly just having them on the end of the rocket. I can't imagine it's aerodynamic, either.

I just started a new save with realistic rockets only and had the same problem.

For small, like 1m rockets you can build fairings out of 1x1 structural panels (you have to build them on a radial decoupler).

For 2m rocket I just place structural beams on the decoupler and connect them with wings.

For this to work however you need to add wings at the bottom of your rocket too so it won't flip over.

When you have multiple stage that fire up below about 15km you need to also put wings at the bottom of these.