Fun with Fuel Lines

[SteevyT]

I decided to put a drop tank on my rocket, but I only wanted it on one side, so I stuck it on. The rocket was unbalanced and couldn\'t fly at all, so I stuck some engines on it. Then I just kept adding tanks and rockets until it was kind of balanced.

[Tim_Barrett]

Damn I keep on getting that problem. When I get high enough out but still inside the atmosphere when winglets are not useful anymore, my shuttle keep flipping. Even with a main engine having awesome gimballing capabilities.

I believe this is caused by something called 'gravity turns' and such. It is when the difference in gravity through flight will change the angle of your craft, but please correct me if I am wrong, people.

[SteevyT]

I just discovered that if I am really careful with the throttle, I can get into a nearly polar orbit using nothing but the throttle to control pitch if I leave ASAS on. If I\'m not careful with the throttle, the video I posted happens.

[Tim_Barrett]

Well a pretty large problem is that with the weakness of a few RCS modules, all you have left are the gimballed engines. If you start tipping, you can\'t to anything to stop it effectively. The efficiency of the angled engines are only useful at certain throttles.

[RNSP]

i can\'t even use fuel lines...where do you place them??

[SteevyT]

i can\'t even use fuel lines...where do you place them??

First end goes where you want to send fuel, second end goes where you want to take fuel from.

[RNSP]

obv lol...your .craft file helped me a lot...i know how to do it now...

[blurrr 2]

fuel lines can actually improve effeciency!

I launched two very similar ships, one with fuel lines, and one without, straight up and recorded the apoapsis.

design 1:

command capsule

SAS

Fuel tank

Fuel Tank

Fuel Tank

LVT-500

design 2:

command capsule

SAS

fuel tank - radial decoupler & fuel line - Fuel Tank fuel tank - fuel line & radial decoupler - fuel tank

LVT-500

The side fuel tanks were used first and jetisoned when empty

Results:

design 1 (no fuel lines) apoapsis = 1627 km

design 2 (fuel lines) apoapsis = 1667 km

The fuel lines actually helped the craft fly higher!

Fuel lines would be more efficient in larger craft, where 1 decoupler and one line can connect 2+ tanks to the engine(s) instead of just 1 tank

[Tim_Barrett]

Well remember, stock parts arent exactly too realistic but are reliable for the wrong reasons. Staging on some cases isn\'t even necessary for it to fly effectively.

[NovaSilisko]

Well remember, stock parts arent exactly too realistic but are reliable for the wrong reasons. Staging on some cases isn\'t even necessary for it to fly effectively.

Not to mention the superheavy decouplers actually DISCOURAGE staging.