Valerian Station (a long station)

[CmdJarvis]

11 missions to construct the complete station, 824 pieces, 329 tons, orbits at around 285km. Craft files are coming, I'll post them as soon as I get the chance. Until then, here are some pics . It is so long that it's a bit hard to get the entire station into frame for a good image. Alignment of the modules was also a pain since they are so far apart.

Full Album (72 images including construction)

[PMorin]

what's the sense?

[DisarmingBaton5]

That's... pretty long.

Well done! I'd love EVA along the length of it.

[Nephf]

I don't get this... it's strange

[Jivaii]

Why?! That thing is loooong. Is Jeb trying to make up for size?

[Blue]

"Valerian Station (a long station)"

WHOAA-ho ho! That is pretty long! I don't see the point but there's a medal for everyone here.

[Nephf]

"Valerian Station (a long station)"

WHOAA-ho ho! That is pretty long! I don't see the point but there's a medal for everyone here.

Yes. might be bigger than gilly.

[Elmetian]

Ok, here's a thought. What happens in KSP when such a long station is placed just above the atmosphere, say at 69.1km, and you rotate it so that one end dips beneath this improbable threshold?

[cesarcurado]

Mother of wobble...

Congrats though, I'd never manage to do something like that myself lol.

[Exclipse]

Keep going until you get it to 2.5+ km we all want to know what will happen, and yes we all have our assumptions! but seriously we want to know!

[BrightBritches]

Keep going until you get it to 2.5+ km we all want to know what will happen, and yes we all have our assumptions! but seriously we want to know!

I think i'm gonna try this just because

[Captain Sierra]

What happens is physics only loads on half the craft. That is known. I remember a discussion about an experiment on this using KAS. Half the craft unloaded itself. One of two things is going to happen:

1) instaboom

2) half the craft remains on rails

3)??????

[lajoswinkler]

Wow, this is awesome. I've been planning to do it, but my computer would not be able to tolerate it even if I used girders only. Anything above 150 parts and my framerate starts to drop.

Ok, here's a thought. What happens in KSP when such a long station is placed just above the atmosphere, say at 69.1km, and you rotate it so that one end dips beneath this improbable threshold?

I think what matters is where is the center of mass. If it's above the atmospheric limit, you should be fine. I'm not sure, though.

Edited October 11, 2013 by lajoswinkler

[The Czosnex]

Just... Wow... How many fps do you get when viewing the station?

[Elmetian]

I think what matters is where is the center of mass. If it's above the atmospheric limit, you should be fine. I'm not sure, though.

A good experiment would be placing the controlling capsule/probe at one end and a few orange tanks at the other, then dipping the tanks below 69km. The whole idea kinda reminds me of a tether.

[Captain Sierra]

Wow, this is awesome. I've been planning to do it, but my computer would not be able to tolerate it even if I used girders only. Anything above 150 parts and my framerate starts to drop.

I think what matters is where is the center of mass. If it's above the atmospheric limit, you should be fine. I'm not sure, though.

The camera tracks the CoM as it thinks that should be close-ish to the center of the ship. Physics is calculated within 2.5km of the active command module. If you are controlling it from one end and that end is in the atmosphere, down you go!

[DaveofDefeat]

Ive made a 10 kilometer part before, its pretty funny.

[lajoswinkler]

The camera tracks the CoM as it thinks that should be close-ish to the center of the ship. Physics is calculated within 2.5km of the active command module. If you are controlling it from one end and that end is in the atmosphere, down you go!

So an object could be 2km long and very heavy at the end dipped into the atmosphere, but as long as we're actively controlling its command module outside of the ~69.1km mark (or not controlling it at all, for example EVa-ing with a Kerbal around), nothing happens.

I might just try to make a small version of this, but without the heavy parts. Just a huge number of girders. Turning it around (inclining) in an active fashion would be impossible so it needs to be built in the needed direction.

[Captain Sierra]

The CoM would have to be at least 2.5km away from the active command pod to make this work. But if such a craft existed (and didn't instantly break the game), you wouldn't be able to dip one end. If the entire craft does not have physics calculation on it, then force applied will be stopped by half the craft still being on rails*.

* I think, I have not actually tested this without stuff in KAS. It is poentially possible fir girder craft.

[DaveofDefeat]

The CoM would have to be at least 2.5km away from the active command pod to make this work. But if such a craft existed (and didn't instantly break the game), you wouldn't be able to dip one end. If the entire craft does not have physics calculation on it, then force applied will be stopped by half the craft still being on rails*.

* I think, I have not actually tested this without stuff in KAS. It is poentially possible fir girder craft.

I'm going to test your theory.

-after some testing the craft in completely unaffected by the atmosphere, however! you can move it around, change its orbit, etc.

Edited October 11, 2013 by DaveofDefeat

[TimMartland]

Bow down mortals! The great space noodle of the sky's has come!!!

[lajoswinkler]

I quickly abandoned the idea of building this at 69.5 km because the rendezvous gets tough and I couldn't turn around the object properly.

That's why it's at ~250 km, above the Kerbin rendering limit, so my framerate is ok.

I'll just keep adding more and more parts until my CPU starts puking. This is now 50m long and was delivered in two missions. First the core, then 4 parts. The docking is hard because my RCS is placed on the detachable end of each segment. The actual moment of docking is, well... energetic, to say the least. The whole thing wobbles and sometimes it's a whole minute until the locks are activated.

Edited October 11, 2013 by lajoswinkler

[Temstar]

With objects that long does it actually experience tidal stabilisation so that one end tends to point at Kerbin and other end outwards?

[lajoswinkler]

I haven't noticed any tidal phenomena. If something happens during the construction, I'll let you know.

edited

I've increased the lenght of the station to almost 90m and used a maximum physical time warp for few minutes. I haven't noticed anything at this height.

There are 56 parts and my PC could tolerate up to 150 without a heavy drop in framerate. Maybe even more because the station is above 240km. That means 5 more missions, each time adding almost 40m of length. The final product might reach 300m, but it's already so tedious.

Edited October 12, 2013 by lajoswinkler