SofusRud Posted October 17, 2013 Share Posted October 17, 2013 The changelog states that nosecones now improve stability.How does this work and can anybody confirm that it does? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tavert Posted October 17, 2013 Share Posted October 17, 2013 They now have lower-than-average drag coefficients. The drag model doesn't appear to have changed dramatically however, so they still add net drag to a craft.The drag on the overall craft is a function of the mass-weighted-average of the drag coefficient times mass of each individual part. The center of drag ends up being in a different location than the center of mass if your parts don't all have the same drag coefficient. When center of drag is behind center of lift (low-drag parts up front, high-drag parts out back), the drag force exerts a torque that tends to keep the craft pointed forward. When center of drag is ahead of center of lift, the torque exerted by the drag force destabilizes the craft and makes it want to point backwards.Did you ever notice in previous versions how aerospike rockets were always unstable in the atmosphere? This is because they used to have a lower-than-average drag coefficient, and you usually put engines at the bottom. Now in 0.22 the aerospikes have the same drag coefficient as the other engines and fuel tanks though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blizzy78 Posted October 17, 2013 Share Posted October 17, 2013 Did you ever notice in previous versions how aerospike rockets were always unstable in the atmosphere? This is because they used to have a lower-than-average drag coefficient, and you usually put engines at the bottom. Now in 0.22 the aerospikes have the same drag coefficient as the other engines and fuel tanks though.I never quite understood what the problem was with aerospikes. Does that mean now in 0.22 aerospikes can be used like any other engine with no particular drawbacks? If so, I can add them to my cluster calculator again (see signature.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jelamb Posted October 17, 2013 Share Posted October 17, 2013 They now have lower-than-average drag coefficients. The drag model doesn't appear to have changed dramatically however, so they still add net drag to a craft.So is the take-away still that it's best to not use nosecones and just build a bottom-heavy rocket? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
numerobis Posted October 17, 2013 Share Posted October 17, 2013 Now in 0.22 the aerospikes have the same drag coefficient as the other engines and fuel tanks though.Another nail in the coffin of the aerospike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UbioZur Posted October 17, 2013 Share Posted October 17, 2013 I will close that thread, and let you read and continue on that one:http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/53116-0-22-How-do-nose-cones-improve-stability-during-atmospheric-flight Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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