My space shuttle (with KW rocketry, B9, and double FAIL)

[luinux]

At last, I was able to design a space shuttle!

The key for the stability is the main engine inclination, together with a lot of reaction wheels in the external fuel tank.

Before launch, we have to deactivate the orbital maneuvering system fuel tank so we don't spend it first.

Lift off! We have lift off!

Ascending...

Jettison of the solid fuel boosters.

Ascending with the main engine only.

Gravity turn.

We reached a 100km apoapsis, so we cut engine.

Circularizating orbit. Due to the engine inclination, we cannot point directly at the maneuver node.

External tank jettisoning...

...and final orbital insertion.

Time to work: first, deploy solar panels...

...and open the cargo bay doors, exposing our payload: a scientific satellite.

We release the satellite.

And... FIRST FAIL! Deorbit burn was made without taking into account that we need to land on a runway.

Descending towards atmosphere.

Solar panels folded and cargo bay doors closed: ready for reentry.

Reentry... with deadly reentry mod activated

Flying, trying to turn our trajectory out of the sea (see first FAIL).

Final approach to... no where. And SECOND FAIL: we weight too much and don't have enough lift!

At least I could use the drogue chutes...

...and save the crew!

So, in conclusion: I need to increase the lift in the orbiter, maybe add some more rcs thrusters, and that's all!

EDIT: and maybe remove the solar panels and put some OX-STAT solar panels inside the cargo bay doors.

Edited December 5, 2013 by luinux

[Ascension Islander]

You might wanna try http://kerbalspaceprogram.com/space-shuttle-engines/

[luinux]

Well, I wanted to do it without shuttle-specific parts

But thanks for the link!

[Firov]

Well, I wanted to do it without shuttle-specific parts

But thanks for the link!

The nice thing about those engines is that they have no real intelligence. They don't require, or use, any kind of plugin to make it easier. They are simply pre-angled engines with a large (~15 degrees) gimbal range. As a result you still have to be mindful of the CoM and CoT when designing the shuttle stack.

I'd highly suggest you give them a shot.

[xtremespino]

For the burn where you get into orbit, control the craft from the main engine, so you can point at the node. I don't know if this will work but you can try it

[wasmic]

Wow, you made a shuttle without Space Shuttle Engines. It's still hard with SSE, but not as hard as without.