Stock Shuttle Tips

[Tex]

I believe my space program has reached the stage where it needs a suitable re-usable shuttle. The only downside is that I'm keeping this all to stock parts.

Does anybody have some good stock shuttles? Any pointers? Thanks!

[Firov]

If you're talking about a NASA style space shuttle, then this won't be easy, since a functional space shuttle is almost certainly going to require engines with an extremely large gimbal range. Keep in mind, the actual shuttle's SSME's can gimbal to around 10.5 degrees up or down in pitch.

I think the largest gimbal range for a stock engine is maybe 2.5 on the Poodle, which itself doesn't really generate much thrust. In order to do it with a low gimbal engine you're going to have to pre-angle the engines so that they're thrusting exactly through the center of mass, and then, ensure that the center of mass barely shifts as you consume fuel. In theory, you might be able to have a series of engines pre-angled at different angles and turn them on/off via action groups, but your timing is going to have to be pretty good.

Either way, I wish you luck. It won't be easy.

EDIT - Just for a picture to make what I'm talking about more clear...

EDIT 2 - I just noticed Sirine's post. Like all of those shuttles, you could follow the Soviet Buran style "shuttle" design and have the external tank carry it's own engine. That's going to make the center of thrust balancing a lot easier since then the shuttle will only have to support it's own mass, and not that of the fuel tank as well.

Edited December 9, 2013 by Firov

[Sirine]

There is a lot... 100% stock.

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/59664-Tetrarch-Space-Shuttle-%28Carries-Payload!%29?highlight=shuttle

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/59599-Working-75x75-Space-Shuttle?highlight=shuttle

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/36120-Space-Shuttle-Atlantis?highlight=shuttle

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/55538-100-Stock-Space-Shuttle?highlight=shuttle

[xzxvrx]

Check out EJ_SA on Twitch (http://www.twitch.tv/ej_sa/profile), he builds massive stock shuttles, with working doors and everything.

My advice would be to angle the engines on your orbiter (if you are going off the design of the US shuttle)to get your center of thrust to go through your center of mass. Also, stick as much reaction wheels on it as you can (If you are OK with part clipping, stick a lot of them in the ET).

[Sirine]

I still looking forward for stock 'cargo bay' before I try building my own version of shuttle.