unable to control Stayputnikl in orbit...

[GungaDin]

I get my Stayputnik into space but as soon as I jettison my main rocket I have NO control over the remaining spacecraft which consists of a Staypunik on top of a normal (stock) liquid fuel tank plus engine. Is there another piece I need to add to form a controllable spacecraft?

Thanks.

[Liowen]

Do you have electrical power? If not you might be losing control due to not have any power (by the sounds of it you do not have an engine that generates power). I would put solar panels and a battery on it, or a generator if you have it unlocked in career or are playing in sandbox. Probes use power even if they are not doing anything, so if your engine does not generate power to recharge it it is dead in the water.

[irongut]

Liowen is probably right but in case you have an electrical supply... Depending on how big your fuel tank + engine are you might need a reaction wheel, the Stayputnik doesn't have a lot of torque.

[SRV Ron]

Solar panels are a must for keeping the Stayputnik charged. The probe itself, can control this lander with no problems. The Reaction wheel is needed below it on the insertion stage shown. That wheel can easily control a properly designed launcher.

It can also control this tiny SSTO cheapest to orbit design.

[GungaDin]

Thanks for the design ideas. So if I gather up all those parts would this probe be able to radio back science data even with no kerbals on board? That's what I want to do. Make deep space missions without risking Kerbals.

[Ravenchant]

Thanks for the design ideas. So if I gather up all those parts would this probe be able to radio back science data even with no kerbals on board? That's what I want to do. Make deep space missions without risking Kerbals.

Sure you'll need enough power (batteries/solar panels/RTGs), an antenna, and of course science parts to gather the data.

[GungaDin]

Sure you'll need enough power (batteries/solar panels/RTGs), an antenna, and of course science parts to gather the data.

I'm working throught a career and I think I'm close to getting a solar panel. The only 'sceince part' I have is the goo container. Can you reccomend a 2nd science part for use in the Stayputnik? Won't it just send back a report if i have an antenna and can get it into orbit around the Mun? (I guess not if there is no crew...)

[Taki117]

Probe cores cannot do Crew reports, as there is no Crew. Also, as far as a second science part, you can use the Science Jr. as the main lander body.

[SRV Ron]

Probe cores cannot do Crew reports, as there is no Crew. Also, as far as a second science part, you can use the Science Jr. as the main lander body.

Science reporting is a lot different now in 0.23 for probes. This design worked just fine in 0.22

[Bobnova]

Still does, really. That's a decent chunk of science sitting there, especially if one of the Goos was used on the descent. I've been dumping probes on various planets to raise Science to do manned missions.

[BlackBicycle]

Just saying... Crew reports can be done with no crew... as long as you have an empty crew capsule in the craft AND a probe to control it... rightclicking on a capsule will allow you to generate a Crew Report hehe. I myself consider it all good, after all, a whole empty capsule worth of sensors should be able to generate a reasonable "crew report" : )

[Liowen]

Just saying... Crew reports can be done with no crew... as long as you have an empty crew capsule in the craft AND a probe to control it... rightclicking on a capsule will allow you to generate a Crew Report hehe. I myself consider it all good, after all, a whole empty capsule worth of sensors should be able to generate a reasonable "crew report" : )

With the exception it is to see how the living crew is doing, not just the sensors are doing. I would not expect that to stay the norm for long though as it might get fixed in a patch or two. (No official word but an educated guess since it is kind of an exploit like science spamming was).

[BlackBicycle]

...it is kind of an exploit...

Well, I agree it is. But then again "Crew Reports" net you a rather measly amount of science, much less than an acually manned capsule (edit: when it returns) IMHO, it's all good, not too overpowered. After all, hauling the capsule itself up there should be worth something, right :?

[Semtex89]

You could slap on a thermometer and a barometer for some extra science

Just reinforcing what's been already pointed out:

- Bring a small battery and some solar panels so you don't run out of power. No power = no torque and no throttle control.

- The Stayputnik has very little torque so you might want to put on a reaction wheel as well.

Edited January 7, 2014 by Semtex89