[.23][Mod] Space Shuttle Tutorials | 27/01: Build a Space Shuttle Propulsion Module

[Spenzor]

I know this has been mentioned already, but the whys are pretty important to a tutorial like this. Building a shuttle is orders of magnitude more complex than building a rocket, even with mods - heck, I understood why the shuttle's engines were offset, and still had a hard time getting my first shuttle into flyable shape (though that was before dtobi fixed the node size on his - otherwise brilliant - external tanks).

Structuring the tutorial in the order of a player's trouble shooting process may help:

1.

Building your first shuttle (Step by step guide to build a shuttle like the real one, as you have already started to do).

1a.

Discussion (in the midst of the tutorial) of why various elements are designed the way they are.

1b.

How to fly this shuttle, from takeoff to touchdown.

2.

Designing your

own

shuttle.

2a.

Design considerations (continued from previous section).

2b.

Launch troubleshooting: How to fix flips (forwards or backwards) and rapid unplanned disassembly on launch.

2c.

Orbit troubleshooting: OMS/RCS balance issues, etc.

2d.

Landing troubleshooting: Or, How not to catch fire - Aerodynamic instability, S-turn deceleration, etc.

This is merely a suggestion, of course. I went through this process through trial and error - many, many errors - and had a good guide been available, it would have saved me a lot of time kerbals.

[acc]

@MK3424 Nice shuttle, well done

@Spenzor Thank you, that's very helpfull. I'll think about it

[kiwiak]

very usefull tutorial, looking forward to next parts

[BananaDealer]

So, I bring you the long in-development OSS Orca, property or Cabana Corp.

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Still undergoing crew-training simulations, it's maiden flight will be tomorrow!

[acc]

very usefull tutorial, looking forward to next parts

Thanks. Yeah, but because of some updates (stock and mods) the first one is already outdated. Currently I'm working on my ISS alike parts. I'll rework and extend the tutorials ~1month.

So, I bring you the long in-development OSS Orca, property or Cabana Corp.

http://imgur.com/a/L407l

Still undergoing crew-training simulations, it's maiden flight will be tomorrow!

Sweet shuttle. Looks great

[BananaDealer]

Sweet shuttle. Looks great

Thanks, reentry and landing is still to be tested though...

And we all remember what happened with the first Orca shuttle...

[BananaDealer]

Well... The Orca... Um... Maybe I shouldn't have named the thing after a sea mammal...

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Apparently what happened was my control surfaces just broke and wouldn't do anything... FAR showed no stalling, until the inevitable flat spin after reentry...

The reentry also overshot KSC with about 100km but that was due to lack of fuel...

[acc]

Nice shuttle, looks good

[BananaDealer]

Nice shuttle, looks good

It was a good one. Handled really well once I figured how to land it properly...

Too bad the craft file got some weird nonsense happening...

Her spiritual successor, the UF-340a (UF stands for Ãœberflieger), which was more a replica of the real Space Shuttle, also handled well. But that one got nuked after the recent Infernal Robotics patch...

Anyway, you took awhile to reply...

[Iansoreta]

the problem with the stock engines is, they are not really good as SSMEs. not enough gimbal range for compensating CoM and less powerfull. so i would install the space shuttle engines pack. before this pack was released, i made my own SSME with stock models.

without the pack you can only try to balance it by angle the engines and move the external tank forwards. and more torque (sas modules) is helpfull too.

also check the SRB's thrust and external fuel tank. minimize the mass of the shuttle fuel to a minimum. it would be perfect your internal tank is right empty after deorbit burn.

Sorry pal, not anymore cause I modified stock engines for efficiency, and high gimbal range. In general, I don't want the modified stock engine to be overpowered.