[0.23.5] some replicas of heavy lifters

[sgt_flyer]

Hello with the new patch, i have built some new stock replicas of real life heavy lifters - Delta IV Heavy and Ariane 5 (version with ESP upper stage (so G/GS/G+ all apply )

a note of warning : high part count replicas

---------Ariane 5 Series------------

Ariane 5 tandem launch Album :

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the boosters use 6x of the new SRB's per booster, which i have hidden inside those drained rockomax fuel tanks.

the launch tower and the fairings accounts for a lot of the parts - once dropped, the game speed should be much more normal

the Ariane 5 comes with a SYLDA for putting two satellites into orbit.

the ascent shoud be pretty straightforward (be sure to drop the fairings around 20000m to save weight/delta V - structural panel fairings are heavy )

i have two files : one Ariane 5 with two satellites onboard, and a 'empty' Ariane 5, which can also be used as a subassembly.

if you use it as a subassembly, the 'root' node is the payload decoupler inside the SYLDA. then, for building the second satellite, you will need to 'pick' each main fairing decoupler (i used a cubic strut and 0.625 decoupler, so it will be easy to replace them once you finished) and let them waiting in the VAB. you'll have access to the decoupler on top of the SYLDA, and you can build your second satellite starting from the bottom down, before replacing the fairings.

Ariane 5G with double satellite payload

Ariane 5G with sylda and no satellite

---------Delta IV Heavy ----------

Delta IV Heavy mission album (with 92 tons dead weight payload)

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Launch animation :

(click the image to see the .gif animation - to prevent from slowing down the post loading with a heavy anim )

Launch profiles :

the central engine will change it's throttling (the hidden mainsail will be toggled at each stage) to replicate the delta-IV heavy throttling down.

for having this ingame, i advise to stage the 'empty' separatrons (stage 5) when your rocket is between 4000m and 5000m of altitude. (i added the empty separatrons to get an intermediate stage for the 'on stage' action group for toggling the mainsail)

launch sequence : push your throttle to the max, stage a first time (the central mainsail will turn on then immediately off because of the action group) and stage a second time to lift off.

eject the fairings a few seconds after dropping the lateral boosters. (note, i know, the fairings 'nosecone' can hit the payload - handling this kind of fairings is hard )

here are the files

Delta IV Heavy with a 92tons dead weight payload

Delta IV Heavy with no payload (perfect subassembly)

Have Fun !

Edited April 5, 2014 by sgt_flyer

[Naten]

Woah... .-.

That Ariane 5, just wow...

Idk lol big rockets are cool

[sgt_flyer]

Delta IV Heavy added to the main post

[Guest]

Beautiful work! Love those launch towers too!

[sgt_flyer]

A small sneak peek of an updated version of my Ariane V rocket, this one, with a Cryogenic Upper Stage (could be either ESC-A or ESC-B, as all engines are restartable in stock KSP ) added the ullage engines anyway

added the foldable Cryogenic Arms to the launch tower too

also corrected the position of the separatrons on the SRB's to match more closely where they are placed on the real one.

here's a sneak peek

(click the image to get to the animated .gif)

still a few tweaks to do on this one.

Edited April 7, 2014 by sgt_flyer

[FishInferno]

Brilliant! How did you make the launch tower arms rotate?

[sgt_flyer]

Separatron magic and a few stock hinges tight enough to keep the parts leveled enough for the separatrons to work.

The central I-beam is easier, it just uses gravity and has 'supports' which gives it a pivot point to turn around under it's own weight. (Plus, it serve as the 'starting' point for the launch tower structure )

Edited April 9, 2014 by sgt_flyer