Difference between Inline Advanced Stabilizer and Inline Reaction Wheel

[footman04]

I am wondering if there is any difference between the Inline Advanced Stabilizer and the Inline Reaction Wheel. The only difference I can see is that the former weighs 0.2 tons more than the latter.

[Anton P. Nym]

There used to be a difference; the Advanced Stabilizer used to be called "ASAS module" (if I recall correctly) and you used to have to add it to a craft in order to use the SAS function (the "t" key in standard bindings) in flight. Since about version .21 SAS is included in all control pods, so the old module became obsolete. I think it's included mainly so that older designs aren't made unusable.

Now there isn't much reason to use it aside from looks, or if you're looking for some extra weight to balance a design or something. Personally I think it should give some extra torque for the extra mass to rebalance it... but it's not a big issue, really.

-- Steve

[cantab]

I believe that SAS is included in all command modules except the external seat. If you want SAS on a ship that has only external seats and don't want to add a probe core for whatever reason, you'll need the Inline Advanced Stabiliser or the ASAS Module Large, not just a reaction wheel.

[Claw]

Close.

The old ASAS module used to allow the craft to also automatically use flight control surfaces when SAS was active. The basic SAS module would only supply torque when SAS was active.

Flight controls were added to all basic SAS ability. So the extra ASAS function is now obsolete.

[footman04]

Thank you.