Standard Utility Construction Kit

[John FX]

So I`ve decided to make some standard, boring utility vehicles that will allow you to set up an interplanetary transport and refuelling system.

I`ve only got a few ready, I`ll be making more in the course of the thread.

I use FAR and DRE which means I also use procedural fairings. Some of the designs will use Karbonite but most of the kit will adapt very easily to stock type refuelling. I use the ALCOR capsule for manned missions as it has a beautiful IVA.

Some of the lifter designs only make sense in a career game when also using FAR and DRE...

The aim is to provide the building blocks to easily make something like this.

Most units will use the Snr docking port although adapters will be included.

Here are the craft files used :

Core + Shuttle

http://www./view/s3yf905d5at3w7s/Station_core_Shuttle.craft

Double Shuttle and refuel

http://www./view/44mj5z6rwfh8c42/refuel_double_shuttle.craft

Karbonite particle collector

http://www./view/vupperznk0ek413/station_refuel_karbonite_2.craft

Power Module

http://www./view/2xm44ivnfvyhkx8/station_power_pod.craft

HAB module with utility probes (Snr->std, Std->Jnr)

http://www./view/vwrdaaw9cms9mpc/station_Hab_and_utility_pods.craft

Zip file containing all craft

http://www./download/okk18w3908lg3tf/SUC_Kit.zip

Edited November 12, 2014 by John FX

[combat squirrel]

Ace, any downloads ?

[John FX]

The first thing you will need is something for everything to connect to. This is the station core. It`s very basic, like all the S.U.C.K craft. It also does not look very good.

It is sat on top of the Massive Exploratory Service Ship which can take the core to orbit. It has a few engines and 6 levels of thrust and efficiency giving it a Dv range of between about 5K and 13K unloaded and a thrust from 60Kn (depending on how close to exploding the NERVA is) to 1260Kn (approx)

Action groups 1-6 control this with action group 7 turning off the engines.

It can launch to a 100km orbit easily. It *should* have a TWR of about 1 on the launchpad. Feel free to drop the `docking port fins` whenever you like. I do it about 25-30km. YMMV

It is also stock.

http://www./view/s3yf905d5at3w7s/Station_core_Shuttle.craft

[John FX]

So now you will have a station core. It should look like this.

The next thing you will need is some fuel. We may as well deliver it in another two shuttles. These will have a slightly different design.

It`s basically a firework. It`s also stock.

http://www./view/44mj5z6rwfh8c42/refuel_double_shuttle.craft

If you get the launch right, not only do you not explode but the first stage gives you an Ap of exactly 100km. The hard bit is getting it to turn fast enough at 300m/s+

You`ll need about a 1350m/s circularizing burn at 100km which should leave you with a full tank in one shuttle and about 1000Dv in the other. Meet up with the core and then we`ll see about making the station a bit more cool.

Edited October 19, 2014 by John FX

[John FX]

By now you should have a station that looks a bit like this

So now we want the station to refuel itself and act as a stepping stone to the system. Let`s add the Karbonite refuel system.

This craft uses mods. Procedural fairings and Karbonite.

http://www./view/vupperznk0ek413/station_refuel_karbonite_2.craft

It also is the first craft that has a disposable launcher. After you undock from it, you can send it to reenter and burn up. As it is designed to be thrown away do not expect top quality.

So now we have a station that can refuel itself over time.

Currently the main issues are that there is nowhere to stay and not really enough power.

We`ll look at that tomorrow.

[John FX]

So what we need now it somewhere for Kerbals to stay and Moar POWER!

We`ll get some power there first then we can turn all of the collectors on.

Here is the power module, it is on top of yet another shuttle.

http://www./view/2xm44ivnfvyhkx8/station_power_pod.craft

Don`t worry about having all these shuttles around, they will be useful and won`t all be sat at the station using up your FPS...

Here is the station with the power module fitted.

[John FX]

Now we need to have some Kerbals there to go on whatever missions we want to send them on. We also want to study what happens to them if they stay in space for a long long time.

It`s another firework, this time there`s personnel...

http://www./view/vwrdaaw9cms9mpc/station_Hab_and_utility_pods.craft

Also, just to make it interesting, there is *just* enough fuel to get to orbit and rendezvous with the station as long as you don`t go above 80km. You may have to augment thrust with RCS to make sure you have enough.

[John FX]

So now we connect the Hab pod to the power pod and attach the utility pods to wherever we like.

We have used up a lot of our docking ports so we should send up another core (and shuttle) to connect to the Hab pod

Now we have a pretty good station going. It has a few system capable shuttles and the capability to keep itself (slowly) topped up with fuel. It has all the docking ports available in good numbers and plenty of power.

You could put some scientific experiments on it next (you only need the smallest docking port for those) and other stuff you may want.

Lets think about going further. If you put any pod (hab, power, Karbonite, hub) onto any of the shuttles you can pretty much take that pod anywhere.

I would say take a hub to Eve and Jool as they have atmospheres that will generate resources. You can build similar stations at both planets and then you have your basic transit system set up.

[John FX]

No comments?

[JuanxLink]

Awesome...

Also, well explained.

[John FX]

I tried to make it have as much function once launched as I could and for stock/not stock to have their launched as separate as possible.

Also for everything to just work right out of the box.

Would people be interested in a pure stock version or do the current craft work OK?

Maybe I am ahead of myself. Has anyone downloaded the craft and tried them out?

[JuanxLink]

Has anyone downloaded the craft and tried them out?

Im into atmospheric flight now, so cant say.

Word of advice tho, arrange the downloads on the OP, or warn about where they are, I see them below the corresponding images, but no tags on them. Will help with your testing process.

[John FX]

Im into atmospheric flight now, so cant say.

Word of advice tho, arrange the downloads on the OP, or warn about where they are, I see them below the corresponding images, but no tags on them. Will help with your testing process.

Yes of course. I`ll put them into a .zip and put all the links in the OP.

One word of advice though, some of the designs may not have enough Dv for stock launching, I play with FAR and so I make the craft efficient for that.

Let me know if that is the case and I`ll make a vanilla install and provide more stock capable vessels.

EDIT : OP updated with download links and a .zip containing all craft (which is smaller than any of the craft on their own)

Edited November 12, 2014 by John FX

[John FX]

Just Bumping hoping someone will comment...

[Vicomt]

Very nice, I've looked at doing something similar in the past, although I've not used any resource mods yet. did you build all this in career? what did it cost?

[John FX]

Very nice, I've looked at doing something similar in the past, although I've not used any resource mods yet. did you build all this in career? what did it cost?

No I built this all in sandbox and didn't note the costs. It's only buildable late in the game anyway as it uses the large fuel tanks so I figure costs would be less important by then.