STS-7/E Space Shuttle (Stock NASA Replica) Still Flies in KSP 1.4.3 - Re-enters Like the Real Thing!

[inigma]

Here's that new subassembly I was talking about. Its a set of modular research lab components inspired by the real shuttle's Spacelab missions.

http://i.imgur.com/O7oNdUv.png

Enterprise, rebuilt for the second time, lifts off on its third mission with three Spacelab companents in its payload bay

http://i.imgur.com/RAVnsTs.png

Vehicle is supersonic, roll program complete, engage pitch program.

http://i.imgur.com/VJgMe1V.png

Booster sep confirmed, Enterprise is negative return

http://i.imgur.com/w3z146i.png

Heads up roll complete, vehicle is go for orbit

http://i.imgur.com/y83UpjT.png

ET jettison, all systems nominal

http://i.imgur.com/cT8xZcp.png

Orbital insertion underway. EVE has apparently either had too much to drink, or is putting on a late April Fool's joke

http://i.imgur.com/gtoBMlo.png

Payload Bay open. Inside, from front to back, is the Spacelab Pressurized Module (Compact), Spacelab Crew Airlock, and the Spacelab External Experiment Pallet, with two KMUs, courtesy of Rune.

http://i.imgur.com/ozg9wZu.png

As you can see, the SPM has a beautiful view!

http://i.imgur.com/nvY63o6.jpg

Jeb and Bill conduct activities on the SEEP, while Bob monitors from the SPM and Jerwin watches shuttle systems from the orbiter cockpit.

I plan to release several different components so people can mix and match to create a specialized payload for specialized missions. There will be a larger PM, probably a station resupply pallet, an Observation module, etc. If you happen to have an idea for a component, please tell me!

Wow! I love it! Post a download link when ready! I can't think of any other modules other than a non stock module (such as a tweakscaled telescope?)

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ok, question about the SAMPA... I am thinking of using that parachute mod so as to not dirty up the sides of the shuttle (sorry, forgot what it was called) Currently not sure how I can go about making the entire front section into a subassembly of its own, so...I am considering just slightly redesigning your shuttle and make a complete offshoot of it.

Can you simply offset the parachutes into the hull using the offset gizmo? Problem solved?

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You have got to see this!

Angel 125 created an episodic series for his STS Challenges:

[Sampa]

ok, I will try that, I just thought of that mod pack parachute for the drogue...however...I COULD make two versions of the SAMPA to limit the amount of mods used on it...

Also, I am looking into giving the Intrepid-class a whole new front RCS port set similar to the Buran shuttle that GeneralRarity made

[pTrevTrevs]

Wow! I love it! Post a download link when ready! I can't think of any other modules other than a non stock module (such as a tweakscaled telescope?)

I was also considering some modded components, such as a robotic arm or KIS containers, so you can have the benefits of the STS Service Module, which cannot be in the Payload Bay at the same time as Spacelab components. Hullcam does have a small telescope with a powerful zoom, I will consider making a component for it.

[MattJL]

Don't know if this counts for anything, but I acted out an STS-107 rescue mission (alternate STS-114) using Intrepid. I'll be honest - I had to do a savefile tweak to send STS-107 on a collision course with Kerbin (didn't want it landing on KSC).

Here y'all go:

Javascript is disabled. View full album

[inigma]

Don't know if this counts for anything, but I acted out an STS-107 rescue mission (alternate STS-114) using Intrepid. I'll be honest - I had to do a savefile tweak to send STS-107 on a collision course with Kerbin (didn't want it landing on KSC).

Here y'all go:

http://imgur.com/a/a4nSC

That's awesome! A mission like this deserves the following award:

I really liked how you researched this and showed how it could have worked!

[MattJL]

That's awesome! A mission like this deserves the following award:

http://i.imgur.com/DNsuyHh.jpg

I really liked how you researched this and showed how it could have worked!

Hah, thanks! And I have to give the author of this alt history: http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=270106 a lot of credit regarding the research. That's what inspired me to do this.

[Columbia]

I decided to give the shuttle another try after realizing that the only times I flew it were attempting the STS Fuel Pod Challenge and slapping the Orbiter on a B747 and calling it the SCA. I wondered if I could get it to land at KSC as well, after the partial failure of the Fuel Pod Challenge and having to dispatch a rescue mission.

It turned out pretty well.. except for the landing.

Javascript is disabled. View full album

It was named Constitution, after the former name of the Enterprise orbiter. It crashed on landing at KSC, but anyways - Wahoo!

Edited September 1, 2015 by Columbia

[Darth Lazarus]

inigma, why do you have build the wings with a double layer of wingparts? not enough lift ? and why do you have used so many big SAS wheels?

asking this because i build my own shuttle right now

[inigma]

I decided to give the shuttle another try after realizing that the only times I flew it were attempting the STS Fuel Pod Challenge and sticking the Orbiter on a B747 and calling it the SCA. I wondered if I could get it to land at KSC as well, after the partial failure of the Fuel Pod Challenge and having to dispatch a rescue mission.

It turned out pretty well.. except for the landing.

http://imgur.com/a/v57tk

It was named Constitution, after the former name of the Enterprise orbiter. It crashed on landing at KSC, but anyways - Wahoo!

Heh. Bad weather at KSC! Wind sheers will rip your wings to shreds. Best to land at KSC Island.

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inigma, why do you have build the wings with a double layer of wingparts? not enough lift ? and why do you have used so many big SAS wheels?

asking this because i build my own shuttle right now

Yes composite wings are used to generate more lift. With 1.0 I won't need composite wings, but they really do look COOL.

And yes, 30 SAS modules are in the External Tank, and 6 in the Orbiter. This is a Kerbalized solution to making the craft fly as real world as possible. Without it, one is fighting the impossibility of making a real world shuttle in KSP that can fly good and carry an equalized payload. Took me days to finally figure out that KSP isn't real life.

[Sampa]

Heh. Bad weather at KSC! Wind sheers will rip your wings to shreds. Best to land at KSC Island.

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Yes composite wings are used to generate more lift. With 1.0 I won't need composite wings, but they really do look COOL.

And yes, 30 SAS modules are in the External Tank, and 6 in the Orbiter. This is a Kerbalized solution to making the craft fly as real world as possible. Without it, one is fighting the impossibility of making a real world shuttle in KSP that can fly good and carry an equalized payload. Took me days to finally figure out that KSP isn't real life.

yeah, if someone wanted soemthing like that, they may as well go get the CSS mod

[Darth Lazarus]

Yes composite wings are used to generate more lift. With 1.0 I won't need composite wings, but they really do look COOL.

And yes, 30 SAS modules are in the External Tank, and 6 in the Orbiter. This is a Kerbalized solution to making the craft fly as real world as possible. Without it, one is fighting the impossibility of making a real world shuttle in KSP that can fly good and carry an equalized payload. Took me days to finally figure out that KSP isn't real life.

yeah ... instability ... noticed it as well with my own mockup was flying nice without additinal SAS modules until the booster were runing out of fuel. with some very gentle rotating of the SSME's with the rotate tool, carefully looking the the Kerbal Engenier torguereadout and soem fidling with the placement of the EFT and boosters, the numbers of SAS rings can be reduced. BUT, better safe then sorry

about the wings, hrm seems i have to to soem compositemagic as well , damn you partcount

[inigma]

yeah ... instability ... noticed it as well with my own mockup was flying nice without additinal SAS modules until the booster were runing out of fuel. with some very gentle rotating of the SSME's with the rotate tool, carefully looking the the Kerbal Engenier torguereadout and soem fidling with the placement of the EFT and boosters, the numbers of SAS rings can be reduced. BUT, better safe then sorry

about the wings, hrm seems i have to to soem compositemagic as well , damn you partcount

Yes I can fiddle with ET placement, and engine rotation, but in order to keep the actual look of the NASA shuttle, I arrived at the current balance. If you can do better, let me know!

[pTrevTrevs]

So, bad news about Spacelab. My computer broke last night, and tech support reset it to factory standards. All the software that didn't come default on it was deleted, including KSP, with all the Spacelab components trapped inside. Once it gets fixed, which should be soon, I will attempt to rebuild and improve Spacelab, but it's release has been delayed for some time.

[inigma]

So, bad news about Spacelab. My computer broke last night, and tech support reset it to factory standards. All the software that didn't come default on it was deleted, including KSP, with all the Spacelab components trapped inside. Once it gets fixed, which should be soon, I will attempt to rebuild and improve Spacelab, but it's release has been delayed for some time.

Aw sorry to hear that. That really sucks. Good luck! I look forward to it when you do roll it out!

[Sampa]

and I am puting the SAMPA on the back-burner temporarily so I can finish a project I am working on for 2 different companies! Also, school stuff!

[MattJL]

I have to put together a proper Imgur album for these three, but after some tweaking, I give you...

Sidemount, the shuttle-derived heavy lift vehicle!

A slightly fantastical Ares V, able to send over twelve tons of payload directly to Duna (complete with an airshell)! Featuring a full-size payload bay, meaning that all STS-4 subassemblies can be used with it!

And, finally, a more reasonable Ares I, able to orbit a happy medium of about ten tons! Featuring a half-size payload bay!

EDIT: Here's a proper album:

Javascript is disabled. View full album

Edited April 8, 2015 by MattJL

[inigma]

I have to put together a proper Imgur album for these three, but after some tweaking, I give you...

Sidemount, the shuttle-derived heavy lift vehicle!

http://i.imgur.com/gAN0MDP.png

A slightly fantastical Ares V, able to send over twelve tons of payload directly to Duna (complete with an airshell)! Featuring a full-size payload bay, meaning that all STS-4 subassemblies can be used with it!

http://i.imgur.com/HEpQSm6.png

And, finally, a more reasonable Ares I, able to orbit a happy medium of about ten tons! Featuring a half-size payload bay!

http://i.imgur.com/k1EInWp.png

EDIT: Here's a proper album:

http://imgur.com/a/DVdxC

can haz craft file when ur done tweakin? this deserves to be OPed.

this is yours btw. only me and one other has one of these babies. now you too:

[Zucal]

Hey! Quick question: I'm putting the final tweaks to a quick Hubble replica, and I'm wondering if I can use your shuttle in some of the pictures. You'll definitely be credited. Would this be okay? Thanks!

[MattJL]

can haz craft file when ur done tweakin? this deserves to be OPed.

this is yours btw. only me and one other has one of these babies. now you too:

http://i.imgur.com/UF2EaXT.jpg

I'm honored. Thanks for making such a great Shuttle.

Craft files (slightly experimental, if I make any updates/someone points out an issue with one of them, I'll do my best to fix it and send y'all an update):

https://www.dropbox.com/s/qmirhrjmzrvgj4u/Ares%20V.craft?dl=0 (Ares V)

https://www.dropbox.com/s/22z1w2sgyc6106a/Ares%20I.craft?dl=0 (Ares I)

https://www.dropbox.com/s/6yhrm41g86cor4k/STS-SDHLV.craft?dl=0 (SDHLV/Sidemount) - Note: Flies a bit dodgy after SRB sep, I'd advise keeping an eye on the thing. Also, don't do the roll program until you get between 7 and 8 km. Not tested for payloads greater than 11 tons.

Might stretch the Ares V upper stage a bit to squeeze a little more delta-v out of it, we'll see. If anyone wants to give that a shot, just pop off the S3-3600 on the second stage and add in an S3-7200. Should still work.

[inigma]

Hey! Quick question: I'm putting the final tweaks to a quick Hubble replica, and I'm wondering if I can use your shuttle in some of the pictures. You'll definitely be credited. Would this be okay? Thanks!

Yes! Go ahead. The craft is public domain. No credit needed! Share the pics so I can see!

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I'm honored. Thanks for making such a great Shuttle.

Craft files (slightly experimental, if I make any updates/someone points out an issue with one of them, I'll do my best to fix it and send y'all an update):

https://www.dropbox.com/s/qmirhrjmzrvgj4u/Ares%20V.craft?dl=0 (Ares V)

https://www.dropbox.com/s/22z1w2sgyc6106a/Ares%20I.craft?dl=0 (Ares I)

https://www.dropbox.com/s/6yhrm41g86cor4k/STS-SDHLV.craft?dl=0 (SDHLV/Sidemount) - Note: Flies a bit dodgy after SRB sep, I'd advise keeping an eye on the thing. Also, don't do the roll program until you get between 7 and 8 km. Not tested for payloads greater than 11 tons.

Might stretch the Ares V upper stage a bit to squeeze a little more delta-v out of it, we'll see. If anyone wants to give that a shot, just pop off the S3-3600 on the second stage and add in an S3-7200. Should still work.

Post to the OP! Awesome work!

[Zucal]

Well, thanks for letting me take a pic! The shuttle was far easier to fly than I expected- made it to orbit on the second try. The first time I collided with the spent fuel tank while circularizing with the OMS. The Hubble doesn't quite fit in the shuttle's bay, but with KAS you could possibly attach the antenna and solar panels in orbit.

Hubble Download: (Mediafire) Link

Beauty shots:

Edited April 8, 2015 by Zucal
Grammar is hard

[inigma]

Well, thanks for letting me take a pic! The shuttle was far easier to fly than I expected- made it to orbit on the second try. The first time I collided with the spent fuel tank while circularizing with the OMS. The Hubble doesn't quite fit in the shuttle's bay, but with KAS you could possibly attach the antenna and solar panels in orbit.

Hubble Download: (Mediafire) Link

Beauty shots:

http://i.imgur.com/8kSDscS.png

http://i.imgur.com/IFjnqSg.png

http://i.imgur.com/S1u44Fk.png

I challenge you to make it fit in the STS Space Shuttle cargo bay, KAS and all.

[Zucal]

I challenge you to make it fit in the STS Space Shuttle cargo bay, KAS and all.

I've got a lot to do coming up, and no experience with KAS. I'll see what I can do, though!

[inigma]

I should mention, as a side note, since STS-2 there has been a flight computer installed in the crew module capable of launching, piloting, and landing the STS unmanned.

[MattJL]

I should mention, as a side note, since STS-2 there has been a flight computer installed in the crew module capable of launching, piloting, and landing the STS unmanned.

That's how I "landed" STS-107 during the rescue mission. Neat feature!

I'm gonna try launching the 42 ton refueling module aboard Ares V, will report back with what that thing can do.

EDIT: So I'm able to crash it into the Mun after a brief powered descent Had to tap into the fuel reserves a bit to actually "land" it. That means a LKO payload of about... 126 tons?

Proof:

It has a habit of falling over, though:

Also, revamped Ares V a bit (basically made it less prone to disassembling itself on the way to orbit) and stretched the SRBs up to five segments:

Finally, did some proof-of-concept work with delivery into atmospheres via the upper stage:

Then I built a monster of a vehicle (four five-segment SRBs) that I call Ares Vc. Can't see it well (it's identical outside of the number of SRBs), but screenshot:

Craft files:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/uak7ashg1qksq43/Ares%20V%20mk%20II.craft?dl=0 (Improved Ares V)

https://www.dropbox.com/s/3wo6mzvqio2pnw6/Ares%20Vc.craft?dl=0 (This... thing.)

Edited April 9, 2015 by MattJL