Help: Controlling Space Plane Rentry with NEAR

[davidpsummers]

I have a space plane that I got to work under stock rules. I started using NEAR and I have a problem even after solving some of the others (adding more struts and stuff). When I reenter, I always end up tumbling during heaving deceleration and breaking up.

The ship is OK. There is some rocking now and then. And then it begins to rock harder and harder until it tumbles and then the wings get torn off and the ship breaks up.

Any help?

[Alshain]

Do your retro burn just a little less than half way around the planet from the KSC. Put the end of your arc over the mountains west of the KSC. It's a slow process. Use pitch to extend it to the runway as you get closer.

If that doesn't work, it's probably your plane. Drag too far forward or fuel drain causing center of mass to shift behind center of lift.

[davidpsummers]

I've played around with the fuel balance, making sure that the COM was ahead of the SOL (making sure by checking a plane in the hanger with the same fuel load...). If there is something wrong with the design, I have no idea what it is. It flies up into space OK. But when I'm re-entering, it becomes unstable, flips around, and breaks up.

Here is the plane before launch...

Edited February 1, 2015 by davidpsummers

[NathanKell]

NEAR is simplified compared to FAR. That doesn't mean it's easier than FAR; reentry is one area that is much, much harder due to the elimination of all mach effects in NEAR.