Project Tonsou - Space Station Escape Vehicle

[Pyromaniac605]

Yeah I'm pretty sure they all face backwards. They probably don't need to in the Shuttle because of the larger surface area producing greater drag. It will be a large capsule though sitting 5 or 6 people, so it might work.

Darren

Edit: Here are some of my designs.

This design is similar to a Soyuz without an Orbital Module.

This design is similar to the CST-100.

This design has multiple capsules inside one large module.

This design is similar to an Apollo CSM but larger and with a different shaped CM.

What do you think of these? Personally I like 3.

Darren

Edit: Another reason for changing to a capsule is because the capsule can be used as a CM of sorts for interplanetary stacks and the like.

 

[Pyromaniac605]

BTW I plan to have 5 or 6 people seated in the one capsule, I was thinking 2 people at top behind another row of 3 people that is seated lower. I'll draw a diagram if you don't understand what I mean.

Darren

 

[IronRain]

So it's going to be a capsule now.. okay. 6 seated sounds nice. do you mean like the H1I (from the HLV add-on) capsule? Do you mean that?

 

[Pyromaniac605]

I'll have to check in a bit if the H1I is similar. (Slow internet)
What design do you think would work best?
I think I was being a bit insane with number 4. :lol:

Darren

Edit: Yeah something like that, it seems like the best way to seat so many people in one capsule.

 

[Pyromaniac605]

Started work on modelling design 3. So far I've got the capsule mostly done minus interior work, and the service module which I've changed a little. The hatch is... well... its coming. :thumbup:

Darren

Edit:Nothing to say?

 

[Pyromaniac605]

I still have to figure out how I'm going to do the hatch and the interior. You think I could just leave the hatch mostly glass but just leave a metal frame around it or would that be too weak?
Anyway I've been doing some texturing (well Anim8or inbuilt texturing) and was wondering what you guys think is better, the Apollo style silver, or the Orion style white?

Personally I prefer the white, but if there is flame wars about this (I hope not :lol: ) then I could release it with both versions.

Darren

Edit: Just to give a bit more information about what I hope to be able to do by the time this is released.

• Get it to work (Extremely High Priority)
• UMMU compatible (High Priority)
• Proper Textures (High Priority)
• Interior (Medium Priority)
• Custom Launch Vehicle (Low Priority)
• Skinnable (Low Priority (Unless interest really starts to pick up))

And a few things I'd like to add if I can figure out how and if I feel it needs a bit extra.

• Custom Heatshield effect
• Virtual Cockpit and/or Flat Panel

If you can think of anything else you'd like just give the word and I'll see if its in my capabilities.

 

[Pyromaniac605]

I've done a bit more work on the modelling, I've started to do something with the hatch and started (Anim8or) texturing the SM. '

Doesn't anyone have anything to say?

Darren

PS: Do you think I should put some bars across the hatch window to make it stronger?

Edit: Feedback would be nice.

 

[River Crab]

Not ignoring, just don't really have anything to say. So, no, not really. The design is yours, you can do whatever you want. :thumbup:

However, as for the hatch, if you're worried about its structural strength then you should thicken the frame, make the glass area smaller, and round the edges. I say round the edges because the effect of pressure differences can stress the edges to the point of failure, which is what happened to the early De Havilland Comet with square windows. Also, remember that it's not practical to make curved spacecraft windows, so keep them flat. It's nice to have a good view though, don't make it too small.

And, I don't know if this will be of much help, but JAXA is studying ballistic return capsules based on the HTV, one of the concepts is a manned capsule:
NASASpaceFlight (this should have enough links on it)

(Images from Hyperbola)

 

[Pyromaniac605]

I'm not exactly sure how I am going to curve the corners, but I'll givbe it a go.

Darren

Edit: SC3 vessels can have UMMU compatability right?

Edit2: I'm probably not going to end up putting an interior, but I could make a rounded mesh on the inside with a texture that gives the appearance of an interior.

 

[River Crab]

SC3 vessels can only have UMMU if you use UMMUFA, otherwise no, you'll need to write a .dll.
For curving the edges, does your modeling thing have a fillet operation? If not, there are other ways.

 

[Pyromaniac605]

No but it has something called Warp Modifier I may be able to use that to curve a cylinder. That or it'll send my computer flying towards Alpha Cenauri. :lol:

Darren

 

[Pyromaniac605]

Come to a bit of a halt here.

I've been trying to start texturing this thing, but I've run into a bit of I wall. I unwrap the model with UV Mapper, but now I need a bit of help. I can only figure out that the empty the parts at the top and bottom are where the hatch goes, but where is everything else? UV Mapper doesn't really explain what everything is.

Darren

Edit: Those gre bits are there because I assumed they were the heatshield I'm not so sure now.

 

[Pyromaniac605]

I'm just going to let everyone know, I'm going to put this project aside for a while. The reason for this is basically because I feel I jumped in a bit too quick trying to do a craft straight away, so instead, I am going to start a base which will have its own thread soon.

I will continue working on this once I have gotten a bit of experience from my base.

Darren

 

[IronRain]

Anyway I've been doing some texturing (well Anim8or inbuilt texturing) and was wondering what you guys think is better, the Apollo style silver, or the Orion style white?

Personally I prefer the white, but if there is flame wars about this (I hope not :lol: ) then I could release it with both versions.

I also prefer white. It's just more... from this time

 

[Pyromaniac605]

After a long time of basically being bored, I have decided to restart the project, now I am doing the modelling in Blender and will probably be writing a custom .dll for it, mostly for the UMMU compatability, but of course learning is also a big part in it, also with a custom .dll comes the ability to add some juicy extras.

I am also trying to think of another name for the craft, how does ESEV (Emergency Station Escape Vehicle(taken?)) sound?

PS: How does Blender scale when converted to use in Orbiter? (What is the scale in Blender?)

Edit: Actually I will probably still use Anim8or as I am familiar with it where as Blender (Especially the newest release) confuses me.

Edit2: What do you know? I need to know the scale for Anim8or now. Just some info on how big a standard docking port is would be extremely helpful.

 

[vlad32768]

PS: How does Blender scale when converted to use in Orbiter? (What is the scale in Blender?)

I don't know adout anim8or, but
1 Blender unit = 1 meter.

So you don't need to scale your model in Blender.

 

[Pyromaniac605]

I suppose it would be the same for anim8or. :idk:

Edit: That being the case, how big is a standard docking port?

 

[IronRain]

Anim8or doesn't use any lengths or things. You need to scale it with MeshWizard..

 

[Pyromaniac605]

Ok, thanks, hopefully be posting soon with some pics.

Edit: Also, how would I go about doing the animations? That's a feature I feel is important.

Edit2:How feasible does a parachute-less re-entry and landing sound? I was thinking instead to have a large, quickly inflating bag to cushion the impact in the water, comments?

 

[Wishbone]

If you hit the water at high enough speed it is more or less the same as hitting asphalt. Parachutes or landing rockets are OK.