Problem Chutes and Parafoil/sail

[Brad]

I am trying to developing a recovery system using spacecraft3.dll and trying to implement two different recovery systems in one craft. I have no problem with the chute using the speedbrake option to induce drag. It works great, however when I discard it, and want to use the parafoil/sail - that is where I am running into problems.

1. I have tried using it as a docked option - but this doesn't work since its properties are used from the beginning and it skews the freefall properties.

2. I have tried it as a payload option - hoping that somehow it would dock when jettisoned from the original mesh. -FAILED

3. I haven't tried an attachments... anyone have any experience with attached aerodynamic properties?


Anyone have any other ideas on how I can "hook" a parafoil into the craft without its properties being used until it is deployed?

Thanks for the tips/suggestions/help in advance.

 

[eveningsky339]

I'm not too familiar with spacecraft3, but I have attempted a similar recovery system (both chute and parasail) with a custom .dll. It was a simple matter; all that I needed to do was reset the vessel's aerodynamic parameters depending on which was deployed.

I do not think this is possible in spacecraft3, but I do believe you can create two different "vessels", each with either the aerodynamic properties of the chute or the parasail.

So, if the users presses the parachute key, a new "vessel" is created with the parachute, and the same with the parasail. This will probably cause a skip in the frame rate, but it should work okay.

Of course it would probably be better if a spacecraft3-based developer helped you out here, but that's my two cents.

 

[Dr Pepper]

Have you tried making the parasail+ship as one spacecraft3 ship (parasail is docked to the ship as specified in the .ini file), and then attaching that combo-ship as a payload to the parachute?

 

[Brad]

This works... however I am stuck with a static spacecraft without any animation. Hummm close...

 

[Quick_Nick]

Check out this addon's trickery: http://orbithangar.com/searchid.php?ID=3665
I haven't checked out the new one (above) but the old one (here) I know uses Spacecraft.dll tricks.