General Question Falcon Heavy Payload Orientation

[12gauge]

Hello,
I recently downloaded an awesome Falcon Heavy add on and I want to use it to launch some space station modules. When I attach the payload to the top of the rocket, it's in the wrong orientation, and it sticks out the side of the fairing. I know there must be a way to rotate the station module so it is vertical but I'm not sure how. Here is the link to the falcon heavy: https://www.orbithangar.com/searchid.php?ID=7139

 

[BrianJ]

Hi,
you'll need to add an Attachment Point to your station module's .cfg file.

The Attachment Point should be placed at your module's attachment fitting (where you want it to attach to the FalconHeavy).

If you want the module oriented so that +Z is pointed "up" relative to the FalconHeavy, then the Attachment Point direction should point in the opposite direction 0 0 -1.

The Attachment Point rotation parameter can be any unit vector orthogonal to direction e.g. 0 1 0, depending on your required rotation around Z axis.

So, assuming you want a +Z axis "up" orientation, then you need to have something like this in your module's .cfg file:

BEGIN_ATTACHMENT
P 0 0 -2.0  0 0 -1  0 1 0  FH
END_ATTACHMENT

You also need to figure out the index of the Attachment Point - if it is the first "P" attachment point on the .cfg list then index = 0. If it is the fourth "P" attachment point on the list then index = 3, etc.

Use the index number in your module's scenario "ATTACHED" parameter.
e.g. If module's attachment point index = 2, then in the scenario use:

ATTACHED 2:0,FalconHeavy

Any good?
Brian

 

[12gauge]

Hey Brian, thanks for the help. That code worked perfectly and the station module is now vertical, but It sticks out of the bottom of the fairing slightly now, so how would I raise it up a bit?

 

[MrFickles]

Thanks Brian, you've solved my problem of attaching the DGIV onto the Falcon as well.

As it turns out, a F9 launched in expendable mode is perfect for launching DGIV into orbit. With 15m/s dV remaining at SECO for a 51.6deg inclination, 200x200km orbit.

 

[BrianJ]

It sticks out of the bottom of the fairing slightly now, so how would I raise it up a bit?

Your attachment point is 2 meters towards the back of your station module, along the Z axis (that's the -2.0 in the numbers) You need to push it back even further, so change the -2.0 to -3.0 . If that's too much, reduce to -2.5 etc.

Thanks Brian, you've solved my problem of attaching the DGIV onto the Falcon as well.

As it turns out, a F9 launched in expendable mode is perfect for launching DGIV into orbit. With 15m/s dV remaining at SECO for a 51.6deg inclination, 200x200km orbit.

Cool! :thumbup:

 

[12gauge]

As it turns out, a F9 launched in expendable mode is perfect for launching DGIV into orbit. With 15m/s dV remaining at SECO for a 51.6deg inclination, 200x200km orbit.

If you launch the DG on the Falcon Heavy, you can make it into that same orbit with no dV remaining and a little fuel still in the second stage. And I know its been like 4 months since this post but oh well.

 

[BrianJ]

I guess that is with flybacks for the boosters?