Idea: Base Building Blocks

[Blacklight]

An idea just popped into my head. Something that I think is possible to do with Orbiter that I haven't seen an addon for yet and may be something an interested addon builder might put together because I would certainly play with it.
My idea is "Base Building Blocks"
Now we all know that we can build elaborate space stations in orbit, but how about flying missions and assembling research labs and elaborate bases out of modules on the moon and other planets similar to the space station modules. It would be like tinker toys for planetary bases. Maybe even surface construction equipment (I'm thinking a small crane with an articulatd arm for grappling) could be made so they could be flown to the construction site and then used to orient and attach the modules together.

 

[Kaito]

I've thought about doing this, multiple times, but I just lack the programming skills to do it. I do agree that this would be a nice addition to SSBB. And, with UCGO, it's even better

 

[Ark]

A large selection of UCGO base models would be very welcome, something above and beyond the little inflatable things.

 

[Blacklight]

Imagine the coolness of flying the equipment to the construction site, and then flying the modules up one at a time and putting them together like a big bunch of hamster tubes. Maybe add radio antennas and ground based solar arrays that you could snap on... It would be awesome !
I would say that you could even use the Space Station building blocks as starter models and just put "feet" on the bottoms so they'll stand upright and won't roll away on the surface. Or maybe make a module that's just the feet and you can fly a standard space station building bock there and drop it on the feet to lock it in place. Inflatables could be used for large areas too like big balloon domes that can be connected by the hamster tubes of modules.

---------- Post added 02-04-10 at 12:04 AM ---------- Previous post was 02-03-10 at 11:59 PM ----------

The only step after this would be mining equipment for tunneling and putting our bases underground, but that's not going to be a feature until Orbiter 2199 is released. :lol:

 

[PeterRoss]

Isn't this thing what you're looking for:

[ame="http://www.orbithangar.com/searchid.php?ID=3929"]HLV - Lunar base v1.2a[/ame]

 

[clickypens]

I imagine that with UCGO, building bases will be the new thing. It's already been tried, like Peter said with HLV, but that's just a taste of what we could do. It could be done in installments, like start out with the base UCGO inflatable base, and then with proceeding missions, attach new modules to it, until you get a veritable city. Plus, with UMMU2, we can make it breathable inside. I just wish I knew how to make all of this happen. I imagine someone will get to it sooner rather than later.

 

[Blacklight]

OH MY GOD !! That's EXACTLY what I'm looking for !!!! Thanks !!! You don't know how long I was on Orbithanger looking for exactly that. It must have been a case of my search words not being just right.

Thanks !! I'm going to give this thing a shot !

---------- Post added at 01:56 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:13 AM ----------

Okay. I downloaded the HLV addon, and the Ariane 6v1.2 addon that it requires, and also the "Inflatable" module required for one of the Ariane missions. I unzipped them all into a fresh Orbiter folder. I'm having trouble with the Ariane. When I run any mission that includes it, I get the following error:
ERROR: TextureManager::LoadTexture|ReadDDSSurface (code: -2147024809)
>>> ERROR: Missing texture: argo/side2.dds
>>> [C:\Source\Orbiter\Texture.cpp / 781]
>>> ERROR: No vessel class configuration file found for:
>>> ERROR: zl4arms
>>> [C:\Source\Orbiter\Vessel.cpp / 248]

So there's a texture missing from somewhere. The files that it claims it can't find ARE in those folders. Any ideas ?

---------- Post added at 02:08 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:56 AM ----------

From what I'm seeing of this addon, it's a nice start. I would like to see more modules like Space Station Building Blocks added. It would be cool to have a huge choice of modules to use. I'd also like modules that can be carted down in payload bays of spacecraft as well, or maybe rocketed up to Earth Orbit, where a ship picks them up, tows them to say, the moon, or Mars, drops them off, where another ship goes up, snags the thing, and brings it down to the construction site (Or one ship does it all). We could just continually launch modules up there till the thing is gigantic !! I'd also like to take those part to Mars, or any of the other planets or asteroids.

 

[PeterRoss]

You have to download lots of things for this addon to work. You need at least Kurou spaceport addon except of Ariane 6, maybe something else. Just read carefully all the manuals, because it's all working fine at my computer.