Velcro Rockets V1.0

[Usonian]

Congratulations! You took the big leap! This really is an extrodinary addon, permitting nearly unlimited combinations, not just with the parts in the Velcro "kit," but also with other addons.

It's a bold move because the possiblities for conflicts are also unlimited! I hope you aren't pestered too much answering particular problems. Resolving those issues will present a nice technical and creative challenge for users. (My own particular problem and resolution will appear in the Velcro Saturns thread.)

I think a "sticky" Velcro user's thread is a great idea for sharing creations and solving problems.

Another Sputnik "classic." Very cool

 

[sputnik]

That is a very good idea, all those boosters and assemblies...

But there is a nasty problem - every time quicksave is done, the stack reassembles itself in mid-flight.
Effectively, there is no way to save.

Oops! I see what I did. The save routine breaks all the attachments, conducts the save, then stitches the attachments back together. This is because Velcro needs to make the attachment itself. Unfortunately, I failed to include a check for configuration. If it's post-separation, it shouldn't be re-attaching itself.

The good news is that this is only a visual problem. The mass, propellant, and thrust aren't getting glued back onto the stack when this happens.
The other good news is that quitting and using the (Current State) also works fine. This is, in fact, how I did most of my testing. I don't know how I didn't catch this bug...but all the times I used Quicksave must have been before staging...hmm.

So, I apologize for this silly bug. I'll release a v1.01 bugfix, as soon as I'm sure there's nothing else that needs addressing at the same time.

 

[sputnik]

Okay, v1.01 updated. Fixed the save bug, added a couple new features (Mayfly to delete spent stages after time, and a command to transform them to support anyone who wants to do a flyback stage). Also fixed the values for the Agena-B, which were erroneous and probably not helping meus nomen's Thor-Agena add-on.

 

[Genius]

Booster ignition

Hi.
I LOVE this addon for Orbiter!!!:speakcool:
I struggle with the booster ignition. When using universal cargo deck I create some freaky concepts:blink:
How do I ignite them all at the same time? I am not sure wether to use primebooster or PARALLELBURN, or them both at the same time, in my scenario config.
Can somebody help me out?
I am trying to use 4 stage 1 Saturn boosters.

 

[Urwumpe]

When using universal cargo deck I create some freaky concepts:blink:

It is very possible that Universal cargo deck is not compatible to Velcro rockets.

 

[sputnik]

Your first step should be to start with an example that's similar to what you want to do. And we have something VERY similar, because there's a scenario that uses 4 Saturn V first-stage boosters:

Scenarios\Velcro\Launch Vehicles\Saturns\Post-Saturn studies\S-IC LRBs x 4.scn

So start with that one, and modify to your heart's content.

 

[Genius]

Your first step should be to start with an example that's similar to what you want to do. And we have something VERY similar, because there's a scenario that uses 4 Saturn V first-stage boosters:

ScenariosVelcroLaunch VehiclesSaturnsPost-Saturn studiesS-IC LRBs x 4.scn

So start with that one, and modify to your heart's content.

Thanks for the advice Sputnik. But I have tried that very same scenario. I get CTD. I dont know why. I was a bit tired and do not want to bother with config files that do not work. "Agggg, my English is horrible!!!!"

 

[Graham2001]

Thanks for the advice Sputnik. But I have tried that very same scenario. I get CTD. I dont know why. I was a bit tired and do not want to bother with config files that do not work. "Agggg, my English is horrible!!!!"

I've been getting the same thing when I try to use the Saturn- Ic x4 to launch an Apollo CSM/LM.

Every time I try to launch the scenario it seems to launch correctly but then when I unpause the scenario the upper stages of the rocket seem to 'explode' and then I get a message saying that the graphics driver has failed. All the other scenarios work fine...

 

[legios]

few questions

Thank you for this add-on. I believe it will serve my most pressing orbiter needs (heavy lift). Of course, I was pretty much done with my add-on...a SII to fit on top of your Flyback SI mod. I had run into some orbiter 06 / spacecraft3.dll problems though, and the project got pushed back.

Ok, now to the questions.

1. Why use seriesburn vs CVEL? Is it only because some .dll's do not work well as CVEL payloads?

2. Does this add-on mean that any .cfg vessel I design can act as a CVEL vessel? Or as a Velcro rocket?

3. I know this is answered somewhere else, but... What is the max payloads a cvel vessel can have. Also, why use fairing or interstage instead of payload? They seem like they do basically the same thing.

Thanks again for the great add-on.

 

[sputnik]

Legios,

CVEL is simpler, and probably a bit faster because the upper stage isn't created yet, running uselessly in the background. SERIESBURN is useful, though, because some payloads can't tolerate being created via CVEL. Such as Apollo (AMSO or NASSP). Since Velcro Saturns was to come next, it behooved me to make everything work with that kind of payload.

You can create any kind of (non-animated) vessel by creating a .cfg, adding the "module=velcro" line to point it to Velcro Rockets, and shazam! It's a Velcro Rocket stage. So yes, converting an existing .cfg vessel to CVEL would be that easy. Though, for full Velcro functionality, you'd also need to add the four attach points.

Max payloads? I'm not sure how big the array is dimensioned...but it's pretty large.

Why use fairing or interstage? I don't understand the question. Fairings and interstages ARE treated as CVEL payloads. Fairings get an additional line to tell the code to jettison the fairing under specfic circumstances. (LES and SLA, also). An interstage is a CVEL payload that, under normal circumstances, never gets jettisoned.....

 

[legios]

Thanks Sputnik, you answered all my questions. I now see how the fairing and interstage parameters are different than the payload parameter.


Amazing stuff, thank you.

 

[sputnik]

Hey, what's everyone's opinion of the flight director? Does anyone hate it? I'm thinking of adding it to the next update of a few existing add-ons; just want to make sure that doesn't annoy anyone.

 

[DaveS]

Hey, what's everyone's opinion of the flight director? Does anyone hate it? I'm thinking of adding it to the next update of a few existing add-ons; just want to make sure that doesn't annoy anyone.

It's quite good. Just a nit on the STS with the ARSRMs: They're too big! According to my research this was supposed to be the technical data:

Diameter: 150 in(vs 146 in for the RSRM)
Length: 149.16 ft(same as RSRM)
Gross mass at launch: 1,344,597 lbs(vs 1,256,663 for the RSRM)
Thrust: 3,485,000 lbf(vs 3,000,000 lbf for the RSRM)
Specific Impulse: 269.2 sec(vs 268.4 for the RSRM)

 

[sputnik]

Do you mean the mesh is too big? The technical data you list are pretty close to Astronautix, which is what I used....

 

[DaveS]

Do you mean the mesh is too big? The technical data you list are pretty close to Astronautix, which is what I used....

Yes. Currently it's both way too long and fat. It's supposed to be more like the RSRM.

 

[sputnik]

Okay, I'll fix it. Thanks!

 

[Urwumpe]

Hey, what's everyone's opinion of the flight director? Does anyone hate it? I'm thinking of adding it to the next update of a few existing add-ons; just want to make sure that doesn't annoy anyone.

As somebody who also likes to add flight directors to anything: Works well and is also helpful finding out if the control power of a booster is not enough.

I would also like to have one in the suborbital planes, showing the way to a good apogee.

But please: Don't add the flight director to the NOTSNIK Skyray. It is more fun having to eyeball it. :lol:

 

[sputnik]

Heh. I wasn't thinking of the Skyray.

For a more realistic experience, turn off the HUD on the Skyray....

 

[Urwumpe]

Heh. I wasn't thinking of the Skyray.

For a more realistic experience, turn off the HUD on the Skyray....

I did that already

I also looked for cockpit photos...

 

[Woo482]

It is very possible that Universal cargo deck is not compatible to Velcro rockets.

It is compatable its what I use to build the rockets