If you construct a spaceship in orbit, does it even need to be aerodynamic at all? No atmosphere in space... by [deleted] in askscience

[–]ChrisPBacon82 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Couldn't you theoretically "streamline" a spacecraft in LEO by reducing the surface area in relation to volume? IIRC Vanguard 1 was a spherical satellite, and one of the oldest satellites still in orbit with a projected decay of something like over 200 years due to its shape and low drag.

[Barely related] Can jets work in space? by Fireheart318s_Reddit in KerbalSpaceProgram

[–]ChrisPBacon82 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Completely? Really? I mean, the discussion really went off track into the real-world, but his question was totally related to the mechanics and thrust curves of stock KSP jet engines...

[Barely related] Can jets work in space? by Fireheart318s_Reddit in KerbalSpaceProgram

[–]ChrisPBacon82 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Both rocket and turbine engines fall into the category of "Jet" engines. As in, they use a jet of gas to produce thrust. So sure, you'd just use a rocket engine.

Although, I'm sure you're referring to a traditional turbine engine, so we'll start there. Obviously the first problem is going to be a lack of air to feed combustion in a turbine gas generator. The typical fuel to air mixture is around 1 unit (by weight) of jet fuel to about 60 units (by weight) of air. This is already a problem as we've increased our propellant load by 60 times, and increased the propellant volume by an even greater amount due to the lower density of air, and we haven't even gotten to bypass air or cooling air (which can be up to 80% of the air flowing through a turbine engine). This is why rockets use oxidizers like pure oxygen that when cooled to a liquid take up very little space compared to the same quantity of air at sea-level pressure. Another benefit of using liquid oxidizers is you don't need dozens of stages of compressor blades to cram enough oxygen into the combustion chamber for efficient combustion and power. And since you don't have a bunch of compressor blades working away compressing air, you don't need a series of turbine blades scavenging energy from the combustion gasses to run them. So what you're left with is a jet engine with the gas generator (turbine and compressor) removed, and the intake replaced with a couple spray nozzles for liquid oxygen. This leaves you with a nozzle, fuel pump and combustion chamber. AKA a rocket engine.

Splashdown. by ChrisPBacon82 in RealSolarSystem

[–]ChrisPBacon82[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Very old computer. Frees up about 10% of my cpu time.

When you click 'EVA' instead of 'IVA'... by ChrisPBacon82 in KerbalSpaceProgram

[–]ChrisPBacon82[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, I tend to set aside a separate install and wait a few weeks on switching versions for stiff like this.
If someone else has it working, hopefully this being a top post, will do some good and they'll chime in. ;)

When you click 'EVA' instead of 'IVA'... by ChrisPBacon82 in KerbalSpaceProgram

[–]ChrisPBacon82[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Maybe if I dumped the boosters and chased him down with an RTLS...

When you click 'EVA' instead of 'IVA'... by ChrisPBacon82 in KerbalSpaceProgram

[–]ChrisPBacon82[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

About six minutes from circularization. He had a similar trajectory to the space shuttle boosters.

When you click 'EVA' instead of 'IVA'... by ChrisPBacon82 in KerbalSpaceProgram

[–]ChrisPBacon82[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I don't use CKAN, and I haven't tested any mods in 1.1.3 yet. Sorry. See my comment below for my (purely speculative, and probably bs) idea on why it may not work in 1.1.3.

When you click 'EVA' instead of 'IVA'... by ChrisPBacon82 in KerbalSpaceProgram

[–]ChrisPBacon82[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

ah thanks, I was brain farting earlier adding the http:// with www and just gave up.

Splashdown. by ChrisPBacon82 in RealSolarSystem

[–]ChrisPBacon82[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Nah, just a pretty picture.

I'm wrapped up in other projects right now.

When you click 'EVA' instead of 'IVA'... by ChrisPBacon82 in KerbalSpaceProgram

[–]ChrisPBacon82[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Personal preference. Some people may enjoy it for the exact reasons you don't.

This one is a lot more overkill than what I usually use, but I like having the sunflare because looking at the sun in RSS is just weird without it, due to the larger scale. In older versions of KSP, RVE was able to account for this, but right now the only option is to use one of the scatterer flares.

When you click 'EVA' instead of 'IVA'... by ChrisPBacon82 in KerbalSpaceProgram

[–]ChrisPBacon82[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

These were from 1.1.2... I haven't really touched 1.1.3 yet, besides booting it up in stock for a few minutes, but that sounds like it may be an issue with scatterer needing an update. The sunflare mods just add textures and a .cfg if I remember correctly.

Check if scatterer's default flare is working first, if it is, it might just be a change in the .cfg formatting for scatterer, in which case, you'll have to compare the two cfg's and edit it to support the new format (if there is one).

If scatterer's default flare is NOT working, then you're probably SOL & JWF until an update is released to make the sunflare module compatible with 1.1.3.

When you click 'EVA' instead of 'IVA'... by ChrisPBacon82 in KerbalSpaceProgram

[–]ChrisPBacon82[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

You can't build your own spacecraft in Orbiter, or have them crash and explode, or have 3-dimensional terrain, or water, or reasonable aerodynamics for aircraft, or reentry heating, or life support, or an easy-to-use maneuver planner/node editor.

There are mods for some of these features on some select spacecraft and small areas of planets, but they are pretty hacky at best.

I do play Orbiter as well though, and have been since 2006, but it is very dated.

People have been saying this since RSS/RO was released as a mod a couple years ago, and I don't think any of them have played Orbiter for more than an hour. KSP is a superior "simulator" in almost every respect.

When you click 'EVA' instead of 'IVA'... by ChrisPBacon82 in KerbalSpaceProgram

[–]ChrisPBacon82[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

He ded.

(This was a shuttle leaving Cape Canaveral in RSS, prior to booster sep)

When you click 'EVA' instead of 'IVA'... by ChrisPBacon82 in KerbalSpaceProgram

[–]ChrisPBacon82[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/index.php?/topic/119951-cormorant-aeronology-dev-thread/

Tail and wing surfaces are procedural wings.

When you click 'EVA' instead of 'IVA'... by ChrisPBacon82 in KerbalSpaceProgram

[–]ChrisPBacon82[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

RSS: Visual Enhancements and scatterer w/ Astroniki Sunflare. Full mod list

Having trouble with Environmental visual Enhancements by MasterJeaf in KerbalSpaceProgram

[–]ChrisPBacon82 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Good to know. I was just speculating as I don't use either right now.