OFSS III Project info and discussion.

[Mojave]

Hey guys,

I'm ready for my mission I think. What version of Orbiter are we using again, and what add ons do I need? I have mission 011.

 

[diogom]

Hey guys,

I'm ready for my mission I think. What version of Orbiter are we using again, and what add ons do I need? I have mission 011.

We're using 2010P1. For the required addons, read the manual, that comes in the flight packages Tex uploads in OHM.

 

[Mojave]

Thanks, when can I expect the package?

 

[diogom]

Thanks, when can I expect the package?

Flight Package #4 is already up on OHM, with the 4th mission, and updated documentation for it. :thumbup:

 

[ky]

It's already on OHM and is updated for each mission-[ame="http://orbithangar.com/searchid.php?ID=5369"]OFSS III - Flight Package[/ame]

---------- Post added at 10:34 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:33 AM ----------

Oh Diogom beat me to it wned:

 

[Wood]

I'm about to make my first attempt of my mission and the order of docking is greatly confusing. I have to undock the Soyuz, grab it with the arm, then fly Zarya to dock with Zvezda, then fly the Core (which, um, doesn't have any thrusters, so...) and dock to Zarya again, then re-dock the Soyuz. This seems needlessly complicated, or is there some docking bug that I'm not aware of? Because docking Zvezda straight to Zarya would seem to be a lot more logical to me...

 

[diogom]

I'm about to make my first attempt of my mission and the order of docking is greatly confusing. I have to undock the Soyuz, grab it with the arm, then fly Zarya to dock with Zvezda, then fly the Core (which, um, doesn't have any thrusters, so...) and dock to Zarya again, then re-dock the Soyuz. This seems needlessly complicated, or is there some docking bug that I'm not aware of? Because docking Zvezda straight to Zarya would seem to be a lot more logical to me...

It does seem complicated, but Zvezda doesn't have any translation thrusters, so the active vessel has to be Zarya. And dragging the core and the Soyuz with it woudn't be very nice. At least I think this is why Tex did it that way.

 

[PhantomCruiser]

I just gave it a run-through, it's kinda tough... The core module has been outfitted with rcs/translation thrusters, be warned, it's got more power than you might think...

 

[Wood]

The launch went well, gave me a 0.01RInc which was nice. I'm about 4 orbits away from meeting up with the rest of the station and I'll attempt the docking tomorrow. If I was one of those foolish chaps on board I would not be looking forward to it, but I'm not, so what's the worst that can happen? (Horrible, horrible death, clearly). :thumbup:

Ps. I miss translation thrusters.

 

[Tex]

Ps. I miss translation thrusters.

...and that is what makes this flight so hard really. This is why you have to dock Zarya to it, then dock Core back to Zarya.

The RCS on OFSS-Core is pretty powerful, but you'll need them as the mass increases. Feel free to edit your own Neesys config file to your liking if you prefer lower attitude thrust. Note the config changed in this flight scenario to 'Neesys2'.

I gave it ample power so it can use the auto-pilot's efficiently. :thumbup:


PS: If you thought this was a tough flight, wait until #12 when you get to move all that stuff again! :rofl:

 

[Tex]

I tested the Core module alone with less attitude thrust in the config file, if you would like to try this:

Config/Vessels/Neesys2.cfg
(Or download the config file attached to this post.)

Isp = 200000      ; fuel specific impulse [m/s]
MaxAttitudeThrust = 70000

It might make it easier for you?

 

[jangofett287]

Wait, #12, that's me isn't it... damn.:lol:

 

[Wood]

Good news: Zvezda is now docked to Zarya! Having the docking camera backwards and rotated 45 degrees certainly made things interesting.

Bad news: The Core module, along with the Soyuz containing our three gallant space-people, sort of drifted away while I was pre-occupied with the docking. Um, I'm sure they'll be fine. I'll finish up the mission tomorrow.

 

[Tex]

How long did it take you to dock? I was able to get it all done before sunset when starting at sunrise, so 45 min I guess? That was everything docked.

Hint: Switch between vessels during the docking procedures to keep everything close and ready for docking. I switched back to Core and nudged it in the right direction while Zarya and Zvezda were closing on each other. Multi-tasking ftw.

 

[Wood]

OFSS-III Flight 4 Complete!

Launch was on the 6th of October, docking was on the 15th. I played it safe to conserve fuel, but made it with plenty to spare. Found out that loading a save with a Soyuz grappled by the robotic arm caused the Soyuz to shoot out of the solar system at around 1000 AU per second, though the crew were not pleased by this discovery. I just docked it with the scenario editor instead. And the Core only drifted a few km away, so docking that went well. The station is now in a 239.5km by 227.2km orbit at 51.65 degrees inclination. :thumbup:

 

[Tex]

Thanks Wood, well done! Just in time for the next launch date too.

EDIT - Sorry I forgot to mention the fact that loading a saved scenario when something is grappled with URMS will cause an immediate solar system eject so fast that your crew was liquified. :lol: Simply un-grapple, save, then when you reload the scenario you can re-grapple very quickly. I'll add this bit of info to the problems section of the doc before the next package is released.

 

[Kyle]

Heya guys, just wanted to tag in for a sec. Tex has been doing a real fine job, I've been flying each scenario so far and they're very easy to follow.

 

[Chub777]

Just wondering, what's the "SpaceLabDM" that I'll be carrying on flight 23?

 

[Tex]

Heya guys, just wanted to tag in for a sec. Tex has been doing a real fine job, I've been flying each scenario so far and they're very easy to follow.

Thanks Kyle. The hardest of the flights is over now except for #12. Any progress on the MPLM flights? Still no rush, we have 6 more flights to go until the first MPLM.

Just wondering, what's the "SpaceLabDM" that I'll be carrying on flight 23?

I'm not actually sure myself, I've never used it. Kyle is prepping that flight, so he'll have all the details as soon as he finishes preparing it.

 

[jangofett287]

The hardest of the flights is over now except for #12.

Thanks for that snippet of info. My flight is shaping up to be very "Interesting"...