a launcher for DGEx

[santy86]

Hi everyone, i have an idea of something that could be useful.

I experienced great difficulties in putting the DeltaGliderEx into low earth orbit
when launching horizontally with own DGEx engines. I saw the JupiterIII add-on by andyMc: [ame="http://www.orbithangar.com/searchid.php?ID=3191"]Jupiter III-X[/ame] and i realized that this would be a good vertical launcher for something like DeltaGliderEx. the JupiterIII is already fully working together with DGEx, but i need to create a mesh for an adapter/interstage between JupiterIII's second stage and DGEx. So i wanted to ask the diameter of Jupiter3 second stage and also of the back of DGEx. If someone can help i could make this easy modification to combine 2 different and very nice add-ons (easy launches for DGEx enthusiasts :lol: )

 

[Zatnikitelman]

You can find the various sizes and diamaters yourself by downloading AR81's Orbiter Mesh wizard and loading up the meshes and measuring using the built-in tools. You can even export directly to Anim8or from OMW to maybe build the adapter directly from Anim8or then delete the EX or Jupiter which just leaves the adapter.

 

[pattersoncr]

The DGex doesn't need any help getting to orbit. It just takes it a while. Here was my response several months ago on the M6 forum when someone asked about it:

For the last week or so, I've been building a station using the DGEX and I've gotten pretty good at getting to orbit. Once airborne, climb as fast as you can while keeping IAS above about 130m/s. I make heavy use of elevator trim and adjust for hands off flight. Once above 10km or so maintain 30m/s vert speed (again using trim). Above 30km, drop v/s to 20m/s. At some point, even with full up trim you will not maintain your climb rate without backpressure on the stick. At this point, I use the main engine gimbal controls to help keep the nose up. Slowly add upward pitch on the main engine gimbals. Soon even full up trim and full gimbal deflection will not maitain 20m/s. At this point, just let the ship fly itself up. Above 50km or so, vert speed will pick up quickly as the ship accelerates. at this point reverse the earlier process, remove gimbal deflection and then trim to reach and maintain 58-62km. Stay at this altitude until you reach you reach orbital velocity. Since I trim for hands off flight the whole way up, I usually use 3x or 4x time acceleration. One of the DGEX's little quirks is that you don't need to wait until the plane of your target's orbit passes overhead. As long as it's not too far off plane, just fly course 090 until you intersect your target plane then bank left or right and watch Rinc drop. All in all a very different approach to getting into orbit and a fun ship to fly.
Something else to note: above 62km or so, engine power on the DGEX drops dramaticaly (just like it says in the manual) I think most peoples' problem is that the let the ship get above this level before they've built up sufficient horizontal speed.

Try flying the DGex like this.
It claws it's way to orbit, you can't stand it on its tail and ride up on a pillar of fire.

 

[santy86]

Ok pattersoncr, i got your point, i know that you can reach LEO with DeltaGliderEx but bringing it to orbit with a launcher leaves you more possibilities (even going for a Moon orbit). So i guess i am going to make that adapter in order to allow more manouvers in space

 

[Whatu]

What im doing lately is trying to launch the DGex in a Energia launcher.

You set up your desired inclination in the autopilot, and start it.
When Boosters are almost empty, switch to manual control and pitch down to maintain 60-70 kilometers altitude and 0 V.acc. You have to constantly adjust pitch. When you feel like it (but before energia is empty) do a roll (like the space shuttle) so Energia is under DGex. When Energia consumes all its fuel you should be travelling at 5-6 km/s. Then you just continue with the usual procedure.

 

[tgep]

Have you thought about using the Pylon mounts ? They're aerodynamic and can be made part of the launch booster mesh by adding the group\s from the Pylon to your booster mesh.

 

[Hartmann]

What im doing lately is trying to launch the DGex in a Energia launcher.

You set up your desired inclination in the autopilot, and start it.
When Boosters are almost empty, switch to manual control and pitch down to maintain 60-70 kilometers altitude and 0 V.acc. You have to constantly adjust pitch. When you feel like it (but before energia is empty) do a roll (like the space shuttle) so Energia is under DGex. When Energia consumes all its fuel you should be travelling at 5-6 km/s. Then you just continue with the usual procedure.

I use the same method ,and works well, it save a lot of fuel and time and is a lot easier arrive to orbit. :speakcool:

 

[santy86]

dammit i don't know if it actually can be done with multistage, because when passing from 1st to 2nd stage the CG shift moves the attached vessel some meters ahead of he launcher. If i put it as a payload of the multistage instead, i will have a completely empy fuel tank when the vessel is released from the rest of multistage. if someone has an idea or had the same problem and found a solution please help me

 

[santy86]

I found a solution for that problem . I will code the adapter as a vessel which uses the mesh of DGEx on top of the adapter itself. This adapter vessel will be placed on top of JupiterIII as a payload described in Multistage.

 

[santy86]

So i uploaded the modified launcher with adapter and DGEx on orbithangar. Now it must be approved by the staff

 

[C3PO]

Huh! I was under the impression that DGEx IS a launcher.

 

[Whatu]

Huh! I was under the impression that DGEx IS a launcher.

A very slow one...

 

[astrosammy]

Just flew DG-EX on JupiterIIIX the first time and recorded it.

 

[Urwumpe]

A very slow one...

Also a very effective one. You will rarely fly so comfortable into space.

 

[astrosammy]

Even very slow with JupiterIIIX. 15 minutes for a 90x250km Orbit.

 

[Urwumpe]

Even very slow with JupiterIIIX. 15 minutes for a 90x250km Orbit.

Very slow? We are talking about a spaceflight simulator, not Star Wars!

The DG-Ex needs roughly the same time into Orbit, the Shuttle needs for landing.

 

[santy86]

It is slow compared to a space shuttle while ascending, but it's more than twice the weight and the second stage engine of JupiterIII providea quite small accelleration. It is slow but it arrives to orbit fully fuelled.

 

[SlyCoopersButt]

I just tried out DG-EX for the first time last night. I was surprised how challenging it was to fly. Much more realistic for sure. Really a cool ship.

 

[n0mad23]

santy86,

While none of the DG's actually need assistance to achieve orbit, I'm with you on this one. It's even more fun to take it to orbit as a multistage. It's a little like doing the Shuttle without the Shuttle!

JoshB did something similar for the XR1, titled, "XR1 with SRB Booster V1.0." The SRB is REALLY underrated, and it's a blast taking the XR1 to orbit this way. It's available at [ame="http://www.orbithangar.com/searchid.php?ID=2812"]DeltaGlider XR1 with SRB Booster v1.0[/ame]