Vessel Commerical LEO destinations and other space stations

[francisdrake]

Question:
Would it be possible to write a module, which defines one more Navmode, which I would call 'Zenith'?
The Y-axis faces away from the orbited planet.
It would be like the Horizontal Level navmode, but with the nose direction controlled in flight direction.
It could be activated by CTRL - [

This would ease to hold an attitude with the solar panels spread out horizontally.
In the screenshot I work around this, by turning the whole mesh by 90° and running Prograde.

But to align the docking port correctly, the port is turned by 90°. This makes docking approaches a little awkward, because in the Docking MFD up becomes left, right becomes down, etc.

 

[Urwumpe]

Question:
Would it be possible to write a module, which defines one more Navmode, which I would call 'Zenith'?

Yes, of course, but it likely exists parallel to orbiters default modes.

You could of course also use a MFD for that, which would have the advantage, that its easier reused in other vessels.

Take also a look at this one:

https://www.orbiter-forum.com/resources/universal-pointing-mfdv2.35/

 

[francisdrake]

VAST Station Version 02
This now a dll-version, supporting key commands and a very basic station interior.
Found out that the forward and backward thrusters must be angled outwards. Otherwise the RCS-axis Up-Down would be missing.

Note that 'forward' is towards the docking port. The main thrusters act backwards, like they do on the Dragon capsule.
To raise orbit, the vessel must be oriented retrograde before firing.

Keys
[E] Toggle camera view between forward and backward looking.
[C] Show the Crew
[S ] Extend / retract the solar panels (just a status change)
[F8] Show / hide the virtual cockpit.

 

[MarkWatney2015]

NanoRacks partnered with Airbus and then redesigned their Starlab space station as a result (complete with new interiors)

 

[gattispilot]

@francisdrake and myself have been working on a new Orbital Reef. It is just 1 mesh for the whole setup.

Here it is:
https://www.orbiter-forum.com/resources/orbital-reef-2030.5548/

 

[gattispilot]

I tried the VAST orbiting scn and no VAST is show in d3d9
the log shows this:
============================ ERROR: ===========================
Could not load vessel module: VAST
[Vessel::LoadModule | .\Vessel.cpp | 5747]
===============================================================

 

[francisdrake]

Could not load vessel module: VAST

Oops, the 'Module' folder was missing in the zip-file.
----
Edit: Added the Modules folder to the zip file above. Version is now VAST-02a.
This should run now.

 

[francisdrake]

House warming party at the Orbital Reef
Thanks for building such a nice place to visit!

 

[MarkWatney2015]

Some renders of the Axiom Orbital Segment included an inflatable module called the SEE-1 (Space Entertainment Enterprises) attached to the starboard side of AxHab-1


This is where Tom Cruise and Doug Liman will shoot their planned space film once they fly to the ISS. Launch was targeted sometime after AxHab-1 arrived (2025-2026)

 

[gattispilot]

Here is the link for the Orbiter Reef:https://www.orbiter-forum.com/resources/orbital-reef-2030.5548/

 

[MarkWatney2015]

New footage, hardware and concept art for the upcoming Axiom Station

 

[barrygolden]

Is there a launch scenario or is someone working on one for the Axiom station

 

[MarkWatney2015]

There's this one by francisdrake, though it isn't possible to have launch scenarios for each modules yet

 

[barrygolden]

thanks I'll give it a try

 

[MarkWatney2015]

Sierra Space released these new renders of their LIFE modules that will form part of Orbital Reef on their Instagram account

 

[gattispilot]

I might make those

 

[gattispilot]

The default Orbital Reef. I guess you could dock these with the default. Make it UACS so you could add crew,......
On LIFE 1 if says 6 meter Length and 9 meters diameter. I assume that is the living space and not the tube on the center. I guess the fairing size is for the lauch?

 

[MarkWatney2015]

Yes it's the living space being measured by the renders, as not even Starship is big enough for launching spacecraft wider than 9 m

 

[francisdrake]

I think, the smallest Life module is designed to be launched with a current launcher. Assuming the "5 m fairing"- size would fit into Ø 4.6 m Falcon9 or a Ø 4.8 m VulcanCentaur fairing. The bigger modules are probably intended for future launchers.

You could consider a separate version of the station, like OrbitalReef2035 or 2040, with a longer keel and some of these modules added to it.

 

[MarkWatney2015]

Tbf, most of the larger LIFE modules would likely be launched on the New Glenn rocket, taking advantage of a similar size planned for Orbital Reef's core modules