Space Shuttle Ultra development thread

[DaveS]

DaveS: I have a preliminary version of the OWP animations checked in. CTRL+X and CTRL+Y trigger the animations. For the moment, the animations are sped up, to make testing easier. The positioning also needs to be tweaked, but I'd prefer to do that once the RSS position problems are fixed.

I think I have nailed down the pos problem.

I have now tried the RSS and have made the following notes:
-So far only the lower +Y OWP on the RSS is animated. Is the upper +Y OWP on the RSS going to be animated soon?
-The FSS OWP needs the bracket on the north side of the FSS animated along with it. Two examples:
http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/7590/hidetailfss2bvh4.gif
http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/5562/fssowpextendedqr8.jpg

The meshgroup LABEL for that one is FSS_WPS_Z_bracket.
Also another thing that needs animation is the RSS PCR "garage door". That one covers the nose of the orbiter and is located in that large box that sits on top of the RSS. That one rolls up for that one we need a SCALE animation.


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Checked in the fixed RSS along with a new meshres_RSS.h file.

 

[SiameseCat]

The new RSS looks good. I'll fix the OWP animations and add the retract animation.
I didn't know about the upper +Y OWP. Do you have any piucture of it?

 

[DaveS]

The new RSS looks good. I'll fix the OWP animations and add the retract animation.
I didn't know about the upper +Y OWP. Do you have any piucture of it?

The +Y OWP rotates so it covers the section of the starboard wing that large panel below it doesn't cover. It rotates 33°s in about 2 minutes.

I have also attached a photo of the PCR "garage door". It's the section outlined in red.

Edit:
I have also been thinking a bit of how to handle the animations. And my best conclusion for ease and user-friendliness would be to do away with the key presses and go for a custom dialog like the Shuttle one.

I'm basically thinking very basic here, with two buttons for each element, open/close.

 

[DaveS]

Just to let you know. I'm working on yet another major revision to the RSS, this one alot better and accurate. This one will also include the so called "triple flips" that cover the -Y(port side) of the orbiter. One of the "triple flips" can be seen attached to the OMBUU.

Once the RSS is done, I'll make final fixes and additions to the new FSS and make sure they're lined up correctly.

Then I really think we need a GLS, my earlier sound pack offer still stands.

 

[DaveS]

A sneak peak of the new RSS:

 

[SiameseCat]

How long should the RSS retaction take? Also, how much (in degrees) does the RSS rotate?

 

[DaveS]

How long should the RSS retaction take? Also, how much (in degrees) does the RSS rotate?

RSS Rotation usually takes about 30-45 minutes to complete.
They usually go slow and easy while the PCR is still near the orbiter and make frequent stops to check the alignment. Once the PCR is clear of the orbiter, they crank the RSS into high-gear and it really begins to move fast.

Rotation angle is 120°s.


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The "triple flips" have now been completed and I am now putting finishing touches on the RSS and closing out various areas. Should have things ready later today.


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Some animation notes:
The upper "triple flip" rotates 90°s. The lower "triple flip" rotates 108°s.


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The new RSS is now all done. Will do a few quick tests in Orbiter before moving on to the FSS.

 

[Urwumpe]

Would it make sense to make the RSS camera positions follow the retraction process?

 

[DaveS]

Almost done with the new FSS, right now tweaking the inner FSS OWP panel.


-----Post Added-----


And it's done! Both the new RSS and FSS meshes have been checked in.

 

[SiameseCat]

RSS Rotation usually takes about 30-45 minutes to complete.
They usually go slow and easy while the PCR is still near the orbiter and make frequent stops to check the alignment. Once the PCR is clear of the orbiter, they crank the RSS into high-gear and it really begins to move fast.

Rotation angle is 120°s.


-----Post Added-----


The "triple flips" have now been completed and I am now putting finishing touches on the RSS and closing out various areas. Should have things ready later today.


-----Post Added-----


Some animation notes:
The upper "triple flip" rotates 90°s. The lower "triple flip" rotates 108°s.


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The new RSS is now all done. Will do a few quick tests in Orbiter before moving on to the FSS.

For the moment, I'll have the RSS retract in 25 minutes, assuming no stops. The RSS will retract at a constant rate. The dialog can be used to stop/restart the sequence.

 

[DaveS]

For the moment, I'll have the RSS retract in 25 minutes, assuming no stops. The RSS will retract at a constant rate. The dialog can be used to stop/restart the sequence.

OK, good. The rest will also go into the dialog?

 

[Donamy]

finishing up on the CCTVs

 

[gawinnard]

Nice work Dave, Don and all I'll be compiling tonight/tomorrow for testing The middeck I've started to texture the walls of the Middeck, should be viewable in the next few days.

 

[Urwumpe]

finishing up on the CCTVs

Nice

Now we just need a system to render the camera views. :speakcool:

 

[Donamy]

Checked in new VC.msh with added CCTVs and updated cockpit mesh. I beleive all the parts are there for it to be able to be coded. Also has an alpha map to displat an overlay grid on the screen. Also checked in 4 new textures for them.

 

[SiameseCat]

I've checked in the RSS retract animation and a fixed FSS OWP animation.

 

[DaveS]

I've checked in the RSS retract animation and a fixed FSS OWP animation.

OK, noted problems with both. The RSS animation needs to moved so that it rotates around the FSS/RSS Hinge Bridge. The very center of the RSS pivot point is in the center of the FSS/RSS Hinge Bridge. Currently it becomes decoupled from it when the RSS is moved to the PARK position.

FSS OWP:
Strut animation needs to be tweaked. Currently it becomes decoupled from the rest of the OWP panels. See these photos from STS-121:

http://shuttle.msfc.nasa.gov/photo/...ode=viewpicture&picture=121+On+The+Pad+37.jpg

http://shuttle.msfc.nasa.gov/photo/...ode=viewpicture&picture=121+On+The+Pad+61.JPG

http://shuttle.msfc.nasa.gov/photo/...ode=viewpicture&picture=121+On+The+Pad+43.jpg


-----Post Added-----


Checked in fixed RSS animation rotation point. Also fixed OAA animation. For some reason it had become inverted so it rotated the wrong way.

FSS strut animation still needs fixing though. It's way out of my league as I don't understand the code.


-----Post Added-----


OK, checked in a few things:
New FSS mesh with fixed vertical position of the GOX Vent Arm and the Intertank Access Arm. The IAA is extended shortly after harddown of the stack at the pad to provide access to the Intertank door and GH2 vent on the ET. It is retracted at about L-3 days.

Also added saving/loading of the RSS retract animation. Also made ET-129 the new default ET as ET-125 had some sizing issues I never was able to resolve.

 

[SiameseCat]

For me, the FSS strut animation works as long as the scenario starts with the OWP in the retracted position. The only problem is that the strut animation is not always set correctly when the scenario starts.

 

[DaveS]

For me, the FSS strut animation works as long as the scenario starts with the OWP in the retracted position. The only problem is that the strut animation is not always set correctly when the scenario starts.

It works but it becomes decoupled from the parts that wing out from the FSS. Attached a screenshot. See those cylinders on the strut that I have encircled? Those are supposed to be attached to the upper and lower bars of the OWP at all times.

Currently they're, as the screenshot shows, become detached from those bars.

And is the "triple flips", the upper RSS OWP panel and RSS "garage door" coming next? Then maybe you could add the RSS Rotation sound i have provided? Moving the RSS is anything but a quiet operation.

I don't which one sound the worst, the RSS propel motors or the Crawler propel motors. They're quite similar actually.

 

[Arrowstar]

Nice

Now we just need a system to render the camera views. :speakcool:

Perhaps CameraMFD by computerex (?) would be useful?