Problem SSV 1.9 RMS fails to grapple HST_EX

[Aztronut66]

Hi folks. Thank you for all of your amazing work on these add-ons!

I am having trouble getting the SSV RMS end effector to grapple Hubble in the payload bay. The alignment of the end effector with the grapple pin looks good. I have tried varying the distance to the pin/pin plate but still no joy. The 3 lower talkbacks for the end effector are all gray before attempting the grapple (Auto/Ctrl-Backspace), but the "capture" talkback remains bp'd after attempting to grapple (Auto/Ctrl-Enter). I don't have any problem grappling the PFTA when running the "Payload Latch Test" scenario for SSV v_1.9. Any thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Not until the empirical resources have been exhausted need we pass on to the dreamy realms of speculation-Edwin Hubble

 

[Aztronut66]

I forgot to include the end effector camera view.

 

[GLS]

Hi!

From the SSV manual:


Either the attachment ID is different, or the attachment geometry is different.
It should be possible to add a new attachment so the RMS can attach to it.

 

[Aztronut66]

Hi!

From the SSV manual:
View attachment 42549

Either the attachment ID is different, or the attachment geometry is different.
It should be possible to add a new attachment so the RMS can attach to it.

Thank you for your response GLS. I do remember seeing that in the manual but I am unsure about the axis and grapple fixture plate numbers in the config file. Here is the config file for the HST_EX vessel. It appears as though I am trying to grapple one of the two (0.85 or -0.85), as the grapple fixtures on the HST are in line with each other and are on opposing sides of the vessel. Thanks again.

 

[Aztronut66]

For some reason I am unable to edit my posts. Can I just rename the "GS" ID to "GF"?

 

[GLS]

For some reason I am unable to edit my posts. Can I just rename the "GS" ID to "GF"?

Yes, you can change the IDs, but adding new attachments with "GF" would leave the original ones intact.

 

[Aztronut66]

Yes, you can change the IDs, but adding new attachments with "GF" would leave the original ones intact.

Disregard that last config file. I posted the default HST by mistake Here is the only two config files that came with the add-on that look like grapple fixtures. I will try to add new attachment points with the "GF" ID. I'm sure I will screw it up though lol.

 

[GLS]

Disregard that last config file. I posted the default HST by mistake Here is the only two config files that came with the add-on that look like grapple fixtures. I will try to add new attachment points with the "GF" ID. I'm sure I will screw it up though lol.

Those don't seem to be the main HST attachments....

 

[Aztronut66]

Yeah, I suspected as much. I went through the original add-on download https://www.orbiter-forum.com/resources/hst-ex-for-orbiter2016.1350/ by Brian J and can't find a config file listing the attachment points for the HST. I tried the scenarios that came with the add-on and was able to grapple the telescope with the 2016 default Atlantis RMS. Here is the only config file I see that references the HST_EX. Perhaps I just need to add them to the config file myself. Thanks so much for your help.

 

[Aztronut66]

I don't know why I can't seem to edit my posts. I hate to keep taking up space like this. I forgot to mention that when I used the default Atlantis to grapple the HST, I checked the box to show grapple points and the 2 grapple fixtures had 2 red arrows pointing at them. The attachments must be defined somewhere.

 

[DaveS]

The attachments must be defined somewhere.

Yes, they're in actual HST EX code, not in the config file. You could could try adding new ones in the config file to see if they override the hard coded ones in the HST EX module.

 

[Aztronut66]

Hi Dave. Thanks for that info! I opened the hst_ex.cpp with code blocks and found these two lines:
grap1_attach = CreateAttachment (true, _V(-1.034, -1.4124, 0.99), _V(0,-1,0), _V(0,0,-1), "GS");
grap2_attach = CreateAttachment (true, _V( 1.034, -1.4124, 0.99), _V(0,-1,0), _V(0,0,-1), "GS");

Can I just add those two lines again beneath them and change the ID's from "GS" to "GF?" Then just re-compile?

 

[Aztronut66]

Success! Thank you guys for your help.

Solution:

I opened the hst_ex.cpp and transferred the attachment coordinates
grap1_attach = CreateAttachment (true, _V(-1.034, -1.4124, 0.99), _V(0,-1,0), _V(0,0,-1), "GS");
grap2_attach = CreateAttachment (true, _V( 1.034, -1.4124, 0.99), _V(0,-1,0), _V(0,0,-1), "GS");

to the hst_ex.cfg file which originally looked like this:

; === Configuration file for HST_EX ===
ClassName = hst_ex
Module = HST_EX/hst_ex
ImageBmp = Images\Vessels\Default\HST.bmp

to look like this with the addition of adding the "GF" ID's:

; === Configuration file for HST_EX ===
ClassName = hst_ex
Module = HST_EX/hst_ex
ImageBmp = Images\Vessels\Default\HST.bmp

; === Attachment specs ===
BEGIN_ATTACHMENT
P -1.034 -1.4124 0.99 0 -1 0 0 0 -1 GF
P 1.034 -1.4124 0.99 0 -1 0 0 0 -1 GF
END_ATTACHMENT

DaveS was correct with the override option.

I am now able to grapple the HST_EX in all situations using the SSV RMS. Thanks again guys!

 

[Aztronut66]

One more thing worth mentioning. I had to change the last number in each attachment definition from -1 to 1. The issue was that after grappling Hubble with the RMS, and after the payload bay latches were retracted, the telescope rotated 180 degrees when it attached to the RMS. Just edit the hst_ex.cfg file to look like this:
; === Configuration file for HST_EX ===
ClassName = hst_ex
Module = HST_EX/hst_ex
ImageBmp = Images\Vessels\Default\HST.bmp

; === Attachment specs ===
BEGIN_ATTACHMENT
P 0 0 -5.683 0 0 -1 1 0 0 XS
P 1.034 -1.4124 0.99 0 -1 0 0 0 1 GF
P -1.034 -1.4124 0.99 0 -1 0 0 0 1 GF
END_ATTACHMENT