Project Starship Mk.1

OH still isn't working, so you'll have to upload here maybe?
 
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsul-GE4XiA"]httpsE4XiA://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsul-G[/ame]

Cheer up, and go ahead with your project
 
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working on one myself. Heres my hopper
uDc3ONJ.jpg
 
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perseus said:
Cheer up, and go ahead with your project
Click to expand...
Many thanks! I'm full of cheer and storming ahead :thumbup:
That video reminded me they probably aren't going to be using much RCS (according to Elon) on the initial Mk.1 trials. I'm not happy with my RCS solution anyway, will probably change in future, but it works for now.

RacerX said:
working on one myself. Heres my hopper
Click to expand...
Brilliant! I wanted to play with one of those, but figured I didn't have the time to make it. You have it working in Orbiter? Really nice looking mesh, you have a Starship of similar standard??

I've added an attitude controller and one basic function - go to anti-groundspeed vector (useful for landing, throttle is still manual). A few more things to check (not sure the gimballed main engines are going to be compatible with IMFD, etc.) and I'll upload a "Beta" version somewhere.


Cheers,
Brian

wip_skydive.jpg
 
Beta test .zip

OK, here's a beta test pack for anyone that's interested....
Unzip into Orbiter folder as usual, docs and test scenarios in their respective folders.

I've added a "Reentry Mode" with aerofoils folded back and stable at 60deg AoA, and some alternative cockpit views so I can see the HUD airspeed indicator while landing etc.

Still a lot of work to do with this. Do let me know if you have any bug reports, suggestions, etc.

I haven't managed to land on target yet.

View attachment starship_mk1_beta_191014.zip
 
I haven't tried to land in a specific spot per say, but I've managed to get the thing on the ground upright at a relatively gentle velocity. Cant seem to get the flip maneuver at ALL, I pitch down a bit to cancel any backwards velocity at a low altitude, then go vertical with rcs, and apply thrust to a touchdown. This obviously isn't the engine gimbal to flip the ship against the velocity vector that we've seen in the video. Cant wait for the real Mk1 flight data!
 
Does it work for everyone? I get crashes when start a Starship scenario or add Starship in scenario editor, with the default graphics client or D3D9ClientR3.10. All other modules are disabled. Orbiter.log doesn't have error messages.
 
NextBigLeap said:
I haven't tried to land in a specific spot per say, but I've managed to get the thing on the ground upright at a relatively gentle velocity. Cant seem to get the flip maneuver at ALL, I pitch down a bit to cancel any backwards velocity at a low altitude, then go vertical with rcs, and apply thrust to a touchdown. This obviously isn't the engine gimbal to flip the ship against the velocity vector that we've seen in the video. Cant wait for the real Mk1 flight data!
Click to expand...
Hi,
I manage to get it down safely about 10% of the time, best I've done is about 2km from target (more by luck, I think). I usually try to level out at about 3km alt., then hit the "retro attitude" button, then immediately engage main engines at about 50% and give it a few bursts at full throttle if it's coming down too quick.


vchamp said:
Does it work for everyone? I get crashes when start a Starship scenario or add Starship in scenario editor, with the default graphics client or D3D9ClientR3.10. All other modules are disabled. Orbiter.log doesn't have error messages.
Click to expand...
You might post your orbiter.log anyway, it might have some clues. Works for me anyway (obviously).


I'm just wondering if the "default" position for the wings/canards is actually folded back, and steering is done by opening them out - I'm doing it the other way around at the moment. Might give it a try and see if it makes life easier.



Cheers,
Brian
 
This is the log with only Orbiter base package and Starship Mk1 installed. When I start another scenario without a crash then the log seems to be the same.
Code: 
**** Orbiter.log
000000.000: Build Aug 28 2016 [v.160828]
000000.000: Timer precision: 3.20724e-007 sec
000000.000: Found 0 joystick(s)
000000.000: Devices enumerated: 6
000000.000: Devices accepted: 5
000000.000: [ ] RGB Emulation (SW)
000000.000: [ ] Direct3D HAL (HW)
000000.000: [x] Direct3D T&L HAL (HW)
000000.000: [ ] Direct3D HAL (Intel(R) HD Graphics 4600) (HW)
000000.000: [x] Direct3D T&L HAL (Intel(R) HD Graphics 4600) (HW)
000000.000: Module AtlantisConfig.dll .... [Build 160828, API 160828]
000000.000: Module AtmConfig.dll ......... [Build 160828, API 160828]
000000.000: Module DGConfigurator.dll .... [Build 160828, API 160828]
000000.000: Module ScnEditor.dll ......... [Build 160828, API 160828]
000000.000: 
000000.000: **** Creating simulation session
000000.000: DirectDraw interface OK
000000.000: Direct3D interface OK
000000.000: Graphics: Viewport: Window 694 x 365 x 32
000000.000: Graphics: Hardware T&L capability: Yes
000000.000: Graphics: Z-buffer depth: 32 bit
000000.000: Graphics: Active lights supported: 8
000000.000: Loading 15382 records from star database
000000.000: ---------------------------------------------------------------
000000.000: >>> ERROR: DDraw error DDERR_BLTFASTCANTCLIP
000000.000: >>> [OrbiterGraphics::clbkBlt | .\OGraphics.cpp | 1633]
000000.000: ---------------------------------------------------------------
000000.000: Module Sun.dll ............... [Build 160828, API 160828]
VSOP87(E) Sun: Precision 1e-006, Terms 554/6634
000000.000: Module Mercury.dll ........... [Build 160828, API 160828]
VSOP87(B) Mercury: Precision 1e-005, Terms 167/7123
000000.000: Module Venus.dll ............. [Build 160828, API 160828]
000000.000: Module VenusAtm2006.dll ...... [Build 160828, API 160828]
VSOP87(B) Venus: Precision 1e-005, Terms 79/1710
000000.000: Module Earth.dll ............. [Build 160828, API 160828]
000000.000: Module EarthAtmJ71G.dll ...... [Build 160828, API 160828]
VSOP87(B) Earth: Precision 1e-008, Terms 2564/2564
000000.000: Module Moon.dll .............. [Build 160828, API 160828]
ELP82: Precision 1e-005, Terms 116/829
000000.000: Module Mars.dll .............. [Build 160828, API 160828]
000000.000: Module MarsAtm2006.dll ....... [Build 160828, API 160828]
VSOP87(B) Mars: Precision 1e-005, Terms 405/6400
000000.000: Module Phobos.dll ............ [Build ******, API 060425]
000000.000: Module Deimos.dll ............ [Build ******, API 060425]
000000.000: Module Galsat.dll ............ [Build 160828, API 160828]
000000.000: Module Jupiter.dll ........... [Build 160828, API 160828]
VSOP87(B) Jupiter: Precision 1e-006, Terms 1624/3625
000000.000: Module Io.dll ................ [Build 160828, API 160828]
000000.000: Module Europa.dll ............ [Build 160828, API 160828]
000000.000: Module Ganymede.dll .......... [Build 160828, API 160828]
000000.000: Module Callisto.dll .......... [Build 160828, API 160828]
000000.000: Module Satsat.dll ............ [Build 160828, API 160828]
000000.000: Module Saturn.dll ............ [Build 160828, API 160828]
VSOP87(B) Saturn: Precision 1e-006, Terms 2904/6365
000000.000: Module Mimas.dll ............. [Build 160828, API 160828]
SATSAT Mimas: Terms 113
000000.000: Module Enceladus.dll ......... [Build 160828, API 160828]
SATSAT Enceladus: Terms 33
000000.000: Module Tethys.dll ............ [Build 160828, API 160828]
SATSAT Tethys: Terms 101
000000.000: Module Dione.dll ............. [Build 160828, API 160828]
SATSAT Dione: Terms 59
000000.000: Module Rhea.dll .............. [Build 160828, API 160828]
SATSAT Rhea: Terms 68
000000.000: Module Titan.dll ............. [Build 160828, API 160828]
SATSAT Titan: Terms 100
000000.000: Module Iapetus.dll ........... [Build 160828, API 160828]
SATSAT Iapetus: Terms 605
000000.000: Module Uranus.dll ............ [Build 160828, API 160828]
VSOP87(B) Uranus: Precision 1e-006, Terms 1827/5269
000000.000: Module Miranda.dll ........... [Build ******, API 060425]
000000.000: Module Ariel.dll ............. [Build ******, API 060425]
000000.000: Module Umbriel.dll ........... [Build ******, API 060425]
000000.000: Module Titania.dll ........... [Build ******, API 060425]
000000.000: Module Oberon.dll ............ [Build ******, API 060425]
000000.000: Module Neptune.dll ........... [Build 160828, API 160828]
VSOP87(B) Neptune: Precision 1e-006, Terms 391/2024
000000.000: Finished initialising world
000000.000: Module starship_mk1.dll ...... [Build 191014, API 160828]
000000.000: Finished initialising status
000000.000: Finished initialising camera
000000.000: Finished setting up render state
000000.000: Finished initialising panels
 
Hi,
well, as you say, no real clues in the orbiter.log - although it looks like it is loading the starship_mk1.dll module OK.

It's possible it could be the mesh causing problems.

Attached is a .zip with a simple .cfg based Starship (doesn't use the .dll, just standard Orbiter .cfg and the mesh) and a test scenario with Starship in orbit.
Unzip into your orbiter folder, you'll find the "starship vchamp test" scenario in the main scenario folder.

View attachment starship_vchamp_test.zip

Give it a try - if it crashes, its the mesh causing problems.

Cheers,
Brian
 
Thanks, Brian. Tried it, no crash. So the mesh is ok.
Looks great BTW, very good model and textures.
 
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OK, not the mesh then.
It could be a "missing runtime .dll" like msvcrXX.dll or some other dependency - but if you can run any of my other add-ons, this one should be ok.
Not sure what the problem is - sorry! If it's working for other folks, it must be something specific to your set-up. I'll keep looking for possible causes!
Cheers,
Brian
 
>>> ERROR: DDraw error DDERR_BLTFASTCANTCLIP
000000.000: >>> [OrbiterGraphics::clbkBlt | .\OGraphics.cpp | 1633]
000000.000: ---------------------------------------------------------
Click to expand...

This line looks a little suspicious. Could you maybe try the other graphics card, e.g. the Intel onboard graphic chip? It might be related to texture copying within memory.
 
@vchamp
Had a quick look at the code, it could be that I'm trying to allocate exhaust textures to non-existent RCS thrusters (ooops!). Tolerable for some but not others??

Here is a new "starship_mk1.dll" module with problem fixed.
Unzip into Orbiter folder and overwrite old .dll module.
Any good?

View attachment starship_vchamp_new_dll.zip
 
francisdrake said:
This line looks a little suspicious. Could you maybe try the other graphics card, e.g. the Intel onboard graphic chip? It might be related to texture copying within memory.
Click to expand...
I always get that error with everything! Doesn't cause me any problems (that I noticed). I use my PC's onboard Intel chip graphics. If vchamp has an option to switch between graphics cards, might indeed be worth a try.
 
BrianJ said:
@vchamp
Had a quick look at the code, it could be that I'm trying to allocate exhaust textures to non-existent RCS thrusters (ooops!). Tolerable for some but not others??

Here is a new "starship_mk1.dll" module with problem fixed.
Unzip into Orbiter folder and overwrite old .dll module.
Any good?

View attachment 16837
Click to expand...
Awesome, that fixed the problem!
 
Finally got the chance to test-fly Brian's newest creation! :)

These skydiver-aerodynamics are _very_ unusual! I guess it will take some time to get the hang of it.

Two observations:
- The mass center looks to be quite aft of the geometric center, approximately at the wing roots. I would estimate, it should be a bit forward. This may be the reason why SpaceX relocated the big batteries to the nose, to use them as trim weights.

- The mass center and the center of aerodynamic pressure seem to be identical in all axes. This leads to the vessel flying aerodynamically stable in any attitude, nose high / nose low, even sideways. There is no righting moment (weather-vane effect).

This makes controlling easier, as there is no moment to fight against. If the mass center is moved forward, this should change automatically. The nose will then try to move in the direction of the flight vector, and the wings (fins, flaps, ...) will have to counteract this tendency. For example, to keep the nose high at 60° the canards must to be more open (spread-out) than the main wings, to balance the righting moment of the hull.

All-in-all a very interesting testbed for a total new way of aerodynamic reentry. And good-looking, as all addons by Brian. Thanks a lot!
 
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