OHM Falcon9 for Orbiter2016

[4throck]

Great work. I like the on screen commands, it's a simple and effective interface.

 

[BrianJ]

Great work. I like the on screen commands, it's a simple and effective interface.

Thanks. The Control Panel is a bit primitive, but its the best I can do - and better than trying to cram everything on the HUD.

Cheers,
Brian

 

[4throck]

The panel is OK and does it's job!

But I was talking about the HUD keys, those are great and really handy.
Feels like you are flight director and flowing the launch using an on-board camera.

 

[Marijn]

Hi Brian,
During the weekend, I did many test-launches with the FH. I made a small 2K payload cfg file to represent the Roadster. I noticed that the total mass of the satellite is always 2000kg extra on top of the amount in the cfg file. So I put it to 0KG to end up with 2000KG. Can you explain why this is?

And regarding EDL ONLY landings: Am I right that I need to position the ASDS using the scenario editor to position it at the estimated location as indicated on the launch panel? I haven't been able to do succesful EDL ONLY landing, even when ending up quite close to the ASDS.

I noticed a few minor things which might require your attention:

-The shadows of the cores during landing are not visible when the pass over the landing pad and/or ASDS. They seem to go under.
-When looking back using the E key on the 2nd stage, exhaust flames are not visible. They are visible from the external view.

 

[BrianJ]

The panel is OK and does it's job!

But I was talking about the HUD keys, those are great and really handy.
Feels like you are flight director and flowing the launch using an on-board camera.

Ah, right! Yes, I figured there was still a use for HUD info and some shortcut commands.

I noticed that the total mass of the satellite is always 2000kg extra on top of the amount in the cfg file. So I put it to 0KG to end up with 2000KG. Can you explain why this is?

At a guess, propellant mass of your payload. Falcon(9/Heavy) should add only the total mass of any attached payload.

And regarding EDL ONLY landings: Am I right that I need to position the ASDS using the scenario editor to position it at the estimated location as indicated on the launch panel? I haven't been able to do succesful EDL ONLY landing, even when ending up quite close to the ASDS.

Yes, but the estimated position is not entirely reliable - it's an approximate analytical function, to get a more accurate solution I think I'd need to do a numerical-step function to simulate the simulation before you launch! (another 6 months work probably).

EDL-Only flight profile is the the most difficult to get right, in terms of ASDS position and reentry/landing burn, for various reasons (high velocity, long range, shallow approach angle, restricted fuel reserve).

Having said that, I've launched a 2000kg sat on the FalconHeavy with the Centre booster set for EDL-Only to ASDS, Port/Starboard boosters Flyback-EDL to LZ's, -29deg inclination, 200km parking orbit, and it worked ok (although the MaxQ on the way down is quite nasty).

What were your launch parameters and ASDS pos?

-The shadows of the cores during landing are not visible when the pass over the landing pad and/or ASDS. They seem to go under.
-When looking back using the E key on the 2nd stage, exhaust flames are not visible. They are visible from the external view.

Not much I can do about that, just the way Orbiter rendering works. Vessels don't shadow other vessels. Engine exhaust is visible from cockpit sometimes - sometimes not.

Cheers,
Brian

 

[pappy2]

I'll try and do something for the next update. Looks like a new interstage section and landing gear in that pic.

Hello everyone,
concerning the body of the Falcon9 CRS-13 on the images have distinguished well the traces of soot from the previous flight (CRS-11).
The landing legs are new so white, and the vertical white "features" are actually the cleaning of the welds for safety inspections.















EDIT:
And now : Falcon9 SES-16 GovSat-1

 

[Marijn]

Hi Brian,
On my last flight all three cores landed using EDL ONLY. So the estimations are reliable it seems. I must have done something wrong the other time. Thanks for answering questions quickly.

 

[pappy2]

Hello Brian

After the success of SpaceX to recover the caps of the FalconX,
it will be necessary that you update your Addon !! :thumbup:




https://www.instagram.com/p/BfgRX-lgIt6/

Thanks again for your great work. :thumbup: :thumbup:

 

[BrianJ]

Yes. I think SpaceX are doing this just to keep me busy making Orbiter add-ons
A self-guided parafoil is quite an interesting problem, especially with wind effects.
Here's a .pdf about it....
https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/cgi/view....co.uk/&httpsredir=1&article=1629&context=etd

I edited the 1st stage mesh to use the "charred" texture (I'll make it configurable from the .cfg file in future). Looks alright....

Think I found a bug with the Lift-off timer too (T-00:00:60 ??) Need to check that.

Cheers,
BrianJ

 

[pappy2]

Yes. I think SpaceX are doing this just to keep me busy making Orbiter add-ons
...
BrianJ

I'm sure of it too ...:

 

[Marijn]

Think I found a bug with the Lift-off timer too (T-00:00:60 ??) Need to check that.

I was wondering about that timer. I didn't think it was a bug. There seems to be no second missing or counted twice.
It counts down like:
1:01
0:60
0:59

0:60 should be 1:00

 

[perseus]

Thanks for your work, BrianJ

 

[BrianJ]

SpaceX Fairing Recovery Vessel "MR STEVEN" is almost ready for deployment.
Just need some autonomously guided fairings for it to catch.

 

[IronRain]

SpaceX Fairing Recovery Vessel "MR STEVEN" is almost ready for deployment.
Just need some autonomously guided fairings for it to catch.
View attachment 15636

That's so cool.

 

[BrianJ]

A couple more development screenies.....

Falcon9 fairings complete with RCS, Parafoils and basic guidance, on their way down...


This one's in the net, 50% success rate so far...


Needs a bit more work on the parafoil final approach, and I'm way off estimating the FRV(Fairing Recovery Vessel) position but I might put a version up on OH soon

Cheers,
Brian

 

[Donamy]

A couple more development screenies.....

Falcon9 fairings complete with RCS, Parafoils and basic guidance, on their way down...
View attachment 15679

This one's in the net, 50% success rate so far...
View attachment 15680

Needs a bit more work on the parafoil final approach, and I'm way off estimating the FRV(Fairing Recovery Vessel) position but I might put a version up on OH soon

Cheers,
Brian

Amazing work !!!

 

[Marijn]

Looking good.

The recent picture of the floating fairing really amazed me. It looks exactly like a ship. That makes me wonder: Couldn't they just add a system so it could sail home on the winds? Close the back side, raise a (carbon) peroscopic mast, drop a sail and have a simple GPS system sail it home? That would reduce launching costs. Most sailing ships aren't as expensive as a fairing..

 

[BrianJ]

Amazing work !!!

Thanks Don

Looking good.

The recent picture of the floating fairing really amazed me. It looks exactly like a ship. That makes me wonder: Couldn't they just add a system so it could sail home on the winds? Close the back side, raise a (carbon) peroscopic mast, drop a sail and have a simple GPS system sail it home? That would reduce launching costs. Most sailing ships aren't as expensive as a fairing..

Why not? Use the parafoil as the sail. Though I think the general consensus is: seawater is no good for rocket parts.

Anyway, I've had much fun making the Mr.Steven model and trying out some parafoil guidance algorithm ideas(you need a bit of data about wind at the landing target zone, otherwise it gets tough).

Latest version is up on Orbit-Hangar
Version 180321:
Added Recoverable Fairings and FRV(Fairing Recovery Vessel).
Added FRV to scenarios(where applicable).
Added Config file options for "Used" Booster Skin; Disable Fairing Recovery.
Fixed "Countdown Timer" bug.

Known bug: Estimated FRV Position value is not much good for anything except going to 200km parking orbit - needs more work.

After the 1st stage has landed, it's quite fun watching the fairings coming back to the FRV.

Cheers,
Brian

 

[vchamp]

Now we only need a recoverable second stage to get a fully reusable launcher even if only in Orbiter. It would be fun to assemble a new launcher from the used components in the same scenario.
Great work on fairing parafoils and FRV!

 

[jedidia]

removed due to deprecation