Project Fictional Space Shuttle Program

[skyballer455]

Hello all!

Recently I was contemplating about the Shuttle Fleet addon. I was thinking about the many possibilities it opens up. Then, a thought came to my mind...

What if the space shuttle program had started in 1978-1979 as originally planned?

I had also enjoyed the ISS addon by thorton, so this idea came to mind...

What if there was an addon which simulated a complete fictional space shuttle program beginning in 1978 and up to the present day, using all five real orbiters, and being as realistic as possible?

I thought it would be a great idea. It would be interesting to see just what the space shuttle would be able to carry out in an alternate reality.

However, I only have a basic knowledge of scenario editing. Therefore, I believe it would be a great idea to have this be a community effort. Many things will have to be made, i. e. meshes for payloads, shuttle paintjobs etc.

I hope there will be enough interest in this project. This could be the beginning of something great.

Thank you!

 

[Cras]

Sounds like you would get a kick out of David's SkylabFleet. You can fly Columbia up to Skylab like NASA had originally hoped.

The historical paint jobs are all there, not sure what you mean about many things having to be made. There is already a package for payloads that were to fly from VAFB that never flew, there are actual payload packaged, like the STS Payloads expansion pack.

 

[skyballer455]

The historical paint jobs are all there, not sure what you mean about many things having to be made. There is already a package for payloads that were to fly from VAFB that never flew, there are actual payload packaged, like the STS Payloads expansion pack.

What I meant by that was that since this will be a fictional program, custom payloads would be have to be made. Also, I would like to use all 5 orbiters throughout the entire program, so therefore Challenger and Columbia would need to get modern paint jobs for the present day missions.

I hope that cleared things up a bit.

 

[Cras]

Ah I get you.

Would be interesting that is for sure. I love using the shuttle so the more payloads, real or fictional, the better imo. Columbia did get a 'Modern' paint job, granted only flew with it twice before she was lost. Challenger didn't obvously, but to make one is not hard to do at all. That would be the easiest part of your proposal.

 

[skyballer455]

Challenger didn't obvously, but to make one is not hard to do at all. That would be the easiest part of your proposal.

Easiest part? How so? It has seemed like the hardest part from my point of view.

 

[Cras]

Make a new skin for Challenger? Having made my own skin for the Shuttle, I could come up with one in probably 2 minutes.

 

[skyballer455]

Having made my own skin for the Shuttle, I could come up with one in probably 2 minutes.

Whoa, so you weren't kidding about it being easy.

 

[Loru]

Custom payloads will take much more time - meshes, textures + coding make take a lot of time for each custom payload.

 

[Pipcard]

Blank shuttle texture right here:

 

[Cras]

jpg........

 

[skyballer455]

Hello all!

I have decided to provide more details on the specifics of the (possible) addon.

As with the ISS addon by thorton, each mission will be organized by year.

Also, each mission scenario will start out at launch. Then the user will be required to fly the mission according to specifics detailed in the corresponding .pdf file.

I hope to eventually include realistic mission patches as well.

Now to answer Loru....

Custom payloads will take much more time - meshes, textures + coding make take a lot of time for each custom payload.

That is why I said that it should be a community effort. It would take a long time for just three or so people, but with many people, it becomes a faster process.

I hope that provides more insight into my vision for this project

Thanks!

 

[Donamy]

Alot of meshes have already been done.

 

[skyballer455]

Alot of meshes have already been done.

Can you possibly provide some links?

 

[Donamy]

Orbit Hangar and search STS payloads.

 

[Andy44]

If you are doing a "what-if" timeline, than Enterprise would be the first space-worthy orbiter, as the original plan was to send it back to Palmdale to get fitted out for spaceflight after the approach and landing tests.

 

[skyballer455]

If you are doing a "what-if" timeline, than Enterprise would be the first space-worthy orbiter, as the original plan was to send it back to Palmdale to get fitted out for spaceflight after the approach and landing tests.

Good point. I will consider it.

 

[skyballer455]

New Details!

Hello all!

Because of some kind input by andy44, I have put together a preliminary plan for the first four years of the program, which you can view below.

FSSP Planned Flights

1978

March
STS-1 (Enterprise)

The first test flight of the space shuttle. This flight will test the
flight surfaces of the space shuttle during orbit.

October
STS-2 (Enterprise)

The second test flight of the shuttle. This flight will test the RMS capabilities of 
the shuttle.

1979

April
STS-3 (Enterprise) 

Third test of the shuttle. More various tests performed in flight.

November
STS-4 (Enterprise)
Final test flight. More various tests performed in flight to finalize 
atmospheric tests.

1980

March
STS-5 (Enterprise)

First operational space shuttle flight. Will deploy a test sattelite (custom payload)
which will be retrieved on a later flight. This will test the space shuttles 
sattelite deployment capabilities

July
STS-6 (Columbia)

First Flight of the Columbia orbiter. This flight will further test the RMS capabilities
by deploying a sattelite using the RMS arm.

December 
STS-7 (Enterprise)

First space experimentation flight. Will carry aboard many research modules aboard.

1981

February 
STS-8 (Columbia)

Mission to retreive the test sattelite that was deployed by STS-5. This mission will bring 
back the sattelite for study on the ground.

May
STS-9 (Columbia)

First mission to deploy telecommunications sattelites.

July
STS-10 (Challenger)

First Flight of Challenger orbiter. EVA systems tested for first time.

October
STS-11 (Enterprise)

More EVA Tests performed. Sattelite deployed by EVA.

As you can see, I have listed each flight number and orbiter that will be flying them, as well as a short summary of the mission and the month each mission will be executed.

Other details, such as launch time and landing sites etc. will come later.

Thank you!

 

[Urwumpe]

Well, Columbia would still be the first Orbiter, the refitting of Enterprise for Orbital flights would take a while, it would have been ready for flight somewhere between Challenger and Discovery.

Remember that Enterprise lacked nearly everything that the orbital Space Shuttles had. No MPS, no SSMEs, no ATVCs, no EIUs, no OMS, no RCS, No TPS, No RMS, No Ku-Band antenna...It even had weaker fuel cells as the orbital shuttles. From the detail side, it even lacked quite many MDMs of the orbital vehicles. And the landing gear was deployed by explosive pushers, instead of hydraulics.

Refitting for orbital flight would have meant returning to Palmdale and disassembling it completely, shipping large structures of it to manufacturers all over the USA and later assemble it again... it was considered too expensive, Endeavour was simple build new from spare parts after Challenger was lost.

[ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Shuttle_Enterprise"]Space Shuttle Enterprise - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame]

Also, the OFT flights had already been pretty rushed for the problems encountered.

 

[skyballer455]

Thanks urwumpe! I will adjust the existing schedule as neccesary.

 

[Urwumpe]

Thanks urwumpe! I will adjust the existing schedule as neccesary.

No problem. We are also interested in the "what-if" questions in the Space Shuttle Ultra project, there are many hidden gems in the Space Shuttle history.