Problem S.Fleet launch issues:Test Pilots wanted

[Wolf]

Hi guys,
I really need some help about this very strange issue: I am about to post on OH "STS-300 tutorial" (Columbia Rescue Mission); the tutorial will have some scenarios attached and launch will be included.
I am using Shuttle Fleet 4.8R0 and some other addons (listed below).

Here is the problem:

Launching with full payload causes the Shuttle to fly too low and too slow to reach orbit after MECO (at ET sep the shuttle is 30 Km high travelling below Mach 4... !!) this means the shuttle will sink down like a rock during second stage and ditch in the Atlantic.

After several different configuration launches I found that if I offload the 4 LiOH canisters (part of the payload) than the shuttle will reach orbit folllowing pretty much a nominal ascent profile. Leaving even only one canister in the payload bay will result again in launch abort..

This payload is formed by 4 empty "XR2 GAS Canisters" (by woo842) that I just renamed LiOH canisters (and they only weigh about 100Kgs each)

All launch attempts have been run using the S.Fleet autopilot.

Another two weird things are:

1) after liftoff as the shuttle starts the roll maneuver she also yaws quite a lot to the right and the ascent trajectory is corrected with other (smaller) yaw maneuvers before reaching a stable launch heading.

2) As the shuttle rolls head up before MECO she won't stop when proper attitude is reached but keeps rolling out of control (this happpens during some launch attempts, not always..)

I have no clue where the problem lies: the total payload weight is well below shuttle limits; I thought it could be a CG problem but I doubt it..


I ask some Shuttle pilots to volunteer trying some launches and see if they have the same issues.

Two launch test scenarios are attached for this purpose (one with full payload and another one without the 4 LiOH Canisters)

To run the scenarios you need:


· Shuttle Fleet 4.8 R2 by David413
http://simviation.com/1/download-file?file=ShuttleFleetV4.8R2.zip&fileId=40264

· UMmu V2.0 by Dansteph
http://orbiter.dansteph.com/index.php?disp=d

· Universal Cargo Deck by kulch
[ame="http://www.orbithangar.com/searchid.php?ID=3262"]http://www.orbithangar.com/searchid.php?ID=3262[/ame]

· Universal RMS v.3 by kulch
[ame="http://www.orbithangar.com/searchid.php?ID=3373"]http://www.orbithangar.com/searchid.php?ID=3373[/ame]

· International Space Station v.3.2 by Thorton
[ame="http://www.orbithangar.com/searchid.php?ID=3737"]http://www.orbithangar.com/searchid.php?ID=3737[/ame]

· XR2 GAS Canister by woo842
[ame="http://www.orbithangar.com/searchid.php?ID=4407"]http://www.orbithangar.com/searchid.php?ID=4407[/ame]

· Spotlight and Spotlight2 by brianj
http://orbithangar.com/searchid.php?ID=5123
[ame="http://www.orbithangar.com/searchid.php?ID=5182"]http://www.orbithangar.com/searchid.php?ID=5182[/ame]


Thanks a lot to anyone who will be willing to test the scenarios and try to help with this!

BEGIN_DESC
Full payload 
END_DESC

BEGIN_ENVIRONMENT
  System Sol
  Date MJD 52680.8583261117
END_ENVIRONMENT

BEGIN_FOCUS
  Ship STS-300
END_FOCUS

BEGIN_CAMERA
  TARGET STS-300
  MODE Extern
  POS 103.85 109.73 65.03
  TRACKMODE GlobalFrame
  FOV 39.51
END_CAMERA

BEGIN_HUD
  TYPE Orbit
  REF AUTO
END_HUD

BEGIN_MFD Left
  TYPE User
  MODE GPC MFD
  ILOAD 1
  MODE 1
  SITE 1
  RUNWAY 0
  HAC 0
  MET -540
END_MFD

BEGIN_MFD Right
  TYPE Orbit
  PROJ Ship
  FRAME Ecliptic
  ALT
  REF Earth
END_MFD

BEGIN_SHIPS
STS-300:Shuttle
  STATUS Landed Earth
  POS -80.6041340 28.6083120
  HEADING 0.00
  AFCMODE 7
  PRPLEVEL 0:1.000000 1:1.000000 2:1.000000
  NAVFREQ 0 0
  UMMUCREW Capt-Eileen_Collins-46-70-70
  UMMUCREW Pilo-James_Kelly-35-72-66
  UMMUCREW EV1-Stephen_Robinson-39-74-72
  UMMUCREW EV2-Andrew_Thomas-46-67-68
  CONFIGURATION 0
  OV- 104
  RENDER 
  ISSV1 
  CARGODOOR 0 0.0000
  KUBAND 0 0.0000
  POSTLAND 0 0.0000
  SSMES 0 0.0000
  ADTA 0 0.0000
  PETD 1 1.0000
  SETD 1 1.0000
  PRADIATOR 0 0.0000
  SRADIATOR 0 0.0000
  GEAR 0 0.0000
  PAYLOAD_MASS1 0.0000
  PAYLOAD_MASS2 0.0000
  PAYLOAD_MASS3 0.0000
  PL1_OFS 0.000000 0.000000 0.000000
  PL1_DIR 0.000000 1.000000 0.000000
  PL1_ROT 0.000000 0.000000 1.000000
  PL2_OFS 1.500000 0.000000 8.000000
  PL2_DIR 0.000000 1.000000 0.000000
  PL2_ROT 1.000000 0.000000 0.000000
  PL3_OFS 1.500000 0.000000 7.000000
  PL3_DIR 0.000000 1.000000 0.000000
  PL3_ROT 1.000000 0.000000 0.000000
  PL4_OFS -2.200000 1.800000 -6.250000
  PL4_DIR 0.000000 1.000000 0.000000
  PL4_ROT 0.000000 0.000000 1.000000
  PL5_OFS 0.000000 0.000000 0.000000
  PL5_DIR 0.000000 1.000000 0.000000
  PL5_ROT 0.000000 0.000000 1.000000
  PL6_OFS 1.850000 1.800000 11.750000
  PL6_DIR 0.000000 1.000000 0.000000
  PL6_ROT 0.000000 0.000000 1.000000
  KEEL_CAM 0.145000 -0.500000 -1.356000
  OMS 
  CALLOUT 
  TGT_HEADING  62.76 220.00
  ASSIST  134.000000 170.000000
END
STS-300_Baylights:PBLights
  STATUS Landed Earth
  POS 0.0000000 0.0000000
  HEADING 0.00
  ATTACHED 0:15,STS-300
  AFCMODE 7
  NAVFREQ 0 0
  LIGHTS 0.10
  ODS 
END
STS-300_Bay:ISSR\STSBAY
  STATUS Landed Earth
  ATTACHED 0:0,STS-300
  STS 102
END
STS-300_CDeck:UCargoDeck
  STATUS Landed Earth
  POS -83.6634307 28.4948526
  HEADING 86.76
  ATTACHED 0:18,STS-300
  AFCMODE 7
  NAVFREQ 0 0
  XPDR 0
  CORE_NAME STS-300
  JETTISONSPEED 0.00
  JETTISONINT 5.00
  ALLOW_SEND_FOCUS 1
  DEF_ATT_PARAMS 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.00000 0.00000 1.00000 0.00000 1.00000 0.00000
  PL_DESCRIPTION LiOH_01 0.650 7.750 -1.900 -0.0000 -0.0000 -1.0000 0.0000 1.0000 0.0000 0
  PL_DESCRIPTION LiOH_02 1.450 7.750 -1.900 -0.0000 -0.0000 -1.0000 0.0000 1.0000 -0.0000 1
  PL_DESCRIPTION LiOH_03 0.650 7.750 -3.000 0.0000 -0.0000 -1.0000 0.0000 1.0000 -0.0000 2
  PL_DESCRIPTION LiOH_04 1.450 7.750 -3.000 -0.0000 0.0000 -1.0000 0.0000 1.0000 0.0000 3
  PL_DESCRIPTION EMUs -0.350 7.620 -1.800 0.0000 -1.0000 -0.0000 1.0000 0.0000 0.0000 4
  PL_DESCRIPTION LRR -0.350 7.800 -2.700 0.0000 0.0000 1.0000 0.0000 1.0000 -0.0000 5
  PL_DESCRIPTION EVAlight_01 -0.750 7.650 -3.550 0.0000 -0.0000 1.0000 0.0000 1.0000 0.0000 6
  PL_DESCRIPTION EVAlight_02 -0.350 7.650 -3.550 -0.0000 -0.0000 1.0000 0.0000 1.0000 0.0000 7
  IN_JETTISON 0 0
  J_MARKER 0.00
END
APFR:ISSR\APFR
  STATUS Landed Earth
  POS 0.0000000 0.0000000
  HEADING 0.00
  ATTACHED 2:1,STS-300_Bay
  AFCMODE 7
  NAVFREQ 0 0
  SH1 0 0.0000 0
  SH2 1 0.4894 0
  SH3 1 0.4998 0
  SH5 0.5000 0.5000
  POS0 0.00 -0.03 0.32
  DIR0 0.00 0.00 -1.00
  ROT0 0.03 1.00 0.00
  POS1 0.00 -0.09 0.00
  DIR1 0.00 0.00 -1.00
  ROT1 0.00 -1.00 0.00
END
T_Boom:URMS
  STATUS Landed Earth
  POS -80.6041063 28.6082465
  HEADING 0.00
  ATTACHED 0:19,STS-300
  AFCMODE 7
  NAVFREQ 0 0
  MAIN_STATUS 0
  JOYSTICK_STATUS 1
  JOYSTICK_CFG 1
  PLATFORM_MESH 0
  CORE_NAME STS-300
  CORE_PARAMS 2.7000 7.2800 0.5000 2.7000 7.2800 0.5000 0.50000
  ORIENTATION 0.00000 -1.00000 0.00000 0.00000 0.00000 -1.00000
  CAMERA_STATUS 0
  SCALE_FACTOR 0.3000
  LIN_PARAMS 2 0.0000 0.0000
  ROOT_ROT 0 0.0000 0.0000
  SHOULDER_ROT 0 14.0000 0.0000
  ELBOW_ROT 0 0.0000 0.0000
  WRIST_ROT_H 0 104.0000 0.0000
  WRIST_ROT_V 0 104.0000 0.0000
  WRIST_ROT_R 0 0.0000 0.0000
  CARGO_PARAMS 100.00 0.00 0.00
  IK_PARAMS 1 0.00000 0.00000 0.000
END
LiOH_01:Woo482\GASCan1
  STATUS Landed Earth
  POS -83.6634477 28.4948460
  HEADING 226.38
  ATTACHED 0:0,STS-300_CDeck
  AFCMODE 7
  NAVFREQ 0 0
  XPDR 0
  Door  1 0.0000
  IN_JETTISON 0 0
  J_MARKER 0.00
END
LiOH_02:Woo482\GASCan1
  STATUS Landed Earth
  POS -83.6634472 28.4948390
  HEADING 86.76
  ATTACHED 0:1,STS-300_CDeck
  AFCMODE 7
  NAVFREQ 0 0
  XPDR 0
  Door  1 0.0000
  IN_JETTISON 0 0
  J_MARKER 0.00
END
LiOH_03:Woo482\GASCan1
  STATUS Landed Earth
  POS -83.6634587 28.4948455
  HEADING 86.76
  ATTACHED 0:2,STS-300_CDeck
  AFCMODE 7
  NAVFREQ 0 0
  XPDR 0
  Door  1 0.0000
  IN_JETTISON 0 0
  J_MARKER 0.00
END
LiOH_04:Woo482\GASCan1
  STATUS Landed Earth
  POS -83.6634582 28.4948385
  HEADING 86.76
  ATTACHED 0:3,STS-300_CDeck
  AFCMODE 7
  NAVFREQ 0 0
  XPDR 0
  Door  1 0.0000
  IN_JETTISON 0 0
  J_MARKER 0.00
END
EMUs:ISSR\ESP1bag#2
  STATUS Landed Earth
  POS -83.6634473 28.4948549
  HEADING 176.76
  ATTACHED 4:4,STS-300_CDeck
  AFCMODE 7
END
LRR:spotlight2
  STATUS Landed Earth
  POS -83.6634562 28.4948544
  HEADING 266.76
  ATTACHED 1:5,STS-300_CDeck
  AFCMODE 7
  NAVFREQ 0 0
  SPT 0 300.0000 0.1745
  PAT 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000
  GBL 0.50000 0.00000
END
EVAlight_01:spotlight
  STATUS Landed Earth
  POS -83.6634650 28.4948575
  HEADING 266.76
  ATTACHED 1:6,STS-300_CDeck
  AFCMODE 7
  NAVFREQ 0 0
  SPT 0 200.0000 0.3491 1.0000
END
EVAlight_02:spotlight
  STATUS Landed Earth
  POS -83.6634648 28.4948540
  HEADING 266.76
  ATTACHED 1:7,STS-300_CDeck
  AFCMODE 7
  NAVFREQ 0 0
  SPT 0 200.0000 0.3491 1.0000
END
LC39:ISSR\LC39
  STATUS Landed Earth
  POS -80.6041380 28.6082950
  RSS 0 1.0000 -1
  WR 0 1.0000 1
  VA 0 0.0000 1
  TC 0 0.0000 1
  PS_LVL 1.0000 
END
RL:ISSR\RL
  STATUS Landed Earth
  POS -117.9017890 34.9098070
  HEADING 250.02
  AFCMODE 7
  PRPLEVEL 0:1.000000
END
END_SHIPS

BEGIN_Attachment Manager
END

BEGIN_VistaBoost
END

BEGIN_ExtMFD
END

BEGIN_uap
END

BEGIN_DESC
LiOH canisters detached 
END_DESC

BEGIN_ENVIRONMENT
  System Sol
  Date MJD 52680.8592352193
END_ENVIRONMENT

BEGIN_FOCUS
  Ship STS-300
END_FOCUS

BEGIN_CAMERA
  TARGET STS-300
  MODE Extern
  POS 3.94 109.44 62.59
  TRACKMODE GlobalFrame
  FOV 39.51
END_CAMERA

BEGIN_HUD
  TYPE Orbit
  REF AUTO
END_HUD

BEGIN_MFD Left
  TYPE User
  MODE GPC MFD
  ILOAD 1
  MODE 1
  SITE 1
  RUNWAY 0
  HAC 0
  MET -540
END_MFD

BEGIN_MFD Right
  TYPE Orbit
  PROJ Ship
  FRAME Ecliptic
  ALT
  REF Earth
END_MFD

BEGIN_SHIPS
STS-300:Shuttle
  STATUS Landed Earth
  POS -80.6041340 28.6083120
  HEADING 0.00
  AFCMODE 7
  PRPLEVEL 0:1.000000 1:1.000000 2:1.000000
  NAVFREQ 0 0
  UMMUCREW Capt-Eileen_Collins-46-70-70
  UMMUCREW Pilo-James_Kelly-35-72-66
  UMMUCREW EV1-Stephen_Robinson-39-74-72
  UMMUCREW EV2-Andrew_Thomas-46-67-68
  CONFIGURATION 0
  OV- 104
  RENDER 
  ISSV1 
  CARGODOOR 0 0.0000
  KUBAND 0 0.0000
  POSTLAND 0 0.0000
  SSMES 0 0.0000
  ADTA 0 0.0000
  PETD 1 1.0000
  SETD 1 1.0000
  PRADIATOR 0 0.0000
  SRADIATOR 0 0.0000
  GEAR 0 0.0000
  PAYLOAD_MASS1 0.0000
  PAYLOAD_MASS2 0.0000
  PAYLOAD_MASS3 0.0000
  PL1_OFS 0.000000 0.000000 0.000000
  PL1_DIR 0.000000 1.000000 0.000000
  PL1_ROT 0.000000 0.000000 1.000000
  PL2_OFS 1.500000 0.000000 8.000000
  PL2_DIR 0.000000 1.000000 0.000000
  PL2_ROT 1.000000 0.000000 0.000000
  PL3_OFS 1.500000 0.000000 7.000000
  PL3_DIR 0.000000 1.000000 0.000000
  PL3_ROT 1.000000 0.000000 0.000000
  PL4_OFS -2.200000 1.800000 -6.250000
  PL4_DIR 0.000000 1.000000 0.000000
  PL4_ROT 0.000000 0.000000 1.000000
  PL5_OFS 0.000000 0.000000 0.000000
  PL5_DIR 0.000000 1.000000 0.000000
  PL5_ROT 0.000000 0.000000 1.000000
  PL6_OFS 1.850000 1.800000 11.750000
  PL6_DIR 0.000000 1.000000 0.000000
  PL6_ROT 0.000000 0.000000 1.000000
  KEEL_CAM 0.145000 -0.500000 -1.356000
  OMS 
  CALLOUT 
  TGT_HEADING  62.76 220.00
  ASSIST  134.000000 170.000000
END
STS-300_Baylights:PBLights
  STATUS Landed Earth
  POS 0.0000000 0.0000000
  HEADING 0.00
  ATTACHED 0:15,STS-300
  AFCMODE 7
  NAVFREQ 0 0
  LIGHTS 0.10
  ODS 
END
STS-300_Bay:ISSR\STSBAY
  STATUS Landed Earth
  ATTACHED 0:0,STS-300
  STS 102
END
STS-300_CDeck:UCargoDeck
  STATUS Landed Earth
  POS -83.6634307 28.4948526
  HEADING 86.76
  ATTACHED 0:18,STS-300
  AFCMODE 7
  NAVFREQ 0 0
  XPDR 0
  CORE_NAME STS-300
  JETTISONSPEED 0.00
  JETTISONINT 5.00
  ALLOW_SEND_FOCUS 1
  DEF_ATT_PARAMS 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.00000 0.00000 1.00000 0.00000 1.00000 0.00000
  PL_DESCRIPTION EMUs -0.350 7.620 -1.800 0.0000 -1.0000 -0.0000 1.0000 0.0000 0.0000 4
  PL_DESCRIPTION LRR -0.350 7.800 -2.700 0.0000 0.0000 1.0000 0.0000 1.0000 -0.0000 5
  PL_DESCRIPTION EVAlight_01 -0.750 7.650 -3.550 0.0000 -0.0000 1.0000 0.0000 1.0000 0.0000 6
  PL_DESCRIPTION EVAlight_02 -0.350 7.650 -3.550 -0.0000 -0.0000 1.0000 0.0000 1.0000 0.0000 7
  IN_JETTISON 0 0
  J_MARKER 0.00
END
APFR:ISSR\APFR
  STATUS Landed Earth
  POS 0.0000000 0.0000000
  HEADING 0.00
  ATTACHED 2:1,STS-300_Bay
  AFCMODE 7
  NAVFREQ 0 0
  SH1 0 0.0000 0
  SH2 1 0.4894 0
  SH3 1 0.4998 0
  SH5 0.5000 0.5000
  POS0 0.00 -0.03 0.32
  DIR0 0.00 0.00 -1.00
  ROT0 0.03 1.00 0.00
  POS1 0.00 -0.09 0.00
  DIR1 0.00 0.00 -1.00
  ROT1 0.00 -1.00 0.00
END
T_Boom:URMS
  STATUS Landed Earth
  POS -80.6041063 28.6082465
  HEADING 0.00
  ATTACHED 0:19,STS-300
  AFCMODE 7
  NAVFREQ 0 0
  MAIN_STATUS 0
  JOYSTICK_STATUS 1
  JOYSTICK_CFG 1
  PLATFORM_MESH 0
  CORE_NAME STS-300
  CORE_PARAMS 2.7000 7.2800 0.5000 2.7000 7.2800 0.5000 0.50000
  ORIENTATION 0.00000 -1.00000 0.00000 0.00000 0.00000 -1.00000
  CAMERA_STATUS 0
  SCALE_FACTOR 0.3000
  LIN_PARAMS 2 0.0000 0.0000
  ROOT_ROT 0 0.0000 0.0000
  SHOULDER_ROT 0 14.0000 0.0000
  ELBOW_ROT 0 0.0000 0.0000
  WRIST_ROT_H 0 104.0000 0.0000
  WRIST_ROT_V 0 104.0000 0.0000
  WRIST_ROT_R 0 0.0000 0.0000
  CARGO_PARAMS 100.00 0.00 0.00
  IK_PARAMS 1 0.00000 0.00000 0.000
END
LiOH_01:Woo482\GASCan1
  STATUS Landed Earth
  POS -80.6041277 28.6082416
  HEADING 269.86
  AFCMODE 7
  NAVFREQ 0 0
  XPDR 0
  Door  1 0.0000
  IN_JETTISON 0 0
  J_MARKER 0.00
END
LiOH_02:Woo482\GASCan1
  STATUS Landed Earth
  POS -80.6041195 28.6082416
  HEADING 269.88
  AFCMODE 7
  NAVFREQ 0 0
  XPDR 0
  Door  1 0.0000
  IN_JETTISON 0 0
  J_MARKER 0.00
END
LiOH_03:Woo482\GASCan1
  STATUS Landed Earth
  POS -80.6041276 28.6082416
  HEADING 269.86
  AFCMODE 7
  NAVFREQ 0 0
  XPDR 0
  Door  1 0.0000
  IN_JETTISON 0 0
  J_MARKER 0.00
END
LiOH_04:Woo482\GASCan1
  STATUS Landed Earth
  POS -80.6041194 28.6082416
  HEADING 269.85
  AFCMODE 7
  NAVFREQ 0 0
  XPDR 0
  Door  1 0.0000
  IN_JETTISON 0 0
  J_MARKER 0.00
END
EMUs:ISSR\ESP1bag#2
  STATUS Landed Earth
  POS -83.6634473 28.4948549
  HEADING 176.76
  ATTACHED 4:4,STS-300_CDeck
  AFCMODE 7
END
LRR:spotlight2
  STATUS Landed Earth
  POS -83.6634562 28.4948544
  HEADING 266.76
  ATTACHED 1:5,STS-300_CDeck
  AFCMODE 7
  NAVFREQ 0 0
  SPT 0 300.0000 0.1745
  PAT 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000
  GBL 0.50000 0.00000
END
EVAlight_01:spotlight
  STATUS Landed Earth
  POS -83.6634650 28.4948575
  HEADING 266.76
  ATTACHED 1:6,STS-300_CDeck
  AFCMODE 7
  NAVFREQ 0 0
  SPT 0 200.0000 0.3491 1.0000
END
EVAlight_02:spotlight
  STATUS Landed Earth
  POS -83.6634648 28.4948540
  HEADING 266.76
  ATTACHED 1:7,STS-300_CDeck
  AFCMODE 7
  NAVFREQ 0 0
  SPT 0 200.0000 0.3491 1.0000
END
LC39:ISSR\LC39
  STATUS Landed Earth
  POS -80.6041380 28.6082950
  RSS 0 1.0000 -1
  WR 0 1.0000 1
  VA 0 0.0000 1
  TC 0 0.0000 1
  PS_LVL 1.0000 
END
RL:ISSR\RL
  STATUS Landed Earth
  POS -117.9017890 34.9098070
  HEADING 250.02
  AFCMODE 7
  PRPLEVEL 0:1.000000
END
END_SHIPS

BEGIN_Attachment Manager
END

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END

 

[Kyle]

I've been having similar issues, only when I use the Orbiter Beta with Shuttle Fleet, after SRB sep it seems the engines throttle down quickly to half thrust and I end up crashing in the ocean.

 

[Cras]

the rolling problem you have, I have seen it before, when using UCD with Shuttle Fleet.
In short, don't ever use UCD with Shuttle Fleet if you plan on using the launch autopilot.

Use the payload attachment system instead.

 

[Wolf]

the rolling problem you have, I have seen it before, when using UCD with Shuttle Fleet.
In short, don't ever use UCD with Shuttle Fleet if you plan on using the launch autopilot.

Use the payload attachment system instead.

That's very bad news. There aren't just enough attachment points in the Shuttle Fleet to fit all my payloads...

I have used CDeck with Shuttle Fleet several times but I don't remember having issues with launch autopilot...

 

[Cras]

You sure? SF has a lot of attachment points. Yes there are only 3 that can be taken out of the payload bay, but there are others that are used for payloads that remain in the bay, such as carriers, shelves, GAS canisters. Reading your situation I am under the impression that this will suit your needs. Not often do you find yourself flying a mission where you are deploying more than three items.

Or I could be reading what you are tying to do wrong.

 

[n122vu]

I have seen both the rolling problem and the not making orbit problem, both when attempting to use UCD with the 'Fleet. My interpretation of that is, the two addons are not compatible.

Also, why the need for URMS? The 'Fleet comes with its own RMS...

 

[Mantis]

There was a bug in the original 4.8 release where that happened but a service pack was released at some point. That also happens if you have unlimited fuel checked - you can't get the shuttle into space with unlimited fuel enabled.

 

[asbjos]

Have you tried to launch the Space Shuttle manually? (so that you can get an illustration of if it is even possible to launch) The max payload weight was 25 000 kg. How much does your payload weigh?

 

[Wolf]

There was a bug in the original 4.8 release where that happened but a service pack was released at some point. That also happens if you have unlimited fuel checked - you can't get the shuttle into space with unlimited fuel enabled.

I got the service pack installed and unlimited fuel is not checked (no problems launching the Shuttle Fleet with any other scenarios).

Again the issue of not reaching orbit is somehow related to the GAS Canisters. If I delete them (or detach them from CDeck) the Shuttle will reach orbit! (despite the bizzarre behaviour that some of you have encountered aswel and described as a UCDeck not compatible with SFleet)

I also need to be able to carry and deploy 8 payloads (according to mission profile and EVA tasks to be accomplished) thus the Fleet deployable payload attachment points are definetly not enough

 

[asbjos]

One more question: why did you attach the spotlights to the Shuttle with UCD? They have their own attachment system in their module, so to carry them with UCD is obsolete...

 

[Cras]

SF will not let you deploy 8 payloads. Just a fact of it. It has 3 deploy-able points, and 3 static points, and some others for other things, such as the bay lights. You can always take over and fly the shuttle up by hand. But if you want to use the launch autopilot, you can't use UCD.

 

[Wolf]

Ok guys, thanks for your prompt replies!

So far what I understand is:

1) ShuttleFleet and UCDeck do not get along together well

2) The problems with reaching orbit using autopilot as well as the weird yaw maneuvers are due to this issue with CDeck

To answer some of your questions:

Manual ascent:

I have actually flown the ascent manually and it is possible to make it to orbit but in order to reach a decent apoapsis you need to orient thrust much more vertically then usual which in turn will require a very long and fuel consuming OMS2


Why do I need so many deployable payloads?

As simple as that: in the hypothetic Rescue Mission all payloads (except the T-boom and the APFR) would be stowed in the Atlantis middeck; since there is no way to do that with Shuttle Fleet I decided to carry those payloads on an ICC pallet directly into the payload bay using the UCDeck tool. This will allow payload retrievement and stowage during EVA.


URMS:

I am using this NOT to replace any Shuttle RMS (which Atlantis would not be equipped with in the Columbia rescue mission) but it serves as an EVA telescopic boom (T-boom). I could not find any better addon that could simulate such a tool.


Payload weight:

The total weight is around 1100 Kg (well below the max allowed!)


Still I'd appreciate some feedback after trying the launch scenarios (as the GAS Canister themselves seem to literally kill performance) and this is a real mystery to me :hmm:

 

[C3PO]

To me the obvious solution would be to launch Atlantis, save the scenario, add UCDeck and fly the rest of the mission from there.

I always thought the rescue shuttle would dock directly to the stricken bird. That's the whole point of having an androgynous docking system.

 

[Cras]

if this is a flight to Columbia, no ODS. And the rescue flights were never designed to have one dock with another using the ODS. That wouldn't even work.

The plan was to use the RMS arm to grapple onto the stranded orbiter's OBSS boom. And I assume that since he mentioned Columbia on this, this scenario is supposed to be some sort of simulation of saving STS-107, which obviously had no OBSS (didnt exist back then), and no RMS of its own.

So how you plan on linking up the two orbiters up there is not at all clear.

 

[DaveS]

if this is a flight to Columbia, no ODS. And the rescue flights were never designed to have one dock with another using the ODS. That wouldn't even work.

The plan was to use the RMS arm to grapple onto the stranded orbiter's OBSS boom. And I assume that since he mentioned Columbia on this, this scenario is supposed to be some sort of simulation of saving STS-107, which obviously had no OBSS (didnt exist back then), and no RMS of its own.

So how you plan on linking up the two orbiters up there is not at all clear.

The hypothetical STS-107 rescue mission by Atlantis is detailed in this CAIB appendix: http://www.nasa.gov/columbia/caib/PDFS/VOL2/D13.PDF

 

[Wolf]

I always thought the rescue shuttle would dock directly to the stricken bird. That's the whole point of having an androgynous docking system.

That would not be possible due to shuttles clearance issues. Columbia also did not have any docking system installed, therefore Atlantis would have been flown manually in proximity with Columbia for the entire mission. STS-400 (the planned STS-125 Rescue mission) would have seen Endeavour's RMS grappling Atlantis OBSS grapple fixture to keep the shuttles mated. The minimum safe distance required (obtained by clocking the two ships 90°) is around 7-9 meters, thus making ODS to ODS docking un-doable.



As stated by DaveS full info about the Columbia rescue can be found in the CAIB docs. My tutorial (and the related scenarios) are only based on that (no science fiction)

 

[David413]

As previously mentioned, the OBSS did not exist until after STS-107. The rescue scenario in the CAIB documentation stated that Atlantis would be maintained in the vicinity of Columbia by stationkeeping only; there was no grappling specified (as there was no grappling point).

 

[Wolf]

I would like to ask Dave, since he posted in this thread, if he is able to confirm that UCDeck does NOT work with Shuttle Fleet .

Not that I don't trust the other guys' advice, simply a feedback directly from the Fleet author would make it clear with no need for further speculation on the matter.

 

[David413]

Don't use it, so I can't really say...

I would like to ask Dave, since he posted in this thread, if he is able to confirm that UCDeck does NOT work with Shuttle Fleet.

Don't know really; I don't use that particular add-on. However, it is an add-on for Orbiter 2006 as near as I can tell, and the current Shuttle Fleet is compiled against the Orbiter 2010 SDK so it is very possible that they are not compatible. The fleet has a lot more code associated with it than the default Atlantis, so add-ons that work with Atlantis, particularly add-ons compiled against a previous version's SDK may encounter conflicts with the fleet.

Sorry, I don't use UCDeck; never saw a need for it...

Dave

 

[Wolf]

Thank you a lot Dave for the feedback

BTW the Fleet is getting better and better, the STS Payloads Expansion pack is great and will allow us to run historical STS missions. Thanks for keeping on developing this beautiful addon! :thumbup: