Public Progress Thread (Off-topic SFS)

[Marmilo]

bro how do oyu make your first engine not exslpode from heat idk how the new update works

Who is this question directed to?

 

[RagingSpaceship]

Do you HAVE to do team frontier to get team hawk? I'm a prestigious guy so I'm goin straight forward

 

[RagingSpaceship]

Do you HAVE to do team frontier to get team hawk? I'm a prestigious guy so I'm goin straight forward

Neeeeeeeeevermind. that annoying!

 

[XenonSpace]

bro how do oyu make your first engine not exslpode from heat idk how the new update works

You can use cheats, or BP editing to turn off engine heat. Though this is not recommended, try not to use these unless you really need no engine heat (example; rocket replica).

 

[Kormak]

Question for all who see this: What is your current mission in SFS?

 

[XenonSpace]

Question for all who see this: What is your current mission in SFS?

Trying to build an efficient rocket to Mars and back

 

[Kormak]

Trying to build an efficient rocket to Mars and back

I wish you the best! I have considered building a reusable Mars rocket (like the Starship) but the problem I keep encountering is where does the heatshield go? It can't be detachable, can't go under the engines and the rocket has to look decent, no weird asymmetrical things sticking out.

 

[Cresign]

View attachment 86555
View attachment 86556
Upper descent stage used to make orbital maneuvers before landing.
View attachment 86557

Blue grass... MMW!

 

[XenonSpace]

I wish you the best! I have considered building a reusable Mars rocket (like the Starship) but the problem I keep encountering is where does the heatshield go? It can't be detachable, can't go under the engines and the rocket has to look decent, no weird asymmetrical things sticking out.

Side mounted heatshield? Just like STS and Starship, it provides space for second stage engines, docking ports, more stability (?), and bleeds more speed than a normal heatshield-under-rocket in an atmospheric entry. For looks, it could be the size of a hair, so it doesn't stand up too much.

 

[Marmilo]

Question for all who see this: What is your current mission in SFS?

the july contest

 

[KaiserRedGamer]

bro how do oyu make your first engine not exslpode from heat idk how the new update works

I'm using a cheat to not do that

 

[KaiserRedGamer]

Blue grass... MMW!

Blue grass huh

 

[KaiserRedGamer]

I'm using a cheat to not do that

Don't get me wrong though, I primarily use that cheat solely for the retrorockets. I can design a stage so that the upper descent stage doesn't... y'know... Jamestown, but I think it's awful since it's going to impact the ground below it, forcing me to use the stage outside of the landing proper so that the landing site is not littered with debris like it would be IRL.

 

[Mars Pathfinder]

I'm using a cheat to not do that

Blue grass huh

Don't get me wrong though, I primarily use that cheat solely for the retrorockets. I can design a stage so that the upper descent stage doesn't... y'know... Jamestown, but I think it's awful since it's going to impact the ground below it, forcing me to use the stage outside of the landing proper so that the landing site is not littered with debris like it would be IRL.

You can condense your post into like this.

Remember forum is not just like a chat or discord that you can rapidly message under a minute


Just use +Quote if you want to reply with many people in a single post

 

[Mars Pathfinder]

Also yes

 

[Altaïr]

Here is a concept of a reusable launcher:


It's beautiful isn't it?

Spoiler

Not at all, lol!

It can easily fly to orbit:


Now let's test reentry:

The job is well done. Which I'm glad about, as it was hard to find a configuration that would allow the engines to thrust without burning anything, and in a way that they would be protected on reentry.

Now the landing:


Yeah, I still have to work on this part. Hey, at least I partially recovered it

 

[Pink]

Lol! More innovative than ARCA Space, and happily practical as well...

Wondering, did you calculate the losses due to the angling? Knowing you, I guess you already know.

 

[Altaïr]

Lol! More innovative than ARCA Space, and happily practical as well...

Wondering, did you calculate the losses due to the angling? Knowing you, I guess you already know.

Haha thanks! But ARCA Space is still my master in terms of innovation

For the losses due to the angle they are quite low. The engines are angled by 15°, so the part of the thrust oriented downwards is equal to cos(15°) × full thrust. And cos(15°) is approximately 0.966. So this represents 3.4% of losses, which is very acceptable.

But this was hard to find a suitable setup, especially that when gimballing the engines are more inclined to burn the tanks

 

[Altaïr]

New attempt at making a stage reusable. Now in IRIS!
Here is again that wonderful rocket, but with a second stage this time:


Separation:


And return to the launchpad for the first stage:

It's not that bad...

Meanwhile, the second stage reaches orbit:

This is a success this time!

 

[The epic chicken]

New attempt at making a stage reusable. Now in IRIS!
Here is again that wonderful rocket, but with a second stage this time:
View attachment 87705 View attachment 87706

Separation:
View attachment 87707

And return to the launchpad for the first stage:
View attachment 87708 View attachment 87709 View attachment 87710
It's not that bad...

Meanwhile, the second stage reaches orbit:
View attachment 87711
This is a success this time!

Is the second stage meant to be reusable?

 

[Pink]

Haha thanks! But ARCA Space is still my master in terms of innovation

For the losses due to the angle they are quite low. The engines are angled by 15°, so the part of the thrust oriented downwards is equal to cos(15°) × full thrust. And cos(15°) is approximately 0.966. So this represents 3.4% of losses, which is very acceptable.

But this was hard to find a suitable setup, especially that when gimballing the engines are more inclined to burn the tanks

Ah, trigonometry is amazing.
Only 3.4% losses is a lot less than you might guess by visually looking at the engines!

New attempt at making a stage reusable. Now in IRIS!
Here is again that wonderful rocket, but with a second stage this time:
View attachment 87705 View attachment 87706

Separation:
View attachment 87707

And return to the launchpad for the first stage:
View attachment 87708 View attachment 87709 View attachment 87710
It's not that bad...

Meanwhile, the second stage reaches orbit:
View attachment 87711
This is a success this time!

Nice improvement! And return to launch site in addition!

Is the second stage meant to be reusable?

You can see that this one isn't. Who knows about version 3 however?

 

[Altaïr]

Is the second stage meant to be reusable?

Not yet, it has no heat shields, it would be destroyed on reentry. But that's the intention, that was to perform a first test. However that test shows that I only have 10% of fuel remaining, that doesn't leave a lot of margin...

 

[The epic chicken]

Not yet, it has no heat shields, it would be destroyed on reentry. But that's the intention, that was to perform a first test. However that test shows that I only have 10% of fuel remaining, that doesn't leave a lot of margin...

Yea

 

[Altaïr]

When you try to land a booster close to the launchpad and THIS happens:

Seriously, what were the odds for that?!

 

[Pink]

Never tell me the odds.