Project Gemini-Titan 2 for Orbiter 2016

[Urwumpe]

Yes, the capsule should be independent from the launcher. I suggest you use Multistage Titans with the capsule as a live payload.
There were fuel display gauges for each Titan stage on the cockpit, but I don't think there was any other relation. The Titan was not controlled from the capsule.

That is wrong - the Titan could have been controlled by the capsule, especially in abort situations. But normally, the Titan controlled the capsule.
Especially for the abort situations, I think its better to have our own implementation of the GLV, but of course, I wouldn't forbid anybody to launch the Gemini on another rocket.

The problem here is free time to complete it...
So my suggestion is to implement a simple generic 2D panel like on Mercury X.

Don't worry, this is all the plan for a whole year. Even a rough VC in that time would be better than none. Of course, with VC, also mean the rest of the (visible) interior and I want to focus on the commander position there anyway, since the pilot was mostly busy handling subsystems which I won't implement in the next year.

 

[4throck]

You are right, there was a backup Ascent computer program

The simplest way to implement the VC is by adding detailed meshes for each panel part, placed on top of the existing mesh...
But let's think about that later on, it requires some planning.

 

[Urwumpe]

You are right, there was a backup Ascent computer program

The simplest way to implement the VC is by adding detailed meshes for each panel part, placed on top of the existing mesh...
But let's think about that later on, it requires some planning.

Yes, Also I am not sure if that is really the easiest way. I think having specialized meshes would be easier, since there are less side-effects between "low-quality interior" and VC.

Again, its not urgent, just one design decision I took now.

 

[n72.75]

I haven't forgotten that I said I'd help with this, just have a few big projects that need to be finished first, so I'm not working with split focus.

 

[Urwumpe]

I haven't forgotten that I said I'd help with this, just have a few big projects that need to be finished first, so I'm not working with split focus.

No hurry, I just decided to kick most of the old framework overboard and use attachments instead of multistageX.h. Plan to have the big architectural changes done next week for the first interim release.

 

[Urwumpe]

So far, the first stage is at least now a separate vessel and can be tested indepedent of the rest of the stack.

GeminiFirstStageWork.jpg

• Urwumpe
• May 4, 2021

Working on separating the First Stage from the Gemini-Titan add-on

 

[Urwumpe]

Found 597 pages of fun.... lots of information about GLV and GATV development.

Source: https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/19670076796

 

[4throck]

I think that's a great decision - a more detailed Titan II implementation makes sense. Specially if you have the technical data.

Wikipedia mentions the AC Spark Plug system. The name sounds like something from Kerbal!

ASC-15 - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

This book seems relevant:

File:TitanII MGC.pdf - Wikimedia Commons

commons.wikimedia.org

Check page 8:

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/10/TitanII_MGC.pdf/page8-1166px-TitanII_MGC.pdf.jpg

It was also used on Titan III and Saturn I. Perhaps you can make some room on your code for future Titan III support (an extra rocket type parameter or status).

 

[Urwumpe]

I think that's a great decision - a more detailed Titan II implementation makes sense. Specially if you have the technical data.

Wikipedia mentions the Delco Universal Space Guidance System. The name sounds like something from Kerbal!

ASC-15 - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

It was also used on Titan III and Saturn I. Perhaps you can make some room on your code for future Titan III support (an extra rocket type parameter or status).

Well, you could of course fork the GLV stages then and create an extension for the Titan III stages. But the GLV used a unique guidance, an improved version of the TARS guidance used for Titan I. So, its unlikely that there will be much support for other guidance systems soon, but I can try to pay attention to leave enough easily-found seams for you modify things later.

The code will be relatively straight forward, but there will be a GeminiCommon.dll library soon, where I want to put common code and base classes. But that will come after the second stage is also refactored.

 

[barrygolden]

You guys are doing a great job with this. I would like to see the GT 9 mission with the ATDA able to dock and the AMU in the back. You might check with gattis about this for he has done both of those

 

[Urwumpe]

You guys are doing a great job with this. I would like to see the GT 9 mission with the ATDA able to dock and the AMU in the back. You might check with gattis about this for he has done both of those

If @gattispilot feels comfortable with contributing to the project, sure, no problem. I could also need newer capsule meshes, there are some small bugs around and many details like EVA handrails or antennas are missing.

 

[gattispilot]

I have no problem sharing my AMU and crew guy

 

[Urwumpe]

I have no problem sharing my AMU and crew guy

Great Thank you, I can really use it.

 

[Urwumpe]

Some tiny progress for the lunch break:



I managed to rotate the first stage mesh by 90°, so its now properly aligned and I can use the definitions of the GLV documentation for implementing the behaviour of the stage.

Also, I included a small temporary autopilot, that is using the engine gimbals for letting the stage lift-off straight. I'll move the actual guidance into the second stage later, but for now its OK. It looks a bit scary when the strong winds in Orbiter push the stage sideways during lift-off, I think I will put a reminder into the manual to disable winds for Gemini.

Codewise, the test framework and some other support stuff has now moved into a GeminiCommon.dll that is automatically included in all projects of the solution that depend on it.

Still have to see if I get this tiny subproject with the launchers finished before the planned first prototype release next Tuesday

 

[4throck]

Looks good. "Small" stuff like getting mesh orientation right takes time but makes a difference.

 

[Urwumpe]

Looks good. "Small" stuff like getting mesh orientation right takes time but makes a difference.

99% of the time was me having to find out how to rotate many groups in Blender at once and how to save the mesh again. Yeah, I am a Blender noob. I admit it. But at least, I don't give up.

 

[4throck]

Blender works mostly through keyboard commands.
You should feel at home coming from a programming / command line background

 

[Urwumpe]

Blender works mostly through keyboard commands.
You should feel at home coming from a programming / command line background

Hey, I am just human. ?

The second stage will get a tougher nut to crack, the roll thruster is in the wrong position. Closer and smaller to the main combustion chamber, than in the drawings (There it is almost at the edge of the aft skirt of that stage), also it has to get rotated down by 30° from its current position (Which might explain why it is so close to center - perspective).

This will get a full rework I fear. So later. I'll fix the second stage now and then look at building up new launch scenarios.

 

[1987VCRProductions]

Nice to see the old Gemini add on getting a proper update! One thing I look forward to is doing an M=1 rendezvous with Gemini 11. It would be cool to launch the Atlas Agena/ATDA and then be able to launch to it and dock in the same scenario, though that might be too ambitious.

 

[Urwumpe]

Nice to see the old Gemini add on getting a proper update! One thing I look forward to is doing an M=1 rendezvous with Gemini 11. It would be cool to launch the Atlas Agena/ATDA and then be able to launch to it and dock in the same scenario, though that might be too ambitious.

Can be done - but likely not in 2021.