General Question How to build space stations?

[Pipcard]

Thanks, but my idea was to only use the Shuttle.
(or I could change that)

 

[Napalm42]

At some point, you'll need another LV, fact of spaceflight,

 

[PhantomCruiser]

I'm not sure if it'll fit in the shuttle bay. It might overhang a bit. I think my rocket will lift it.

There is also MIR 2 from kultch. That package has enough to build a whole station, and the panels sun-track AFAIR.

 

[diogom]

[ame="http://www.orbithangar.com/searchid.php?ID=3055"]Solar Service Module v1[/ame]

 

[MaverickSawyer]

I'm not sure if it'll fit in the shuttle bay. It might overhang a bit. I think my rocket will lift it.

There is also MIR 2 from kulch. That package has enough to build a whole station, and the panels sun-track AFAIR.

It does, but most modules are too large for the shuttle, and require a whole host of other addons by Kulch, such as space tugs, space tankers, and Energy Project. and yes, the panels do suntrack.

 

[Zatnikitelman]

At some point, you'll need another LV, fact of spaceflight,

Don't be too sure. Except for most of the Russian components, the ISS was built entirely with the Space Shuttle.

 

[Pipcard]

I think I'll use the Energia launcher along with the Space Shuttle.

 

[Pipcard]

I want to have 6 modules total (except for the PMA). Don't ask why.

 

[auchec]

I don't mean to hijack the thread, but... I'm new and have no idea where to start building a space station, but I'd really like to give it a shot. Is is a good idea to try (I've been using Orbiter for about a week)? Where do I start?

 

[Pipcard]

I don't mean to hijack the thread, but... I'm new and have no idea where to start building a space station, but I'd really like to give it a shot. Is is a good idea to try (I've been using Orbiter for about a week)? Where do I start?

I'm sorry, but it's not really a good idea to have your first attempt at station building if it's only your first week. (I don't want to be mean or anything)

I used scenario editor to make my basic station plan.

What do you think?

 

[auchec]

Hah, I was pretty sure that it wasn't a good idea but hey, at least I tried! Station looks great, Pipcard...although to me it just looks like a bunch of random stuff attached together.

I actually managed to attach a thing to another thing today...took me 45 minutes, and they were already in synched orbit, only about 50 meters apart..so I appreciate how difficult it is (for me anyway)! For the life of me, I can't figure out what the heck I did, but I now have two important looking thingies docked together so that's cool.

EDIT: I apologize in advance for sounding like a complete idiot

 

[Pipcard]

I still haven't learned how to rendezvous, dock, and land with the Shuttle (I could do that with the XR2). But I'll learn as I go along.

The only thing I'm worried about now is the Shuttle's RMS being too short to place modules while docked. I might need to be undocked while placing modules with the robotic arm*. I'm not sure about a URMS on the station, though.

*search Tex's video "OFSS Assembly Flight 4" and you'll see what I mean

 

[PhantomCruiser]

That's nice looking research station you've got there. What is that "node" module docked to the Cassiopee? I recognize everything but that one.

edit -
You can mount a Universal RMS to your core module to assist with orbital construction. Well worth it IMHO.

 

[Pipcard]

That's nice looking research station you've got there. What is that "node" module docked to the Cassiopee? I recognize everything but that one.

edit -
You can mount a Universal RMS to your core module to assist with orbital construction. Well worth it IMHO.

It came with Kulch's Mir-2.

Edit: I'm worried if the URMS on the station is long enough to reach around to place modules in the back.

 

[PhantomCruiser]

You can move the URMS fore and aft (like it's on a rail). I'm pretty sure you can define how much it moves.
I mount on onto Shuttle-A when I use it for cargo runs to my stations, using it to traverse along the spine of the ship.

 

[Pipcard]

You can move the URMS fore and aft (like it's on a rail). I'm pretty sure you can define how much it moves.
I mount on onto Shuttle-A when I use it for cargo runs to my stations, using it to traverse along the spine of the ship.

I was talking about reaching to the side opposite to where the URMS is on the station. Is that arm articulate enough? Maybe if it had 4 joints.

 

[Jarvitä]

I don't mean to hijack the thread, but... I'm new and have no idea where to start building a space station, but I'd really like to give it a shot. Is is a good idea to try (I've been using Orbiter for about a week)? Where do I start?

Learn to perform orbital insertion, rendezvous, docking, deorbiting and landing with your spacecraft of choice. XR5 is pretty easy and forgiving if you're new, and a beauty to fly. Next, you'll want some station modules. XR5 has a huge payload bay and can easily haul up an entire space station at once. I suggest starting with gregburch's Space Station Building Blocks ([ame="http://www.orbithangar.com/searchid.php?ID=3177"]SSBB[/ame]). You'll also need [ame="http://www.orbithangar.com/searchid.php?ID=3262"]Universal Cargo Deck[/ame] to fit them to your XR5, and a couple of [ame="http://www.orbithangar.com/searchid.php?ID=3373"]Universal RMS[/ame] (robotic arms) to actually build your station once you get into orbit.

 

[PhantomCruiser]

I was talking about reaching to the side opposite to where the URMS is on the station. Is that arm articulate enough? Maybe if it had 4 joints.

Usually it'll be fine, sometimes the fun of the mission is to figure out how to do the assembly (without cheating), it can be a headache sometimes, but always worth it.

My current station has two URMS (named Willis and Phillis), and I use them as if the were literally "arms".

 

[Pipcard]

I want to learn the Shuttle because the payload bay isn't too big (unlike the XR5).

 

[garyw]

I want to learn the Shuttle because the payload bay isn't too big (unlike the XR5).

So learn? It's not difficult to fly as long as you get the orbital insertion right. The payload is added via attachments and it can be very good fun to build up a station a module at a time.