General Question What launch vehicles can carry multiple small satellites into orbit?

[Pipcard]

and how do you configure the payloads (if they don't use Payload Manager)?

The satellites will have no main thrusters, just RCS. They will also have a wet mass of about 500-1000 kg.

 

[orbitingpluto]

I'd recommend CVEL Titans. You'll have to edit the scenario files by hand in notepad, but its not too hard because the manual is good at explaining what does what. Plus you have us on the forum to turn to if your having trouble.

Try starting with either a Titan I or a Titan II. The Titan I has only 1700kg or so of throw weight, a little too little for the higher end of your range, but a Titan II can do 3600kg- enough that there is no doubt it will get your payload to orbit, but enough excess capacity that it seems wasteful in your case. To me anyway.

 

[HAL9001]

DNEPR! :woohoo: (a few years ago this was my favorite launcher)

---------- Post added at 17:14 ---------- Previous post was at 17:13 ----------

but well - with the corect cargo-adaper every launche rwith enough capacity ahould be abel to do that

 

[n72.75]

Anything CVEL.

 

[garyw]

Velcro.

Personally I like the neptune and jarvis addons but any addon can carry a payload (or mutliple payloads). Download and read the instructions. It's all fairly simple.

 

[Pipcard]

Velcro.

Which Velcro rockets?

 

[sputnik]

Many payloads is one of CVEL's strengths; any should do it with no problem. And Velcro, since it speaks CVEL, will work fine too.

There's a scenario for CVEL Titans: Vela Hotel launch. Find it; it's already configured to do exactly what you describe; launching 7 small satellites of 500-1000 kg each.

 

[garyw]

Which Velcro rockets?

Any of them? have a look, do the payload maths?

Many payloads is one of CVEL's strengths; any should do it with no problem. And Velcro, since it speaks CVEL, will work fine too.

Same with multistage, it is litterally as easy as editing a text file.

 

[Pipcard]

it is litterally as easy as editing a text file.

I'm worried about the payloads not being aligned properly to the rocket (like the payload appears to be floating or cutting through the rocket). Then you have to go to the text file again and again (ad nauseum) until you get it correct.

 

[garyw]

I'm worried about the payloads not being aligned properly to the rocket (like the payload appears to be floating or cutting through the rocket). Then you have to go to the text file again and again (ad nauseum) until you get it correct.

Nope. You do it once and KEEP THE FILE OR A NOTE. Then you know roughly the alignment for the next time you want to use that rocket. In fact, teh cfgs that any vessel ships with give you a good starting point.

Yes, it can be a little bit of messing around at times but thats just part of the fun of orbiter.

 

[Cras]

I'm worried about the payloads not being aligned properly to the rocket (like the payload appears to be floating or cutting through the rocket). Then you have to go to the text file again and again (ad nauseum) until you get it correct.

Yhea, that can happen. I know I just had a rough time getting a station module to look right in the payload bay of Eridanus, but like garyw said, once you have it figured out, save the file (I keep them all for the missions to look back on for reference) and it makes future payloads quite simple really.

Jarvis is a wonderful. Plenty of varients for the different payload masses, good visuals and audio to go along with the launch. Just set up the payloads, do a simple edit to the guidance file to get it to launch on the heading you want, and sit back and watch the show.

And a bit of different thinking, you can always carry the multiple payloads in the bay of the Space Shuttle, or Eridanus, or the G42-200.

 

[Pipcard]

And a bit of different thinking, you can always carry the multiple payloads in the bay of the Space Shuttle, or Eridanus, or the G42-200.

I want my payloads to also fit into a XR2 or DGIV bay.

 

[Loru]

Themis Launch Vehicle - payload manager included

 

[Cras]

I want my payloads to also fit into a XR2 or DGIV bay.

Those are tight fitting payload bays. The DGIV really can only hold one meaningful payload. For example, only one MTKSSAT will fit. On the otherhand, three can fit in the XR2, but I have found not much else will be able too. It is a narrow and shallow area.

Eridanus can fit one good sized module like a MPLM. Not much room for anything more than that. It has an airlock that goes pretty deep into the payload bay which takes up quite a bit of the space in there, and it is a small plane to begin with.

Space Shuttle, well you can stuff that thing with all sorts of stuff.

Then there is the XR5. I almost call using that thing cheating. Enough room in that payload bay to bring up an entire space station in one go...around the moon.

 

[MaverickSawyer]

I usually test fit the payloads with UCD. Just keep the payloads aligned with the center.
You know, I really need to bust out that CD in my C++ for Dummies book I got for christmas and get coding. Maybe I could make a program that tells you which Velcro booster you should use. but that's getting fftopic: :lol:

 

[fausto]

Eridanus can fit one good sized module like a MPLM. Not much room for anything more than that. It has an airlock that goes pretty deep into the payload bay which takes up quite a bit of the space in there, and it is a small plane to begin with.

I have to say that eridanus payload bay can now fit two modules.. two is better than one :lol: