WhimChaser by Axial Aerospace (WHIM)

Provides a fun to fly, efficient vertical launch/glider return vessel that can handle rescue missions as well as providing a low-cost crew service vessel (CSV) for Kerbal Space Program.

By `zer0Kerbal`, originally by, originally by `@artwhaley`

adopted with express permission and brought to you by KerbSimpleCo

This part addon features three(3) new parts
Part:
- WhimChaser pod
  - seats two
  - resources
  - 6-way RCS thrusters
  - engines
- Two ServiceModules
  - with resources and integrated junior compatible docking ports
  - regular and small sizes
Included configs:
- Goodspeed's GPO Fuel Pump
- OnDemandFuelCells
- NEAR/FAR

Preamble by `@artwhaley`

Inspired by Dream Chaser and Pteron, and gives a flight profile similar to Dream Chaser and the Space Shuttle, so it's something familiar and educationally valid.

This is a part for those times when you want to fly... not build. Towards that end, this single part has built in: ElectricCharge, MonoPropellant, Liquid Fuel, Oxidizer, aerodynamic control surfaces, 6-way RCS Thrusters and main Engines!

So with a part count of 1, you can throw this thing on the launchpad, hit the space bar, and leave the ground. You won't get far - as the fuel tanks only carry about 525 m/s of delta-V, but it's more than enough to blast off, turn east, and practice gliding to the water.

The idea is to launch and insert the shuttle into orbit on top of a conventional rocket then decouple and use the built-in engines and fuel for orbital maneuvering - shifting orbits, rendezvous(if you planned the launch well!) and de-orbit burn.

As a glider... the lift and drag numbers aren't great... but this is a spaceship first and a glider second. It's designed for water landing (it CAN tumble to a stop on land without killing kerbals... but I wouldn't call that a 'landing' exactly.) Because of the reasonably steep glideslope I haven't successfully landed it with wheeled gear without a lot of bounce and flip... though it might be possible? The engine also has sufficient TWR that you can operate in glider mode down to the last 250m, drop airspeed to 50m/s, and then turn the nose up and engine on and do a powered, vertical landing. It's a bit of a trick, but it can be done.

Keep in mind that this thing DOES generate lift from the body(though not OODLES of it)... so if you throw it on top of a rocket without any other aerodynamic surfaces it will be unstable. Standard winglets at the bottom of the launcher will keep the pointy end towards space. Because it's a single part... when it's by itself the COM and COL are at the same point when it doesn't have anything else attached. If you attach anything to it that shifts the COM aft, you're going to have stability problems unless you also attach winglets back there. I've had no problem throwing a small docking port on the back of the vessel, but trying to just strap an engine or fuel tanks to the back is a recipe for disaster when you're inside the atmosphere. Keep the COM at or in front of the COL and keep SAS on and it flies rather nicely... for a stubby space brick!

Here's a terrible youtube video showing the basics of flying the gizmo! I recorded it on my development machine which is set for low graphics quality to help speed up the thousand reloads required to get a mod working!

See More

See our Parts Catalog for part pictures
For more images, see our Marketing Slicks
Discussions and news on this mod: See Discussions or KSP Forums
Changelog Summary for more details of changes : See ChangeLog
Known Issues for more details of feature requests and known issues : See Known Issues
GitHub Pages : See Pages

Flag

YouTube

WhimChaser Demo by artwhaley

Help Wanted

From the original roadmap

Retractable docking port for Shuttle itself

IVA interior

Fairing for launch

Solar Panels on Service Modules

Compatibility patches

Community Tech Tree integration

Tech Tree Balancing

Contracts for these glorious parts

Variant Textures

Model updates to Unity 2019

Marketing Images and Videos such as hero shots, animated gifs, short highlight

Have a request? Glad to have them, kindly submit through GitHub.

Localization

English

your translation here

HELP WANTED - See the README in the Localization folder or the Quickstart Guide for instructions for adding or improving translations. GitHub push is the best way to contribute. Additions and corrections welcome!

Installation Directions ¹

Use CurseForge/OverWolf App (currently does not install dependencies)

Whilst I agree CKAN is a great mod for those that can't use zip tools. I take no part, nor am I interested in maintaining the CKAN mod metadata for my mods. Please don't ask me about it but refer to the CKAN mod thread if you are having issues with CKAN or the metadata it maintains. Beware, CKAN can really mess up though it tries very, very, very hard not to.

Dependencies

Suggests

Axial Aerospace mods by 'artwhaley'

Mods that benefit WhimChaser (WHIM)

KaboOom! (BOOM) another way to not go to space today
On Demand Fuel Cells (ODFC))
Pteron (MSRV)
Docking Port Descriptions(DPD)
Shielded PicoPort (SPP)
Inflatable PicoPort (IPP)
Stack Inline Lights (SIL)
Stack Inline Lights - Patches (SILP)

Supports

Legal Mumbo Jumbo (License provenance)

Current (2) - `zer0Kerbal`

Forum: Thread - Source: GitHub
License:

Disclaimer(s)

All bundled mods are distributed under their own licenses
All art assets (textures, models, animations, sounds) are distributed under their own licenses