Please contribute to our Space Station Gallery

[Bill Mueller]

I would like to encourage everyone to build their own ISS and upload it along with a screen shot, to our Saved game page at: www.spacestationsim.com/products/game1/saveswap.html

Eventually we will get some of our friends from NASA to comment on the designs, but for now (until everyone starts to come up to speed) I think it would be a great place to exchange ideas.

I have uploaded a test station for starters. This is very similar to the original NASA design with a crew of leveled up astronauts. While this can show you what is possible, it certainly is not the last word on ISS design.

Let's see what you got!

Best Regards,

Bill

[hayoo]

Once I can get a station going that doesn't have a crew bail on me, I'll post an image.

[johnnywalker]

I've created a few smallish stations so far, mainly using Russian kit with a few extra bits thrown in - I'll try to upload them when I get home from work later today.

[Bill Mueller]

Johnnywalker,

Very interesting station. Nice slim profile for low resistance (there is air at 240 miles). It appears that you won the game with about the fewest modules possible (very efficient). You are going sideways and have your solar panels in a YVV attitude.
See: www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/main/index.html

You could keep going and build a bigger station from this core. Your astronauts will almost take care of themselves at this point and you have lots of flags to buy anything you like. Good job.

Bill

[johnnywalker]

Thanks Bill, I'm glad you like it.

I decided to try the sideways orientation for this station as it meant that Zvezda would be as close as possible to the middle of the station - I was trying to keep Zvezda as a central point for the astronauts to return to so that they could interact with each other to improve their social rating, whilst still keeping them close to the other modules for fast access to the rest of the station.

Here is a link to a pdf which has a nice description of the YVV attitude
pims.grc.nasa.gov/pimsdocs/public/ISS%20Handbook/hb_qs_vehicle_yvv_pg1.pdf

When I looked at the NASA plan for construction of ISS, the first thing that struck me was that Zvezda was stuck right at one end, and to get there from the bulk of the science modules the astronauts would have to transit through Node 2, Destiny, Node 1 and Zarya - which is a fairly lengthy hike!

Tonight, for comparison, I'm going to attempt to build the ISS as envisaged by NASA. I hope to be able to upload save games at the US core complete stage, and at the final build stage.

[johnnywalker]

As promised, I've uploaded save games of the ISS in various stages of construction: US core complete and proposed final build state.

There are no racks in any of the non-Russian modules, and only Zvezda is completely kitted out in both save games. The astronauts are fairly good at looking after themselves, so its up to you to outfit the modules to maximise flag potential and win the game!

Enjoy! ;D

[Bill Mueller]

Go Baby!

Best Regards,

Bill

[hayoo]

Uploaded my latest monstrosity that I'm sure NASA would freak out over.

No doubt I could have won with fewer modules and more patience, but I was having too much fun experimenting.

Having completed this one, I came away wishing we could send up more than 4 astronauts. A station of this size probably needs at least two Astrotechs, but I wanted to maximize flags by having a full compliment of classes.

I also wished I'd paid more attention to their starting stats. My younger astronauts were constantly trying to sneak off and repair dangerous equipment, but to make matters worse their stats would also drop more frequently than Sergei or my second astronaut. It was a chore to keep up. I worked poor Sergei to death and was forced to plant exercise equipment, entertainment units, and other crew racks at all points on the station for quick access. Very messy, but it won me the game.

The station's many node points was mainly to accomdate more modules that could run materials experiements. My scientist for that class was the last to go up, so he was very inexperienced and you'll see a lot of the failed racks in the lab modules. Had I understood better which racks my newbie could install and when, I would have had less modules for Sergei to go zipping around in. Poor guy.

[hayoo]

Submitted my latest station to the gallery. This one isn't a mess, I promise.

[Bill Mueller]

We will soon have a contest to design the best stations. We will have the entries judged by a NASA contractor with 20 years at the agency. I am open to suggestions for categories at the moment. We will finalize the rules in a month or so.

So far my suggestions are:

Every entry should be a winning station. NO CHEATS WILL BE ALLOWED. (Yes there are cheats. No, you can't have them.)

Categores should be: NASA projected station, with listed research on the many varieties and design changes over the years.

The most beautiful station. (Aerodynamics will be strongly considered.)

The ugliest station. Knock yourself out!

The smallest winning station. This would include modules and components.

If you have any suggestions, please let us know. The prizes for this contest will be NASA patches, pins and stuff like that. I might even be able to get an autographed photo from an astronaut.

Best Regards,

Bill

[firelord609]

Yes! another contest, and what do you mean by "Categores should be: NASA projected station, with listed research on the many varieties and design changes over the years." hey i just want to be sure before i do something that is againts the rules.

[Bill Mueller]

NASA has had quite a few design changes over the last few years. There is information on the internet about original designs and progressive changes (downsizing). One of the requirements in this category should be aerodynamics.

I usually build the original design when I play the game. That design will no longer be built, but we can dream can't we?

Best Regards,

Bill

[firelord609]

so i could build anything.

[wtc69789]

hmmm.. I have some really ugly ones... But I do have a nice newer one, but it is huge...

[kosmonaut]

HI everyone, I'm the new guy on the block. How do we take screenshots of our stations?