Engineering a spin launcher for Ortus City | KSP 1.11.2

[@Stratzenblitz75]

Well, well... Its been a hot second (AKA over 6 months) since my last video, but its finally ready. I'm pleased to present my submission to Ortus City, a fully reusable spin launcher! The reason this took so long is that I went through several different failed designs that ultimately took a lot of time to develop. However, that time is not lost; I learned a ton from it and some of those failed designs show promise for future projects... So hopefully that means the next video will come out in a more reasonable timespan. This project was organized by Knight of Saint John. They contributed a huge amount of effort into organizing and building this city and it really shows. Check out their showcase video here! kzbin.info/www/bejne/i6C8gXtnrt-Go68

[@id_pyro5912]

Well done!

[@jacobstep7153]

Nice

[@DK-tm9du]

Please, do a video about yours unsuccessful projects!

[@JYF921]

You should show the original railgun just for coolness

[@cooking_bakingg]

@@JYF921 yeee,that would be so coool

[@Benlucky13]

The whole "mammoth engines as rcs thruster" really puts the insane size of this thing in perspective

[@wafflestcattash4818]

696th like

[@Meanslicer43]

@@wafflestcattash4818 nice

[@Daniel-pu6yk]

1000th like

[@demarcuscousinsthe65th]

I mean its literally 380 thousand pounds

[@YICHEN-k8h]

How about 7 vectors 7 vectors have more thrust than 1 mammoth

[@bestsynth4102]

"Use these Mammoth engines as RCS thrusters" is a phrase I want to never hear again.

[@floorknob4330]

The idea the craft was so massive it needed that to be the case is mind boggling, but I agree

[@phoenix0166]

@@floorknob4330 overclocked mammoths as RCS

[@MeneltirFalmaro]

Stratzenblitz truly is the Chuck Norris of KSP players.

[@JYF921]

@@phoenix0166 or just overclock normal rcs in that case

[@DubiousFIN]

I see a Synth

[@odw32]

NASA administrator: "Why do we jettison the fairing and do stage separation so high up in space?" Engineer: "Reliability. At that height Florida is rendered at a significantly lower LOD, so it reduces lag, and without Atlantic wave physics we can easily delete the booster debris from the ocean" Administrator: "That makes sense"

[@asgodandheinleinintended2398]

Ah, simulation theory.

[@revenevan11]

🤣 love this comment!

[@JonesCrimson]

Meanwhile at the Kremlin: "Yuri, this is amazing, how are you keeping so steady?" "I modified the physics significance of the heat shield to 0 which makes them physically significant. Very common bug I hear."

[@canrex7540]

@@JonesCrimson You mean the Kerblin, right?

[@JonesCrimson]

@@canrex7540 I'm having issues with your continuity, there is a NASA but no Kremlin?

[@agravemisunderstanding9668]

Can we appreciate how this guy perfectly positioned and timed that spin launch so that the payload could intercept duna from minimus

[@superpig9458]

I’ve been looking for this comment…

[@Oxigenium1]

There was a maneuver in mid space. But, to be honest, initial launch was pretty precise, yeah

[@morgansmith1529]

probably cos he had a 5 minute window to do it in cos of game lag

[@rebel6301]

i mean hey atleast residents on Duna get some delicious Minmus icecream

[@cherriberri8373]

He may have missed by about 200m/s, but if you can calculate it and automate when it releases, there is no need for maneuvering with a system like this- if the payload is remote controlled, and most are

[@MultiHunterOne]

I figure putting a huge spinning arm with a projectile attached exactly in line with the colony is the most optimal way of positioning it in case of a failure.

[@aurorastarfury]

If it ever does fail... no witnesses!

[@extended_e]

Kerbals are not know for fearing astronomical thing's, even if they are astronomical forces directed to their infrastructure.

[@achtsekundenfurz7876]

From an engineer's POV, it's probably the fastest way from failure back to the drawing board, ever.

[@barklet6110]

And encouragement for maintenance to be done when needed

[@aliensmokingablunt]

With a giant fuel barrel attached!

[@spaceguy9025]

This is just incredible, great work to everyone who participated in this project!

[@nktslp3650]

The good thing about the lag, is that you can never miss your ejection timing. You even probably can make yourself a cup of coffee while releasing, because of the immense lag due to the unclamping process. Genius.

[@davisdf3064]

That is, until you press it just past the right time, and it ends up hitting the ground

[@pyropulseIXXI]

Lag doesn't make things easier to time..... lmao what

[@dsdy1205]

It does actually. Online ping lag would make things harder, but this is just an offline slowing-fown of the physics engine. So all the steps are uniformly slowed down, which means if the margin of error to release the payload is 1s, you may actually have 4 seconds to get it right.

[@eekee6034]

Unclamping lag won't help because it happens after you hit the button, but the general frame rate lag from huge builds will... I think. Depends on the code design.

[@Aedumz672]

Hes in Spain without the a Very nice job on the sci-fi trebuchet, perfect cherry on top for this incredible outpost. I have absolutely no doubt that whatever upsilon comes up with next will be even more ambitious and awesome. keep up the good work homie

[@Stratzenblitz75]

Thanks homie I'd appreciate if the next upsilon project was a tad less ambitious. As cool as Ortus is, the 7000 part count is Spain without the S

[@JYF921]

@@Stratzenblitz75 more like Spain without the S

[@Stratzenblitz75]

@@JYF921 im an actual english idiot, that is what I meant to say

[@martijn9568]

@@Stratzenblitz75 Nah you're obviously French😉

[@phoenix0166]

@@martijn9568 naw he Canadian. He just living in Quebec or whatever

[@KnightofSaintJohn]

However much I am grateful for the time and effort everyone in the team put into this project, without you, neither Upsilon, nor Ortus City would have been possible in the first place. And on top of that, you've been able to push the limits of KSP yet again! All that while holding a stable job... if you can do this, then I guess I should give it a go as well. Being perhaps the only person who has had to record a lot of footage inside that lag-infested city, I've acquired new heights of respect for many of your previous projects. *cough* helicarrier *cough* You didn't compromise on getting the best shots, in spite of the strain this project puts on your sanity. Truly Marvelous! (oh and by the way, I take that comment about 'unruly dissenters' personally)

[@Ancient_Hoplite]

The insane engineering and calculations necessary to build the launcher...throws the payload the wrong way flinging it into interplanetary space, nice! Then uses it to throw a bunch of (flattened) minty ice cream. Genius

[@BCsJonathanTM]

"Wow that's gonna a pain to disassemble, launch, land, and reassemble" I thought. But apparently there was another solution to that problem. Subscribe button smashed.

[@MrMarttivainaa]

The traditional kerbal solution of more boosters, I love it.

[@SlacksOfficial]

This launcher has an impressive amount of engineering to it. Well done stratz!

[@JYF921]

Well done to Stratzenblitz and everyone else who worked on this project! We really smashed a few colony records here and set new standards of cool! (Also as the designer of the spaceport, I hereby announce that the radar of the control tower can spin at 460 rotations per minute. Who in hell needs phased array radar again?)

[@andrewchapman2039]

The amount of physics simulation mastery and just regular physics know-how that's gone into this project is just downright impressive

[@TheGoalster]

This is B E Y O N D P H Y S I C S

[@pyropulseIXXI]

@@TheGoalster This is literally extremely simple physics, such that they teach it in 8th grade physics class

[@pyropulseIXXI]

@@TheGoalster Extremely simple physics present You: tHiS iS bEyOnD pHySiCs

[@puiu102006]

@@pyropulseIXXI its a joke my guy.

[@eekee6034]

It's basic physics PLUS weird game bug science. Oh and weird game not-bug science too: how to make good bearings, which power wheels to use, etc.

[@fordprefect6151]

I appreciate how this channel has slowly shifted slowly from building more and more impressive crafts to completely fucking over the physics engine

[@pyropulseIXXI]

This isn't fucking over the physics engine at all..... this is super basic physics. The engineering is more complicated by far

[@pinkythreat]

@@pyropulseIXXI yeah it’s basic physics but he’s still fucking with the games physics engine

[@averiWonBTW]

reminds me of speedrunner expoits

[@Thomas-hz8vb]

@@pyropulseIXXI ah yes the basic physics that also exist irl of if i just stay far enough the world wont render it and have it be static and indestructable

[@BisexualPlagueDoctor]

I mean rotating a fucker into space is a legit proposed way to send thing to space without wasting fuel

[@homiedaclown4381]

Normal people: 'I put this payload into orbit with a rocket!' Stratzenblitz: 'Haha, payload go YEET!'

[@hokutoulrik7345]

A truly Kerbal way to launch something.

[@xioana]

more like sending it interplanetary lol

[@michaelbuckers]

There's a company literally named "spinlaunch" who do exactly this. The payload flip is a problem because of aerodynamics and they haven't sorted the launch balancing issue.

[@DrBusiness9]

“Homie DaClown”😂😂😂😂😂 bro is saying yet too

[@hugofolpp1753]

THE UPSILON INTIATIVE IS STILL ACTIVE?!? EPIC that City looks Glorious btw, absolutely glorious, the builders who made those buildings are phonomenal artists. I lost it when I saw the fish tank That spin launcher is amazing too, it looks great, functions spectacularly and is awesomesauce

[@SaltpeterTaffy]

The Electric-To-Duna video is still your magnum opus, but this video is an elegant demonstration of your ability to inject magic into the science of the KSP world.

[@Nico-dt5hu]

i love how the spin is in the same plane as the milky way, makes for a majestic orderly background

[@analkalinne]

The Spinlaunch concept just made an impressive come back to the KSP universe, which it should have NEVER left.

[@bunbun2181]

This is what a master of a sandbox game looks like. It’s insane how much knowledge about the game you have. Mad respect

[@joshuasims5421]

A magnificent build. Also I always love to see your elevator designs, each one is a little different and equally awesome.

[@DarkStar-nw8ee]

the joker threatening space-gotham after he hacked the spin launcher

[@casualbird7671]

I love that old spinlaunch ion engine video to death, the music and cinematography were perfect. I am glad to see you revisiting the concept. Also, doesn't the game allow you to hotkey any engine as an RCS thruster with the robot parts expansion?

[@Stratzenblitz75]

Thank you! I have not seen a feature that lets you use engines as RCS. The closest thing Ive seen is the KAL controller (which I did try to use) but that turned out to be really obnoxious to use. KSP kept forgetting my action groups so I gave up and used a mod for it

[@casualbird7671]

@@Stratzenblitz75 Can't you use the extra action groupings they added and bind anything to control inputs/rcs translation? Though I suppose they'd be on even when you didn't want them to be for every single movement, and that might waste fuel

[@pocarski]

@@casualbird7671 You could also bind a hotkey (or hell, just the actual RCS button) to toggle the engines, so you could turn them off gradually. Maybe a second KAL to tweak their thrust values on the go.

[@sebastianlippold9120]

The stream for this was so much fun to watch!

[@Stratzenblitz75]

Thanks, I had fun with that too. It was the first time I got something to work in what felt like months lol

[@KnightofSaintJohn]

Maybe next time, we get Moar SSTO on a hotline for technical support. Aside from building space aquariums, he's an excellent kraken slayer.

[@chlorophylte7487]

@@Stratzenblitz75 What do kerbals look like if you spin them in the machine?

[@comicsansgreenkirby]

@@chlorophylte7487 they look like “:D”.

[@muditatrey6295]

It's so cool, most people watching haven't even watched the hours long stream you did for just the launch and landing of this

[@joelsmith3473]

Love this solution. My own Minmus fuel station to LKO route involved driving the payload as fast as possible along the flats until they become airborne before switching to conventional rockets. Only saved about 40 m/s Δv and was really finicky.

[@Ais4Drew]

Imagine having such intimate mastery of a game that you can do something like take B-reel and stage shots whilst still casually maintaining the orbital mechanics of rockets and landers. Props to Stratz for showing that it IS rocket science… and rocket science… at least in game… can be pretty easy with enough hours and practice 😎

[@dd8630]

I adore the clever use of the parts here; the air brakes to make a clamp, wings to make bits of the spinner structure, the spherical lander module, all of it. Ingenious!

[@coppertfox]

This Guy came back for a Spin Launcher and just disappeared again.

[@Qfeys]

Holy cow! I'm the original writer of 'Throttle control avionics'. I can't believe it still shows up!

[@Stratzenblitz75]

Thank you for your work! Its a hell of a useful mod: does things much better than the stock game.

[@snosibsnob3930]

As I said on Knight's vid, It was an honor to work with you all. I hope to be able to do this again! ~Still Snosib- Still too lazy to switch accounts

[@raf444]

From all the ridiculous builds I seen in KSP over the last 10 years, this probably takes the cake, amazing! I love it.

[@jan_Sanku]

I'm 1 minute into the video and I'm already convinced that you broke into several high security facilities to assemble the computer you're playing on

[@evancole4081]

I've always fantasized of the concept of a centrifuge deployment system and you just made my day so much better

[@das_hans]

One of the reasons I’m always excited about the potential of simulation. Imagine one day there might be a physics sim that is 100% accurate. Then the sheer amount of research possible in such an environment would probably lead us to find all sorts of weird phenomena that we would never be crazy enough to look for irl. Or at least try stuff we would never dare try for real because of the cost or danger involved. Anyway till then I think finding the borders of more simple sims like this is the best training. Anyway, still all far away.

[@pigmentpeddler5811]

all fun and games until you upset the real life kraken :')

[@sakuranatsume6347]

Or you find a "bug" inside the simulator that also occurs in real life

[@AIRDRAC]

In the end I low-key expected you to strap Jeb to the launcher with a seat, just to see how far you could throw him. Amazing work!

[@Arae_1]

I think using the word "engineering" instead of "building" is pretty accurate for this thing

[@pizzasharkguy3807]

Ahh still waiting for the next vid. Hope it is great like all the other ones.

[@SolarNations]

Gonna Need to step up our game to reach this

[@oscills]

One of the most exiting things about ksp 2 is that community bases like this one will become a normal basic part of the game

[@gannon291]

"In order to save fuel launching from the moon, we strapped 150ish saturn v rockets to a 38,000 ton tower and sent it to space" Also, spinlaunch is a real thing people are working on... just without the nearly 200 saturn v rockets.

[@mk6315]

So amazing how reality doesn’t lag when human players do inefficient things in large scales Truly inspiring

[@eekee6034]

We don't see the lag because we're inside the simulation. :) But if it's not a simulation, then it's more like every subatomic particle is a computer. ... Ohhhh... I wonder if quantum tunneling is actually these particle computers hitting their physics frame rate limits? XD

[@jellybeaniac152]

I wanted to watch this but I forgot the name so I searched ‘big spin boi ksp’

[@1940_maustank]

Did it work?

[@jellybeaniac152]

@@1940_maustank yea

[@justaguycalledjosh]

TCA is my favourite KSP mod. absolutely the GOAT.

[@eekee6034]

WOOHOO! I started playing KSP with the intention of building infrastructure, my plans are well under way, and Minmus has proved to be an essential part of those plans. I love this video already and I've hardly started watching. :D Ortus City looks super-cool from above. I'm taking notes for my city plans. :D :o the gravity hab! socool! _notes down the mod name for rocket rcs_ i wondered if the 200m limit would play a role. i rewatched the dres canyon bridge video the other day to remind myself of it. haven't used it yet tho. interesting bearing! all this bearing stuff is still in the future for me. 5000 hours is not enough! haha! let me guess; the tanker's actual target is another planet, and it's going to get there with a kerbin gravity assist... aw, but that was just wishful thinking. :D oh duna, cool! got to keep those dissenters in line! XD great launcher, great city!

[@scottcantrell_cosmere]

I love how he is making concessions to realism with the counterweight and overall spin launcher design, then uses THAT launch vehicle.

[@jamesmnguyen]

It'd be awesome to adapt this to make a working skyhook (as seen in Kurtzgesat's video)

[@oscarq9195]

These guys are gonna do some wild stuff in KSP 2

[@therealspeedwagon1451]

I want to see a scaled down version of this. Just so I could make my own mini outpost complete with smaller space yeeter trebuchet to deliver smaller payloads possible up to 50 tons.

[@samario7935]

unfortunately because of the amount of physics abuse involved I don't think you could actually make it much smaller without also making it explode

[@TechnicalFR3AK]

The amount of planning, design, and time (lag) you all endure to put together such a GOAT of project is so well appreciated. Fantastic job on the video and much love to all the contributors 😃

[@jeffreykirkley6475]

Hey, I remember watching this stream! How possible is it to colonize (surface base + orbital station) the entire Kerbol system in one launch? Asking for a friend.

[@Stratzenblitz75]

That should be possible. If you keep the surface base + station simple, I could see this being reasonable in terms of parts

[@jeffreykirkley6475]

@@Stratzenblitz75 Awesome, so at least 30 parts per base/station! In seriousness, I was actually planning a lab, habitation can, and command pod per base and station. But this is KSP so shooting for the mün is in my job description.

[@aneurinhullah8687]

Are you thinking send one to everything all from one launch or build a craft that can go to anywhere, but only like one place per launch?

[@jeffreykirkley6475]

@@aneurinhullah8687 One launch. One single craft deploys everything. You start at Kerbin, deploy the space station, then head towards the Mun and Minmus, deploy space stations and surface bases for each, detach vessels bound for each area. Deploy any extra surface bases (one extra fron Kerbin cause "duh" one extra from Sun and Jool cause double "duh") to Laythe, and baddad bing badda bam, Bob's going to jail for his third DUI.

[@jackgearing5817]

I discovered your channel recently and it has quickly become one of my favorites. I absolutely love your ideas, engineering, editing, and style. I am so excited for your next upload, as I know it will be fantastic. Keep up the good work!

[@megan00b8]

I'm wondering, with a launcher that's not based on render distance, could we use some form of retractable counterweight to reduce the sudden forces of the release shock, but instead of being yeeted away too it will only act as a way to spread out that force over time.

[@eekee6034]

That would be some interesting engineering!

[@LC-mq8iq]

Absolutely incredible work. You are definitely the most impressive KSP youtuber, always love when a new video comes out.

[@acanadianderg4035]

You think you could make a space elevator on Gilly using the base anchor thing?

[@Stratzenblitz75]

Yes it should be possible. Gilly geostationary altitude is 42 km which is reachable with enough segments and patience Gilly is the only body where it is possible to make a space elevator interestingly enough. Geostationary altitude for all other bodies is higher than the reference frame change altitude (from rotating to inertial frames) and is such unobtainable. At least as far I know from what I've tested.

[@acanadianderg4035]

@@Stratzenblitz75 You could also just make a 2km tall (or however tall it needs to be to unload it’s physics) tether and slap a runway/landing pad on top with a docking port. It’s not like you need that much energy to go from orbital speeds to zero on Gilly.

[@phoenix0166]

@@acanadianderg4035 you can get sub 1m/s orbital speed if your high enough

[@krow1551]

I didn't think it'd be possible to make something like this. Not even just the spinner but the city as a whole!

[@legendlynxgaming2368]

I really like your logo and channel banner and was wondering who made it. Im thinking of starting a RP1 series and would like to commission a similar logo and channel banner

[@Stratzenblitz75]

Thanks! A good friend of mine made them a while a back but they don't take commissions. I'll forward your question to them and see if they're interested

[@shaneridge9557]

I feel like that claw that clamps the payload is the real unspoken hero here

[@MrSpecialjonny]

He ditched us

[@That_Freedom_Guy]

You said to me, " Thanks for sticking to the end". How the hell did you know !!? WOW! That's amazing!

[@captainstroon1555]

This has to be the coolest thing I've seen in KSP so far. And off I go to build a yeetinator of my own.

[@Eonz]

This is a certified "Yeet" technique of transporting cargo in space.

[@jonnypista52]

People who seen the original stream seen that when it ran at 1fps it ran butter smoothly, there were times when you had to wait half a minute for the next frame

[@misuyikillu]

dude youre as patient as a naza operator waiting to land a probe on the moon ...i mean ... 3 HOURS for 20 minutes of playtime , thats crazy dedication my dude

[@catfwish]

Edit before you read: I made this comment right before the spaceplane scenes, and believed the video to be over. This means that I only saw the more... militant applications of this after I commented. Thinking in terms of safety: if this were to be real, the launcher's trajectory would be perpendicular or offset from the colony, as otherwise a mistimed release could (in theory) send the payload ploughing through the colony, and in this colony specifically, the main gravity ring. This was slightly jarring when I realised, but otherwise, the video is great!

[@xolaya]

Oh my, that was also my thought! A second off and you would kill hundreds and destroy a colony!

[@spookykitty2327]

It's very Kerbal to have this huge mass being swung in line with a population center

[@Ineedanaccountnow0]

Such an awesome looking addition to the city. Definitely the coolest thing there, plus it comes with real and useful application. Nice job!

[@younscrafter7372]

Using Mammoths as RCS is something only Stratzenblitz would do

[@ovrsurge4689]

"speaking of things you shouldn't do..." and the camera shot had me cracking up in anticipation. Good video.

[@NataNation007]

I love that the way it's pointing, mistiming the launch by ~1 second will just dump 150 tons of rocket fuel onto the city at escape velocity.

[@jossypoo]

New sub. I've watched KSP videos for years, but i feel like I've literally doscovered a new world of Kerbals.

[@twanboltze8196]

My sadistic brain already had that idea the moment it touched the ground lmao

[@trentcard]

god damn dude i cant stop watching this, something so satisfying about the spinlauncher going YEET

[@silviapetrova9526]

I used to watch you and now i have reviseted your channel. I FELL THE NOSTALGIA

[@jimbobbyjoejr5679]

300k views in 3 weeks on a ksp video is impressive and so well deserved. Been watching since one thud to dres

[@philippmbaum]

Incredible! I would never have the patience to stretch the limits of KSP to such an extend

[@xaviersmorag8025]

The way it looked when you had the mammoths at the bottom looked sophisticated

[@Jrcraft]

I remember posing my spin launch stuff on the KSP Reddit hoping someone would take it farther. Nice job!

[@luichinplaystation610]

The amount of dedication, the edition, no lag footage to us..... I hope you grew a lot more in here

[@stammu21]

this is absolutely amazing well worth the 6 months of wait ly and hope u had a great xmas stratzen!

[@sethproaps8899]

Pulls out the booster subassembly, I call this an afront to God. This man's gonna bring clang into ksp.

[@wyldcat9396]

YESS I'VE BEEN LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS SINCE THE LIVESTREAM

[@Charlie-js8rj]

Once KSP 2 rolls around I can't wait to see what this madlad comes up with

[@Jester_117]

I feel like 20 or so videos from now we're just going to see that thing is snailing it's way across the City again

[@ermazargw3908]

I'm an absolute noob at KSP yet I always seem to find these videos entertaining

[@Mystiksniper]

bro, i just spent my weekend like 20 some hours and i fuckin just got to orbit and this man has a london tower sling shot up in space in two fuckin seconds and apologizes for the cleanest shit i ever saw

[@JisengSo]

I'm a little bummed that the machine works without a counterweight only because of the limited physics range, but I'm also utterly fascinated that the physics limitations of the game itself was used to stabilize the launch structure. I wonder what the spin launcher would look like in KSP2. Probably will need counterweights!

[@AprilBeck-t2r]

The beginning of knowledge is the discovery of something we do not understand.

[@EmuRules.]

The master is back at it again. Cant wait for the next crazy kerbal defying contraption!

[@AdamHolland-Adz]

Extremely underrated video. This is the stuff of legends. Please get hired by Nasa or something.

[@l1ghtd3m0n3]

Man, this makes me want to get back into KSP again

[@MiG-25IsGOAT]

This is proper kerbal engineering, I'm amazed by this!

[@sirnutzthe3rd519]

Thank you for continuing to upload even if it's through long time gaps

[@michal_king478]

first time on this channel and im blown away by the production quality. Also my pc would melt if I tried to load that many structures next to each other on the minmus haha

[@roufailsgames7239]

7:16 your inner Morshu is showing

[@nlagas]

Always a great pleasure to watch your videos and admire your amazing skills !

[@JeckH1337]

You are truly the best ksp player I have ever witnessed.

[@tarukariyamikara8908]

This is actually similar to a design proposed by some engineers for an efficient entry-and-exit system for planets both with and without atmospheres. The difference is that it would be in orbit with it perpetually spinning due to 0 air resistance. Essentially ships would dock onto the station as it reaches the top of its spin and be carried down to a lower orbit (and the station would gain a little bit of velocity as a result). Vitally, this theoretical craft would need to then take a ship up to higher orbit soon after to lose a bit of velocity and maintain its more or less constantspin