SSTU - Shadow Space Technologies Unlimited

Release Highlights

• Lots of updating on DOS, COS, HAB parts -- balance, adapter selection, textures
• Fixed up several outstanding bugs with animations, solar panels, part-upgrades.
• General cleanup of lots of part configs, mostly StationCore, but a few ShipCore and LanderCore updates as well.

Bug Fixes and Code Changes

• FIX - ModularFuelTank - validate tank min/max vertical scale on tank change. Should fix problems of the 0.25x and 0.75x tanks taking on the scaling of whatever was previously set.
• FIX - SSTUSolarPanelDeployable NRE in Editor (wrap part.vessel with null-check).
• FIX - MHS, PPC, PDC, ISDC, RBDC, IPA-N, IPA-W, FR-N, FR-W -- default 'maxDiameter' to 1.875m (should already be available by the time those parts are unlocked).
• FIX - SSTUAnimateLight -- (used for cabin lighting) Fix up to force set the render parameters every tick, even when not needed. Hacky workaround needed to fix the stock part highlighter being an ungraceful cludge.
• FIX - SSTUSolarPanelDeployable -- allow for negative scaling on panels for in-editor inversion.
• FIX - ModelData-SUBMODEL handling -- no longer crash/NRE on null transforms (if a parent transform is deleted, children will be null when iterating through entire model hierarchy).
• FIX - Modular parts (MFT, MSC, MSRB) to allow for use of an airlock on adapters or swapped cores. Only really applicable to MSC based parts.
• FIX - Re-export ST-GEN-DSP-SMXXX solar panels to fix UV, animation, and geometry alignment problems.
• FIX - Re-rig/animate/export DSP-DOS-T to fix animation issues and wobbly-broken panel syndrome.

Major Changes (potentially save breaking)

• MAJOR CHANGE - HAB parts have new part names. Will not be compatible with the prototype parts.
• MAJOR CHANGE - Add some new options to the stock game-options GUI (in-game, settings->difficulty->advanced->SSTU).
  • Enable/disable Fuel Boil-off entirely. Defaults to 'Enabled'.
  • Adjust Fuel Boil-off rate (0x-2x multiplier). Defaults to '1.0x'.
  • Toggle to use new model-select GUI or old UIChooseOption (global, applies to all modular parts). Defaults to 'Use New Model Select GUI = true'

New Parts / New Features

• NEW ADAPTER - 2.5m Airlock. Should be considered a prototype for now, but should be usable and any future changes should not be craft breaking.
• NEW PARTS - ST-HAB-A/B/C inflatables series are out of the prototype stage. Includes a single texture set currently, at least one more is planned. Multiple sizes and variants are available from 1.25m to 3.75m. Mass/cost/crew capacity balance is still underway, but the parts should be mostly stable.
• NEW FEATURES -- Quite a few back-end code side changes to support additional future expansion. Some of these features will be in use with JoseEduardo's SSTU-Expansion packs.
  • Allow for negative scaling for solar panel options in ModularStationCore parts.
  • ModularFuelTank adapted to allow for different top/bottom/core size ratios

Balance Changes

• CHANGE - Minor balance changes on DOS parts (mass/volume). Using standardized balance setup for all parts, should be more consistent.
• CHANGE - Minor balance changes on COS parts (mass/volume).
• CHANGE - Add data-transmitter module to all pods/probe cores where deemed appropriate (Merge PR's from Jimbodiah)
• CHANGE - Update ModuleDataTransmitter in all crewed parts + PPC to add default range values and consistent packet size/EC cost. Most of this is from PRs from Jimbodiah -- thanks Jim!
• CHANGE - Add KerbNet access to DOS and COS lab-equipped parts (DOS-LAB/PWR/TKS, COS-LAB-S/M/L)
• CHANGE - Decouplers now use their own upgrade unlock parts. Currently in the same nodes as the fairing upgrades, may be moved around in the future. WARNING This may be a craft-breaking change. Parts effected -- ISDC, RBDC, PDC.
• CHANGE - MST-ISS moved to 'Electrical' category. Crew capacity removed.

Mod Integration Changes

• CHANGE - Update the USI-LS patch for ST-DOS parts. Should now have ~120 kerbal-days worth of supplies when operating at or under recycler max crew values. Not all parts have recyclers (present in HAB, FEM, TKS, COM; lacking from LAB, PWR). Balance subject to change.
• CHANGE - Add initial USI-LS patch for ST-COS parts. -- WIP, needs a lot of work

Gameplay Changes

• CHANGE - IPA-N, IPA-W, FR-N, FR-W -- moved to 'Payload' category in the editor.
• CHANGE - Remove the ST-HAB-D variant. May return in an altered form in the future. In its place are two new
• CHANGE - DOS Parts now use separate config files per-part (rather than MM cloning patches).
• CHANGE - COS Parts -- each part now has its own config file, rather than being created solely through MM patch.
• CHANGE - Adapter selection on ST-MST-ISS -- swap 'none' adapter for one with a mesh.
• CHANGE - DOS Parts -- update adapter and docking port selection
• CHANGE - COS Parts -- update adapter and docking port selection
• CHANGE - HAB Parts -- update adapter and docking port selection
• CHANGE - ST-MST -- update adapter selection
• UPDATE - Update ISS/BKT solar panel textures, should be (mostly) finished. Fixes up the bad looking edges/seams where geometry was mirrored (error in NRM texture). Finishes up adding the specular and glow textures.
• CHANGE - DSP-BKT-D/E -- add in-editor mirroring to allow for skylab-like panel setups on parts.

Known Issues

• Zero-Boiloff tanks will still lose propellant under some situations (high timewarp, returning to vessel after a period of time of being away).
• Opacity code is not working for fairings / IPA / ISDC
• Docking ports on HUB parts can sometimes stick and refuse to undock.
• Part icons in the editor do not use AO shader. This is a limitation of how KSP sets up the part icons -- it overwrites all shaders with the 'KSP/ScreenSpaceMask' shader. Currently no known solution, but investigation is ongoing.
• Still missing a few of the pre KSP1.2 texture sets (solid colors, stock colors)
• Solar panels have not had stand-alone part balancing done (may have thermal issues, or rather lack of issues due to thermals; they don't like to overheat/explode).
• Custom solar panel shader is exhibiting some shading blowouts at some camera angles/orientations -- effects MST, ISS, and BKT parts. Cause unknown
• DOS and HAB do not have any window-lighting/emissives.
• Cost balance and tech-placement for StationCore parts is still WIP.
• DSP-BKT-D/E -- mirroring in editor is hard to control. Will be implementing custom solution for solar-panel mirroring in the near future.
• Any other currently open 'issues' tickets on the tracker.