Fairing
A fairing is a part which encapsulates other parts like a payload to shield them against aerodynamic stresses and heating. It also improves the aerodynamic shape reducing drag and making it more stable, if the payload is asymmetrical. The stock fairings are not real parts after separation so that they don't contribute to the number of parts in orbit as debris. The other usage apart from shielding the payload is as interstage fairings to make the outside smoother. For example when an smaller engine is used than the tanks above and below it, the stage decoupler will always have the diameter of the engine and not the tanks. Fairings don't provide structural integrity. Especially interstage fairings can be highly unstable and the usage of struts is recommended.
Because parts from the same craft can intersect each other without damaging, payloads which lean through the fairing won't cause any damage.
They are the first and currently[outdated] only procedural part available in the stock game. They are build in rings, which may be slanted, on top of each other. If the diameter is small enough it'll automatically add a “cap”. If the fairing is touching another circular part above the fairing base it'll create an interstage fairing. While drawing the fairing a status text will show it's mass and cost. It also shows if the current ring can be build and if the next placement will close the fairing.
List of fairings
| Image | Part | Radial size | Cost (  ) |
Mass (t) |
Max. Temp. (K) |
Tolerance (m/s) |
Tolerance (g) |
Max Radius (m) |
Panel mass (t/m2) |
Panel Cost ( /m2)
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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AE-FF1 Airstream Protective Shell (1.25m) | Small | 300 | 0.075 | 2 600 | 9 | 50 | 1.5 | 0.01 | 6 |
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AE-FF2 Airstream Protective Shell (2.5m) | Large | 600 | 0.175 | 2 600 | 9 | 50 | 3 | 0.012 | 12 |
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AE-FF3 Airstream Protective Shell (3.75m) | Extra large | 900 | 0.475 | 2 600 | 9 | 50 | 6 | 0.016 | 18 |
