Probodobodyne Stayputnik

Stayputnik Mk. 1/Box The Probodobodyne Stayputnik is an unmanned command module that runs on electricity.

Product description

“

The Stayputnik offers the ultimate solution in crew safety. A lightweight sphere equipped with remote receivers and relay control input from the ground to the craft, it carries no crew at all, thus keeping them perfectly safe from all harm. This device does require electricity to operate however, and will cease to function if the power runs out. The built-in batteries should keep it going for about 10 minutes. — Probodobodyne Inc

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Usage

Generally placed at the top of the rocket, the Probodobodyne Stayputnik provides full command module functionality but no SAS. Due to the lack of internal torque, rockets using a Probodobodyne Stayputnik module tend to require vectored thrust, RCS thrusters or reaction wheels. The Stayputnik only features one tiny-size node on its bottom.

Despite being a basic probe core, it has a few advantages. It is the second-lightest command pod, with only the Probodobodyne OKTO2 being lighter. It is also the cheapest unmanned command module, making it valuable for near- or at-KSC part testing contracts. It consumes the least electric charge per second while hibernating (only about 15% of the Probodobodyne OKTO), so it may be a good choice for low-electricity probes, like solar-powered Jool and Eeloo probes. In addition, it has an unusually high heat tolerance (1800 K), which is only beaten by endgame, high-tech probe cores (such as the Probodobodyne HECS2).

Trivia

• The name and shape of the Stayputnik strongly resemble the USSR’s first, and by extension, humanity’s first satellite, Sputnik.

• The name may also be a reference to the first US satellite launch of the Vanguard TV3. Upon its catastrophic failure on the launchpad, foreign press made fun of the Vanguard, calling the satellite, among other things, a “Stayputnik”.

Changes

1.5

• New model and texture

1.2

• Added KerbNet

0.90

• Renamed from Stayputnik Mk1. to Probodobodyne Stayputnik.

0.22

• Renamed from Stayputnik Mk. 2 to Stayputnik Mk1. The texture still reads "Mk. 2", though.

0.18

• Initial release