http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af80/S4urok/Thisbad.png

Awesome game


I have hard time getting my rockets into orbit. I can't even imagine how hard it will be to get one into moon...

I did the same, for all I knew, I may have been in an orbit, but it was a very long one, and I seemed to be getting further away from the planet a lot faster than I was going around it. If I'd conserved it, I suppose I could have thrusted back towards the planet. I wonder how far out you can go, and then turn around?

This is the Freestar 2, with extra solid boosters to give it more fuel left over in space:

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr212/Qeros/kerorb.jpg

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr212/Qeros/kerorb2.jpg

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr212/Qeros/kerorb3.jpg




Imagine the rocket needed to get spaceborne, reach the moon, orbit and come back. :ahhh:

Remember, we're being forced to do this all on one engine (Unless you want your rocket to nearly vibrate itself apart in the air). The Saturn V has 5 engines blasting at once.

You know, that SAS module you have attached to the command module will just explode when attempting a landing, might as well put it underneath your final detacher rather than above it.


We're gonna need some better engines for something like that.

I know, I just like to be able to control the spinning of the command module.


Currently 13 minutes into my second orbit attempt, I did a lot of horizontal boosting at 200,000m, to give me good momentum around the planet. Currently crossing over the Africa shaped bit and over the Eurasia and arctic sea area, at 600,000m:

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr212/Qeros/ORD4.jpg
http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr212/Qeros/ORB5.jpg
http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr212/Qeros/ORB6.jpg

What's on the dark side? All I'm seeing so far is ocean.


Orbit is starting to decay now, hopefully, we'll make it halfway around the planet.

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr212/Qeros/kerorb7.jpg


What I need is an extra rocket for course correction.

The command module has it's own built-in SAS.

But not an automatic one.




My booster's about to hit a mountain range in beringia.

What do you mean "Automatic"?

One that you can turn on with "T".


Orbit fast decaying now, over the dark side:

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr212/Qeros/darkorb.jpg

Ah. Well I cheat a bit with the command module SAS. If you hold F, then minimize/prioritize another window, when you switch back the SAS will stay on without you pressing it and will stay so until you press F again.

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr212/Qeros/sunrise.jpg

I thinki it's gonna be a coastal landing.

You stole my picture idea. And the title!

Oh, so I did, sorry. I was thinking I'd heard it somewhere...


http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr212/Qeros/water.jpg

Sadly the whole thing exploded due to the darkside bug, but it was still half an orbit.


Seems the Freestar MK.II is a pretty decent craft for orbital flying and escape velocity, though it does veer sharply during takeoff, it soon corrects itself. I just hope that adding a small manouvering rocket for orbital course correction won't drastically affect the balance or weight of the thing.



I like how the learning curve mirrors real rocketry history. You start with atmospheric rockets to test flight, maybe just limp into space with a small rocket, gain practice at making routine spaceflights, achieve escape velocity, and eventually aim for making stable planetary orbits.

Finally finished a two hour flight meant to test the vospollo's capability to reduce speed with remaining fuel after launch. Speed was successfully reduced and the command module was destroyed by the dark side bug after a successful landing 2 hours after mission start.

What do you mean by reducing speed? Firing the rockets in the opposite direction to push slightly the opposite way?

pretty much. Just spun the rocket in the opposite direction and burned the remaining fuel. Got the command module down a lot faster.

That's what I did. Line up the rocket with the yellow circle with an X in it (The exact opposite direction that you're moving) and activate your engine until you slow down.

Oh so THAT's what those mean!

Ah, so it's basically a retrothrust. I've done that to change direction during an (attempted) orbit, but not really bothered to use it to speed my return to the planet. In most cases I've used my fuel to try to gain the maximum distance or speed.

I wanna try doing it with a winged command module, seeing if you can glide most of the way with a space plane. Of course, you'd need the parachute for the final drop, but wings really do seem to affect the flying ability of the craft. In high atmosphere they might help you keep a horizontal flight even as you fall, without the need for rockets.

So, is there a point to re-entry? Am I supposed to land anywhere specific? I'm asking because I've built one ship that has been consistent in its flights. I keep landing the little Kerbals hoping there would be some sort of, "Congratulations for planning, executing and landing a successful mission! Now build a different ship with this configuration." But no. So, I've been building ships that are designed to kill Kerbals.

There isn't any point to safely landing yet, except for determining when your craft would land.

Got mine to 24,000m the second time. Used 3 boosters then 3 liquid engine with tanks.

Edit: Made it a good way out. Currently at 70,000m and moving up alot. tri-boosters, then 2 sets of liquid engines with fuel tanks. 4th try.

Can you upgrade components?

Edit Edit: New highscore is 1400km

http://i731.photobucket.com/albums/ww316/SimpsonFly/KSP2011-07-1608-46-20-74.jpg. I call it the Mk.II. It's an improved version of my previous "The Tower" rocket. Improvements include replacing the liquid stage rockets with boosters, thus making it less top-heavy and thus more stable, while giving it more power at liftoff.

I've uploaded a new video chronicling my many failed attempts to reach maximum velocity: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hK84RVrQ5QU

Hope you enjoy!

That's hilarious. I like the one that just explodes on the launchpad.