The Kerbal Space Program (KSP) Thread

[The Boston Dangler]

absolutely, go for the bottom of the tech tree and unlock those science modules. science and career mode got a do-over .22 > .23, to take away the spamming of science but the current design is too far the other way. it will be revised again (and again).

1st things 1st, i begin with just a capsule and gather all crew reports, eva and surface samples from the launch pad, ksc and the runway. low hanging fruit. then, i launch a few missions to some nearby biomes - grasslands, shores, ocean, highlands, desert, mountains are all close to ksc. then, kerbin orbit, mun orbit and minmus landing.

the realistic progression of building mission capabilities and goals is fun and adds play time and value, imo.

 

[Chaotic42]

Looks like NASA is going to partner with the developer to release some special mission packs: Link

 

[bguile]

Looks like NASA is going to partner with the developer to release some special mission packs: Link

Well..I have mixed feelings on this.

I would prefer they finish the game first before they start worrying special mission packs.

Secondly, NASA's asteroid mission doesn't exaclty represent the pinnacle of space exploration. It just what they can afford to do these days, which is sad. Playing it in the game seems even sadder in some way. A Europa moon type mission would be much more exciting imo.

However, any extra content is always welcome.

And the more exposure KSP gets the better.

 

[shortylickens]

I put plenty of science modules and goop on a rocket, but after the first major research I'm only getting like 0.1 points from them each time. If I maintain a HUGE orbit can I get more?

 

[mizzou]

i wish they had preflight operations, so you have a more detailed and planned flight.

anyway, the game itself is extremely satisfying...if they bailed id feel OK...sorta like how notch bailed on minecraft. (no disrespect to jeb)

i dont think amy of us go into early access games with a sure expectation the game will be polished and finished

 

[Chaotic42]

I put plenty of science modules and goop on a rocket, but after the first major research I'm only getting like 0.1 points from them each time. If I maintain a HUGE orbit can I get more?

You get it for various heights above bodies. On the ground tends to get you a lot, orbiting gets you fewer. You'll get points for every body in the solar system, including the sun, but you'll need to be in orbit of it.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

I put plenty of science modules and goop on a rocket, but after the first major research I'm only getting like 0.1 points from them each time. If I maintain a HUGE orbit can I get more?

you can only score those science points once. go to the science building and click on the science archives tab to see what you've completed.

 

[shortylickens]

thats what I thought but for some reason it seemed like I was getting the same point over and over again for a little while. Then all of a sudden they shot down to 0.1.

I had two science modules collect the exact same 23 points (at the same time). Got 46 when I came back down and recovered the craft.

 

[shortylickens]

Methinks I'm just an amateur:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXKN...I6L089bfFLAAyEbVQd6eJr&feature=c4-overview-vl

 

[shortylickens]

PSA:

You cant land on the mun at 800 meters per second.

Keep that in mind for your trips.

 

[JamesV]

PSA:

You can re-enter and land safely on Kerbin going in excess of 4,000 mps when you hit the atmosphere. Meaning a direct collision course (not a planned landing).

And you can land on the Mun with greater than 800 mps. If* you have some serious thrusters to go from 800 to 8 in ten seconds or so... just saying... I've done it.

 

[shortylickens]

Got to Mun and Minmum.

Having trouble figuring out what qualifies as high orbit and low orbit. My goo and materials observations are coming up 0 for those achievements.

Have all of tier 1, 2, 3 and some of 4. No Tier 5 techs yet. Need to figure out what the best use of my resources is.

Am thinking if I research the Rockomax stuff I can get off Kerbal easier and have much more fuel for exploring.

On the other hand, Barometers may very well give me more science right here on Kerbal.

 

[BrightCandle]

Supposedly the best strategy is to max out the science gathering instruments to maximise the gains from any mission. The Rockomax tanks and thrusters do let you lift a bit more weight. But consider how many science points all that extra science equipment will net you on the existing missions, chances are it will pay for the rockomax advance and something more as well. You should end up net positive by focussing on more science equipment.

 

[shortylickens]

Yeah I think meters are the way to go. I've only nabbed a third of the potential experiments on Kerbal and the muns.


Also, does anybody know specifically which altitudes qualify as "high orbit" and "low orbit" for the two muns?
I can never seem to nab them with goo or material labs. Somehow I got them with Crew Reports but I never learned the exact height in meters.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

Yeah I think meters are the way to go. I've only nabbed a third of the potential experiments on Kerbal and the muns.


Also, does anybody know specifically which altitudes qualify as "high orbit" and "low orbit" for the two muns?
I can never seem to nab them with goo or material labs. Somehow I got them with Crew Reports but I never learned the exact height in meters.

http://wiki.kerbalspaceprogram.com/wiki/Science#Celestial_body_multipliers

 

[shortylickens]

http://wiki.kerbalspaceprogram.com/wiki/Science#Celestial_body_multipliers

Wait, so I need to be UNDER 60k to get the close flyby data?
Weird, cuz I tried it at 200k, 100, 50, 25, and 5. Got the high altitude goop and materials data.


Need to go back for a 5th trip. Wont have to land this time.

 

[shortylickens]

Has anybody found an effective, stable method to get 3 science jr's on a ship?

I tried stacking them in a single column but then I have a craft thats too long relative to the propulsion. It wiggles and waggles and sometimes breaks. I guess I could separate each of them with an SAS or RCS module to maintain control. But then the thing is even longer.


I tried stacking them around each other all on the same level. Aside from looking stupid it also makes the thing wobble a lot, and can also break.

 

[BrightCandle]

Do you have struts yet? Struts can be stitched to hold the components together and will add the structural strength you need. The wide approach works better if you use struts to help balance them.

 

[QuantumPion]

Has anybody found an effective, stable method to get 3 science jr's on a ship?

I tried stacking them in a single column but then I have a craft thats too long relative to the propulsion. It wiggles and waggles and sometimes breaks. I guess I could separate each of them with an SAS or RCS module to maintain control. But then the thing is even longer.


I tried stacking them around each other all on the same level. Aside from looking stupid it also makes the thing wobble a lot, and can also break.

Attach the materials bays radially from the center fuel tank (or better yet, lander can which has nice hexagonal sided attachment surfaces) and put landing legs on them to make a nice wide-based lander. Note that in 0.23 you can take science out of experiments and put them in the command pod on EVA, which means you can ditch the science bays after you use them and don't have to return them to Kerbin.

http://imgur.com/a/IommE

 

[QuantumPion]

Wait, so I need to be UNDER 60k to get the close flyby data?
Weird, cuz I tried it at 200k, 100, 50, 25, and 5. Got the high altitude goop and materials data.


Need to go back for a 5th trip. Wont have to land this time.

The best way to get tons of science early on is to make multiple landings on minmus at different biomes. Due to its low gravity it is easy to biome hop with a small lander with multiple material bays and goo cans.

Note that material bays, goo cans, crew reports and thermometer only have different biome science on the surface. There's only one "in space near" and "space high above" for those experiments per body. The only experiments which have "in space near biome", "space high above biome", or "flying over biome" are EVA reports and the gravioli detector. The difference between "in space near" and "flying above" is whether your trajectory is orbital or suborbital.

 

[shortylickens]

Attach the materials bays radially from the center fuel tank (or better yet, lander can which has nice hexagonal sided attachment surfaces) and put landing legs on them to make a nice wide-based lander. Note that in 0.23 you can take science out of experiments and put them in the command pod on EVA, which means you can ditch the science bays after you use them and don't have to return them to Kerbin.

http://imgur.com/a/IommE

Right now all I need is the high altitude flyby's. Am trying to make a probe ship instead of a manned vessel to reduce weight. But yeah, maybe one material bay with a Kerbal in EVA is better. Probably less weight and bulk overall.


Still need lots of RCS. Rockomax gear is sluggish compared to the other stuff.

 

[norseamd]

how much content is in this game. does it have only a couple of missions or options for each cotegory. or can you do tens if not hundreds of missions. the game worth to buy.

 

[QuantumPion]

how much content is in this game. does it have only a couple of missions or options for each cotegory. or can you do tens if not hundreds of missions. the game worth to buy.

There are no missions (planned for future release). It is purely a sandbox game. There are 6 planets and 9 moons to explore. The career mode simply adds a tech tree where you unlock new parts by gathering science points. In sandbox mode all the parts are available. The game goes on sale frequently, particularly when new versions are released. It is worth buying if you like building stuff and flight simulator type games. If you need structured gameplay you might get bored quickly.

 

[norseamd]

There are no missions

by that i meant missions like doing science on a planet or sending a probe to a planet or mining ore or orgainc materials. is there water and hydrocarbons. how complex is the game.

 

[QuantumPion]

Right now all I need is the high altitude flyby's. Am trying to make a probe ship instead of a manned vessel to reduce weight. But yeah, maybe one material bay with a Kerbal in EVA is better. Probably less weight and bulk overall.


Still need lots of RCS. Rockomax gear is sluggish compared to the other stuff.

Probes are a whole lot lighter than capsules. But I wouldn't bother making a whole mission just to get orbit science from the Mun, just make a new landing mission and get the orbit science on the way.