The Kerbal Space Program (KSP) Thread

[norseamd]

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.

so you have a fair amount of control over the spacecraft design. how many science data types are available to research. how many different resources are there

 

[QuantumPion]

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.

Well there's no set number of missions, just categories you can perform science on. If you are good you can gather most of the science available in one trip. Minmus and Mun have multiple "biomes" where you can repeat the same experiments to get more science, the other planets only have one biome currently. Some missions are exceedingly difficult, such as landing and returning from Eve with its high gravity and dense atmosphere.

There is a mod which adds the ability to mine resources on planets, to refuel rockets and such. There are lots of other mods that add other complexity such as reentry heat shields, satellite communications, life support, etc. There's even one mod that adds all sorts of future technology like plasma engines and nuclear reactors, even an Alcubierre drive (i.e. warp drive).

 

[QuantumPion]

so you have a fair amount of control over the spacecraft design.

That's got to be the understatement of the year lol. The game is like rocket legos. You can design and build anything your imagination can devise. One guy made a a working helicopter using wings for rotors, landing gears for the bearings, and small rockets to get it moving.

how many science data types are available to research. how many different resources are there

In the stock game there's only fuel, oxidizer, and electricity. Various mods add new resources. There is only one type of science points but there are I think 10 different experiments to do which all give different amounts of points depending on circumstance.

 

[norseamd]

hmm. might be worth it. does it ever go on sale on steam. does early access stay the same until launch. will the launch price be any cheaper. this is the same price as minecraft and both look interesting to me but i would like to pay somewhat less for them. like 5 to 10.

 

[QuantumPion]

hmm. might be worth it. does it ever go on sale on steam. does early access stay the same until launch. will the launch price be any cheaper. this is the same price as minecraft and both look interesting to me but i would like to pay somewhat less for them. like 5 to 10.

The price increases as the game gets more features. It was originally $10, now it's up to $30 or whatever. It regularly goes on sale for 33% or 50% off. There is a free demo, based on an older version of the game, if you want to try it out. I think the demo has only Kerbin and Mun and only some of the parts but is otherwise fully functional.

 

[norseamd]

try the demo and then buy the game on sale. thankyou

 

[shortylickens]

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.

I've already got the landing observations and samples from previous missions. But I couldnt figure out which altitudes were needed for high and low flyby observations. Also am trying to do more with Rockomax now that I have the tech, but they handle differently and it means redesigning my ships from scratch.

 

[QuantumPion]

I've already got the landing observations and samples from previous missions. But I couldnt figure out which altitudes were needed for high and low flyby observations. Also am trying to do more with Rockomax now that I have the tech, but they handle differently and it means redesigning my ships from scratch.

For the Mun I think in space near is under 60 km. In order to get flying high over, you need to be sub-orbital.

The rockets are tools, you don't pick up a hammer and then look around for things to bash with it. You wait till you have a nail to drive in, then grab the hammer. In general it's best to use the smallest rocket possible for your mission, no need to use 2.5m parts just because you unlocked them.

 

[shortylickens]

Since I'm not paying for them yet, I dont mind. Plus I have to get used to the big stuff so I can visit Duna (probably this weekend).
And when they finally finish the game & add costs to the parts, I'll probably just cheat.

:awe:

 

[Chaotic42]

In general it's best to use the smallest rocket possible for your mission, no need to use 2.5m parts just because you unlocked them.

Dear... God...

Don't listen to him Shorty. If your computer doesn't crash when you hit the launch button, you're doing it wrong. :ninja:

(Alt+F12 is my screenshot button, I didn't cheat)

 

[norseamd]

Dear... God...

Don't listen to him Shorty. If your computer doesn't crash when you hit the launch button, you're doing it wrong. :ninja:

(Alt+F12 is my screenshot button, I didn't cheat)[/QUOTE

can you even make that physically possible in real life

 

[shortylickens]

can you even make that physically possible in real life

YA SHURE YOU BETCHA!!!







Alright, I got an issue and a possible solution. After working up to nuclear engines I used too many points and now I cant make rovers. BUT, I have plenty of available points doing goop and materials on the many sections or biomes.

Since I have Lander Cans, 3 passenger pods, and mobile labs, I think I can do this:

Step 1. Orbit Mun with a big main ship. Drop lander Cans with 1 moron each, tied to a materials lab. Only basic needs for them like a tiny engine to avoid major crashes. A battery and antenna for transmitting data.

Step 2. Toss one Can on each area of the Mun (cuz theres like way more than I thought) and leave the morons there to slowly die.

Step 3. Pull main ship out of orbit, send back home with one lucky moron.

Step 4. Profit.

 

[shortylickens]

WOOT!

I did it!!

3 command pilots and 2 in cans. They have control of their own vehicles. All I gotta do now is set up orbits. Think maybe I'll park around Mun and finish tomorrow.

 

[shortylickens]

DAMN!


Didnt work.


Lander cans dont hold very much data so the majority was wasted. I was able to transmit a little, but obviously thats a waste of time. Didnt have enough fuel left on the tiny landers to get back up and regroup. Looks like I'll need to make a proper Mun lander again and collect all the data the old fashioned way.

 

[JamesV]

I've done multiple lander setups; the key is to keep the weight down as much as possible, and for the Mun, that means using those tiny orange radial engines. If you are using the big engines, you are carrying a lot of weight that is unnecessary.

Non-career, I've done the same thing with larger landers, but they were highly complex affairs; once re-docked with the 'mothership', all their fuel was dumped back into the mothership's tank, and their engines were jettisoned via decouplers.

A bit bored with regular stuff, so I'm now trying to make a lander that will cover a Mun arch... it is big .

 

[shortylickens]

Alright, I realized its going to take forever to get all the Mun biomes in one trip. Took me a whole day to finish up material and goo just for the Highlands (I kept making little mistakes on the trip).


I would like to:


1. Put a mobile lab in orbit around Mun, with morons left inside.

2. Drop off rovers with Material labs and Goo canisters from a main ship to the surface, at various biomes.

3. Drive around, pick up soil samples and science observations and EVA reports.

4. Either meet back at main Mun base, or at main ship.

5. Retrieve science and surviving morons.

6. Transmit 100 percent data OR bring it back, whichever works best.




Is this doable?

If not, how can I fix it?

(I dont have the tiny techs needed for Buggy's yet, will invest if you guys think its worth it.)

 

[shortylickens]

Oh, all I've completed so far is Highlands, Midlands, Far Eastside Crater, and the northern Polar Crater.

Still got like 6 more to go. If I could do them in 2 or 3 trips, that would be cool.

 

[JamesV]

The only problem with driving a rover around the Mun to get different biome samples, is that it takes FOREVER to go any noticeable distance. Even the most solid rovers will flip and blow up going over 20, many times from not even trying to turn, but from being turned by the slopes as you go up them.

You could make a gigantic heavy rover, where you might detach the science parts to rendezvous with your mothership, but plan to be driving something like that for a month in real time.

A far better way to approach this, is to make a 'hopper' rather than a rover. Once you get one set of science collected, take off and land elsewhere. You don't need to go high at all, and can use RCS to maneuver and land instead of rocket fuel.

 

[shortylickens]

The only problem with driving a rover around the Mun to get different biome samples, is that it takes FOREVER to go any noticeable distance. Even the most solid rovers will flip and blow up going over 20, many times from not even trying to turn, but from being turned by the slopes as you go up them.

You could make a gigantic heavy rover, where you might detach the science parts to rendezvous with your mothership, but plan to be driving something like that for a month in real time.

A far better way to approach this, is to make a 'hopper' rather than a rover. Once you get one set of science collected, take off and land elsewhere. You don't need to go high at all, and can use RCS to maneuver and land instead of rocket fuel.

Yeah but that hopper would have to include either a mobile lab (which is big and heavy) or multiple materials labs and mystery goo's. And I dont know if the soil samples or EVA reports can be transmitted at 100 percent efficiency even with a mobile lab.

I know for a fact lander cans dont hold many reports, just one in fact. Do command modules hold a lot of reports? I'd be getting like 4 from each landing spot (soil, EVA, goop, materials).

 

[shortylickens]

WOOT! Got lucky!


Ran out of fuel on way back from Minmus.
Rolled around Kerbin enough times to intersect the Mun.
Mun's gravity shoved me right back to Kerbin.
Even managed to land in the ocean right next to my space center, at high noon. Which is always a plus.

 

[shortylickens]

Alright so what is the purpose of a buggy if I cant get around on it?
Are there special science reports for just being on a buggy?

 

[Chaotic42]

Made it to Eve today. Not back, of course, but I landed. Nice sunrise too.

 

[shortylickens]

Made it to Eve today. Not back, of course, but I landed. Nice sunrise too.

Did you fly straight there or shoot around Mun?

 

[JamesV]

Did you fly straight there or shoot around Mun?

Amateurs ...

 

[Chaotic42]

Did you fly straight there or shoot around Mun?

I transitioned to a solar orbit then retrograded down.

I managed Eve twice and Ike once. I also got in orbit around Jool, slammed into the north pole of Duna, and went on a science spree on Minimus. Good day. Probably got 2500 science or so total.