Gaming The Kerbal Space Program - Version 1.2.x

[Pipcard]

It's Jebediah, of course he's enjoying it.

Also, the lander had to do part of the Trans-Munar Injection.

 

[N_Molson]

Taking a break in Munar exploration, I began to assemble an interplanetary cruiser in orbit. It has three main sections :

1) the Core, which houses the main tanks, two little auxiliary 20 kN radial engines for backup and the side-mounted NTR engines, especially useful to save fuel during trans-planetary injections.

2) the Service and Propulsion Module, located at the aft, which houses 8 RTGs for a solid power supply, batteries and, at the aft end, a "skipper" 600kN engine, for when a decent TWR is required

3) The Command, Habitat, Docking Node, Science and Communications Module, located at the fore. There is a "Hitchiker" for 4 Kerbal, so if another "3-seats" capsule is docked, the ship can provide decent comfort and emergency escape option for 6 Kerbs.

Here we see the assembly of the last module.

And here the almost finished cruiser rendez-vous with some Kerbal ATV, to fill the tanks a bit (still, that was not enough, a good 1/3 still is empty). Mass after the operation : 67.5 tons.

I'd say it his 80% finished. It will notably receive an additional communication mast with antennas and science modules. Also, modules are going to be de-coupled and re-coupled for better rotational alignement.

Then a second manned capsule will meet KSC-01 (Kerbal Space Cruiser #1), also bringing some hardware like a light lander rover. A test-mission will then be carried on Minmus, with a crew of six and the landing of at least 2 Kerbals.

 

[Pipcard]

This was the rocket used to get to the Mun:

(one pair of boosters crossfeeds to the other pair)

 

[N_Molson]

You prove it can be made without huge laggy, barely controllable stacks of hundreds of parts :thumbup:

A Kerbin-Mun-Kerbin with munar landing mission can be done in much less than 12 hours, so there is no comfort or life-support reason that would rule out a Mercury-style capsule.

 

[Pipcard]

You prove it can be made without huge laggy, barely controllable stacks of hundreds of parts :thumbup:

Kerbal Engineer and this delta-v map really help to make sure that my launchers aren't "over-engineered".

 

[N_Molson]

I use them too, those are essentials. Still, I've seen obviously inefficient designs on KSP forums...


So, I added that Communications/Science mast to the cruiser. The 3 new crewmembers took it up with them, so it was 2 launches in one. The operation went very smoothly.

Almost there.

Then the capsule relocated itself to the opposite side of the node (I let you imagine how nasty the lever arm effect was when docked at the end of the mast). The vessel mass is now 76.5 tons (and there is room for propellant).

All the nuclear stuff is at the aft, the crew sections are at the fore, and between them all the tanks.

So now the "KSC-01" cruiser is pretty complete and the 6 Kerbals are on board. I now have to send another "ATV" or two to fill the tanks. Two light exploration vehicles will be docked to the sides of the node. Then off to Minmus !

 

[N_Molson]

Kerbal Minishuttle "KMS-2" in orbit. Little practical use, but well...

The landing was... well... a half-success. Or a half-failure. From the re-usability point of view, that's a disaster, I completely missed the runway. From the safety point of view, that's rather a success, as the crew survived a water-landing.

 

[boogabooga]

I use them too, those are essentials. Still, I've seen obviously inefficient designs on KSP forums...


So, I added that Communications/Science mast to the cruiser. The 3 new crewmembers took it up with them, so it was 2 launches in one. The operation went very smoothly.

Almost there.

Then the capsule relocated itself to the opposite side of the node (I let you imagine how nasty the lever arm effect was when docked at the end of the mast). The vessel mass is now 76.5 tons (and there is room for propellant).

All the nuclear stuff is at the aft, the crew sections are at the fore, and between them all the tanks.

So now the "KSC-01" cruiser is pretty complete and the 6 Kerbals are on board. I now have to send another "ATV" or two to fill the tanks. Two light exploration vehicles will be docked to the sides of the node. Then off to Minmus !

I'm finding that knowledge of real life spacecraft is limiting my creativity in KSP: My launcher is R-7 like, my Mun missions are Apollo analogs, my stations look like Skylab, etc.

I respect when people make truly creative things. :tiphat:

 

[orb]

Linux BUG: decimal separator taken from current locale

I have a bug report. The game can't be launched under Linux if the decimal separator defined in locale is different than period (dot).

This error is shown when SHOW_CONSOLE_ON_ERROR is enabled:

[color=red][Exception]: FormatException: Unknown char: .[/color]

The version of the game is 0.20.2.0 (build id 186) - Steam.

A workaround is to launch it with command (when inside the KSP installation directory):

LC_ALL=C ./KSP.x86_64

or:

LC_ALL=C ./KSP.x86

But I'd prefer it fixed than use the workaround every time I launch the game.

 

[stefan85]

I have to admit KSP redirected me back to orbiter. It was very difficult to me to get a right orbit around kerbal. Also getting a free return orbit to mun was not possible for me. But I remembered of a program which gives me the mathematical gauges to get it on the instruments. So I'm back to orbiter.

Also I wasn't able to build a successful spaceplane. But thanks god KSP has some good examples in it's library.

Very good program. KSP has to be mentioned in line with programs like dayz, orbiter and minecraft: costs not too much (or nothing) and have an incredible gameplay!

 

[Fabri91]

Spoiler alert! Mun easter egg.

The location has been public for many months now, but I finally managed to land next to it!

 

[goaowonk]

I have to admit KSP redirected me back to orbiter.

Well, I finally understood docking procedures there.

Sent from my Deltaglider using Potatolk.

 

[Pipcard]

Speaking of docking:

(Yes, the solar panel configuration is ATV/CTV inspired)

 

[Quick_Nick]

Gotta love Kerbal ingenuity.

 

[Eccentrus]

And now we dub him "Scott Insanity"

 

[MattBaker]

If NASA would do this in real life millions would watch their launches.
Although with the wrong expectation.

 

[N_Molson]

Minmus landing successful !

Arriving at Minmus :

MINmus Exploration Vehicle #1 deployed

EVA in a very low gravity environnement is real fun !

Second landing site and MINEV #2

Kerbals retrieved, MINEV #1 & #2 docked together, refueled and parked in Minmus orbit.

Bye Minmus ! Two successful landings were performed, two flags were planted, scientific data were recorded, 4 Kerbals landed and returned safely, a nice successful expedition !

 

[Fabri91]

You guys also had the problem of having Kerbals placed on external seat flung of into the distance/deorbited when docking with them in said seats?

Here my ongoing unmanned exploration of the Joolian system, with fly-bys of Vall, Tylo and Pol, with the probe now in orbit aroung Bop, looking for the remains of the Space Kraken.

Final destination will be an orbit around Laythe.

 

[N_Molson]

You guys also had the problem of having Kerbals placed on external seat flung of into the distance/deorbited when docking with them in said seats?

It happens when there is not enough clearance between the Kerbal and the superstructure of the ship you dock. The head of the Kerbal hits something and he is ejected with a nasty velocity vector.

 

[Eccentrus]

I am now really really curious on what is the material used to build that damn thing of a helmet, I'm now convinced more or less that they hail from Kasgard, and have been worked in the shop of the god Khor himself and welded together with his Kjollnir.