Gaming The Kerbal Space Program - Version 1.2.x

[Izack]

I've finally got my own copy of KSP after far too long playing the demo or someone else's copy.

A looong way to climb to be back where I was.

Thanks HarvesteR and all other devs for some hundred hours (so far) of entertainment. :thumbup:

 

[SolarLiner]

Hey guys,

I have something in my head for quite a while now, something about Orbiter tutorials and KSP knowledge basics. My idea is to make a series of video tutorials for KSP players that is for Orbiter, to make them discover this enormous simulator and not feel lost with all the addons and stuff happening.

My first question here would be: What does a "causal KSP Player" know? (about orbital mechanics, how to dock, able to make interplanetary trips, etc.)

 

[mojoey]

Hey guys,

I have something in my head for quite a while now, something about Orbiter tutorials and KSP knowledge basics. My idea is to make a series of video tutorials for KSP players that is for Orbiter, to make them discover this enormous simulator and not feel lost with all the addons and stuff happening.

My first question here would be: What does a "causal KSP Player" know? (about orbital mechanics, how to dock, able to make interplanetary trips, etc.)

I would start with the assumption that the person watching has absolutely ZERO knowledge of these subects, then gradually work your way from the basics to the more advanced subjects.

 

[Pablo49]

I've finally got my own copy of KSP after far too long playing the demo or someone else's copy.

A looong way to climb to be back where I was.

Thanks HarvesteR and all other devs for some hundred hours (so far) of entertainment. :thumbup:

Those ships had to look wonky on the pad. Looks neat in orbit.

 

[MattBaker]

My first question here would be: What does a "causal KSP Player" know? (about orbital mechanics, how to dock, able to make interplanetary trips, etc.)

Well, if you talk about someone playing KSP casually it's definitley what an orbit is, apoapsis and periapsis and how to change those. Probably also atmosphere, atmospheric reentry.
But I would say KSP is quite diverse, there are people who can't even go to orbit and then there are people who have a better understanding of orbital mechanics than your average Orbinaut. So I would agree with mojoey there.

Those ships had to look wonky on the pad. Looks neat in orbit.

Kinda reminded me of a Mercury spacecraft (although they are single seat, no docking):

 

[MaverickSawyer]

There's actually a Mercury replica out now (Also comes with Gemini and Titan.)

 

[orb]

There's actually a Mercury replica out now (Also comes with Gemini and Titan.)

Meh. For replicas I prefer Orbiter better. I wouldn't play KSP if its vessels were the same.

 

[4throck]

Indeed. I'm a very casual KSP player. I use it to build insane large rockets that never work as intended.
Things like having a solid fuel upper stage... or a lander with no engine (the engine has to separate before landing).

Really the only thing in common is orbital mechanics.
I'd go with a tutorial about AMSO, but I'm sure that Kerbanauts will feel disappointed about the flat moon surface.
So perhaps I'd cover docking with the ISS. But I'd use a capsule for that, so that reentry is easy.
Whatever you do, go for historical or realistic near future spacecraft. That's Orbiter's strenght.

 

[N_Molson]

So perhaps I'd cover docking with the ISS. But I'd use a capsule for that, so that reentry is easy.
Whatever you do, go for historical or realistic near future spacecraft. That's Orbiter's strenght.

Yes. One of the few points that are a bit disappointing is that KSP capsules allow only ballistic reentries, they don't produce lift.

 

[Izack]

The Apollus programme:

And a bit of pointless fun in Sandbox mode:

Those ships had to look wonky on the pad. Looks neat in orbit.

They do:

Kinda reminded me of a Mercury spacecraft (although they are single seat, no docking):

That's what I was going for. Gemini's equipment module is hard to replicate in KSP without just slapping on a huge fuel tank, which would allow it to fly to the Mun and back by itself, or land on Minmus. All I really need it for is to ferry crew to the space station.

I used to go all-out with the game, with huge ships gathering hundreds of science at a time, but it's more fun taking baby steps like this, IMO.

 

[N_Molson]

Those ships had to look wonky on the pad. Looks neat in orbit.

You might want to use a mod like KW Rocketry, which allows you to use interstages and fairings. Personally I deleted all the other parts of the mod (though they are really cool).

 

[SolarLiner]

Really the only thing in common is orbital mechanics.

That's what I thought. Starting the tutorial series assuming the KSP player knows how to orbit, basically.

I'd go with a tutorial about AMSO, but I'm sure that Kerbanauts will feel disappointed about the flat moon surface.

Before interplanetary trips, I'll go and make a part for in-orbit maneuvers, with the above said it will be easy enough to understand.

So perhaps I'd cover docking with the ISS. But I'd use a capsule for that, so that reentry is easy.
Whatever you do, go for historical or realistic near future spacecraft. That's Orbiter's strength.

True that. Docking is planned in the in-orbit maneuvers, I don't know with what spacecraft yet, but surely a capsule (aerodynamics will come later in the series)

I'll do a special thread because I'll sure need a lot of help, but in the first episode where I present Orbiter and its "must-have" addons, there will be Orbiter in Demo mode running in the background. So people will quickly notice that planets misses terrain.

 

[orb]

You might want to use a mod like KW Rocketry, which allows you to use interstages and fairings.

Or if you want fairings and adapters which can fit any payload/interstage a mod like this one.

 

[orb]

From another thread, where a discussion about MechJeb started:

Is there an easy way in vanilla KSP to set up interplanetary flights with the maneuver node system? My issue is that you can't move maneuver nodes past one orbit into the future, which makes planning difficult.

Not vanilla, but allows moving the node past one orbit into the future, and using only the maneuver node system: PreciseNode. It doesn't feel like cheating while using it, and you can fine tune the nodes to a couple of decimal places precision (time, delta-v), too.

 

[Izack]

Apollus IV departs from a space station. Onwards to Minmus! We only have eight more days to gather enough science to research the parts needed for a better science harvester to launch into the upcoming Duna window! FOR SCIENCE!!

In other news, I've gotten much better at rendezvousing using a mostly-direct ascent followed by a couple of farts over two orbits.

And yes, that is a MechJeb attached to the service module. Don't hate; I don't use it much.

 

[AlfalfaQc]

From another thread, where a discussion about MechJeb started:


Not vanilla, but allows moving the node past one orbit into the future, and using only the maneuver node system: PreciseNode. It doesn't feel like cheating while using it, and you can fine tune the nodes to a couple of decimal places precision (time, delta-v), too.

Holy smokes! That thing is amaizing! You can see the encounter and you can plan ahead! I never use any mods, but this might be the one I could really use, it looks like a great improvement on the actual node system. I looks a lot like transX lol



---------- Post added at 12:59 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:43 AM ----------

I just tried it, you can view the encounter but you cannot plan ahead, but still it's a nice add-on

 

[Izack]

I'm not sure about PreciseNode, but Mechjeb's node editor allows shifting the time value, so you can have a node at an arbitrary time in the future, even many years down the road of your current orbit. From the screenshot in PreciseNode's thread, it looks like it can do this too, with "Increment Time".

I might start using it, actually. :hmm:

 

[AlfalfaQc]

The time is not that great in this one, I think it only predict your orbit in the future without predicting the planet's future position, therefore you only spin around on your current position.

---------- Post added at 02:35 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:26 AM ----------

In KSP, can you get into the flight deck of a vessel and fly a whole mission from the pilot's seat?

When I looked at it 2 years ago (or has it been 3 already?), the only way to do anything was by looking at the vessel from outside, and by clicking different points on the screen and accessing different sub menus. It looks more like you're editing a word document than using a flight sim. Can you actually get inside the vessel, launch to orbit, fly to the moon (or whatever it's called - mun?), and back to "Earth" (Kearth/kerbleplanet/whatever)?

Just curious.

Just to answer this here since it was a bit off topic on the other thread.

It is possible, but... If you want to do this without using the map, you basically need a chart of delta-v needed to get there vs the orbit you are in since the cockpit gives no information as to where you are and what your orbit looks like. And you can't go much further than the mun.

If you use the map though, you can go pretty much anywhere in the cockpit. There is a rada altimeter in the cockpits so you can know how high you are above the surface so you don't have to look outside.

But personally I prefer not being in the cockpit, at least for rockets.

 

[orb]

The time is not that great in this one, I think it only predict your orbit in the future without predicting the planet's future position, therefore you only spin around on your current position.

It doesn't predict any position by itself. It only uses the built it maneuver nodes feature to predict anything. I can't check it right now, but the future position should get displayed if you set the node that the path will cross another body's SOI (setting the body as the target might help, too), or you may need set another node just after the one you moved in the future as the one which will be the actual burn (without the 1st one changing any dV).

 

[N_Molson]

That Gravity Mapping probe (GraviMap-I) allowed me to map various BioMes in KLO. Earned me a nice amount of science points, for a relatively simple design. Was launched in polar orbit, the best way to map all BioMes. Notice the heatshield and the chute, allowing to recover the experiments. Antennas are retracted during entry. And yes, it landed on a quite nice spot. I'd like to plant my tent there for Summer Holidays, scenic view !

The "Eagle" has wings ! Well, sort of, closer to the Soviet LK. 1 kermanned, very compact lander, real swissknife. Not enough fuel for a full ascent, but this is easily compensated by the RCS tanks that act as a backup. Can even rendez-vous the CSM on RCS only without trouble. There are even 2 headlights : 1 for landing, 1 for docking. If that isn't luxury ! A deployable solar panel allows energical autonomy. Landing legs are jettisoned right after liftoff.

Final descent inside a crater, somewhere in the Munar Midlands. As always, the challenge is to find a relatively flat (roughly less than 15° of slope) surface to land on.