KSP Weekly June 18, 2013

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<h2>June 18th, 2013</h2>
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<h3>KSP Headline</h3>
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<p>Developement updates have been slow over the last 2 weeks, however, I've heard your voices and we at the KSP Media Group have pulled every possible source to get you the following development information. I wasn't happy bottom feeding information so I took an initiative and contacted Maxmaps. With his help pushing the idea we were able to create a document in which every developer contributed what they worked on for the week. I encourage you to read the Editor's Notes at the end of this article which will help explain the circumstances around information.</p>
<p><li>Let us start with an update from each individual developer about what they have been working on.</li></p>
<p><li>Scott Manley and former astronaut Ed Lu play Kerbal Space Program.</li></p>
<p><li>New mod spotlights as always.</li></p>
<p><li>Pleborian takes another look through the telescope.</li></p>
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<h3>Developement Updates</h3>
<p><ul><b>KSP Dev Team</b></p>

<li><b>Felipe (HarvesteR)</b>: Set up progress-tracking system, also figured out how to set up vessel recovery with the new scene flow.</li></br>

<li><b>Chad (C7)</b>: I’ve been working on new SAS / ASAS behavior for the last week. We’re aiming to reduce or eliminate the oscillations that happen in the current system. We’re also removing the automatic torque from command pods and replacing it with a reaction wheel system. The new reaction wheels will actually require power to operate.</li></br>

<li><b>Mike (Mu)</b>: I’ve been implementing a whole new way of maintaining the solar system that makes the game persistent across all scenes. There is real game scenery, time-progression and a new camera system in the Space Centre. Tuned up the scene startup for all scenes, the transition from VAB to pad is now rather slick. Also crafted a number of new shaders for Artyom to work his magic with and made some tweaks to the planetary normal mapping shader.</li></br>

<li><b>Jim (Romfarer)</b>: Working on a new vessel launch dialog to go in the space center. You will be able to assign crew members to the vessel from here.</li></br>

<li><b>Artyom (Bac9)</b>: Reworking the space center buildings, which is a pretty refreshing stuff after making a hundred of spaceplane parts. Just finished a variety of prop sets for those new buildings. It's pretty similar to creating actual craft parts, dozens of them, except this time those are pieces that can be used to spice up architecture: HVAC systems, crates, lights, cute little service vehicles, doors, windows and so on. With those done, you can save massive amount of memory and time, getting nice crisp details on surfaces stretching hundreds of meters.</li></br>

<li><b>Alex (aLeXmOrA)</b>: Added Sketchfab plugin to KSP Forums site and worked on CLASSIFIED INFORMATION</li></br>

<li><b>Daniel (DanRosas)</b>: Made some new kinds of Kerbal, one of them is the kerbal recruit that will be used in Romfarer’s UI (will do a web blog post eventually, probably after 0.21 with more details). Making one big animation containing all the Kerbal Shorts.</li></br>

<li><b>Rob (N3X15)</b>: I’m working on database schema designs for Kerbal Spaceport 2.0 (more on this later), also trying to play around with TokuDB for MariaDB on a testing server to see if it can speed up the spaceport/forums server a bit during the weekends. Didn’t get too far due to network problems on my end and buildkit issues (probably caused by trying to compile a 64-bit app on a 32-bit system). Trying again on an 64-bit TF2 server I host that also hosts a few databases, although I won’t be able to properly stress-test it. Have to reinstall that server, first, though. Oh yeah, also the usual security stuff on the current edition of spaceport. Fun.</li></p></br>
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<h3>YouTube Spotlight</h3>
<p>What is it like to have a job that protects all of humanity from killer asteroids? Edward 'Ed' Tsang Lu would know exactly what that is like. He's gone from Astronaut to planet defense with the B612 Foundation. Do you know what the B612 Foundation does exactly? If not worry yourself no longer and click this link to the <a href="http://b612foundation.org/">B612 Foundation</a>. While you're there consider donating to help a world saving cause. Scott Manley had a chance to sit down with Ed Lu and record some footage of this real life astronaut playing Kerbal Space Program! This is potentially one the coolest videos since a real astronaut and pilot should have no problem flying in KSP, right?</p>
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<h3>Modding Spotlight 1</h3>
<p>The resource mod 'Kethane' has seen a huge comeback since the release of 0.6. Filled with some texture overhauls and bug fixes this is sure to get your extraplanetary bases back up and running. The Kethane mod was orginally created by Dani-Sang with Kulesz plugin. It has since been taken over by Majiir and parts since 0.1 have been added by Keptin</p>
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<li><a href="http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/showthread.php/23979" " title="" target=""> Kethane 0.6 </a></li>
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<h3>Modding Spotlight 2</h3>
<p>Mod creator nyrath has been working on a Nuclear Pulse Orion Drive for KSP with working animated pusher plates and heat effects on the pusher plate depending on how hot they are. If you don't know what an Orion Drive is I suggest you check out his thread and give them a try.</p>
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<li><a href="http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/showthread.php/28428-Orion-aka-Ol-Boom-boom?highlight=orion" " title="" target=""> Orion aka Ol' Boom Boom </a></li>
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<h3>Through The Telescope</h3>
<p>By: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/pleborian">Pleborian</a></p>
<p>The community forums is like a walk-in wardrobe the size of your house. One where
you never know what you're going to find in there! During my travels through the forums
I discovered what I can only describe as a treasure trove of story-telling goodness. Ladies
and gentlemen I give you The Grand Tour by Czokletmuss:</P>
<p>If you like reading about others (mis)adventures through the Kerbal system then you are in for
a treat, give this a read and I guarantee you won't be disappointed.
You can visit that thread <a href="http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/showthread.php/24560-AAR-The-Grand-Tour-Voyage-To-The-Planets">HERE!</a></p>

<p><img src="http://i.imgur.com/Pd87hxL.png"></P>




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<h3>Editor's Notes</h3>
<p>I wanted to take a moment and talk about why the KSP Weekly gets developement information some weeks while others do not. It's been the topic of some heated discussion amongst the community and I wanted to address it personally. Unlike Damion Rayne, who wrote the KSP Weekly before myself, he was indeed a community manager on Squad and as such had access to developer information all the time. I, like you, am simply a member of the community and do not have such privileges. Being part of the KSP Media Group does have advantages and allows me access to tidbits of information and persona, but I simply cannot work miracles. I do my best to bring you the information you want, but I can only give you what I receive. I would like to thank everyone for their support of the KSP weekly and hope that I can do more for you in the future by digging up the information you want to read about!</p>
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<b>Brought to you by the KSP Media Group</b><br/>
Author / Editor: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/xpdxtv">xPDxTV</a><br/>
Reporter: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/pleborian">Pleborian</a><br/>
Special Thanks: Maxmaps - KSP PR Manager<br/>
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