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Useful Tips & Great KSP Content to Use with KerbalEdu KerbalEdu + KSP community: remarkable real world learning both in game & in the forums, human exploration, real rocket history, powerful aerodynamics & n-body gravitation models, beautiful artistry, physics studies, power of collaborative exploration & design. This topic thread is a summary of remarkable & inspiring KerbalEdu relevant KSP content that the KSP community has created. You are welcome to post your recommended additions. NOTE 2022 January: With TeacherGaming closing its doors, the login based KerbalEDU 1.4.5 & 1.3.1 are no longer available. Private Division has released, to current holders of KerbalEDU, the old installer based KerbalEDU 1.2.2 with a much more flexible license. This keeps KerbalEDU alive. The information below remains relevant in concept (just not the version numbers any longer) as many of these mods below have versions compatible with the old KSP 1.2.2. Consequently, I recommend using CKAN to help find KSP 1.2.2 versions of any mods you desire to use with KerbalEDU 1.2.2 A few example ideas: Study Friction by Exploring with KSP Study Atmospheres, Airships & 'Rockoons' while Exploring with KSP Compare Jupiter & its moons to a transit accurate n-body gravitation model of M class star system TRAPPIST1 Quick TGdesk KerbalEDU Reference Links: How to view lesson slides on TeacherGaming student app How to edit a lesson Links to the Files needed for TGdesk's lessons & also to the KerablEDU Earth History Campaign (EHC) How to install the TeacherGaming Student App Section 1) 'EDU Helpful Mods & Tools' Listed below are select KSP Tools & Mods that I work with frequently in KerbalEdu this is just a tiny example of EDU Relevant KSP Community MODS & Crafts since KSP has mods to do just about everything, these are just some I use often with KerbalEDU: Note: "Mods" are what you place in your GameData folder to add tools or otherwise change the Kerbal environment "Mods" come in versions so (usually) use the version of the Mod that was built for or most closely matches your KerbalEDU version, e.g. 1.3.x or 1.4.x etc. that said, I do use some 1.5.1 through 1.7.3 mods with 1.4.5 *.craft files are things you make in the VAB (Vehicle Assembly Building) or SPH (Space Plane Hangar) surprise complications: *.craft files are not always in the main Ships folder...they often are in a Ships folder inside your Saves folder Craft Manager is a mod that can help deal with that...e.g. load ships from anywhere *.craft files will ONLY load if all the parts are available, so *.craft with KerbalEDU function tools, energy spheres etc WILL NOT load in stock KSP ( KerbalEDU has its own Mod folders EDUegg & KerablEDU Mod folders after all ) so make sure all mods a *.craft needs are in your game data folder before KSP launch...for example, this include Tantares for EHC mission VI. ( & here are links to spreadsheet lists of many more mod combinations I sometimes use: TRAPPIST1, PlanesOnOtherPlanets ) KerbalX craft sharing; example modest Mod load FAR craft for 1.3.1: SU-35, Lockheed UAV, MiG-23 there are many unusual & amazing craft (including trucks, submarines, aircraft carriers with catapults & landing cables, helicopters, Interstellar Endurance, Star Trek ships, etc. often using additional mods. KSP's built-in DEBUG menu & 'Cheats': ALT-F12 easily toggle infinite propellant, electricity, unbreakable joints, no thermal destruction, etc if needed to focus time on a specific lesson topic that is not related to fuel mass, or limited electric, etc. Community created Online tools: a list of community built calculator tools for all sorts of requirements: https://wiki.kerbalspaceprogram.com/wiki/Calculation_tools for example, Resonant Orbit Calculator KSP Trajectory Optimization Tool (MATLAB) @OhioBob's remarkable "Make your own Atmospheres for KSP" & "Modeling Atmospheres in KSP" (advanced real atmospheric modeling discussion/lesson) other solar constants RemoteTech Player’s Guide Visual RemoteTech Planner for KSP link to a great online list of KSP mods sortable by category: Community Mods and Plugins Library Convenience Mods: CKAN (the meta mod to 90% of the time manage most of the rest of your mods & DLC missions? ) (CKAN merged the pull request to recognize the new KerbalEdu 1.4.5 build ID, so make sure to update your CKAN ) Draggable Navball (yes, the old version still works even in 1.4.5) Craft Manager Boot Print Tracks: (a.k.a. 'See! I really was there, but then....') EVA footprints! with Kopernicus Backport & Kopernicus Expansion Continued: KEX-EVAFootprints-1.7.1-5.zip Control Mods: TimeControl (e.g. students can slow down scenarios for better study or control ) TweakScale MechJeb2, MechJebForAll HyperEdit RCS Build Aid Editor Extensions Redux Recover and/or splice a craft from save files (.sfs): ShipSaveSplicer (verified working in 1.3.1 but not yet figured it out in 1.4.5) instructions: Other potentially helpful tools for Students: Science related: KerBalloons Trajectories Kerbal Engineer Redux (KerbalEdu comes with some of the code but I find the up to date full version more useful especially if other mods are installed) CorrectCoL (note this excerpt from post: "Stockalike CoL indicator for stock Aerodynamics, accounts not only for ILiftProviders. Please, don't try it with FAR (mod disables itself if FAR is found)." ) Kerbal Wind Tunnel ( only 1.4.5+ also support for FAR Continued is in development ) Transfer Window Planner, Astrogator Useful Tools: Landing Height All Y'All Continued - One-Button Common Action Grouping Surface Mounted Lights KAS EVA Enhancements Continued Easy Vessel Switch Take Command Continued Kerbal NRAP - Procedural test weights! DebugStuff Some Popular Aircraft & IVA Parts Packages: B9 Procedural Wings (see B9 collection via CKAN ) Procedural Parts Airplane Plus R 24. works fine in 1.4.5 Nice MKseries Body ASET IVAs: ALCOR, , MK1 Cockpit, MK1-2 Pod, MK1 Lander Can I use the 1.5.1 version in 1.4.5 with Textures Unlimited v.1.2.3.17 (on windows use -force-d3d11 ) ASET Props & Avionics I use the 1.5.1 version in 1.4.5 Some Rocket Models (both historic & current): Launchers Pack SLS RealScaleBoosters (good for RSS, TRAPPIST-1. If using in Kerbin System add the 'stockalike' configs to reduce rocket power = no longer 'realistic delta-v' models ) RaiderNick maintains a bunch of historic rocket packs FASA with RO FPS & Physics Frame Time Ratio management: KerboKatzUtilities Mods that alter parameters that break some EDU event triggers in some Missions or change the solar system which obviously breaks all stock scenarios/missions/training : FAR (Ferram Aerospace Research) 1.3.1 & FAR Continued for 1.4.x+ by @dkavolis...here is an _old_video of FAR aero model experiments... also note until a working transform exception can be created, do not use the EDU force Indicator with FAR: Realistic Atmospheres RSS (Real Solar System) SLIPPIST-1 RO (Realism Overhaul meta mods) RO & RP 1 Installation for 1.6.1 x64 KerbalEDU ONLY: Principia ( possible conflict with KJR ) precise n-body iterations...can even observe very nice real date & time solar eclipses in RSS: TRAPPIST-1, now a very good n-body gravitation model matching observed published planet transit data Fun (for example with a Kerbal School Club or extra-curricular event ): Planetary Domes We even assembled 'Bob's Bubble' @Thrimm: great for containing Kerbals & objects while kids practice EVA controls etc in space (or falling in atmosphere ;-)...here are some screenshots: Chatterer & Chatterer Extended Ship Sounds, docking sounds (search in CKAN) Omicron Flying Car (included this here because you can climb around inside these parts which is different...concept related to 'external command seats') Pood's Skyboxes or Oinker's Skyboc Brighter v2 or make me a properly aligned one with constellation markers using Space Engine (fyi for those newer to Kerbal...following KSP forum (and Github) members with mods you find interesting is one good way to find relevant KSP content, for example...linuxgurugamer has taken over maintaining a bunch of interesting mods ) Visual improvement mods: planetshine distant object enhancement heavier hitting = more strain your gpu but fun 'visual' mods: Astronomer's Visual Pack (AVP) SVE & SVT for the default Kerbol System RSSVE for RSS scatterer (we love it, but this is _the one_ biggest FPS slow down hit for our systems) again the above is just a tiny sample of KSP community made mods, for those new to Kerbal, there are many more fun or useful mods by the KSP community...depending on class topic...lots of great aircraft parts mods Section 2) 'Easier Useful Tips' General notes: KerbalEDU versions 1.3.1 & 1.4.5 have been more stable, less buggy, & more useful in my environment than prior versions especially when used with mods...Taking time to upgrade to 1.4.5 strongly recommended KSP 1.8.1+ runs even more smoothly...so hopefully TeacherGaming will eventually update KerbalEDU... EDU Mission Editor tips can be found at link. (note the TG mission editor recently went offline ~ 2019 July...waiting to hear from TG the reason why) These observations are based on KerbalEDU in the Windows 10 (updated slow release channel) environment running on 2nd & 3rd gen Intel I7 chips (e.g. 2700k & 3820qm) with older GPUs ( e.g. Radeon HD 6970 or 6950 or NVIDIA Quadro K3000m, or K2000m ) this post aims to cover the most common & biggest "in practice" issues: Please reply with your top additional insights & I will add them to this summary. EDU Relevant DLC missions: (to be determined) DLC is not currently included in KerbalEDU licences so requires additional purchase ( & 'install' = it is a "SquadExpansion" mod folder dropped into GameData) KSP "Making History" expansion DLC 1.4.0 DOES run its version of 'missions' in KerbalEDU 1.4.5 DLC missions are seperate & different from KerbalEDU missions DLC is not included by default with KerbalEDU. TT/SQUAD & TG should look into tax deduction opportunities for releasing this to KerbalEdu licenses...useful stock missions for grade schoolers. DLC 1.4.0 will run in even x32 KerbalEDU 1.4.5 RAM limitations BUT in Windows environment one must use -force-d3d11 to keep x32 KSP.exe RAM use at around 2.5 GB : see this topic Startup parameters (KSP wiki link): Unity engine flags that I use all the time in the windows 10 environment: helps easily switch focus to other window programs (e.g. file explorer) while keeping KSP on the screen -popupwindow helps reduce memory use if stuck using x32 KerbalEDU, also good x64 KSP performance in KerbalEDU 1.4.5 when used with Textures Unlimited: (use at least the version for 1.5.1 with KerbalEDU 1.4.5. Gives nice shading of parts plus removes the 'blue icons' issue in VAB & SPH when using DX11 with 1.4.5) -force-d3d11 Here is a screenshot of what a shortcut to launch KerbalEDU looks like with these two flags (you can use as many or as few flags as you want): Community KerbalEDU youtube channels: EDU explore & observe channel includes playlists of select top remarkable EDU Aero-Astro content we have found so far on youtube...here are a few examples of amazing & beautiful real rocket history & astronomy from the playlists: Community Kerbal youtube channels especially relevant to KerbalEDU: Tutorials: Scott Manley @illectro (links to his "tutorial playlist"...he has other interesting KSP playlists as well). two examples in box below of EDU relevant KSP talk through tutorials with key distinctions students could study at home History: Bob Fitch e.g. "Project Alexandria: the history of human spaceflight from the 1500s all the way to today, carried out in Real Solar System." and other series Matt Lowne @Matt Lowne has some interesting 'real' craft history explored in KSP & a 'special box' & 'related channels' that list KSP players making interesting KSP youtube content. (note: any may need a brief edit before use in the classroom, etc.) Example KSP Youtube Tutorials & History What is KerbalEDU v. KSP: TIPS for when you encounter unusual lags: New Portal: TGdesk KerbalEDU 1.3.1 & 1.4.5+ integration = REQUIRES INTERNET CONNECTION TO LOGIN EACH TIME but is PORTABLE & CAN BE RUN FROM USB DRIVES (versions 1.2.2 and earlier were "installer" based = not portable and only required internet 'once' for activation): Section 3) 'More Technical Useful Tips' TG App & KerbalEDU: adding various forms of EDU Missions & KSP Community Mods to "TeacherGaming\games\kerbaledu\" Where are...? in the "TeacherGaming\games\kerbaledu\" Changes While 'In-Game' etc. = About GameData, & EduMission .sfs Files & Kerbal Folders & KerbalEDU missions (note: these are different from KSP "Making History DLC" missions): USB drives & GameData & KerbalEdu 1.3.1 & 1.4.5 TGdesk login Portability: This is helpful when you are building your class/lesson plan...you can make & keep 'master" KerbalEDU folders or even just the GameData folder. Then copy these to your student computers (efficient ways to do that vary depending on the complexity of lesson mods, # of student computers) TGdesk versions of KerbalEDU ( = 1.3.1 & 1.4.5 ) are portable so you can easily copy/revert to whole preconfigured folders & you can even give each student a USB drive with KerbalEdu & your custom GameData folder (or even let advanced students modify their own GameData folder to meet their needs for the project)...students can run KerbalEdu from their USB drive from any sufficient spec computer with an internet connection. Saves, Ships, & GameData folders generally contain all you need to make one whole KerbalEDU 'install' folder the same as another (using the same kerbalEDU version, of course) if you do not want to copy the entire 2+ GB all the time). for example, I often create a folder "1Var" and put just the Saves, Ships, GameData & CKAN folders in dedicated folders for various configs...e.g. KerbalEDU, KerbalEduFAR, KerbalEDUroRSSprincipia, KerbalEduTRAPPIST1, KerbalEduPrincipia, etc...then you can just copy the folders as needed or drop junction links... Here is a screenshot showing an example folder structure: Enjoy Exploring! & the KerbalEDU Flight Recorder ;-) Section 4) 'Archived/Outdated...relevant history' Original Portal: KerbalEDU mission links: KerbalEDU made the original Mission Editor that uses its own EDU event system. stock KSP now also has a Mission Builder in its 1st 'extra cost' expansion. The Making History Expansion missions do run ok in KerbalEDU but are NOT linked to KerbalEDU event system.