Tourist

Actually direct ascent was preferred by many including Von Braum for some time. Also earth (as opposed to moon) orbit rendezvous. Lunar orbit rendezvous was a dark horse. Can't remember reason why it won out precisely, ultimately cheaper in terms of fuel/weight requirements because you don't have to take your return fuel down to the surface and back. Doesn't work in KSP though because everything is smaller... The smart kids could explain it better. I think Scott Manly discusses it in his new beginners series.

I do not so much want to see a squeal, but see different iterations of the idea. For instance, a Microsoft X like flight sim, but with slightly future tech. You'd be able to fly spaceplanes to orbit or ride rockets, as well interplanetary travel. So basically, KSP, but where I can pretend-time to be the astronaut, instead of being an invisible hand helping out my little green friends. I don't see rocket, plane, design as being part of this so much, but as a trade-off for being less physics intensive (because crafts would be constructed to be one piece, instead lots of separate parts flying in formation, attached with crazy glue), more realistic graphics. Also more flight simmy controls... ie autopilots, flight computer, twiddling knobs, pushing buttons. Etc. Another iteration I think would be cool, would be Kerbal History of Flight..... a KSP focusing on pre-spaceflight aeronautics... starting with Wright brothers levels of wacky design, maybe up to spaceplanes in the end goal. Finally, I I'm picturing a mobile game, where you have wait one real day after every launch, unless you pay real money .... I'm kidding, I'm kidding!!

If they have to dispose of waste the same way they did back in the old Gemini days, then trust me there is absolutely no romance going on. And if there was before, DEFINATELY not after.

The Ringworld. I think it would be really challenging/fun to land on. - - - Updated - - - Realistic in what respect? A realistic space program manager? In which I assume you'd spend most of the game time lobbying politicians, acquitting expenses, appearing at hearings, wrangling contractors and deciding on a media strategy. A realistic rocket design game? You get an extremely restrictive set of parameters, again need to wrangle contractors A, B and C to provide designs for modules that fit designs already proposed by contractors D, E, and F, and need to alter those designs, when government sub-committee A, requires alterations to contractor E and Fs designs. A realistic space flight simulator? in other words a really good mechjeb, where somebody else pushes go, and the computer flies while you read off indicators.

You mean like, how the wind appears to be blowing the flag, ipso facto, they must have filmed it on a sound stage.... because, you know, sound stages are well known for being very windy and are not at all specifically designed to avoid environmental interference. (facepalm)

All conspiracy theories.... particularly that the moon landing was a hoax. I mean really? (Facepalm). I know I don't need to debunk this one... particularly not here, but gee wiz. Do you know how many thousands of people would been need to be in on it. Not to mention some of them would be Soviets. You mean all those people, and not one decided to take the risk to spill the beans and make a fortune? Nobody talks in their sleep, or tried to bignote themselves to into somebody's pants. The Soviets decided not to embarrass America at the height of the Cold War, why? Also, and this is general to all conspiracy theories, what makes people think that modern governments have the competence to conspiracy there way out of a paper bag... or the competence to conspiracy themselves from getting out of the paperbag.... eh... which ever works. The height of government skulduggery was around the time of the USA's various hilariously inept attempts to kill Castro. That was the pinnacle people! The golden days of cloak and dagger! Oh, and I'm not trying to pick on the US here. All nations are basically inept at conspiracy. Although, having said that the Chinese have yet to be pinned for kidnapping Harold Holt (Australian political reference). - - - Updated - - - "It was a controlled demolition" Really.... do they know how much work it takes to set up a controlled demolition, how many weeks of preparation. All those workers, just ignored the suspicious looking workmen drilling into the wall in the photocopy room. Nobody complained to the OH&S committee that all the wires running along the floor of the office were a trip hazard?

<<<<<<<< spoiler >>>>>>>>> I see Watney, safe and sound. NASA crew celebrating. Fade to black. Credits roll. Bonus scene opens with Sean Bean's character walking down the street and is suddenly killed by a falling antenna. Scene fades to black, and a notice comes up on screen saying "its in his contract."

Remember, Watney makes a comment in the book about the new spacesuits being less bulky than the Apollo era suits... so I'm cool with it. The Helmet.... acceptable for artistic license, although I do remember a section of the book where PR want a shot of his face, but this being essentially impossible because Pathfinder is outside and the faceplate would make it difficult to see him. On the other hand, as movies are visual, including facial expression, I can accept we need to see Matt Damons face for dramatic purposes. Also, Star and everything.

Worth it! Can't remember what I paid originally, but it is very low considering the time I've put into it. I'm even considering buying if for a friend, for no other reason that I feel, relative to what the AAA market usually expects you to pay for a "full length game", I've gotten much much more value. Is it perfect? no. A rough diamond certainly. But a diamond nonetheless.

There are definitely cursed ships. I had a interplanetary towing vehicle once.... its parts came from a spare parts store in an old abandoned theme park built over a burial ground.... ran by an old shaman.... so, completely legit. In particular the tow-ship had 4 nukes, which, the old shaman that sold them to me guaranteed were completely safe... I mean, he gave me all the usual legalese warranty mumbo jumbo... you know.... terms and conditions.... blah blah, don't refuel them after midnight.. blah blah... no seriously don't refuel them after midnight blah blah.... no refunds etc etc. Anyway, got it into orbit, used to it ferry a lander to the Mun. Detached the lander, landed it, returned it to orbit and docked with the tow vessel around 12:01 KSC time. Found that after returning, I had heaps of fuel in the lander left. So, naturally I transferred the excess to the Nuke tanks. What happened next was the craft started oscillating, shaking and flexing like crazy and eventually shook itself completely apart. Strangest thing ever. I tried to contact the old shaman, to collect on the warranty, but alas, when I returned, it looked like the spare parts store had been abandoned for years. I'm chasing up the warranty with Consumer Affairs of course..

I've not yet messed around with KAS, but fully intend to at some point. I'm hoping I don't to need if it is added to stock in the near future. Having Kerbals able to do structural reinforcement in space would be great, as it would actually give a purpose to the engineer class (I don't play with rovers much, so don't break wheels). Also it would give an additional purpose for spaceplanes, in that you could use them to send parts and engineers to a station or mothership. I'd also like to add my vote to a propeller. Oh and hinges! I know all of this has been done by mods, but ultimately these are ideas I feel would enhance Career mode. I like career mode as is, but I think it could do with some deepening. Imagine a contract that system the periodically requires updates to your Kerbin space station. Contract 1, Cupola, hitchhiker storage, and power. Contract two add science compartment. Contract three add more living quarters, and shielded docking ports, MOAR POWER, add reinforcement (add at least two struts), Contract 4, replace current crew (min new 1 scientist 1 engineer). etc.... hmmm I've seged from new parts to general wish list. A propeller means you could have a "history of flight" type career mode or contract.

Ha! We should also not forgot the bloody conflicts that foreshadowed the final apocalypse. The bloody clashes of the Aero Heresy, the Realism vs Fun crusades. The many, many good people we lost during the Squad Released Too Early Troubles

Many people have already mentioned it, but the old forgetting to install solar panels on a probe. For bonus points, its infuriating cousin, remembering the panels but forgetting to deploy them. My other "favourite" is more of a category of mistake.... what I like to call 'staging mishaps.' Parachutes deployed in the very first stage, completely full and firing rockets being jettisoned early (often overtaking and colliding with the vessel), due to over zealous space bar mashing.

I don't think I've ever dropped a NERVA on a planet..... well, not deliberately. I think I may have lost one in Jools atmosphere, but I tend to think the radiation a NERVA would create is a drop in the ocean compared the rads Jool must give out (ie based on it being like Jupiter). But yeah, I'd feel funny dropping one on Kerbin... maybe even the other atmospheric planets. I tend to use them as part of reusable "tow-trucks", and on a few, long abandoned probes, floating aimlessly.

Yikes. If you only saw the KSP clip (and you didn't know better) you'd say, well, physics engines in games do come up with some funny glitches sometimes... but holy moley, it happens in real life too!!!

With my finger hovering anxiously over the F5 and F9 keys.

All you would need would be for the most fearsome Australian predator, the Drop-bear, to ride the gun of that "Drop-Tank" as it descends onto the battlefield and you would have the most frightening weapon invented since the invention of the A-bomb. Nations would surrender at the mere threat of it being deployed. The Swedish/Aussie hegemony of the world would begin in ernest.

Not sure where I heard this, or if it's true, but I believe Jupiter really puts out the rads. Such that anything on Europa would be baked so mercilessly its genes would squeal. Could be Jool is so hot that it sterilizes the system. At the very least anything which grew there would be glow bright green..... Hmmmm Might be safe for Kerbal habitation afterall.

Isn't this how Donny Darko starts/ends?

I think in spirit it is not staging, even though it uses the KSP staging controls. You would not say the plane in the picture was dropping a stage. I take it this important to determining if something is an SSTO? My understanding is the spirit of an SSTO, is a plane that takes off from a runway, reaches orbit and lands on the runway. I know technically, this is not what it means. A rocket which does not jettison any tanks, and returns by parachute is technically an SSTO. But my impression from players of KSP, SSTO design, is all about designing planes. But hey, it only really matters to pedants, and we shouldn't be kow-towing to their kind.

I like this idea in theory, I wonder if it would really work that well. There is a bit you can do with spaceplanes currently. There is really not that much you can do with Planes currently, and I'm not sure Test flight missions are enough to build a game around. So I guess my question for this thread is, how would this concept be filled out into a game (using a KSP approach). My ideas would be, firstly a more detailed Kerbin, lots of places to go, other landing strips, maybe some in tricky places. Ones close to the primary landing strip (the KSC) for short trips (maybe speed missions), others on the other side, requiring sub-orbital or orbital flight to reach within a reasonable period. More atmospheric mission types, Cargo, Test Flight, Passenger transport, long haul, (more interesting) survey missions, search and rescue, etc. and of course, more plane bits. As noted by others above. Parts from the beginnings of aviation until the future.

An Australian gaming TV show called Good Game did a segment on it, very, very early in its development. Unfortunately I came across the segment halfway through and was doing something else at the time, so only half watching, meaning I missed crucial details.... like the name, developer, and any information which would have been helpful to Google. I liked what little I saw though. I went looking for this cool space game. But, had little to go on, unfortunately "Space" and "Game"... do not limit hits in google as much as you would think. Because of the sketchy graphical details I saw, I thought it might be a smart phone game. Thought it would be cool to launch rockets while on the train to work. But alas, could not find it. Eventually I saw it on Steam Early access, bought it... the only early access game I've bought. My love for it is strong, even though the frequency I play it ebbs and flows. I find I'll playing it feverishly for a couple of weeks, then peter out... I'll play other things, then.... a vision.... an invention, or design will come to me in my sleep... and before you know it I'll be right back again. Its very much a "project" based game. Anyway... musing over.

Hey Mate Don't give up. Lots of experienced players are finding the new aero challenging. I also found my rockets flipped out a lot when I tried to do things the old way. I'm still learning the new aero too, but the key thing I've found is throttle management helps. I'm not across the science, as many on the forums are, but I found if I reduce throttle once the rocket starts reaching 200 throttle way back. You don't need to kill the rate of acceleration completely, but make you speed climb slower at least until your in the thinner atmosphere. Also have a really light touch on the controls. Inch it down to 45 degrees... doesn't seem to matter if your not their before 10,000. Also there is tons of good advice around here about rocket design. Keep trying!!

This is a great idea. Also gives a good reason to use different crew combinations. Currently I only send engineers up to gain experience. Sure they can fix parachutes, and perform minor repairs, but I rarely find this is critical (because of F5 and F9 mainly... in other words, legal cheating).

They can be quite useful if you combine them with other contracts too. For instance, I had a rescue mission from around Minmus, with Tourist mission around Minmus. Used the Mk1-2 command pod. Had Jeb in the pilot seat, the tourist in the other seat and a vacant one for the hitchhiker. Think I also picked up a science from around Kerbin contract at the same time.