After coming back to my Science mode campaign after a long break (and after rescuing those Kerbals I left on Duna), I started a new Career mode campaign. I'd forgotten how hard things are with the early-game rockets. No more automatically reaching for Mammoth-Rhino-nuke or Mammoth-Rhino-Dawn for a while.
I've reached orbit and I have a contract to test the Terrier, which is nice to have for upper stages.