Kickn4fun

Hey guys, I have a question. I really want to install this, but I can't seem to make it work. I went through the Readme file, and the download comes with all the required parts. However, the stuff doesn't show up. It did take away the stock cupola like it's supposed to, though. Any tips or hints on what to try?

Well, I finally made it to Eve! I had lots of fun working on designs to allow me to get there, and learning how to change my orbit to get to Eve. But the probe I was sending kept having some Issues... Here I am!! made it to Eve, and Earned about 1400 Science! My sister just loves me referring to Science the way the game is written (She's a biology major, so she's studied a lot of real science) This probe does need more solar panels, though. The problem I was having, though, was entry into the atmosphere. Here's my rocket / just the probe. After 2 trial probes, this is the design that finally made it to the surface. I was having issues burning up on Eve's atmosphere. the 3.75M heat shield wasn't cutting it, so when I was able to research the 10M one, I made a few changes. Here's the issue: when I deploy the heat shield, the probe starts to flip end-over-end. After many save-games, I was able to get it through this part of re-entry by NOT deploying it, and keeping one of the large orange fuel tanks attached. I would keep going pro-grade towards the ground until I started seeing over-heating effects on the science JR./solar panels, whichever it was, and then deploying the shield. It still went end-over-end, but not as badly, and I was able to discard it and the fuel tank shortly after, sending it cartwheeling into space. (This also took several tries, so it wouldn't crash back into the craft.) So thereafter, I was able to deploy the chutes, and the mono-propellant righted the craft in a retro-grade orientation. Science then ensued. So my question is this: how to better design a probe to use the 10M heat shield? Does the shield need to be closer to the CoM? Bigger fins? ( I went with these for aesthetics mostly, so they wouldn't poke through the fairing.) Do I need to bring more fuel, and just do a rocket-powered deceleration? Thanks, and happy rocketing!

Thank you for the recommendation. I have been pretty thoughtful in my placement of RCS thrusters, so I know those aren't the issue. I will have to look into getting that mod soon, if I plan to do much in the way of docking.

Thanks! I found out through trial and error, that the stock docking indicator is only good until you're about 10m away. after that, I had to dock by eye-balling it. It was kinda fun, and kinda annoying that I had to figure out to just ignore the nav ball and wing it. How necessary / helpful are mods? Do they change the gameplay much, or just really enhance it?

Thank you everyone for your tips/tricks/pointers/advice. I have temporarily abandoned the space station in my pictures, and have started a different one at the moon. I was able to complete a docking maneuver there. Very rewarding! Many re-loads to learn how, and I finally figured out what I needed to do to get my crafts in relative position, speed, and orbit to use the control thrusters to bring the 2 parts together. I will probably take a second look into my first craft to recover it soon. Thank you all!!

I was controlling the science module, the one behind the command capsule. I had them both facing the same direction when I was at my maneuver point, but for the screen shots I waited until I was in the light.

1. Yes, pure stock game, no mods. 2. I habent unlocked different size docking nodes yet. 3. I'm 'assuming' it's built correctly, the nodes snap-locked into place when I built them. Do you guys think I should drop the current science module, and try again? I'm thinking maybe remove one of the large fuel tanks, and make a small stage just to maneuver the craft into position.

No I don't. I think that's the big problem I'm having, is the rendezvous.

here's the science lab docking port and the command module port.

So should I match my velocity before i get within 100m? Say, 500-1000?

Here's my 2 vessels. The command module, and the science lab. The lab still has the last stage of the rocket on it.

Here's a view of the 2 vessels in close proximity. they get closer, but they move away quite quickly.

1. Yes, pure stock game, no mods. 2. I habent unlocked different size docking nodes yet. 3. I'm 'assuming' it's built correctly, the nodes snap-locked into place when I built them. No, I wasn't checking that. I'll have to try that. Pics incoming. (was cleaning house..)

I'm sorry, I must have explained it a little wrong. They aren't pushing each other, they aren't even meeting up.

So, I'm having terrible (seeming) issues docking. I have my 2 modules on a perfect line, a closing speed of about 2 m/s, and once i get about 40m away, they just seem to rocket apart from each other. I've spent about 3 hours this morning trying, and I'm going to take a break. I have spent a decent amount of time getting their orbits to match up, to the point that the 2 encounters are .1km apart, and relative speeds of >5m/s. What else am I missing in trying to dock? This is my first time trying this maneuver, so I'm sure I'm doing something wrong. I've looked up several tutorials, but they all seem to leave me guessing on my own a bit. Thanks for help, in advance.

I was having structural issues, going between 1.25m and 1.5m sections, and the larger decoupler solved that. Well, I listened to your guy's advice, and researched the fairing. Removed the girders around the lab, and reduced the struts to a total of 4 instead of 8. I added an intermediate rocket stage below the lander to help get into orbit. I also added a 2nd group of fins at the bottom of the rocket, and changed my fuel tank layout slightly to utilize the larger tanks. (I still need to get the larger engines.) This design actually flew very well. I left SAS on, but just nudged the nose over every so often, and it tended to gently fall over on it's own as well.

Hahaha! I'd probably be rolling on the ground if NASA ever flew anything I've built!!! I came across some of Scott Manley's videos, that's what got me interested in trying out this game. So some of his earlier videos, he suggested going for science a lot at first, and I think it's come to bite me a bit. As an update, I added 6 of the smaller SRBs, and was able to launch straight up to 100,000m with very little issue, and tons of fuel to spare. Minmus, here come my Kerbals!

Thank you for your answer. Heh, believe it or not, that's the 3rd design I came up with for the lander, and by far the most compact. I'll try removing the girders. I know the engine will clear, but I was going for lots of 'Balance'... maybe too much. Follow up question. Would I be better off putting the fins towards the top then? Oh yeah, and I haven't unlocked fairings yet.

Hers is a pic of what it's doing. The rocket is turning West on it's own.

So, I'm having a TON of issues launching the last few days. New player here, so I've been watching a lot of videos and reading guides on this forum. My issue is with breaking into Kerbal orbit with my larger rockets. I've tried many many combinations of engines, fins, staging and fuel setups. I've tried taking a whole section of the external boosters off for less weight, but lose fuel too fast. I've tried 'asparagus' staging, or feeding all into the center. My rocket KEEPS wanting to flip BACKWARDS..? My best launches I've tried is this: Full throttle on takeoff, SAS on. At about 20-30 meters per sec, rotate 5-10 degrees, just until the pro-grade marker starts to move; turn SAS off. I keep following the pro-grade marker during acceleration (My rocket seems to require manual intervention to stay on course. Very little, though). On my best launches, at around 8000 meters, 60* and 260 m/s, my rocket likes to flip BACKWARDS... Help, please? Thanks all.