Geonovast

Your picture still isn't showing and I'm likely imagining your craft wrong. Can you try linking the picture again so it shows, or at least a link to it?

RCS is based off of your "Control From Here" point. Usually if I need to control a vehicle from an obscure spot, I'll slap a Jr. Docking port in that spot so I have something to click on and select "Control From Here" So you could slap a docking port or probe core on the side, which would be the "top" when it's landing, and you should get correct control over your RCS.

Well... here's Bob. Bob is looking off into a crater on The Mun, shortly after Jeb managed to put them down right on the edge of said crater. Bob is looking off into the distance instead of performing the 8 science experiments he brought with in KIS containers to assemble on the surface because he forgot a screwdriver.

If you're looking for a big boost in science like that, and you've only played for a few hours, is your tech tree advanced enough to even try something like this? I'm playing a science game right now (so money isn't an object, and I have fancy toys from mods to play with). Tree is a little over half full, and I wouldn't even think of a grand tour yet. Not saying you shouldn't try, just a concern. Maybe give it a shot in a sandbox save first to see what's involved?

Ideally you want the COM as close to the heat shield as possible. It's pretty good with just the command pod: Not so with the hitchhiker in the mix: Some fins on top would help, but as you said, would mess up launch. You could use airbrakes instead if you have them researched: Or attach your fins and put the whole shebang in a fairing for launch.

The only issue with debris I've had is shortly after I've discarded it. Once in Kerbol orbit, I decoupled some excess parts (from the front of the craft) right before a transfer burn, and ended up plowing right back into it when I hit the engines. Another time I had a service module shoot past the command module on a re-entry... probably within 2-3 meters. Other than that I've had a few ~20km flybys, which is kind of cool.

Nah I just like to play with my toys a bit before reading the directions.

Just a few days ago I even had to set the thrust limiter to around 8% because just tapping H or N as brief as possible was still adjusting my orbit too much. (IIRC I was about a year and a half out from my target) Using the main poodle engine would have been way too much. Been there! 30 trips from pod to back of the craft for I think about 250m/s just to get home.

My first real accomplishment was a direct ascent crash landing into the Mun. This was before I was even aware of the map view and just flew by the seat of Jeb's pants. The learning curve isn't bad because it can be as curvy as you want.

Can you pull the flag, go accept the contract, then re-plant the flag?

Huh. I just assumed they weren't "real." Guess I figured I would have seen one when I went on a week long flight around a good chunk of Kerbin.

Certainly! But no struts when they're needed will cause a craft to noodle itself to bits. I'm 100% certain my station kit up there would have exploded on launch without any struts. Can't say much for sure until we can see the craft in question.

Great view. Where is that and what is on top the mountain?

Normally I would recommend GOG, but you can't beat the 40% off. Welcome! I paid full price ($40) at GOG, and frankly, it's the only game I feel I under paid for. The second you feel you're getting a little burned out on it, you go grab yet another mod and it's suddenly a new game.

The whole point of the aforementioned flyby to Duna was to get the 6-way connectors (which cost too much if you ask me), so I could assemble the space station "kit" I already had in orbit. 1st launch was everything to the left of the MK1 cargo bay. Process: All done. First time ever using EVA struts. I can't believe I ever built a space station without Konstruction! and KIS/KAS! Everything went smoothly, until it was time to send Jeb home, and we realized someone at the KSC forgot parachutes.

Struts struts struts! This is what I'm working on right now. This is only two launches. Seeing the vessel you're having issues with would help us get more specific.

I think it's a Linux and/or Nvidia thing, from skimming the add-on thread.

Yeah... installed TextureReplacerReplaced so they can take their helmets off in atmosphere, but have been too lazy to figure out why it's not loading the visor textures...

I'm not quite to managing a full career yet, but I have been playing a science save. Today we had a sciencey Duna flyby. I freaking love the Universal Storage system supplemented with DMagic Orbital Science ! And home! Worth it.

Just two GameData folders. One stock, one modded.

Just... freaking... wow, dude.

Do you not have drogue chutes unlocked?

I was already in orbit around Kerbin, so I could have transmitted what I had home already. Plus Jeb needed to get home anyway. Couldn't just leave him in orbit for awhile until I felt like retrieval since I had TAC-LS enabled. It only took about 30 trips in and out of the pod to get it done, but it got him and the results back to the surface. And it ended up being like 300 Science, not 150. I'll take a look at the Orbital Science Mod for more gizmos to play with!

I'd ask for Screenshots, but I think I'd rather replicate the experiment myself..

I think one of the things that I've always found unique to spaceflight is that, in the last couple decades, it's become the one thing we have pulled together as a species, all other difference aside, and accomplished together. Great video @Scarecrow. Maybe I can finally get some of my friends to play this "with" me!