strider3

Excellent...thank you!

I did my first major science landing on Mun. I have done a few before but all the science equipment was on the command pod. This time I had it on the fuel tanks used for landing on Mun and returning to Kerbin as the command pod doesn't have room for all of that, the screenshot is a bit dark but...: I didn't realize until I landed on Kerbin that all my experiment science was gone (other than an EVA report, soil sample, etc.). OUCH! I now realize one way of avoiding this is to use a lander can and stick all the experiments on that, or any other piece that will return to Kerbin. But, is there a way to "store" the science data and NOT have the physical experiment parts return to Kerbin? Vic (I.O.U. 178 science points) the Newbal

And, that being said, I agree that Kerbals are SUPPOSED to be maneuvered around, and I don't want to change anything just because my ladders don't work. I will test that kind of thing on the pad, in the future.

Let me apologize to everyone here. I should not have posted in the aggravated mood I was in. You have all been nothing but helpful with my questions in the past and I should not have taken out my aggravation here. And I hear you on testing before flight...sheesh! I am sorry, gang. Vic the Newbal...who should breathe, once in a while.

Well...I saved Bob. 7 tries at "jetpacking" up to the command module hatch. I still say it's stupid overkill, in this case. None of that should have been required...climb down the ladder...climb up the ladder...simple as that. Again, I say, it's missing the entire point, the big picture, of KSP. I'm here to explore the solar system...not fight with simple tasks caused by graphics issues like the placement of ladders. Can we get back to the real reason we do this? Get rid of the niggly stuff, like reboarding? If you "grab"...you have the "board" option, simple solution to any "issues" with ladders and mobility enhancers graphics and placement. Try not to spend so much time making what should be the simple, easy stuff hard, OK? I got a Mun lander into Kerbin orbit, I transferred to Mun orbit, I burned to reduce my orbit altitude twice, I set up for a landing at the twins, I landed safely at the twins and gathered science and EVA data...and then I couldn't get my kerbonaut back into the ship???? C'mon Man!!!!

My whole point here is that....if he can climb DOWN the ladders and "mobility enhancers" I built, without any "issues", he should be able to climb back UP them, also without "issues". Personally I think it's all "overkill"...if I can grab the ladder on returning to the ship, I should have a "BOARD" option, simple as that. I feel like we are missing the "big picture" with this issue. It seems like some kind of graphics issue to me as I've always had problems putting ladders on the sides of landers that will allow a kerbonaut to climb back up and re-board the craft? Why spend that amount of energy? If he/she can grab the ladder...end of story...reboard option immediately. The idea is to explore space...not deal with niggly issues which keep you from performing the simplest of tasks, don't you think? Anyway, my 2 aggravated cents worth.

Bob doesn't seem to get much beyond half way up to the hatch when "jetpacking" on the Mun from the surface...and then he just falls back to the surface. And he can't jetpack when on the ladder? Unless I'm doing it wrong, of course.

I don't understand what is so hard about getting a kerbal back into a landed ship?? On almost every landed science mission, I have to fight with this. I build ladders from the crew hatch straight down to a deployable "mobility enhancer". The kerbal climbs down the ladder, no problem. My kerbonaut does his thing, gathering info and science and returns to the ladder. He grabs it, climbs up...and there always seems to be a section, between the added ladders and the command modules built in "steps" that causes him/her to just...fall off! I'm about to leave Bob on the Mun as I cannot get him passed the section of ladder I added that joins the command modules built in steps? The heat shield "cover" seems to be a problem? At this point I suggest we get rid of any "weirdness" when trying to have a kerbonaut reboard? If he can EVA out of the darn craft, climb down my ladders and "mobility enhancers" and perform his science gathering...he should be able to re-enter the darn thing...don't you think?? GRRRRRRrrrrrrrr! I don't want to leave Bob on the Mun, but I will. Help me SAVE BOB!

I LOVE your "Hot Mess", Rocket! That's "learnin'" right there, brother!

Thanks guys. I am getting better at rendezvous and docking. I am not trying to build a huge station...just a place to get some fuel after getting off Kerbin. I have this in orbit, currently: It has 1 docking port (not Sr. or Jr.) and some electrical generation / storage. I was planning to expand on it slightly by adding some structural girders to hold, say, 4 Rockomax Jumbo 64 tanks and a docking port or 2 for refueling other craft. I guess nothing beats trial and error...with lifting and attaching the girders being the part of this I'm not sure of. But, what the heck...might as well try.

OK...sheesh! LOL!

What is the "RMB menu"

I would like to build an orbital refueling station around Kerbin...but I have no idea how to accomplish this (and by that I mean the very basics of in space construction). I get that it's modular and you start with a "core". After that, I haven't a clue. I think I can get the girders and other things up there (although I have an impossible time with the aero "protective shells"). Do the girders need to have all necessary parts attached before launching (IE, electrical panels, docking ports or radial attachment points for the various additions)? Does a radial attachment point allow the transfer of fuel and what else is required to get the fuel from the station's holding tanks to a docking ship? Will attaching solar panels be enough or do I need some way of transferring the generated power to the batteries, wherever they may be? The list goes on and on.... Moving the pieces around to attach them, once in orbit with the station, also seems like a difficult proposition...using RCS thrusters on the "lifting" ship seems like it would be difficult as they will not be "centered" on the girders you are trying to attach...maneuvering this way would seem very difficult? Anywho, what I really need, if it exists, is a tutorial..."Building an orbiting station for Newbals", if such a thing exists, rather than have people try to answer all these questions here. Hopefully there is something along those lines. Vic the Newbal

But transmitting data does not result in as much science points as returning the data to Kerbin?

I like the adjustable burn rate idea but, for reality's sake, I would say that the burn rate would only be "selectable" during construction in the VAB. My guess is a real SRB's burn rate is entirely based on chemical composition during construction? Also, how does an SRB use it's fuel...top to bottom, center to outer edge? It would be cool to have several SRB "tanks" (I use that term lightly) stacked so that as you move from one to the next the thrust would decrease, preventing overheating until you leave the atmosphere. I would tend to stick with real world realities, however...whatever they may be.

Actually, I believe there is room for somewhat taller ones also? But mostly I agree, wider to attach to the big Kerbodyne stuff and get you up and out.

I currently have an MPL-LG-2 landed on Minmus and retrieving scientific data. I have a scientist aboard. I have transmitted my first batch of data but I still show that 337 worth of data taking up space? (see pic below). Can my kerbal clear this data or is the mission over once I reach 500 data? If so, how does the scientist clear that data so I can keep researching? Vic the Newbal

Thank you Jarin. Can you elaborate on "you need multiple parts that can store it". What parts can store science data?

I have never had any luck doing any more than 1 science "project" at a time. In other words, once a piece of Science equipment is used, I cannot use it again. I have heard/read that an engineer or scientist can reset an experiment (which I have not tried yet)...but I've also run into a problem with 2 kerbals doing the same science gathering (say, an EVA report) but not being able to keep both reports when re-boarding the ship (something about "not enough data storage"...). How do I get 5 different seismic reading, on one trip to Minmus? As ever, Vic the Newbal thanks you profusely!

Excellent...that was the bit of info I have been lacking, my friend. Thank you!

I would humbly ask for more info before accepting a contract? This especially applies to orbital rescues...does the person I'm attempting to rendezvous/rescue have a docking port? What size is it? Perhaps a tutorial on orbital rescue (not so much the rendezvous part)...how to rescue a Kerbal when you don't "own" the craft and cannot control the craft (or the Kerbal inside, I'm guessing, in that situation), or there is no docking port? How do you get a Kerbal you are rescuing to EVA over to you if you cannot "switch to" their craft and have them EVA? These are the types of problems I'm running into. Granted, this might be more my lack of "how to" knowledge but I still think some more info on the craft you are attempting to rescue a Kerbal from, and it's equipment, would be helpful? Vic the Newbal

I was wondering if there are any plans to include larger SRB's in the future? Vic the Newbal

Has anyone completed this contract successfully (rescue Cerzy from her Munar orbit)? If so, please tell me she has a docking port on her capsule and I will be able to dock and transfer her to my capsule. If not, then I am screwed, so to speak. I thought that if she did not have a docking port, I might be able to get her to EVA over to my ship....but it appears I might not have even that option? I cannot "switch to target", with KER, as it says "we don't own that craft"? I'm confused as to how I'm supposed to do anything with her if I can't gain control of her?

Thank you. Initial orbit insertions on these rendezvous' is not something I'm good at...both attempts at an orbital rendezvous have resulted in being WAY off from the target. The numbers I was seeing in KER, velocity in particular, were throwing me off.

Here a screen shot...