BenKerman

Hi, Is it just me, or are the maneuver planning tools available for interplanetary trips just not very good in RO? I've tried using the pork chop plot, and at least two different maneuver tools from MechJeb. Almost nothing hits the target planets. Essentially what I've found I have to do is to escape from Earth, and then use Rendezvous Autopilot or Maneuver Planner to get closer. Going directly from Earth orbit to an intercept course to another planet (I've only tried Mars and Venus) using the tools I mentionted seems to be basically unworkable. I have gotten probes to orbit both Venus and Mars, but only with finagling, as I tried to describe. I'm pretty pleased, nonetheless. Thanks, Ben

Hi, I'm trying to get to Mars from Earth in RO. (in stock I've flown to Duna many times, and I've always flown "by hand" without using MechJeb.) Instead of flying by hand, I'm trying to use MechJeb now. Now, in MechJeb Manuever Planner, when I select "Transfer to another planet" I keep seeing a yellow message "your orbital inclination is 11.8 degrees from the Earth's orbital inclination around the sun." MJ's recommendation is to have this be less than 10 degrees. How can I adjust my probe's orbital inclination around the Earth to be parallel to the Earth's orbital inclination around the Sun? Thanks, Ben

Thanks!

Hi, I made up my own little Atlas V in Realism Overhaul today. It works a lot better than the early rocket models I made (Juno II, Mercury Atlas). I didn't include fins because the real Atlas V doesn't have fins. This is in spite of the fact that my Atlas V's center of lift is far forward of its center of mass. Why is this rocket stable? I was so surprised that it flew so well. Ordinarily I would add fins so that the center of lift is astern of the center of mass. Why didn't I need to do that? Thanks, Ben

That worked, thank you!

Hi, Is there a mod that will let me predict atmospheric trajectory (as in re-entry)? Copilot tells me there is one called Trajectories, but I'm not sure it works with Realism Overhaul, which is what I'm using. Thanks, Ben

Hi, I'm interested in identifying where my capsule will land after it re-enters Earth's atmosphere in Realism Overhaul. I found out that a mod called Trajectories does this. I just checked with Bing Copilot (ChatGPT), and it says I need to install Trajectories separately. Is this really the case? Does Realism Overhaul already come with functionality that I'm looking for? Thanks in advance. Ben

Well, I got my first satellite to orbit around Earth in RO. Some keys were to make sure my avionics didn't have excess batteries (they did), and also to use Smart A.S.S. instead of Ascent Guidance. Thanks!

FWIW, I just completed my immediate goal of getting a satellite to orbit in RO. I didn't use the ascent guidance from MechJeb, but I did use Smart A.S.S. That was key.

Hi, Without sharing any videos or screenshots (I could share if needed), I have a problem with my first orbital attempt in RO. It seems my first stage shuts down prematurely. I can figure out why this is happening -- it's because the calculated apoapsis matches the orbit altitude target I entered in MechJeb (170 km in my case). I don't want that to happen; is there a way to force a stage to use all of its fuel? Second, just before the engine shuts off, the engine gimbals, and so after the engine shuts off, my ship is put into a tumble about one of its short axes. This is very annoying. What can I do to solve these problems? I want to use all of my fuel and I don't want the ship to tumble after the engine turns off. Thanks, Ben

Thanks. I think I need MechJeb help that is specific to RO. I'm very experienced at stock KSP.

Hi, I just started playing KSP w/ RO. I've never used MechJeb before this week, and I'm wondering what resources you know of to help me get started with MechJeb. I prefer textual help over YouTube videos. I have found some things on my own but I wonder what forum members use. Right now I'm trying to get a simple satellite to orbit around Earth. If you could suggest some input I could put into MechJeb for getting to orbit, that would be great! I was following a tutorial from Carnasa on YT to build my first RO orbital rocket, but in the tutorial he doesn't use MechJeb to get to orbit, and I'd like to do that. Thanks! Ben

Thanks! I'm not super interested in booster re-usability. I'll check these out. And I should have clarified my original post, I built the sounding rocket and the downrange rocket from the RO tutorial, but nothing else.

Hi, I followed the instructions at this link Early Career Tutorial · KSP-RO/RP-1 Wiki · GitHub pretty successfully (although not perfectly). Are there more step-by-step tutorials out there for RO things? Here's a list of things I'm interested in: orbiting a satellite (no recovery) landing on Moon, returning from Moon landing a Kerbal (are they humans now?) on Mars & returning, and specifically using a Robert Zubrin "Mars Direct" style program (sans the spinning artificial gravity) playing with Falcon Heavy to see what it can do (could it go to Moon or Mars)? Thanks, Ben

How can you have a bulldozer in KSP? I've never heard of this before. Pics? I ascended from Eve (got a Kerbal to orbit) once. I'm not interested in doing it again right now.

Thanks!

Got it, thanks!

Hi, How might I put some ballast at the tippy top of my rocket? I'm following these instructions to make a V-2. Building a Downrange Rocket · KSP-RO/RP-1 Wiki · GitHub As the tutorial notes correctly, it's no longer possible to add lead ballast to an avionics nose cone. I've played way too much KSP w/o RO (on my Xbox, not on PC), so I know I could add "dead weight" to the bow of my rocket in many ways. However, I'm new to RO and it seems delicate (like real life). So, what should I do? How do I get more mass the front of my rocket to add stability? Thanks, Ben Update -- actually, I'm not sure at all how to add dead weight in RO. If this was stock, I would add batteries, or excess fuel in a fuel tank. But I'm not sure how to do either of those here.

Hi, How does one zoom in KSP (I'm particularly interested when inside the VAB) when on PC and not having a number pad? According to this page Key bindings - Kerbal Space Program Wiki, I should press plus and minus on the number pad to zoom in and out. I don't have a numpad. I tried using the plus and minus at the top of my keyboard (while using shift), but that didn't work. Thanks, Ben

Aelfhe1m was right -- clicking the sky and then pressing z worked. Thanks!

Vanamonde, thanks for replying. Both engines are supposed to ignite at stage zero; that is by design, according to the tutorial. The upper stage definitely has fuel after the lower stage finishes. So thanks for the theories, but I'm pretty sure the problem lies elsewhere. I will play around later today.

Hi, I just installed Realism Overhaul, and I'm trying to launch a simple sounding rocket. Building a Sounding Rocket · KSP-RO/RP-1 Wiki · GitHub Unfortunately, my upper stage doesn't light. I think this is because I can't move the throttle (the Aerobee engine won't do anything if the throttle is at zero, right?). I've tried clicking on the throttle, and it won't budge. I've tried playing with MechJeb (including turning it off) and that didn't work. I've tried pressing left shift and left control and that doesn't move the throttle. What do I do? Thanks, Ben

Here's a video of my unsuccessful launch: https://youtu.be/yZeIsGAFFMA Back to the drawing board again.

Ok, this guy will not get me to orbit. The farthest i can get is maybe 10 or 15 km in altitude at best, and usually i lose control well before that. I will post a video later. Need a new design.

Ship is fueled up, and extra equipment has been jettisoned in preparation for takeoff. It's at about 1800 m above sea level, and the ship should have more than 8000 m/s delta-v in a vacuum. I wonder if it will work. I'll probably fly later today or tomorrow.