Chequers

Yes, as mentioned, this appeared to be a bug that was exclusive to 1.11 without DLCs. I installed both DLCs (it was a good nudge to get them, I suppose), and this immediately rectified the issue. Whether it was the Breaking Ground or Making History DLC that fixed the issue (Or either. Or both) I don't know. I do not use any mods at all, so cannot confirm whether your issue would be resolved if you removed the 'making less history' mod; but I'd suggest that would be a good place to start.

A thing has been started. Welcome to a whole universe of things!

I've taken a little break from KSP in recent months (had a little Valentina join the family)... but with this final KSP update, I felt I had to thank everyone involved with the Kerbal Space Program project for what has been, without a doubt, the best 'bang-for-buck' piece of software I've ever purchased. Many hundreds of hours have been spent in this incredible 'game', and the commitment to 10 years of updates, patches, fixes, and new content has been phenomenal. As has this wonderful community. Congratulations on a decade of Space Success! I've no doubt you've inspired an entire generation of people to pursue an interest in the universe. Here's to 10 more years!

I (and I'm sure many others who started career mode) am sure my first craft was a Mk1 Command Pod, sat on top of a RT-5 Flea SRB, with a MK16 parachute on top. Maybe a goo cannister or two on either side. And most definitely incorrectly staged, so that the parachute deployed at the same time the rocket fired. You know you've done it.

Update: I downloaded and installed both DLCs, and this has rectified the issue.

I believe this bug is documented here: https://bugs.kerbalspaceprogram.com/issues/27162 In a nutshell, since 1.11.1, all pilots and probe cores have access to all SAS modes, from stability assist to manoeuvre pointing. It's across all saves, and I've tried a reinstall. Has anyone else encountered and been able to fix this bug? It somewhat cheapens the career experience.

Methinks the surface sample report doth protest too much...

I've just noticed that all of my Kerbals in my new career save, despite only have one star of experience, have access to all the perks of a 5 star experienced Kerbal. As do all of my early-tech probe cores. Could this have been caused by the 1.11.1 update? Or is this another bug?

Technically, yes - but it would be hard to figure out how much your vessel cost - and how many funds you were able to recover after the mission.

Welcome and congratulations @InfernoSD on your entry into Orbit Boot Camp. I'm not sure I've seen a console player take this challenge on yet, so you could well be the first! You'd be surprised how unique each entry is - I'm confident your design hasn't been done before! Well done also on completing a rescue mission as part of your entry, you're correct in that you're the first - though there isn't an additional adornment for that at present. Impressive nonetheless! Onto the honours. Your first vessel, '6PartBoot' earns you the Kerbin Crescent, adorned with Zircon Chevron and Amber Leaves. Your second vessel, 'tugboot' is awarded the Zircon Chevron, and after deliberation with the OBC committee, also earns you the Vermillion Heart, for creative use of using two Kerbals as part of the mission. Your final mission cost will not take into account the recovery of Hal's capsule, however. Your name and entries will be added to the Honour Roll. Congratulations! Feel free to use the OBC signature badge if you'd like to. --- Sounds great! Looking forward to seeing it!

This campfire story needs more details... and screenshots!

Welcome home! Let me know your review of BG - I've not gotten the expansions yet, so I'd be keen to hear your thoughts.

UPDATE: With a few more entries recently, I've updated the Signature Patch to remove the white background, as the background colour of forum posts has changed. I'd recommend updating your link. --- @Popestar, thank you for providing a great name for your first entry into the Orbit Boot Camp challenge. Your rocket has a classic, timeless design - with the pointy bit at the top. That'll make the less unconventional of the OBC committee happy. Onto the honours! For your entry, 'Hot Buttered Aspirin', you successfully pass out of Orbit Boot Camp and are awarded the Kerbin Crescent. For keeping below Tech Level 4, you also earn the Onyx Eyes additional adornment. We're looking forward to reviewing future entries. Your name and vessel have been recorded on the Honour Roll. Congratulations! Feel free to use the Signature Patch if you wish. --- @camacju, On reviewing your entry, it appears that you've used some... let's say 'interesting' part clipping techniques in your entry. We're not sure what wizardry you've used with some of the undercarriage which doesn't appear to be attached to anything! If you're able to complete the challenge without the use of part clipping, the OBC committee will be happy to take another look.

Mods that simply are visual enhancements are fine. Any mods that add parts, change gameplay, or enhance performance are not allowed. --- @Popestar - Great to see out 2020 with an exciting Boot Camp entry! Your entry certainly looks like it qualifies - would you like to name it before I add your name, vessel and adornments to the honour roll? --- @camacju - Congratulations on your entry, 'Sapphire' - it's always great to see an SSTO entry; while they often cost a bit more to create, they're great for recovering a good chunk of the funds. Bear in mind, you can recover up to 5,000 for the purposes of calculating the overall cost of your mission. Was the launch cost 8,229? Once confirmed, I'll get your entry added to the honour roll.

Great ideas everyone. Thanks! I like the idea of having to really think about my designs to maximise efficiency. I think i'll take the idea onboard of not upgrading the VAB at all, to force a small number of parts. I'll see if that gets too frustrating too quickly. In line with the 'plant a flag on all the bodies', that's a good idea. But I think I'll also add that I'm only allowed to collect science from one biome per body. In my recent career, I only visited Mun, Minmus, Duna, Ike and landed a probe on Eve (with a flyby of Gilly). Most of my science actually came from about 20-30 landings to Mun and Minmus, so this'll force me to explore further afield! Challenge!

All of the music is top notch in KSP. But I'm a huge fan of the R&D Facility track. It's so poignant. Sometimes I crank it up in my headphones and slow-mo walk into the office. Nobody knows why. But I know... I know...

Well, my break from KSP lasted about a month. I just can't quit these Kerbals. Now I've finished my first career (and by that, I mean I unlocked the tech tree and upgraded all buildings), I'd like to start a new one, with a few self-imposed challenges to freshen the experience. I already don't use quick-saves or reverts, so I'll continue to do that. But beyond setting the difficulty to reduce resources, is there anything a little more creative that I could consider? I don't use mods, so this'll have to be stock. A few thoughts: Not allowed to leave any debris in space. If that happens 'by accident', then a mission must be launched to retrieve it. Any landing site must be 'scoped out' by a probe first. Data from all biomes of a celestial body must be collected, before moving onto the next body. (Might be a bit tedious...) Any other ideas?

I have a strange aversion to using any mods, in any game, regardless of how good they are. And I'm not sure why, though I'm sure it's a silly reason. I have nothing against mods themselves - or anyone using them. I just never have, nor can bring myself to do it. Whether it's a graphical overhaul in a dated game like Morrowind. Or a UI mod that makes objectively 'better' changes. Even if it changes nothing about the core gameplay, or is simply an ease-of-life addition. I have a very early memory of my brother and I having an identical LEGO model - and once completed, he added a load of extra parts to his because he thought it looked better - and I was repulsed by it. I blame that. Any psychologists here?

Almost a year ago, I started playing KSP. I started a career mode game, and turned off quicksaves and reverts because I felt I'd learn the game better by ensuring I was careful and meticulous in my planning, and having them off forced me to. I kept them off because it was a real thrill to complete a complex mission without having to restart. I don't think I could ever play with them turned on now. Today, after the successful return of Tenacious III from Ike, I finished the science tech tree. I hadn't upgraded all of the buildings beyond level 2 - and with 10 million in the bank - I upgraded KSC... which feels like I've now unlocked everything. It's been an amazing journey. I can still remembering wondering how I'd ever get to orbit. How I'd ever learn to rendezvous and dock. How i'd ever complete a landing on the Mun. How I'd ever explore beyond the Kerbin system. But thanks to this fantastic community, who were always there to offer tips, advice and help, I've launched some really fun missions and overcome some big challenges. It's taken 11 months - perhaps because I handicapped myself by only allowing myself to collect science from one biome per mission, and not using things like the mobile processing lab. But I don't think I've ever enjoyed a 'game' more than this year. I know there's so much more to do; an Eve landing and return is begging to be tackled. I've never seen other planets except for Duna and Eve, and there's an infinite number of scribbled craft blueprints I need to bring to life. Maybe I'll check out the other modes, like Sandbox or Science. I've never used mods or bought the expansions... so there might be a few additions to check out. But for now, I think it's time for the crew at Chequers Aerospace to have a rest. Thanks everyone.

Of the four moons I've visited (Mun, Minmus, Gilly (on a fly-by) and Ike) I have a soft spot for Duna's tidal-locked moon, having recently completed my first landing there. Ike's relative size and proximity to Duna makes it both interesting to manoeuvre to, and visually epic to land on, with the big red planet so close-by to provide existential feelings of insignificance. Ike is also fairly forgiving for the first-time interplanetary traveller; easy to encounter due to it's large SoI (actually too easy when it gets in the way of Duna missions), and with less gravity than the Mun. It makes it easy to aerobrake in Duna's thin atmosphere into an elliptical orbit and catch an encounter with Ike. The topography is interesting too, with great variance over a short distance - it makes for some dramatic landscapes. Visit Ike today! This post is sponsored by the Ike Tourism Board.

Our first landing on Ike occurred today. This was a poignant mission, not only because it concluded the Tenacious Program that began in April with the Pioneer program, but because it was an achievement I was most looking forward to accomplishing since starting KSP. I've always been fascinated by the relationship between Duna and Ike, and how close the moon is to its host planet - I'd often wondered what the great red planet would look like from the surface of Ike. And it most certainly didn't disappoint! It's an absolutely beautiful sight. The mission as a whole was probably my most enjoyable to date. The smooth transfer to Duna, with an aerobrake manoeuvre that whipped the craft around the planet and out to kiss the SoI of Ike for a short burn to capture into orbit. It was just a joy to plan and perform. Jebediah will perform scientific experiments, plant a flag and collect ground samples, before returning to dock with 'Companion', crewed by Valentina in orbit, ready for the return home.

Let me clarify: Your two choices are: A - Maintain your ability to cut your hair - and I don't mean just the hair on your head, mind you - but once a month, you must lose it all. Or B - Never be able to cut your hair again, for the rest of your hairy days. If it would help to make it a harder decision, feel free to speculate on the timeframe at which you must lose all of your hair. Be it 3 months, 6 months, each year, or longer.

Sorry! That's where I thought I'd put it! Tough one. I get a lot of joy in learning, but I don't necessarily have to get learning from school... but games covers way more; from video games, to (arguably) sports... so I'll say games. Would you rather have to go completely bald once a month, or never be allowed to cut your hair again?

We all have to make choices: What to have for lunch; What movie to watch; Whether to add one moar booster. Some choices are easier than others (it's always 'yes' to moar boosters) - but what if you had to make a choice between two tough options? This premise of this game is simple: Propose a situation where you must decide between two equally good options - the harder to chose between, the better! First, you must answer the previous 'would you rather', and justify your choice. Be detailed! Someone might scrutinise your decision making process. Once you've justified your answer, propose the next 'would you rather'. I'll start: 'Would you rather have hands for feet, or feet for hands?'

Welcome aboard! We're a friendly bunch - most of the time.