[So many questions! Top priority, launching dynamics!]

5 hours ago, Streetwind said:

Of course it won't fly a good turn automatically. I never said that it would. It will automatically fly the turn you give it with your pitchover and your rocket's acceleration - as detailed in the rest of my post.

 

Ah, I see. In that case, you can probably get away with as flat a trajectory as you have engine thrust for. The only reason to ever fly straight up is to clear the terrain and avoid too much atmospheric drag. But Duna's atmosphere is thin, and the actual dV loss from aerodynamic drag is a minor factor even on Kerbin, with rocket stability being a much larger reason for good aerodynamics. On a gut feeling, I'd probably quicksave, then turn over 45 degrees immediately after taking off, and then see if SAS Hold Prograde will do the job. Keep an eye on apoapsis altitude. The atmosphere ends at 50 km, so you'd aim for 55-60 km. Throttle down and flatten out as you approach that number, until you have only a small orbit insertion burn left. You'll probably need around 2.5 to 3.0 Duna-local TWR from the get-go to make this trajectory work.

As for on-orbit rendezvous? That's an entire chapter in and of itself, but your launch can definitely make it easier later-on.

For starters, you want to launch into the orbit of your target spacecraft. If that spacecraft is in an equatorial orbit, and you have landed on the equator? Well then, the problem just solved itself. Just launch directly eastward as you would on Kerbin. But if either or both of those conditions are not true, then it gets more complicated, unless you have a large amount of spare dV to spend on plane changes in orbit. First, go to the vessel you want to rendezvous with, and look at the maneuver mode readout for the inclination. Then return to your landed vessel. To launch into an inclined orbit, turn your camera in map view so that the target orbit directly crosses over Duna's center. Then, time warp until your landed vessel is almost directly under the target orbit. Now add or subtract the target's inclination to/from your typical eastward launch heading. For example, if your target spacecraft is in a 10° inclined orbit, and it passes from north to south over your landed craft, then your heading should be 100° (90+10, since 0° is north and 180° is south). Launch, and use the maneuver mode readout to monitor your inclination as you make your way to orbit.

Doing this minimizes the on-orbit plane change you need to make later. There are cases though where this doesn't work, for example if you landed away from the equator but your target spacecraft is in an equatorial orbit. Then your lander will never be "under" the target's trajectory. If this happens, just launch directly eastward when you are as close as possible to your target orbit. You will automatically drift into an inclined orbit, which you will have to fix later.

Rendezvous are also made quicker and easier if your two spacecraft are close together from the start. So you want to launch when your target spacecraft is just a few degrees short of passing directly overhead. Try for a 10° angle for starters. But, you might notice that this conflicts with the previous advice. If you must launch when directly under your target's orbit, then you may not be able to wait until the target is close by. In that case, prioritize hitting the orbit. Having a very similar orbit but being far apart is easier (and cheaper) to fix than being close together but on wildly divergent orbits.

As to how to perform the rendezvous itself, there are many well-illustrated guides on the forum, with pictures and sometimes even video.

Thank you  for your detailed reply :-)

The problem is that to win the scenario, you are using a ship with very little dV so you have to be efficient. :-(

[So many questions! Top priority, launching dynamics!]

Thank you for all the answers.  Apologies if my questions were vague.  I'll try be more specific.

So I am in the process of doing the scenarios.  I have worked through all the training scenarios but now I am working through the scenarios itself and then will move on to missions.  My plan is only after this process will I try the career mode because I really want to get to understand all about KSP before I start career so that I don't completely fail when I start my game.

So now, I am in the process of doing the "EVA on Duna" scenario but for the life of me, I have no idea how to know how far I need to go straight up first before I turn and let alone even know in which direction to turn and for how long to get in to a half-decent orbit to catch up to my ship in order to transfer and come home.

So this is what is baffling me.  I habe been trying to figure this out for 2 days now and feel like a bit of a complete idiot!

I'm now learning as I go.

[So many questions! Top priority, launching dynamics!]

Hello,

Upfront, please go easy on this NOOB! I bow to all of your genius and intelligence and recognise how low my IQ is compared to all of you.  (Not intended to be arrogant but rather humble!)

I know, I know, lots of threads on this but I am not a rocket scientist and nor am I a genius. I have no clue how to calculate launch heading, velocity, thrust etc etc.

Planets obviously have differrent atmo heights but I just cannot figure out how to get in to a stable orbit on my own.  All the threads explain and explain but it goes completely over my head the moment someone brings in trigonometry or formulas etc.

 

Sure the training teaches you how to launch and get in to orbit but that is based on the rocket that they have you build and the power of those rockets etc. and it is based on that specific scenario.

The training also tells you to go turn now and then do this and that but doesn't explain why. So, is it the same heading for all rockets and all engines etc?

 

Is there no simple tool or mod that one can use to say "I want rendezvouz with this orbiting ship... so tell me which direction to head in and what thrust I will need and how much Delta-V"

I'm really struggling and don't want to give up just yet.

 

Thanks in advance.