-
Posts
2,953 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Developer Articles
KSP2 Release Notes
Everything posted by DerekL1963
-
How many hours have you played KSP for?
DerekL1963 replied to GuessingEveryDay's topic in KSP1 Discussion
Who knows? I launch via a shortcut on my desktop and have since 2013. Doesn't matter anyways. -
Angel125's MOLE has two of them... There's also been a couple of ISS solar array mods with two axes. They're not common, but they're out there.
-
[Min KSP: 1.12.2] Mark One Laboratory Extensions (M.O.L.E.)
DerekL1963 replied to Angelo Kerman's topic in KSP1 Mod Releases
I haven't tried any of the science bits, but everything else seems to work. -
My oldest screenshots, waaay back in 2013, my first trip to the Mun, and one of my first forum posts... (And man am I embarrassed by the design of the spacecraft...)
-
Came back a couple of weeks back after a couple of years break... Chatting with a friend who also plays KSP and realized I hadn't been back to the Mun. Also realized that over the years (in KSP) I've done about every possible permutation of Munar mission except a classic Kerbpollo. So, after a couple of days of work and testing, it's ready to fly.
-
Look into Nertea's Stockalike Station Part Redux And also their Near Future Construction
-
You can get rid of a ton of joints (and parts) by using a Hitchhiker or an empty fuel tank as the structural spine for your docking hub. That should be a lot more stable than being out on the ends of those skinny arms.
-
Testing an Apollo style Munar mission... While approaching to dock, accidentally separated my CM, which shot across the gap and docked as pretty as you please. I think this is the universe's way of telling me it's time to get off the computer and go to bed... Not that I'm going to.
-
How do you all time your launches for orbital docking?
DerekL1963 replied to Krymson Skorpyon's topic in KSP1 Discussion
Turns out after a bit of googling, there is an "XYZ feature of MechJeb" - down at the bottom of the Ascent Guidance window, "select target for timed launch". You'll have to launch twice, one for MJ to learn the vehicle then the second time for reals. Got it close enough that the Rendezvous Autopilot could take over from there. I suspect that so long as you don't change or rename your vehicle, it'll work on the first time for every subsequent launch. -
There's still die-hards running Windows 7... That being said, there's going to be a steep drop off in the first 12-18 months (say, 75-80%) and a long tail from there... So, effectively dead within two, max three years.
-
How do you all time your launches for orbital docking?
DerekL1963 replied to Krymson Skorpyon's topic in KSP1 Discussion
You shouldn't ever have to make more than a few orbits unless your orbital altitudes are pretty close... Even then, unless you've fiddled with the settings the rendezvous auto-pilot won't make more than (IIRC) 5 phasing orbits. The answer isn't launch timing, it's relative altitude. (Relative speeds.) My initial orbit is 100km, and I put my target above 250 if I can. (250 is where KSP switches to a lower-res engine for rendering the planet, reduces lag around space stations.) If my target needs to stay low (initial orbit) for whatever reason, I launch into my initial orbit and then boost up to 200km and start the rendezvous autopilot from there. Even if you manually plot and fly the rendezvous intercept, the same principles apply. You want a significant difference between orbital periods if you want to minimize loiter/phasing time. And yeah, time warp is a thing your friend. -
Not true at all. The Indian ASAT test (300km) sent debris up to 2,200km. The Chinese ASAT test (865km) scattered debris from 125km to 3850km. That's why ASAT's are so worrisome - they can create the equivalent of the fallout cloud from a nuclear weapon, their effects spreading far beyond the local. (Actually far worse, because a fallout cloud cannot cause further fallout clouds.) By extension, that's also why a Kessler cascade must be prevented. It's a chain reaction with no plausible way of shutting it down.
-
Does anyone know how to turn off the version check? MFT appears to work fine in 1.10.1, but something is pronouncing it incompatible and partially deleting it.
-
Version: Dev #1008 Bug: In the Maneuver Planner, "Tolerance" can (accidentally or intentionally) be set to be blank. This leads to all kinds of problems as it means that burns never terminate and must be terminated manually. (Among other things, this screws up the Rendezvous Autopilot.) Suggest: If "Tolerance" is set to blank, the default 0.1m/s should be restored. I *think* this is present in the current release build as well, ISTR upgrading to a Dev build to cure the "problem".
-
You could always try an airship...
-
Starting a sandbox playthrough after "finishing" a career one?
DerekL1963 replied to noname_hero's topic in KSP1 Discussion
You mention career mode, and sandbox mode... But those aren't the only modes. Your experience is why I play Science mode. I still have the challenge of climbing the tech tree and the cleverness that can require - but I never, ever have to grind for cash. I can do what I want, when I want, bound only by the current state of the tech tree and interplanetary launch windows. -
If you propulsively brake into low Eve orbit, it's astonishingly easy to land on. Sure, sure, it's got killer gravity - but it's also got a very thick (read: draggy) atmosphere. You don't even really need to land, you can get quite a bit of science from the upper and lower atmosphere. Ike is an easy destination for high/low orbit science. Once you brake into low Duna orbit, it doesn't take much to transfer to Ike orbit. Even with only stock instruments and standard settings, there's enough science out there that you don't need to sweat returning to complete the tech tree.
-
How does the Xenon engine work?
DerekL1963 replied to Kurbus's topic in KSP1 Gameplay Questions and Tutorials
Do you mean the MK1 fuselage? That holds Liquid Fuel, a Xenon engine needs a Xenon tank. And a battery isn't going to provide near enough power, the Xenon engine will suck it dry in relatively short order. You'll need solar panels and/or a PB-NUK. Also, a Xenon engine isn't strong enough to launch from anywhere except maybe Pol or Bop - you'll need to put it into orbit first. -
The Ultimate Jool 5 Challenge Continued
DerekL1963 replied to JacobJHC's topic in KSP1 Challenges & Mission ideas
There's two potential causes: 1) Your lander has poor center of gravity and requires a redesign. 2) Your lander has poor aerodynamics and either requires a redesign or a different flight path. When I did I Jool-5, I found that the best way to maintain aerodynamic control was to fly an extremely lofted trajectory - basically straight up and then performing my gravity turn in the upper atmosphere. Pictures would help diagnose any problems.