Danger Will Kerbinson!

I've had this same issue on a new station, however it affects ports of all 3 sizes. Its a station with 4 identical arms projecting from a center stack, these arms each have one docking port of each type and the arms were placed using symmetry of course because I'm not insane. The ports on 2 of the arms work fine, the ports on the other 2 do not work. Other connected items like lights work so I assume the game sees them as connected to the station. Could not tell you if these arms will transer fuel...because you can't dock to them. Its just like some of the ports dont have any juice turned on, bump them all you want and nothing happens, move one arm over and shazam it works. If this were the persistance file in my case would it be possible to have a different state for identical parts on the same ship? My solution was to crash it into the ground and start over which is probably less than ideal.

Here is my first entry, I would like to thank 93 for opening my eyes to the large drogue chute possibility which I have blatantly stolen. Its the same design I was going to use but I didn't consider using these instead of small cone shaped chutes...saved me 88 bucks, thanks! Our lowly penalty box rocket awaiting its big day! 13495 as flown - 500 for KER, no MJ so a base price of $12995 18000 - 12995 = 5005 base score All systems GO! No junk in this trunk Docked at 160km Splashdown imminent, nice and slow...like Bill. Base Score is 5005 Bonus - Extra seat + 2500 Docking light + 300 Solar Panel +200 Battery + 150 Redundant Chutes on both capsules + 1000 x 2 = 2000 Docking clamp used +500 No Mechjeb + 50 Full science kit + 300 x 4 and 300 bonus = 1500 All bonus points captured, FULL RIDE bonus + 500 Total Bonus 7700 + Base 5005 Grand Total 12705 Please let me know if I cheated or my math sucks.

Im unwilling to change the scoring around this late in the game unless someone points out a glaring goof on my part. Ive already had to edit for missing the critical condition of a safe, slow-ish landing which has already messed up some folks. As for landing your ship on its own power I don't see why not. You are tossing out the chance for a redundant chute bonus (unless you stick them on and just don't use them for some insane reason) and the Full Ride bonus and I guess you need to show a nearly landed screenshot at 6.8m/s or less to qualify at all but far be it from me to stop the determined for working harder for less reward

The screen shots I saw of you docked had the altimeter showing 160km so you are good to go. I did note you had solar panels on both crew capsules, thats some free money to take back if you try again. The only things that need to be more than one to get a bonus is parachutes, 2 per crew capsule to get the bonus and science bits, one of each type up to 4. So spare solar panels, batteries, lights etc are just weight and money. Unless you need the symmetry to pull off flying it its a waste. Quick hint is that the small battery and the small solar panel are the same mass to perfectly offset each other. Full Ride bonus means no Mechjeb, on either the challenge ship or the docking target. RCS is expensive and a good budget cut to make but docking is harder. With MJ its a piece of cake if you have it on either or both is why. Will post your score momentarily. Well done.

Good show Tarmenius. I like how you did it, documented exactly right...maybe I should have just made proper documentation a bonus scoring event in the spirit of bureaucracy, maybe next time. But no full ride bonus for you I'm sorry to say, there are 2 capsules and only one has redundant chutes. You get the 1000 bonus for one of them but you have to have all crew capsules safely rigged with dual chutes to qualify. Seems nitpicky for sure but you know that someone will stick 2 chutes on 10 capsules at some point and try for the full bonus so I have to stick to the rules. You totally have the budget to tack on another chute to the first capsule though, getting the Full Ride AND a second redundant chute bonus which along with extra capsules bonus is allowed to keep getting scored. So thats a low hanging 1500 with the same design and only another couple hundred bucks out of pocket. So for now Ill just revoke the 500 and post you to the leader board. Good job! Another edit : You may have only used the $240 part but you didn't bother to deduct it...they are free ya know, so I will add that to your score.

It should be weighted by number of downloads, percent of downloaders giving a rating and the rating average. If a thousand people download it but only 5 rate it even at 5 stars maybe it was because its not worth the hassle to even rate or if just one guy downloads it and it gets a 5 it should still be buried on page 3 behind the "only gets 3 stars" things like Alarm Clock or Engineer. Spaceport is by far the worst mess this game has.

I got one of the Cafe Press shirts. Beyond the color selection I am not that jazzed about the quality. It looks like it was run off a color copier instead of being proper shirt printing. Considering the price it left me a little sour. I REALLY want a quality shirt with either just the KSP logo or if possible the screaming ship crew art from the loading screens.

Yeah, that omission is my fault. It was late late late and I clipped the landing speed rule out without noticing until just now. I based it on the rate of landing for a very vanilla 1 man capsule with the standard single chute with a little bit of wiggle room for extra parts. The point was to discourage cramming every possible piece of hardware onto the capsule with one chute and no decouplers provided to detach stuff before landing and driving the poor kerbal spines into the dirt at just shy off capsule breakup speed. Remember, this is an exercise in pleasing all the people, all the time with no resources to do it 6.8m/s is roughly 15mph for us science challenged. To make it tangible consider this similar to a 150lb human taking a swan dive from a 7 foot ladder. Even with shag carpet and a bag of cheetos to land on its going to hurt come morning. I think thats plenty of punishment...even if you use Bill. 11.9m/s is about 24mph or having that same guy falling off a 24ft ladder, I won't even do that to Shelbles.

Good job sticking to the rules, but I saw on your post you said 2x science gear though I didn't really look to see if it was there. You did the bonus right as you can only get the 1500 once but if you put on a second set of gear that just cost you 800 bucks you didn't need to spend.

Parachutes are only required on capsules that can carry live cargo. To get a bonus for a redundant chute for the safety bonus it must have 2 chutes PER crew capsule, its in case the first fails to deploy. Putting a chute on your booster stage is worth nothing. Putting more than 2 on any individual crew capsule does not score an extra bonus. Having 4 chutes attached to a capsule that is attached to a second capsule DOES count as long as the force of deployment does not rip off the second capsule. It seems a little dangerous for no benefit unless you really need the space on the capsule walls for something though. As for a probe that can land without a chute, thats fine, I guess...but there is no points for probes so it sounds like extra weight and expense for no benefit. In fact, if you can land your crew capsule with no chutes that is just fine...but the touchdown limit is 6.8m/s for safety reasons. On that subject about 93's latest entry. Does that single chute bring that whole 5 capsule group down to less than 6.8m/s at landing time? I just noticed that I accidently cut the line about landing speeds...it was 2 AM. Off to edit that.

Not to worry, that was quite a wall of text to grind through. But yeah, the bonus points are dollars toward next years program, but only available IF you get this mission done while staying under budget. A very easy savings on your ship I spotted was that both capsules were identical. You only need, and can only benefit from, science packages once each so thats $800 back in your wallet right there if you take them off the second capsule, not to mention the little bit of weight savings. Re-reading my description of the bonus its not very clear. You can get the science bonus multiple times ONLY up to all 4 different unit, but its a 1500 max with the "use all 4" bonus. Here is my example mission. This is not intended to be my serious entry just a simple proof that is can be done by the rules and without much difficulty, even getting the majority of bonus points at this dollar level is not exceedingly hard. The challenge is going to be wringing out every last dollar of cost to see which cost cutting rocketeer gets to keep their job with the agency next year. My cost review picture showing a pre-deduction total of $19002 One KER ($500)and one MJ ($550) used, adjusted total is $17952 for a base score of $48 Launch picture Attempting to show my last stage to orbit after firing the seperatrons for a skin of my teeth 64.5 PE Docked at 160km to rescue Geneford Chutes depoyed! Everyone lives! 19002 - 1050 MJ and KER credit = 17952 Net cost for a Base Score of $48 under the $18000 budget cap + Bonus points Extra empty seat + 2500 Docking light + 300 Solar panel + 200 Battery + 150 Second Parachute for main capsule + 1000 Docking Clamp + 500 All 4 Science modules + 4 x 300 + 300 bonus for all = 1500 No redundant chute on second capsule and used MJ = no Full Ride bonus Final stage de-orbited (barely) = no penalties 6150Bonus + 48 Base = 6198 Total score My serious effort will come soon. I imagine the real problems come when you have cut so close to the bone that using MJ to reduce fuel usage by making exact burns becomes nearly mandatory but then you miss out on the Full Ride bonus. Happy budgeting!

Thanks 93 for having a crack at my challenge! I didn't expect anyone to actually beat me to posting my example but the thread took so long to post I had to go to sleep before I could respond to my first post. There is one little hitch with your submission. After deductions for KER and MJ units the total budget is $18000, putting you $1380 over budget. I do like the creativity for the chutes, the standard radials are very expensive and add up quickly. I'm going to go play now to test out the descent speed offered by using 2 large drogues. Hope you get your accounting pencil sharpended up for another entry!

CHALLENGE CLOSED (suspended at least) Accounting software issues. The good times can not roll forever and even on Kerbin it has come time to pay the piper. Just days after launching a new station into LKO the government accounting firm announced an error in the nations budget, something about a decimal point in the wrong place and no way to move it to the right place. A mounting economic crisis is sweeping the nation and unfortunately during the most recent session of Kongress the politician who yelled AUSTERITY! had the loudest voice, now cost cutting fervor has gripped even the pride of Kerbalkind...the beloved space program. Before the crisis this is how we planned to swap out crews to our new station. This ship is well balanced for manual or autopilot flight, precise in fuel usage with nearly zero waste, has excellent docking maneuver behavior, redundant systems for lighting, power, recovery and leaves not a single speck of waste in orbit. And it costs nearly $27000. During the debate Kerbal politicians of all stripes were able to reach across the aisle and agree on one major point. Leaving the first crew of the new station in orbit to die would look very bad come election time so that option was OFF the table. What they decided instead was to issue a mandate to the space program to re-tool the crew supply/relief ship to be a little less expensive. About 30% less expensive actually. All agreed this was a fine idea, congratulations and cheers rang out through the capitol. So it falls to you, the new head of the space agency to design and fly this last mission of the fiscal year to at least exchange crew if not rescue them outright till more money comes in next year. After the budget vote several high level officials took you aside for some special interest talk. As much as they don't want to spend money they also want everything that normally requires spending money to get. Imagine that. The Corporatists want you to let a couple of private companies sleaze a toehold into the program, er..., I mean, help out. Mechjeb and Kerbal Engineering have agreed to supply their wares in exchange for prominent placement on the rocket for publicity shots. The KER people claim their software can be the budget hawk for the program so that one has been made clear its not optional. Do Gooders Union, the public safety nannies are demanding parachutes instead of the just aiming for the softest part of the planet and crossing fingers plan you were sketching on a napkin during the hearing. They would also like to see some redundant safety gear, maybe some lighting too. If you could bring that guy in the station home alive that would be swell! They promise to get some more money in next years budget if you make a show for the safety of the Kerbinauts. The Really Green party are very adamant about keeping space clean, leaving no debris at all if possible. They don't have any pull with the budget committee but they will sure fine your sorry butt if you litter in space. The Science! lobby is hoping you can squeeze out a minor miracle to get some last minute experiments run before the program bites the dust, promises to remember your efforts at the next round of budget hearings. And finally your own launch crew has fired up a Kickstarter to help with next years program but will only let it fund if you promise to use launch clamps and not "risk killing all of us with fiery death on the pad when that train wreck of yours falls over" as they so delicately put it. So off you go, napkin drawings in hand and $18k in your wallet to do what you know in your responsible heart should cost 50% more to do right...and, Oh, BTW, try to cram in some stuff you didn't even plan on to begin with. What could be easier? RED TAPE CHALLENGE Basic Conditions - Flight Must take a kerbal, INSIDE a capsule, to DOCK with a station/vessel at or above 160km. Exchange crew or populate spare seats for return, re-enter and land in one piece at 6.8m/s or less at the time of touchdown. No orbital debris of any kind, debris is not a fail but it is a $300 fine. Penalty is one time, not per littering offense. All debris must have PE less than 69.5km. No refueling at any point...you have no money for that! KER (Kerbal Engineering Redux) unit is required in order to show cost in VAB, All KER and MechJeb units are deductible IF they show in both vab and launch pictures. Please use the ER-7500 flight recorder ($500) KER unit for visibility on the rocket and uniformity of cost deductions. Mechjeb 2 module that I use is $550 Mods Allowed - ONLY Mechjeb (optional) and Kerbal Engieering Redux (Required to view cost info) are permitted. Goes without saying that editing parts is forbidden. Ship/station for docking portion is unrestricted, put it in a 160x160km orbit with Hyperedit or fairy dust if you want but don't top up the fuel tanks while there. No matter how you set up the target station or ship the challenge ship MUST do the docking. You can pitch/roll/yaw to aim the target ship but no thrust. In addition to claim the no Mechjeb bonus (50) and thus be elgible for the Full Ride bonus (500) as well there can be no MJ use on the docking station either. I've added this restriction after my own recent test ship was able to make a no RCS docking far to easily just by having the target ship hold TGT + as I flew at it with a no MJ and no rcs ship. The budget is capped at a strict $18000, not including Mechjeb or KER unit costs, use as many as you like as long as they show you can deduct the cost. Screen shots required for submission - In VAB of flight ready rocket with KER full window open to see the bottom line cost of the rocket as it will fly, clamps, MJ and KER units..everything. Launch + 1 second to show launch clamps for bonus and to show it still has all the bonus gear from the VAB on it. (optional) Last stage to be cast off in/near orbit debris showing a de-orbiting PE of 69.5 or less. Optional because its not an easy screenshot to get. Just be honest. Docked with station/ship at 160km or higher. Landing shot showing all capsules being claimed for score are surviving, so either landed close together or after chute deployment while still descending. Prior to landing to show a less than 6.8m/s landing speed is the prefered screenshot. Granted, if you have 2 chutes on a lander can with no other parts that speed is a non issue BUT if its an iffy design be prepared to show your work. Score calculation- Total must be less than $18000 after deducting for Mechjeb and KER units. Units must be shown on the craft in VAB during the cost screenshot to be deducted. ((18000) - (as flown cost - KER and MJ)) + (bonus - penalties)) = total score Bonus Structure - Bonus only counts if base total is less than or equal to budget. Base total greater than budget is a Fail Extra empty seat, inside a capsule, must also land safely + $2500 Can be extra pod(s) or empty seats on larger capsule. (No limit to this bonus, take as many as you can) Docking Lighting, must illuminate the docking target + $300 Solar Charging ability + $200 Backup Battery power for lights + $150 Redundant Parachute + $1000 (per capsule that has 2 chutes so can be claimed more than once) Docking Clamps + $500 Telling the Mechjeb corp to shove it and fly manually + $50 Scientific instruments up to one of each type, does not include antennae - $300 each, 300 bonus for ALL 4, $1500 possible *Full Ride Bonus* If ALL bonus conditions are met there is an extra $500 bonus. All science units required as well as redundant chutes on every capsule to qualify. Bonus items are one time bonus except for extra empty seats, science packages (1500pt max) and redundant parachutes for extra capsules. For example, 4 docking clamps is still only a $500 bonus the same as 2. Flying a Solo capsule with MJ or probe core does not count for the empty seat bonus, this must be a manned mission. I will post an example mission that meets the criteria but is not nearly squeezed to full potential. The budget ceiling is not hard at all to make the basic mission, this will not be a most people fail challenge. I really enjoy efficiency type challenges and thats what this is. Who can pull the most rabbits out of a hat for the fewest bucks while dotting i's and crossing t's for the powers that be? Good luck to all who enter...and don't die wading through the boredom of bureaucracy. SCORECARD 1 - Metaphor 18498 2 - me No points due to massive, though unintentional, cheating!!!! 3 - Tarmenius 13767 4 - Kappa73 13635 5 - Kelmoir 12676* 6 - RussPixie 9120

My first station, now orbiting Mun. Was built with no good plan and all one launch except for the docked fuel tanks. Poorly laid out, fragile, needlessly complex, WAY too many parts for being only 50 tons and I didn't realize there was a window where I put the solar panel. It was built to only one purpose and that was too look spiffy.

Taking my first crack at a challenge. Manual control, using Kerbal Engineer Redux to watch the orbit but no Jeb. Pretty sure I can crack 10 on manual since my AP ended up wasting fuel being higher than needed.