Always use an ion engine if you want to experience a quick burn, especially if you want to get from Eve surface to low orbit. Use nosecones, the most useful and functional part. Build fairings around your high part count payloads, preferably out of something small. The parts you cannot see aren't calculated into physics, but ar simply attached to the craft. Makes launches much easier and boosts FPS. Use the radial engines (the white ones) when you want to go to Moho or Eeloo; low ISP=high efficiency. Aerospikes are great for serial-staged upper stages, aerobraking is so efficient. Put a Mainsail directly under a Mainsail and light only the top one. You can thank me later. Engine fairings improve structural integrity, so always keep a part under your engine as it is firing. Jets do not need fuel! They run on electriccharge instead. Do not be fooled by the message that says, "LiquidFuel deprived." Jool is the easiest planet to land on; you can use parachutes. Don't go for the Mun or Minmus, they're useless. EVAd Kerbals can transmit data, only you have to click "Discard Data." The "Discard" really means discard INTO YOUR SAT NETWORK. The data goes back to KSC and doesn't degrade over time! It's great for Science farming. Kerbals' helmets may be made out of the strongest substance known to Kerbin, but their boots are even stronger. Kraken material, almost. The colossal shiny patch of grass is NOT your patron saint. Yes, there is a Kraken statue on Bop, but there is a more easily reached copy of that structure! It resides at the KSC that is on the Mun (looks just like Kerbin's second KSC). There is a Dyson sphere around the Sun, you need to achieve solar escape with a Hitchhiker and a non-functioning Mainsail on your craft, and then travel for 10h in any direction (except back to the SoI). Congrats, infinite photovoltaic energy for your entire Space Program! Hope this helped.