Xorth Tanovar

To add to the realism, the Observatory should be located on one of the mountain peaks to the west of KSC, to both gain altitude and get away from the light pollution generated around the Center itself. Make it a challenge, remove the planets (and their orbits) from the Map view until you spot them via Mark I eyeball, or take multiple pix with the scope and use the old-fashioned Blink Comparator method to discover the planets. Pluto would never have been found otherwise, given the technology at the time it was found....

Also need to add speech....I can just envision the famed "1201 ALARM" as a radio voice-over, and Kerbal engineers scrambling to find out what the heck it is! :D Maybe in KSP's case, this could mean the SAS is disengaged?

Ringworld. 'nuff said.

Too bad we don't have multi-monitor support yet. Having my 22" run the instruments and show the map display while the 32" gets mounted portrait-style for "rocketry view" would be....AWESOME.

So, Goo is Vegemite?

I traveled to Mimmus personally to solve this mystery (profound thanx to Kevin Flynn for the necessary hardware to enter my PC's world), and I returned with a physical sample. Minmus is made of Topaz. I hereby lay claim to all iterations worldwide: PC, Mac, and Linux. I will be the wealthiest person in the Universe! :D

The files are now available on the Spaceport: http://kerbalspaceprogram.com/xorths-balloon-probes/

Figures....I finally have a reason to create an account on the Spaceport, only to find that it's not being updated until v2 releases. Ah well. Anyone know of a good spot to park the file? I don't want to post all the code in a "spoiler" window here! EDIT: Nvm, Logged into my email this morning to find the Spaceport login confirmation email. I'll have the files posted this evening.

actually, I believe the Duna one is larger, which makes better sense when using it as a parachute....thinner atmosphere requires bigger surface area for braking. And I also enabled the Altitude Control for fine control of the balloon, just seemed to work better, especially during touchdown....made it easy to bring it down at only 0.1 m/s Would you all like if I post the .craft file?

Exactly where I got the inspiration for this rover; I was tired of seeing the usual problems with wheels breaking or rover tendencies to tumble and thought about the probes used in AP. Next version of this will include 1-3 droppable science pods for stationary surveillance of anomalies. Currently it's just an OCTO probe core with the four science instruments located in between 4 solar panes, with the upper portion supporting 2 Xenon tanks and Ion engine for propulsion, 2 1x6 solar panels, 2 battery packs with 8 more solar panels attached, and the balloon container. 4 simple antennae for esthetics.

I posted a question to one of the other forum locations regarding the "wind"; general consensus is that it's not been implemented yet. Strange, though; I've repeated the attempt two more times, and I've experienced the drift at the same location each time. Dunno if it's embedded in my save file at this point; I'll have to create a new profile and try it that way. If it does show up, then all I can think of is (like in earlier releases) the code may exist in some form, but there's nothing specific written to call it into play yet. Graphics settings I use: Terrain High, SM3 shaders and Terrain Scatters enabled, scatter density 50%, Rendering "Fantastc", Full Resolution, no fallback, Atmospheric effects Full, 1680x1050 Fullscreen, AA 2x, VSync at every VBlank, Frame Limit 60, Pixel Light 5, Shadows 2

That's what I thought. SO now I need to figure out where the drift comes from!

Flew a probe mission to Duna (details at http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/51396-Balboa-A-lighter-than-air-planetary-explorer ) Upon taking off from the ground, I noted the probe began accelerating, gaining 0.1 m/s of speed every 5-7 seconds. This occurred with engines fully shutdown, and no control input. Was able to reproduce from my quicksave (which was 5 hours prior to Duna re-entry); landed the probe, took off and experienced the same accel rate. Wondering if this was already modeled for Duna and not noted anywhere? I'll launch a separate probe at a later date to cross-check ( and maybe send a few aloft at Kerbin as well)

In the news today: Kerbin scientists have successfully reached Duna with the first of many planned exploration probes. The new design surpasses previously poorly-designed wheeled rovers by utilizing the Hooligan Labs "Ballute" (cross between a balloon and parachute). Aerobraking, flight across the surface of Duna were successful, with the added bonus of closely investigating one of it's few anomalies on the surface. It was also noted that Duna may possess mild winds, though this has not been confirmed as yet.

Pleiades keep this thread clean!

Thousand Sons. Magnus the Red is my hero...the Emperor was wrong!

With one deep canyon at the widest point....call it "Jinx". A quatloo to whomever catches the reference.

Too cool. Reminds one of Syd Mead's work....

Agreed, given the amount of time I've already spent; I had absolutely no problem with handing over my $23 to get the full game once I tried the demo. Tempting idea....

This. Not that I dislike Steam(have used it for HL2 and such over the years), but I like the flexibility available to me by not having automatic updates, and the ability to instantly save a copy of the Zipped folder from the Squad site as a backup. May have something to do with the "old-school" mentality I have as well!

The orbital construction and subsequent abuse of Kerbalon Station:

Well at least I know I'm not alone in that respect!

Good source for ambient space music: http://bluemars.org/ Also the re-imagining of the "Silent Running" soundtrack by 65 Days of Static:

A view from my first Mün mission, Kerbin setting on the horizon.

"We are all Kosh," eh?