Asimov

n/m, answering question on first page that's been thoroughly covered already.

Optimal trajectory isn't likely something you can do manually. It would be to take off at a 45 degree angle to the ground. Burn just long enough make the ap exactly 1/2 way to your destination. Then decelerate (using a suicide burn) at a 45 degree angle to the ground, only orienting the lander vertical at the last second when both ground speed and vertical speed are 0. [Edit: You can do it with mechjeb, I believe. If you want to go that route.]

In .22, just hover over the altitude at the top of the screen - it'll slide down and reveal a "recover" button.

Changing the constant of gravitation would do strange things to the sun...

More planets, money and/or resources.

Just an FYI: In scott manley's interview harverster said that the batteries were misplaced and should have been low tier - and that it was already corrected.

The planet Mesklin from "Mission of Gravity" by Hal Clement. Very massive and dense, very fast rotation so that it's spun out like a pancake. ~700g at the poles but only 3-4g at the equator. VERY cool planet with lots and lots of weird effects because of the rotation, gravity and orbit.