billw

I would like to hear the reasoning as well seeing as the continuous spring calculations are the cause of so many major problems, without really adding much beyond what a static analysis of the joint stresses before take off would (i.e. calculate what the minimum force to cause any breakage is before take off and then don't bother simulating anything until it is exceeded).

This is great, its long been the most annoying "feature" of KSP. Is there any set of settings in the config.xml that will completely disable the angular spring? My massive KW launcher will stay together without struts using this mod, but if I try to use SAS to hold orientation the craft goes bendy. Not sure what will happen with a Mechjeb launch, probably the same thing. /edit ignore this I just saw the readme and code.

Also advMetalWorks needed to be changed to advMetalworks. Lower case w...

KW parts set to aerodynamics node don't work in my install, needed to change them to aerodynamicSystems. Not sure why...

They certainly teach things to the scientists who take them and see them for the first time, but to an average person they are just a pretty picture. But not if they are coupled with an explanation of what was discovered using the particular image. But personally I think it is outside the scope of KSP. Astronomy and cosmology are *huge* areas of study, and orbital mechanics and rocket science are enough for any game to tackle I think... What would be better is an "education" mode where various concepts are explained in real time on your ship, e.g. drag, lift, thrust, trajectory, ballistics, terminal velocity etc.

Just got one on steam, any idea what it was? Can't find any news about it or patch notes...

5 m/s is fast: 18 kph. That equals the Apollo Lunar Buggy speed record! They were designed with 13 kph as the top speed...

Progress in the original space race was gained by studying and testing the equipment itself, not so much performing "experiments", so I would like to see you earn points for achieving maneuvers. e.g. docking, landing, orbiting, transfers, sling shots (is this possible in KSP?) etc. Also you should start with plane components not rocket components, first flights should be high altitude in planes. And like already mentioned the main difficulty is going to be when you actually have a budget!