Search the Community

Thanks for the bug notes and test information! Bug 1 is unfixable, as the data cursor does not conform to the ui stacking order of the rest of the GUI (if someone can prove me wrong here, please do!). Bug 2 is intentional for now. Getting things to resize nicely is a bit harder than it sounds and I'll tackle it at the end, once I get everything functional. Bug 3 is a good one. I'll add a note to handle this for 0.7. Fixed. Also, the status window text is now selectable as well... I'll look into how the solver behaves with departure and arrival bodies that are the same. As far as TOT for Orbiter goes, please shoot me a PM with questions and we can talk more there. I'd like to keep this thread on topic. I will say that the two applications were compiled with different versions of the MCR and thus two different MCR versions are required to run them... Noted, thanks for the trial run. Sadly, the tweak you're asking for is really more of a major overhaul of the code. The lambert solver I'm using assumes instantaneous delta-v. To correctly model "long" burns, I would have to write an orbit propagator to model the thrust correctly. That is a huge task and not one I'm looking to take on at the moment. In the mean time, here's how I would deal with the problem. 1) Compute a two burn solution. 2) Get as far along the first burn as you can. 3) Note the post-burn orbit and recompute a new optimal two-burn solution. 4) Execute new burn plan. 5) Repeat until you get the orbit you want. This method ensures that your execution errors are accounted for and corrected while allowing for multiple burns to take place. Sometimes it's all about working within the limits of the tool you have. Thanks, means a lot! Hey Wingnut, I have good news... Consider it included for 0.7.

Preparing to launch my first Duna UAV as a proof of concept. Talking to friend over ventrillo, push to talk key is left-ctrl. The rocket powered down just enough for the payload container to push the nose down sending us into a spin and crashing into an anchored airship. Two(Four with the UAV and airship anchor/truck) vehicles destroyed before we even left the launch pad. My Duna program is off to a great start.

I thank you for making such a mod. My scrap deorbiter can haul debris in with minimal effort. Also, it sucks fuel from the debris using the Lazor System. Talk about taking the leftovers. Note you can't see the cable, but it's attached to a piece of debris and isin the process of drawing fuel from it. And thanks for giving me the idea of compact engineering. The amount of stuff squeezed there onto the small tank is a new technique I learned.

Can somebody talk me through designing a rover for use on Mun/Duna etc? I’ve made a few functional rovers, but the design isn’t very good. I’d like to know how to structurally build them, keep the CoM central, and the best way to attach them to a rocket etc. I’d like to send a rover to Duna now I’ve got the journey down. I have used the search function already, “rover design†doesn’t bring up anything.

Yup, Orange7093, because you're in the community since August 2011 doesn't mean there can't be new players around who don't know much about the game. Sure, lots of questions have been answered already, but this place is often the one new players post in first, as their knowledge about the game is still relatively incomplete. We all were new once, so we have to accept that new people don't necessarily know how to get to the Mun. Bassna didn't even mention the word multiplayer, and didn't talk about other planets, so your comment is kind of uncalled for. Oh, and welcome to the forums Bassna

Somehow I didn't realise how fast this year is going. That was originally posted in MAY... Wow... and now July (NO... I tell the truth, honest boss). Also I don't understand necro etiquette. If you use the search and find an old post that has information that you want to talk about and then you post in it and you are called a necro. If you start a new thread you are called out for not using the search engine. This thread really is a called out necro but other threads I've seen that really are apt after someone has researched the info and posted in the right thread shouldn't be called a necro imho. Also what about people who want info regarding SAS or LKO... Try searching for those two terms heh. The site will send you to Coventry. "I IGNORE YOU!"

If my ASAS could talk? "Hodor. Hodor Hodor Hodor."

Well, lets see. 90% of my orbits are 90 degrees. On the direction of rotation. The amount of fuel i would expend to put that orbit you said, for me have no reason doing that. Is not efficient at all. 5 or the most 10 degree up or down the round orbit is what i need to scan, anything else, is waste of energy, plus time, because the scan will be tremendous more time consuming. So, you not convince me. RTS is the best choice. Even in a probe. And when i mean efficiency, i mean, for the purpose. What good would be for me to not have the scanner work in night? Because i will not expend a lot of energy to put it in a polar orbit, because as i said, i will not go there. Not until i deplete the resources on normal orbit. I don't know who Kethane works before, i'm using it in the couple last versions... P.s.: I know you can start all orbits in polar, easily in Kerbin, that you can take off that way. But normally to achieve that, you use a lot off fuel. This is not efficient. I choose put less fuel and go for normal orbit with my RTG's. And other thing is, even with the gaps you talk about i never see it happens in scan here, with 2 rtgs in timewarp. Maybe because i do not use old versions you talk about. The new ones do not loose that, and they too not scan again a hex that already been scanner, so, in a close to 0º orbit, or some thing less then 15º, the fill area will occur in a fraction of the time that a polar one do. Use the new Kethane, the map got gorgeous...

Come along to www.twitch.tv/beeftenderloin and watch me work through the campaign mod! Feel free to talk to me in the chat, and make suggestions for music/rockets/anything!

Looks allright. Where's the airlock, though? A docking port would be a rather important piece for the Shuttle. Also, did you talk to BobCat about CanadArm?

Chapter 2: In which time gets messed up Jeb: Alright everyone. We are good out here. How is everyone inside? Kirk: We are fine. You might want to get inside soon- limited breathable air, you know. Jeb: I'm fine for 2.5 hours out here. So- Call everyone- By the numbers. MC- Are you recording? MC: Yes. We hear you loud and clear Jeb. Jeb: Arlight- by the numbers. Jebidiah Kerman. Badass, Stunt Pilot, and Mission Commander- Officer in command of Landing team. Kirk: Kirk Kerman, Communications and Logistics. Landing team. Lenwise: Lenwise Kerman, Comms and Data. Orbit team. Shepney: Shepney Kerman- Backup Pilot and Chef. Orbit team. Bob: Bob Kerman, Geologist, Biologist, and Chef. Landing team. Bill: Bill Kerman. AI Template/Psychoanalyst, Pilot, and Inventor. Landing team. MC: No changes in command authority? Jeb: Negative MC. The mission is on route-*********************** MC:Jeb? Jeb: *************** MC: Jeb? All mission crew, can we get eyes on Jeb? Kirk: He has dropped off radar. Bob: I can't see him through the windows- but they are so small we can barley see anything. Lenwise: Hull cameras... Are down. Launching a probe now... Shepney: Getting an image. Probe count down to 2. Kirk: Did we lose Jeb? Bob: If it was that easy to kill him, he would be dead already. Kirk: How can you be sure? Bill: Just give him a minute... *DONG* Kirk: WTF WAS THAT!?!?!? Bill: Let's see.... (he bangs his glove against the airlock once, then three times, then five times) *Dong.... Dong-Dong-Dong.....Dong-Dong-Dong-Dong-Dong* Kirk: Why did you do that? Bill: Since the discovery of alien wrecks, we have established protocols for recognizing intelligence. Kirk: Alright, and..... Bob: And that was a sequence of prime numbers. Kirk: So what will happen if Jeb is out there? Bill: He should respond with the next number in the sequence of primes- a sequence of seven 'dongs'. Kirk: How long should we wait? Bob: Well, in the event of a radio malfunction, we are to get the attention of the crew, and wait inside the open airlock. Bill: We are supposed to connect our backpack to the internal connection port (you know) and wait to hear a return algebraic sequence. *Shepney pulls himself into the lander-pod.* Shepney: Hey guys- the airlock has been closed. Kirk: Is that a sign he is there? Bill: Yup. We just need to wait until- *DONGDONGDONGDONGDONGDONGDONG* Bob: Seven! Alright- everyone buckle in. I am opening the door. Kirk: Good thing Jeb made it. *A few minutes later* Jeb: I never want to have that happen again. Bill: What happened? Jeb: My radio and transponder got hit by a stray micro-meteor. No idea where it came from, but I burned up most of my mono-propellant getting back to the hatch. I had maybe 2% left. Kirk: Why don't you show up on radar? Jeb: These suits absorb that wavelength for power. Reduces interference. Without a Transponder, I am a small dark splot in space. MC: Good to hear you back Jeb. Jeb: Ah- MC. You guys rarely call just to say 'hi'. What do you want? MC: Jeb, we need to to check you rad levels. If they are too high, we will scrap this mission and you will come back. Jeb: Already done. MC: And? Jeb: And I will be fine for the mission. MC: Tell me your rad levels. Jeb: MC, you guys on the ground worked out the statistics for how likely I would die in some gruesome manner, right? MC: Right.... Bob: Jeb, you really want to bring this up now? Jeb: Why not? MC, What is the current 'Jeb-Death-Pool' likelyhood for this mission? MC: 10-to-1 odds of explosive decompression.... 4-to-1 odds of cannibalistic behavior.... 3-to-2 odds of Engine malfunction... And 1-to-20 odds the Kraken gets you. Bill: I bet on the explosive decompression. Jeb: ? Bill: Hey, Jeb, it pays at 10 to 1! Jeb: I know- I usually bet on engine malfunction myself. MC: Yes, although why you are betting on your own death mystifies us. Landing window is coming up. Jeb: Alright! Everyone into their landers. *Sounds of scrambling* Kirk: We are buckled Jeb. Lenwise: Same here commander. Ready for disconnection. Jeb: See you in a month. Remember- there is an internet connection through the quantum-entangled 'lungs', and there is sufficient rations. Shepney: Yeah, we know. Bye. *Disconnection ensues* Shepney: He talked too much. *In the lander* Jeb: Prepped for burn. Burn ensuing in 3-2-1.... Jeb: Burn complete. Descending. Correction burn in 30. Kirk: Do you guys ever get used to this? Bob: No. Bill: Not when Jeb drives. Jeb: You guys suck. Disconnected from munar-push stage. Burn. Jeb: Burn complete. Suicide burn in 20. Kirk: Suicide burn? What? Wait- Jeb, we are coming in too fast... Jeb? Jeb?!? JEB!?!?! Jeb: BURN! FULL POWAH! *FWOOOSH!!) Kirk: We are going to land on the rovers! Jeb: No we are not. *Screeching metal---THUMP* Jeb: Another picture-perfect landing. What do you guys think? Kirk: NEVER FLY AGAIN. LEAVE. THE. COMPUTER. TO. DO. THE. LANDING. Jeb: You're no fun. Shepney: Lander, come in. Jeb: Lander, we are back on the mun, Orbital. Nice to hear you guys. MC: Jeb, this is MC. We are relaying the signal, and the quantum communicators within the lander are connected to us, so you should be able to go on the move out there and stay in contact. Jeb: Great.... I am going Outside. Bob: Again? After what happened last time? Jeb: Sure. Whats the wost that could happen? Kirk: Space snakes. Jeb: wtf? Kirk: Space snakes. Jeb: Alright, I'm Getting in that rover. *Sound of airlock sealing* Bob: So.... Space snakes? Kirk: Yup. Hypothozised by several scientists, as a reason for why things keep going wrong, as a counter-argument to the kraken, heard about as early as the 13th decade of spaceflight. Bob: Alright. Sounds spooky. Bill: It was. Until Jeb got that snake that hid in his capsule on an altitude flight. Kirk: Oh. *Over the radio* Jeb: If you guys are talking about the 'snakes on a spaceplane' incident, I don't want to hear it. I got the rover undocked and down the the ramp while you ladies were gossiping. Kirk: Is it necessary to have the front lights on? Jeb: Maybe.... Kirk: We are in our spacesuits and getting into the other rover. Bill: No, Bob and I have a couple of checks to do before we get into the other rover. You go get the rovers linked up. Kirk: Already on it. Jeb: Undock already! Kirk: Yeah, yeah. I am almost to you know. And... Docking! Jeb: We aren't docked.... Kirk: Yeah- hold on. Let me just get.... THERE! Jeb: are we docked? *Door slides open, and Kirk sticks his head in* Kirk: Yeah, we're docked. Bill: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH..................... Wow, this is a long fall-OOFF! Jeb: Bill, are you alright? Bill: I'm fine. On my way to you now. Bill: So, Jeb, which button activates the jet pack? Jeb: The R key. Bill: Alright. Now, I just pop myself a bit off the ground, and a little push toward you guys..... Jeb: Brake. Bill: WhatBLARGPENUTS Jeb: Yeah. Brake. Bill: YEAH, JEB, I get it. Bob: Alright, The pod is sealed, and ready for travel. Bill: You heard the conversation right? Remember to brake. Bob: I won't forget. I am heading your way. Jeb: I can see you. Bob: I can't see you. Those panels look really... Odd. Bill: Incoming! Jeb: Bob- catch him! Bob: SH*T! Bob: I got him! Bill: Sort of. My suit is frozen. Again. Jeb: BWAHAHAHA! Bob: I see the problem- you servomotor connection is clogged with regolith. Bill: Can you clean it? Bob: Yeah. Give me a second... Got it. Bill: Thanks Bob. Kirk: Is this normal? Jeb: For a munar mission, yeah, it seems normal. Jeb: Guys, get in the rover! We only have so long down here before we need to leave. Bill: Fine. Just let me get a couple more shots. Bil: Done! Alright. I'm in. Lets go! Kirk: AWWWW YEAH!! Jeb: I like this guy. Bob: Well, who gets to drive? Bill: Rock-Paper-SRB to decide? Bob: No. Jeb always picks SRB. Bill: Then I vote that Jeb does not drive. Bob: I vote the same. Jeb: You two suck. Kirk: I set the controls so that he's driving anyway. Jeb: Nice Bob: Wait, lets talk this over- Jeb: NO TALKING! FOOT DOWN!!!! *The next few minutes have been censored due to the amount of swearing Jebs driving caused- Here is a little expert from that time: Jeb: Whoo! Bill: OH NONONONONONO!!!!!!! Bob: OH S**T! Kirk: I TAKE IT ALL BACK!!! ALL BACK OH DEAR--- DITCH!!! Bill: F****************KKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Jeb: Wheeeee! *See what I mean? SO we are just going to skip that bit.* *So- A few minutes later...* Jeb: Alrighty everyone. We are onto the flatter area, judging by the GPS map. Kirk: Who taught you how to drive? Jeb: I was never taught. Hey! I can see the wreck! Bob: Where's the bathroom in this thing? Bill: Dibs on the bathroom on this side! Bob: Kirk! Get out of the bathroom! Some of us need to use it! Kirk: HURGBLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGG..... Why? Why Carrots!!?!??!?! Jeb: You guys are no fun. Jeb: Alright! We're here. Bob: BLAAARG!!! Urg... Jeb: Nice image from the drone. I love those things. Kirk: Please don't drive anymore Jeb. Jeb: Let me get the lights- Bob: That's too bright Jeb. I am heading outside- turn those things off. Jeb: Done. Jeb: Your helmet lights look like eyes. Bob: Who designed these suits anyway? Jeb: Like I know. Bill: Bob, make sure you check the probes. Bob: I am waiting for you guys here. Jeb: We will be right out. Bill: I'm just going to stay with the rovers. Kirk: Sure, and miss out on getting a chance to poke and prod an alien spaceship? Bill: Well, when you say it like that.... No. Still staying in the rover. Have fun! *After much struggling into spacesuits and a small argument* Jeb: Um.... Bob- why did you go back to the rover? Bob: Because Kirk was standing on it. Jeb: Kirk, why are you standing on the rover? Kirk: Because I wanted to get a better veiw. Jeb: .... I don't.... Alright. Kirk: So.... Bob: This is akward. Jeb: I'm going to the wreck now. Kirk: Wait! Jeb! Wait for me! Bob: You could use your jetpack. Kirk: Oh, right. *Fwoosh* Jeb: Wait- remember to slow down.... Nevermind. Kirk: Whee! Jeb: Watch out for the rover-probe...... Kirk: This is fun! Wheee! Jeb: Damnit, you knocked over a rover. Bob: Maybe I will try that.... *CHNK* Bob: Oh bugger. Bill: What? Something went wrong already? Bob: My jetpack jammed in mid-brake. Bill: Nice face-slide. Bob: Thanks... Jeb: Stop fooling around- this is a dangerous site. For all we know, the ship might still be active. Bob: Yeah. I am almost there. Jeb: So, Kirk, are you going to be sitting around out there all day? Kirk: We have been here for nearly 24 hours and the sun has not risen. Jeb: Then get up. Kirk: Fine. Kirk: Hey guys! This thing has still got power! Jeb: See what data you can retrieve. The probe should have some samples on it.... Kirk: On it. Kirk:.... Rad levels look good. Samples are.... Limited- the sample-retrieval drill is broken. Jeb: That's promising. Bob: Doesn't that mean the hull is harder than a diamond drill-bit? Jeb: I want to re-enter the atmosphere with a surfboard made of this stuff. Kirk: Um, why? Jeb: Because.... REASONS! Also, that would be epic. Bob: Agreed it would be epic. Kirk:.... Alrighty then.... Lets go see what this ring is.... Kirk: Hey guys, you might want to get some readings- this ring is generating some weird magneto-spacial distortions. Jeb: Think this will effect anything important? *STUTTER* Kirk: No, not really. I mean, the engine is only effecting time and space, right? Jeb: Wait, wern't you next to the engine? Kirk: Was I? Jeb: Yeah, and Bob was standing next to me.... Bob: Well, I'm over here by what appears to be another engine. Jeb: But you were standing by me, and- *STUTTER* Jeb: then you were WHAT IS HAPPENING? Kirk: I don't know, but it might have something to do with these odd glowing symbols. Jeb: Let me- *STUTTER* Jeb: See. Damnit. Kirk: No, that one was alright. It looked like what you were going to do happened anyway, but none of us really remembers it. Bob: This is a GOOD thing? Bill: Sitting in the rover watching you guys, and I gotta tell you, this is some freaky **** right there. Jeb: What's happening? Bill: You guys are... I don't know, jumping, from one place to another. *STUTTER* Bill: It just happened again. Jeb: We know! Bob: We know! Kirk: We know! Jeb: Alright- Take pictures then we are out here! More stutters might do something weird. Bob: Right. You go first. Jeb: Why me? Bob: I don't want to get stuck in the middle of saying something. Jeb: Oh - *STUTTER* Jeb: Fine. DAMNIT. Jeb: The ring seems to be pulsating along all frequencies we can measure, and matter seems to be exsisting and being destroyed along it's edge. Kirk: The lab guys should have fun with this. Jeb: Yeah. As long as we don't get killed by this thing, I will be happy. Anyway, I'm done on this end. Bob: Alright, I'm up. Bob: This seems to be an Ion engine, but on a massive scale. The engine is flanked by HUGE rtg's.... And I can feel the heat coming off them from here. *Click. Click. ClickClickClickClickClick* Bob: Oh bugger. I'm getting away from this thing. It is emitting a significant amount of radiation... In the Gravioli range, Huh. Kirk: Well, that is neat. So the lab guys did build the test engines properly. Jeb: That ship got me into orbit in less than a minute. Kirk: That it did. Now, my turn: I still can't figure out what this says. *STUTTER* Jeb: Then come on! We should get out of there.... Wait- wasn't I standing next to the motor? Kirk: Yeah, you were. Lets leave. Jeb: Are you guys coming? Kirk: On the- *STUTTER* Kirk: AAAAHHHH!!!! Jeb: Land! Don't faceplant! Kirk:.... AND HE STICKS THE LANDING! *Sound of clapping over the radio* Kirk: What was that? Bill: Not me. MC: We were listening. This is more entertaining than playing videogames! Kirk: Great. That had better not end up on TV. Or the Internet. MC: Yeah. No chance of that happening whatsoever. EVER. Jeb: Anyway- *STUTTER* Bob: AARRRGGG! At least my controls still work. Jeb: OH FOR THE ******************* (The asterisks are censoring, as I didn't take kerbish as a second language, so I don't know most of the translations for the words he used, but I am pretty sure that he was swearing for most of it.) Jeb: WHY DOES THE STUTTERING ONLY INTERRUPT ME? Jeb: ARRRGGGG! Kirk: I have no idea. Jeb: Well, everyone in, before I try to break this *STUTTER* Jeb: .... Damnit. Bill: Where did Jeb go? Jeb: I'm behind you. Look, can everyone just get into the damn vehicle? Kirk: Sure... AAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGG! Jeb: Why? Just... Why? Bill: Hey guys. Can someone check the RTG on the port side? Bob: On it. Kirk: The starboard side is fine. Kirk: It's locked. Jeb: Where's that fob.... Bill: I have control. Here- come on in. Kirk: Jeb- are you coming? Jeb: Yeah, I just want to see something. Jeb: Wow. Duna and Ike are visible. Think we will go there after this mun mission is done? MC: Mekan1k says that is up to the readers. Jeb: I don't understand half the stuff that guy says. MC: Most of us don't either. Kirk: So Jeb... Jeb: Yeah? Kirk: Was this routine in any way? Jeb: There is no such thing as a routine mission. EVER. Jeb: But I gotta say, Jeb: This one was interesting. So far, at least. Kirk: Alright what's next on the to-do list? Jeb: End the chapter. Kirk: Wait- what? Jeb: Oh, sorry. I am looking at Mekan1k's to-do list. I don't even know why he gives us copies of these things.... Kirk: .... Jeb: Ah- here we go. Next we need to drive 30 km or so to the original landing location, and check out the fuel miner. See how it's getting along. Bob: That is what the nav-computer is set to do. Jeb: I wanted to drive. Kirk: No Jeb. Bill: Nav-computer active. We are away. Jeb: ROCK! ROCK! Kirk: WATCH OUT! Bill: It's a heuristic pathfinder and efficiency logger- the computer finds the safest and fastest route. Jeb: Then, if it's so smart, why did we ALMOST HIT A ROCK? Bill: It doesn't like you guys. Jeb: * A few hours later* Jeb: Can't this computer drive any faster? Kirk: I doubt it. Jeb: Well, then, I'm singing. Everyone else: NO!!!!! Jeb: On the mun again! Kirk: Make him stop! Jeb: I can't wait to be on the mun again! Bob: Just stop! Bill: I am flooding their compartment with sleeping gas- hopefully that will knock him out. Jeb: zzzzz Kirk: zzzzz Bob: Alright. Now, we will arrive at the next location in a couple hours. MC: Great! You are on Schedual then. *In orbit* Lenwise: Do you ever wonder why we're here? Shepney: STOP TALKING TO ME! Sorry this was so late- I just started a couple more summer classes, and they are taking up a lot of time. I also found why ksp was crashing- I had the Orion mod loaded, and it seemed to make my computer hit it's limit every 20 minutes or so. As usual, feedback is encouraged and requested, so tell me what you think! How did you like the chapter, any recommendations for what should happen next, and hopefully soon I will be able to include a couple of companies that you guys suggested! Have fun, keep playing, and remember: This isn't flying. It's falling, with style!

I could do with only one liquid tank. you are caring to much. Not to talk about the amount of batteries...

One thing I noticed is that you focused almost solely on the games limitations, you did not talk about or display any gameplay, the community or the fact that such a large game was(is) successfully produced by an indie company... Also basing your review on Mods of the game is inappropriate, if your goal really was to answer, " Is (stock) Kerbal Space Program worth buying ?" Also the game majorly lags at around 350-400+ parts if you can exploit all 4GB of RAM, not 100-200. BTW The FAR Mod can cause excess lag, but we are distinctly supposed to be talking about vanilla/stock KSP. KSP is a great deal at $23 in today's market, as in comparison, EA, if was the producer of KSP (which they are not) would likely sell a game of this complexity at $40-$50, plus the price of DLCs Speaking of DLCS, Squad says that it will be expansions NOT DLCs, difference being, an Expansion would greatly increase gameplay for example A new Solar system, with a galactic center, while a DLC is a mod of an already existing feature i.e. a decal of (per-say) a fuel tank. In overall I say KSP (although having bugs) is an Extremely Amazing Simulation Game, and will most likely be the best of its kind for at least a decade and a half until inevitably there will be a better space sim. For any concerns reply to: ME

The problems I talk about are within the game itself. I stay away from saying how Mods can mess up other mods. Anyways, the video is up now. I figure it was OK if I posted the video link while it was uploading.

This video will talk about if KSP is worth the buy. I list my biggest problems with the game at this time, and if you are OK with that. Then it could be a buy for you.

Well thank you for the strait answer Troy, I like you PR style. One of my friends is working for an NGO based is Cameroun that works on model forests across Africa. I think there goal would align perfectly with your mission and so I will talk to him about you guys. I am not sure what exactly he is doing, but in my mind it can really profit from good satellites images. I will also think about making a donation, if I do it will be something small has I am just an humble engineer but I approve of your goals and means and I admire your efforts, god speed.

That's not unusual; people will open a thread but not watch the video for many reasons. They might simply wish to see what the thread is about. They might realize they don't have time to watch a video right then, and make a note to come back and do so later (if it seems interesting). There might even be people who clicked the thread by accident. And not everyone coming to a thread is a new reader: they may have already seen the video, and simply be back to read the discussion. Some observations, which I hope will help: - I think your kerbals would look a bit better if they were a paler green, possibly with a more yellow tint. At least, that's how the official kerbals look to me. - I'd agree with the audio balance comments earlier ... the music is too loud relative to the dialogue. - I would speed up their motions a bit (limb movements and such) ... not necessarily make each motion take less time overall, but rather to make each motion start and stop faster. It would tend to inject a bit more life into their movements. - It appears (based on the specular highlight on their eyeballs and on the shadows) that you are using a single light located in front of the scene with some ambient light; this makes everything look flat and the shadows very harsh. You should probably kill any ambient light in the scene and use a three-point (studio) light setup if you aren't using Global Illumination. And since there's a large window and it isn't completely black outside, maybe a faint bluish backlight coming from outside the window. Your lights should also have a falloff (so they aren't the same brightness to infinity). In particular, this would mean that the patio outdoors would have much more of a blue tint due to the sky outside affecting them more than the light on the Kerbals does. - The window itself looks like dull grey plastic at the moment, which is mainly an issue with that large specular highlight on the material. Specular highlights are mostly just "cheats" for the reflections caused by very bright light sources. They are large and dull like this where the surface is rough on a microscopic scale and scatters the rays randomly, but not so rough and so random that a highlight is completely indistinguishable. Glass is not like that; unless it is frosted, dirty, or cloudy, it doesn't scatter reflected light much at all ... window glass in particular tends to reflect a fairly clear mirror image, when it reflects at all, otherwise it is transparent. So the window should either be very obvious (small, bright reflection of the light source, with the rest of the objects in the scene reflected too), or it should not be visible at all (no highlight, no reflections). I'd lean toward making it mostly invisible, but realistically in this scene it would be acting a lot like a mirror given how dark the exterior is. - You shouldn't use camera motion to switch from subject to subject like this, at least not often. It's certainly a valid technique to change focus to a different subject, but this is generally used more sparingly and for one of a few particular reasons: * To establish the overall scene before you begin. Look at the first fifteen seconds of the . The camera starts out focused on the text on the side of one of several crates, then gradually moves to focus on a kerbal rooting through a different crate.* You are introducing something completely new to a scene, often for added drama. Imagine a furious space battle against desperate odds; after the last explosion, you see the hero's ship has (barely) survived, and someone on the radio says "Thank god, all enemies have been destroyed. We are now safe" ... and that's when the music picks up again and the camera turns to show the arrival of the *second* wave. * You are drawing attention to something that has been present in the background all along (or at least for an unknown amount of time), or the effect the scene has had on something in the background. Two Kerbals are sitting at a restaurant table eating lunch, talking about some cute kerbalettes that were flirting with them at the counter. They get up and leave, and instead of the camera following them or immediately changing scenes, you pan over to reveal that one kerbal's girlfriend was sitting at the next table eating her own lunch and now looks very distressed ... uh-oh! If you use camera motion instead as your primary means of changing camera angles, making each scene one long continuous shot with the camera pausing and then moving from angle to angle as new people talk, it will feel very computer animation-y, and sensitive people may even get sick from all of the camera motion. I don't know which software you are using, but most of the packages I'm aware of allow you to add multiple cameras. You add a camera for each (usually static) angle, and render the frames for that segment separately. Then you assemble them in your editor (no fancy transitions, just a cut to the next camera). In the steam announcement video above, for example, there are cuts to new camera angles at 16, 18, 22, 28, 30, 34, 35, 36, 37, and 41 seconds. The camera only moves between those points for two real reasons: dramatic effect, or to track the movement of a kerbal within the scene. Alternately, you can just move a single camera from position to position in the space of one frame.

The Courage of Conviction. Jeb regained his composure with a visible effort, although he was still looking a little wild eyed. “Uh - if you'd care to step over here." He led Thomplin and Halnie over to the nearby control panel. A stubby handgrip protruded from the panel mounted on a complicated looking articulated arm. "This is just for testing now of course," he said, "but eventually, we're hoping to develop this into a control system for the pilots." Jeb cupped his hands round his mouth. "Clear the stand!" he shouted, "RCS test about to start!" He waved towards the handgrip. "Go ahead." Halnie stepped forward eagerly. "OK what do I do." “Just take hold of the handgrip and try moving it around", said Jeb. "You'll soon get the hang of it." Halnie pushed the controller tentatively forward and jumped as a burst of flame shot out of the top of the thruster block. She hurriedly pulled it back, only to trigger a second jet of flame from the nozzle underneath. Frowning slightly she pushed the handgrip slowly forward, until the upper nozzle just fired and then drew it back again, triggering the a brief puff of flame from the lower nozzle. "Forward and back control pitch," said Jeb, waggling his hand to demonstrate. "Side to side will control roll eventually, although you won't see any difference now. Proper pitch and roll control will need a pair of thruster blocks." Halnie pushed the controller to one side experimentally and sure enough the upper thruster fired again. "Twisting the handle gives you yaw control," Jeb continued "but again, proper control needs a pair of blocks". Moving more confidently now, Halnie twisted the handgrip back and forth and grinned with delight as first one and then the other of the side nozzles burst into life. Jeb grinned too. "We're running a calibration test on the controller later today, he said. "You're welcome to help if you like - we need to test it with as many people as possible to get an idea of where best to put the trigger points. You'd be welcome to have a go too, Thomplin!" Thomplin was still mulling over Jeb's first comment. “You mentioned something about pilots, Jeb. What exactly will they be piloting?" “Easier to see than describe, Thomplin. Come and have a look at the Kerbal 2!" Halnie gazed at the squat pod with delight but now it was Thomplin's turn to look a little wild eyed. “You're going to put a kerbal in that?" he asked incredulously. “Kerbal-s actually," Jeb corrected him. “The capsule is a bit cosy but it does seat three." Halnie was walking around, inspecting the Kerbal 2 from all angles. “I don't know much about spaceships," she commented, “but this one looks almost finished. I don't see where your thruster blocks are going to go, let alone our propellant tank." Jeb nodded. “The Kerbal 2 won't really need them," he said. “It's only designed for sub-orbital flight. You get a nice view from 35 kilometres up but you're not high enough to need RCS control. We're thinking that the orbital capsule will be a bit smaller actually and it'll probably only have room for one pilot by the time the other systems are in place." “A nice view," said Halnie lightly, “Sounds like you've already been there, Jeb!" “I have," Jeb said simply. “The Kerbal 1 is inside if you want to take a look at it later but I thought you'd want to see the launch site first. We'll be mating the Kerbal 2 with its launch vehicle too, so you can have a good look at the whole ship." ---------- Ornie's truck bumped over the grass as he drove out to the launch pad. Beside him, Thomplin's head was swivelling back and forth as he took everything in. Plenty of room to put up a Stratus billboard or two, just like Jeb had promised. Lots of people to look at them too, if the number of seats was anything to go by. Halnie's eyes were fixed firmly on the approaching launch tower, although at the moment, it looked like nothing so much as a very large shower booth. She commented on this to Ornie, who chuckled. “It does a bit now that you mention it. We call it The Tent with all those drapes hanging around it. They do a decent enough job of keeping the vweather off during assembly although I'm looking forward to the day that we can put up a proper building for the job!" As the truck came closer, pairs of kerbals emerged from behind the drapes and started rolling them out of the way, exposing the tall central tank and stubby side boosters of the rocket. Both Thomplin and Halnie's eyes widened. Halnie was practically bouncing up and down in her seat in her eagerness to get out and inspect the Kerbal 2 at close quarters. For his part Thomplin wasn't any more convinced by the rocket than he had been by the capsule. The truck rolled to a stop. A shadow fell over the cab as high up on the launch tower, the assembly crane swung around and lowered a cable down towards the waiting spacecraft. Halnie hopped out the cab and watched as the capsule was hoisted into the air and set delicately down on top of the rocket. Two kerbals, both securely tethered to the launch tower, set about attaching a set of what looked like clamps to the capsule, although Halnie couldn't help noticing that they were being handled rather gingerly. Ornie followed her gaze. “Decouplers," he said briefly. “Basically, small explosive bolts that we use to detach the booster once it's out of fuel." Even Halnie looked slightly taken aback at that and beside her, Thomplin just rolled his eyes. “I know," Ornie acknowledged, “they do work though. On a different note, we were wondering - do Stratus make larger versions of those spherical tanks?" “Depends what you mean by larger but yes we do another tank that has about twice the volume of the demo model we showed you."Halnie cocked her head. “Difficult to say how heavy that would be - depends what you put in it and at what pressure." “Hmmm," said Ornie, “I'm not sure what Bob and Wernher had in mind but that sounds like it should work." He pointed at the side boosters. “At the moment, those things are solid fueled but we're really hoping to stop using solids. We were thinking about a pressure fed liquid design but that would need us to store quite a lot of high pressure gas in a small space. Your larger tank sounds worth a try." He looked at Thomplin. “You'd be more than welcome to talk things over with them tonight and come and watch the launch tomorrow." Thomplin didn't need to see Halnie's face. “That would be most generous," he said. ------------ Geneney waited by the capsule, clutching the gantry rail and trying to ignore the beads of sweat running down the back of his neck. Lucan stood beside him, his bright orange pressure suit highlighted against the grey sky, one hand swinging his flight helmet casually back and forth. There was a knock from inside the Kerbal 2 and then Bob clambered carefully back out through the hatch. Geneney steeled himself and climbed inside, squeezing in past the control panel and settling himself into the centre seat. Bob passed his helmet through the hatch and then climbed in himself. He set to work connecting Geneney's suit to the capsule systems whilst Geneneny shuffled around trying to make himself comfortable in the confines of his seat. Finally, Bob placed the helmet over his head and locked it carefully into place on the neck ring of his suit. He rapped on the transparent visor and gave Geneney a cheerful thumbs up before crawling back out of the capsule to let Lucan take his place in the third seat. Geneney stared around the inside of the capsule listening to Lucan chattering away as Bob plugged him in. Then Lucan too got a good luck rap on the visor and a thumbs up. With a final “Good Luck," Bob climbed out onto the gantry, slamming the hatch shut behind him. Lucan reached over his head and twisted the locking wheel closed. A detached part of Geneney's mind nodded in satisfaction as the hatch bolts slid smoothly into place with a reassuring clunk. Geneney flicked a toggle switch on the control panel. “Control, this is Kerbal 2." Ornie's voice came back over his headset. “Reading you loud and clear, Gene. Running final checks on the booster." “Understood Control." Geneney flicked off the external comms link. “You know guys, this capsule looks a lot more sturdy from the outside." Lucan turned his head awkwardly towards him. “Just as long as you remembered to stick the parachute on top. Besides you built this thing." “I know - that's what's worrying me." Wernher cleared his throat. “How do you think I feel then," he said wryly, “given that I built the engines. Better switch the external loop back on Gene - they shouldn't be too much longer with those checks." Bob's voice filled their ears. “All rocket systems check out. Guidance control and launch sequencing transferred to booster. Ready when you are, Ornie." “OK then. We all know what we're doing. LV-15 engine start on my mark, 3 second hold down at full power as a last check, then we release the clamps and light up the Trashcans. That last bit is probably... Geneney smiled and found himself relaxing at last. Going to be a bit bouncy, he murmured to himself. "... so you might want to hold on something. Ignition in five...four...three...two...one.. Mark!" Geneney braced himself, as the Kerbal 2 came to life around him. The capsule shook with the steadily increasing rumble from the LV-15 far below his back. "Holding for three...two...one..." The RT-5s ignited right on schedule with a deafening roar, ramming Geneney back into his seat as the Kerbal 2 hurtled skywards. Halnie and Thomplin held their breath with the rest of the crowd as the Kerbal 2 soared out over the sea trailing a thick plume of roiling grey smoke behind it. Despite his earlier misgivings, the sheer spectacle and controlled fury of a live rocket launch had touched even Thomplin's cautious soul and he had cheered himself hoarse with everyone else as the Kerbal 2 lifted off. Halnie was simply starstruck as she watched the fiery dot disappear into the sky. ---------------------- It was noisy beyond belief, the shaking was terrifying and it was the most exhilarating thing he had ever done in his life! Geneney's face was pulled back into a broad grin as the acceleration built up to painful levels. How long had the Trashcans been burning? Lifting his head was out of the question, so there was no way to check the fuel gauge on the control panel. No way of checking the altimeter either. No matter Geneney, he told himself, just enjoy it while it lasts. Outside, the sky was gradually fading into a deep midnight blue as the capsule rose higher and higher. The RT-5s stuttered briefly, once, twice, before finally falling silent. All three kerbalnauts were flung forward in their straps as the thrust abruptly died away. Four loud bangs announced the departure of the Trashcans as the LV-15 pushed them gently onwards. “Kerbal 2 this is Control. Come in Kerbal 2!" Geneney forced himself to speak. “This is the Kerbal 2," he whispered. “Say again Kerbal 2." Wernher spoke up. “We're all good, Control. Clean separation on RT-5s. Gene got a little squashed but he's OK." Lucan's voice sounded a little strained. “There has got to be a better way of doing this," he said, “I mean - I didn't think Bob was exaggerating when he was talking about getting mashed but sheesh - he really really wasn't joking either!" Ornie laughed. “Bob's just wondering if you're all going to join him in persuading Jeb to fit some extra padding to those seats. Thirty seconds to staging, guys!" After the crushing acceleration of the Trashcans, the last moments of powered flight were almost soothing. Geneney leaned forward and watched the reading on the fuel gauge drop lazily downwards. There was a brief moment of quiet as the engine shut down, followed by a familiar bang as the booster dropped away, leaving the capsule to coast upwards under its own momentum. Geneney was delighted to find himself feeling unexpectedly light, so light in fact that he was floating off his seat and bobbing gently against his harness. “Look guys - I'm floating!" Next to him, Lucan was looking happier than he had all flight. “This is awesome! Hey, Control - how come nobody told us about this?" “No response from here," said Ornie, “I'm guessing they were just wedged a bit more tightly into their seats. Looks like you're all getting a first on your flight too!" “Hey that's a thought," said Geneney, “Move your head, Lucan - I want to see out of the window!" Absolute silence filled the capsule. “Are you guys OK up there?" “Oh yes," said Geneney softly, “Oh we really are. I don't how to describe this, Ornie. I know how Jeb felt now - there just aren't good words for this. Bill did a great job with his photos but... I guess it's like trying to photograph a sunset. Even the best pictures just don't compare." --------------- Shadows slowly drifted over the capsule walls as it coasted onwards, lit from beneath by the bright glow of Kerbin's atmosphere. It rocked slightly as it reached the top of its arc and started the long descent. The kerbalnauts could hear a gradually increasing thrumming noise from outside the capsule as it dropped back into thicker air. Geneney kept one eye on the altimeter as the Kerbal 2 plummeted back towards the ground, acutely aware that his life and Lucan and Wernher's too were entirely dependent on the folded pieces of fabric mounted on the capsule roof. He glanced at the control panel uneasily as the capsule continued to accelerate. CRACK! Geneney jerked against his harness as the drogue chute deployed. The queasy feeling in the pit of his stomach told him that the Kerbal 2 was finally slowing down. Moments later, there was another sharp crack as the drogue departed, followed by a deeply reassuring thump as the main chute shot off its rails. The capsule was slowing down rapidly now as the parachute bit into the surrounding air. Geneneny watched the altimeter unwind. Three thousand metres, two thousand... one thousand. The main parachute unfurled, lines going briefly slack as the Kerbal 2 slowed to a virtual standstill and then floated sedately down towards the waiting sea. ---------- Halnie let out her breath in an explosive gasp as the orange disc unfurled and turned to Thomplin with shining eyes. “We have got to be part of this, Tom! This is the future and Stratus needs to be there with it. You've seen what these people are planning - you know this is just the start!" Thomplin embraced her wordlessly. In his heart of hearts he agreed. Selling the idea to Stratus management wasn't going to be hard either. If that fellow Ornie was correct, each rocket alone would need four of their large tanks each and then goodness knows what else the capsule would need to store. He gently let Halnie go and turned to Jeb with a wry smile. “I think that last test just convinced us, Jeb. I can give you six of each type of tank in exchange for that sponsorship deal you mentioned. After that you'll need to start paying but I have a sneaking feeling that you'll be qualifying for a bulk discount!" Jeb clasped his hand with gratitude. “Thank you," he said softly. Halnie watched the Kerbal 2 as it dropped towards the horizon. “I do have one question," she said. “How do I learn to fly one of those ships?" << Chapter 6 :: Chapter 8>>

All this talk of what a robot can produce scientifically, versus having boots on the ground, it doesn't really matter, the fact we are boldly going forth and experimenting with new things is what truly matters. We as a species must place more money and faith in our science programs. We talk about spending money on renewable resources and replacing our dependence on fossil fuels instead of on Space Exploration, but I propose that truthfully funding man spaced exploration, or robotic for that matter, is an investment in renewable resources and new forms of energy. These are all technologies that would be vital in the future of space exploration. Historically, these industries have grown parallel with our space programs, it's only after we as a people, lost touch with what the space programs do for us, that we cut funding and those industries had to struggle for funding. I say, bolster the Space Program (be it manned or robotic) and you bolster all of mankind!

Wow! I did not think I would get to talk directly to the person in charge. I do greatly advise you to play KSP if you don't its a great game. I am very noob at it in many ways still, and it amazes me to see so many peoples of all ages learn the basics of space flight and navigation with a fun game and get so good at planning mission and trajectories. The essence of it is so complicated and alien, yet it will be required if ever we advance to the stage where you can actually say "I am a space pilot and travel the solar system with my own ship". If it ever gets to this, maybe kids who played a video game will already grasp the fundamentals and excel at them. I guess my question for you would be what are your plans to get us there? Will giving you money really advance this cause?

Why certainly good sir As originally planned, this chapter ended up being rather long, so I decided to break it into two. Second half is a little more fast paced and should be coming up shortly! These New Engines There was a stunned silence and even Jeb seemed a little taken aback. “I admire the ambition, Wernher," he said, “but we havn't even flown a crewed flight to orbit yet. Or flown anything to the Mün for that matter." Wernher looked at him impatiently. “Of course not," he said, “and believe me, I know exactly how much we need to do before we can even think about it. Pressure fed engines are still going to be a major step forward though, especially if we use hypergolic propellants. Just open two valves and whoosh - propellants mix and engine fires. Believe me, I'd much rather be depending on something like that to get me back to Kerbin rather than a collection of igniters and pumps!" Jeb made a placating gesture. "OK, OK. I see what you mean - I just hope the people at Stratus can come up with what we need. In the meantime, we need something a little smaller but something that will still be a useful test of the Stratus tanks." Bob cleared his throat. “We could launch another satellite," he suggested, “Except this time we make it more like a mini capsule. We use the same LV-902 second stage that we used for the Kerbin 1 but we upgrade the LV-15 with the new turbopump. That should boost its performance enough that we can launch a heavier payload than last time." Everyone's attention was fixed on Bob as he continued. “We build a propulsion module with one of those Stratus tanks - assuming they are all that Jeb seems to think they'll be. Then we have the satellite itself but this time it's a little bit more than a radio transmitter in a ball. It has a heat shield at one end, a parachute at the other and a couple of cameras in the middle. We lift both modules to orbit, fly them around a bit, take some pictures and then use the propulsion module to de-orbit. Satellite detaches from the propulsion module, re-enters the atmosphere and lands by parachute." Jeb's jaw dropped. “Good grief, Bob. I'm not sure who's worse, you or Wernher." Wernher spoke up. “Actually that sounds doable, Jeb but I suggest we keep it simple. We use the propulsion module as a very small third stage if we need a bit more speed to get to orbit. Then we use it to put the satellite into a slow spin. We do a couple of orbits, fire the propulsion module again to stop the spin and then one last time to drop out of orbit." Lucan raised a hand. “I presume that we time things so that we do the de-orbit maneuver after an exact number of orbits?" “Exactly," said Wernher. “Fitting any sort of guidance system into something that small is going to be difficult. I'm not saying that we can't do it but I don't think it should be a priority. So we don't bother. It does mean that we'll get a pretty odd collection of pictures though, since the satellite will be pointing in the same direction all the time, rather than tracking the horizon." “Hmm, calculating the re-entry path is going to be fun. Might not be a bad idea to fire a couple of test flights out over the sea first to give us more idea about how much drag we'll get. Not with a full flight article though of course, just something the same size and mass..." “I've got an idea," said Richlin, “Ornie and I have got a couple of friends out by the Eastern Wakira coast. If we did put a radio in this thing, I'm sure Sigbin and Doodlie would let us know as it passes overhead. That should give Lucan time to tweak the re-entry a bit." “Hang on - where are we putting the heat shield and when do we lose the propulsion module?" “Will we have room for a radio and the cameras?" Jeb had to raise his voice as nineteen excited kerbals started discussing Bob's plan and arguing over the technical details. “OK, OK folks! I think that's a big yes for Bob's satellite plan! But at the risk of bringing everyone back down to Kerbal for a moment, we've got another ship to launch first!" ---------- The propulsion team surveyed their work with satisfaction. Four RT-5 boosters, complete with decoupler mounts, rested in the assembly jig, neatly arrayed around a mockup of the Kerbal 2 lower stage. Malmy's back made a popping noise as he stretched. “I think that's got it, lads. We can finish the paintwork this afternoon and then take em out to the Tent tomorrow." Ornie opened his lunch bag. “Sounds good to me, Malmy. The lower stage is about done apart from the arming circuits for the decouplers and Gene's people are out there working on this today. Hey, Wernher - put the radio on would you? It should be about time for the news." Familiar music drifted through the air. “This is KBS News at 1:00pm. In our main story this lunchtime, space fever heats up in Foxham as the Rockomax Corporation announces a successful test of their new BA-A rocket booster. Our space correspondent Leland Kerman was there to watch the launch." Ornie dropped his bag. “Rockomax Corporation?" “Good afternoon. I am Leland Kerman and I'm standing outside the main control room at the Rockomax test site. With me today is Ademone Kerman, owner and company manager of Rockomax, who has kindly agreed to speak to KBS before this important test flight." “Ademone, perhaps you could tell the listeners a little about this flight. Why is this such an important test?" “Good afternoon, Leland and welcome to this test of our new BA-A booster. This is the first in what we hope will be a series of our next generation solid fuel rockets, so it's a pretty big day for us." “I can imagine, Ademone. So what height are you expecting the BA-A to reach? Will you be aiming for orbit?" Ademone laughed. “I'm afraid not. The BA-A is really a test bed for a number of new technologies, which we will be building into our planned orbital launcher in the coming months. It should still be quite a spectacular flight though - the rocket will reach a top speed of just over 1 kilometre per second and a height of just under 17 thousand metres." “That's quite a way up - I hope it's not going to drop back on our heads!" “Oh no - by the time it falls safely into the sea, the BA-A will be over 25 kilometres away." “That's extremely impressive, Ademone. But tell me - why Rockomax? What made you decide to become a rocket builder?" “Well as you know, Leland, Rockomax used to be the Speciality Firework Company, so we've always been a rocket company really - we're just building bigger ones now. But really, it was the Barkton Satellite that made the decision for me. The idea of launching a rocket all the way around Kerbin was just inspired!" “So you're convinced about the Barkton Satellite? Many people have dismissed it as a hoax or a joke." “Oh I thought so too at first, Leland. But it quickly became obvious that it was quite real. I do a little amateur radio myself and let me put it this way - it would have been easier to put a satellite into orbit than it would have been to coordinate a network of fake radio broadcasts so accurately across the whole of Kerbin." “Well that sounds pretty conclusive to me and I hope our listeners will feel the same way. Ademone Kerman - thank you very much." “It's now just under five minutes to launch. In the distance I can just make out the last of the Rockomax engineers making their way back from the booster..." Ornie clicked the radio off. “Sounds like we have a little competition," he said quietly. Wernher was still looking indignant. “A hoax - why would we bother with a hoax?" Malmy was looking a little wide eyed. “One thousand metres a second - I wouldn't fancy sitting on top of that." “Well you need to be going a lot faster than that to get to orbit," said Wernher, “But I don't expect they're putting much on top of their booster if those altitude and range figures are at all accurate. A solid fuel motor with a very light payload will get very fast very quickly but there's no real way of controlling the thrust. I think they're being rather optimistic with their talk of an orbital launcher." “Even so," said Ornie, “they managed to get it off the ground without exploding - and they did it on a live news broadcast too. They might be optimistic but they're not exactly lacking in confidence either. We should tell Jeb about this." --------- Thomplin was feeling somewhat dubious as he pulled up outside the old warehouse. This had to be the right place with a sign like that but it all looked a little bit run down. It was busy enough, although it wasn't really what he'd expected from an organisation that had apparently launched a rocket into outer space. Someone had obviously noticed their arrival and passed a message inside, since a couple of minutes later a cheerful looking kerbal wearing a bright red hat popped his head around the warehouse door and bounded towards them. "You must be Thomplin! Welcome to the Junkyard and Spaceship Parts Company. I'm Jeb by the way". Jeb peered into the cab. "Pleased to meet you um... "Halnie. Is there anywhere we can put the van?" "Absolutely, Halnie", said Jeb enthusiastically, "There's a couple of spaces in the yard, I'll just go and get them to open the gates for you! He rubbed his hands together. "I tell you - you're going to love the test we've got set up for your tanks!" Jeb bounced away and disappeared back inside the warehouse. Moments later the main gates opened with a squeal of rusty hinges. Halnie glanced over at Thomplin, shrugged and started the van. Both kerbals looked around the yard with interest. This looked a bit more promising and if nothing else there certainly seemed to be a lot more going on. One kerbal was crawling out of a strange squat looking pod, which appeared to be surrounded by makeshift scaffolding. Another was perched on top of the scaffolding, carefully attaching what looked like a conical lid to the roof of the pod. In the centre of the yard a group of kerbals were gathered round some kind of metal framework peering intently at something. Jeb ran over to them. "This way!" he called, gesturing towards the framework. Their curiosity piqued, Halnie and Thomplin followed him. The device mounted on the framework was like nothing they'd ever seen before. It appeared to consist of a small cube of metal struts stuffed with a dense tangle of plumbing. Four nozzles were attached to the outside of the cube, each one pointing in a different direction. A tube led out of the back and into a large cylindrical tank standing next to the main frame. Jeb pointed at the tank. “You see the problem?" he said. “We can make the control thrusters pretty small but that's no good if we still need a big heavy tank for the propellant." Halnie and Thomplin stared at him blankly. Jeb looked momentarily puzzled. "You did know that we build spacecraft right? Well this is a steering system for a spacecraft. You can't use wings in space - no air - so we use sets of small rocket thrusters to steer instead." Halnie bent down to inspect the fuel line coupling. “Looks like we'll need a 3c adaptor," she called over her shoulder. “The tank looks standard enough, so the filler pump ought to handle it. Then she noticed the warning signs painted on the side of the cylinder. “Best bring the protective gear too I think - whatever this stuff is it looks pretty nasty." “In that case," Thomplin said dryly, “why don't we just see if we've brought the right sized tanks first." Everyone gathered round eagerly and craned forward trying to see as Halnie opened the equipment cart and with some effort, lifted a white metal object onto the test stand. As promised, it was basically spherical, it's smooth walls broken only by a hose coupling on the top and a set of metal flanges which it was currently resting on. Malmy was skeptical. “Well it's small enough. Doesn't look like it hold 20 kilos of anything though." Thomplin gestured. “I assure you it's heavier than it looks. Go ahead and pick it up if you like. Actually if you could put it on the ground that would be helpful." Malmy slipped his hands casually under the tank and lifted. His eyebrows shot up as he took a rather better grip on it and tlifted it carefully down off the stand. He looked at Thomplin with new respect. Thomplin nodded slightly and rather theatrically, took a heavy looking sledgehammer off the equipment cart. He raised the hammer over his head and before the horrified crowd of kerbals around him could do anything, let it drop squarely onto the tank. Malmy stared in disbelief as the hammer bounced off. “Pressurised," said Halnie casually, "I wouldn't try that with an empty one but they're pretty sturdy once you fill them up. I would stand back for this part though." Everyone moved a respectful distance from the test stand as Halnie donned her protective clothing and lifted a second tank off the cart and hooked it up to the propellant cylinder with practised ease. There was a collective drawing in of breath as the filler pump started up with a loud clatter and monpropellant flooded into the tank. The pump shut off automatically and Halnie carefully closed the cylinder valve and disconnected the tank. Working briskly she lifted it onto the test stand and attached it to the thruster block. “OK, Jeb - what was that test you wanted to show us?" << Chapter 5 :: Chapter 7>>

Nope. We can't be sure of anything. Human beings can't reproduce any task exatcly the same way twice. And when we talk about computer games, that's worse either.

Ah yes, but there's a very good reason for the jarring change in his personality. You may have noticed Bob trying to talk to him about it, but Jeb brushing him off or evading it each time. "Bob recognized a defense mechanism when he saw it." Each of the crew has their own issues to deal with after having experienced such an unbelievable tragedy. They went from having been born on a ship and taught they would one day lead everybody to their salvation on Kerbin, to fleeing in terror from the only home they had ever known, forever losing almost everything precious to them in the process while everybody and every thing they knew and loved was destroyed. Both Bob and Bill have lost somebody close to them in the same individual (Gindal), and are wanting to go back to the Horizon to find whatever resolution they possibly can to patch the hole left in their lives. Nelnie is coping by starting a new family, having been alone for years on the Horizon previously, but is frustrated to realize she wants something more. Mackenzie (Mac) is focusing almost all of her energy and attention on the forge (the garage), finding some solace in playing as big a part as she can in the group's continued survival and growth Jeb, meanwhile, hasn't yet faced the things that are haunting him. He's been through a great deal as well; recall his own loss on the Horizon's bridge. But, he's got an even heavier weight on his shoulders, which is at the core of why he almost seems to have a split personality. To go into any further detail delves into spoiler territory! Thanks very much for your encouragement! This is the kind of writing I really love to do most, so it's good to know I can just let all these ideas flow freely without having to bring down the Edit Hammer so heavily on them. I saw a couple of folks doing similar things with their screenshots, and thought about how cool it would be to bring elements from the game into a realistic environment, and use them to help illustrate a story that's striving to do the same thing. You can count on more of that as the chapters progress.

I use FAR and find the above not only advantageous but essential to getting off the ground at all. But FAR is something of a mixed bag when it comes to realism IMHO. While it does require you to make realistic-looking rockets (at least much closer to real life than the pancake asparagus nonsense you can get away with in vanilla), it goes too far the other way IMHO. Still, all in all I much prefer FAR to vanilla so recommend you try it. Some observations from my experience with FAR and ROCKETS (so don't talk to me about spaceplanes ). Far is beneficial in some ways for rockets although it also imposes numerous penalties. But to get the most out of it, you really need tweak your ascent profile to something more realistic. This is mentioned in the docs. You want make your ascent in a long, gradual curve starting at pretty low altitude. After much testing with MechJeb's ascent profile tweaker, what works best for me is setting the turn to start about 6km, use the 70% curve, and finish the turn at 80km. MechJeb will either fly this itself on autopilot or will project aiming markers on the navball is you want to fly it yourself. The latter is pretty much essential if you really want to get the most out of the whole exercise. Anyway, doing all this means I routinely get to 100-150km LKOs with only about 3200 dV; my record is 2800 dV. Thus, for payloads of up to about 60 tons, my ascent stage is usually nothing but a stack of 2 of the biggest fuel tanks with 1 of the biggest engine underneath, with MAYBE a couple of small-medium SRBs. No asparagus, no crossfeed. HOWEVER, you pay for this in other ways, which I shall now list: First off, a requirement of FAR is that the CoL be as close to the bottom of the rocket as possible. You need rockets that look like arrows, long and skinny with lots of tail feathers. Sticking little winglets on won't cut it. I need 4 stock delta wings with standard control surfaces to do this, and any SRBs need at least winglets, sometimes full delta wings, too, depending on payload shape. A stack of 2 of the biggest fuel tanks leaves little room on top for payload before you hit the VAB ceiling. This significantly limits the size of your payload, as does the need to put it in a fairing if it's lumpy. This all means that you'll have to dock stuff together in orbit to get anything big in space. You'll also need a mod with fairings, or figure out how to get Fairing Factory to work with 0.20 AND the rest of your rocket. While all the tail feathers are usually enough for adequate control in the lower atmosphere, you REQUIRE copious RCS to turn these long rockets above about 40-50km. Like to face prograde to circularize the orbit. A good rule of thumb I've come up with is that for each big fuel tank in the ascent stage stack, the rocket as a whole needs 4 RCS clusters on each end to get facing the right way before it passes apoapsis, and of course the fuel to run them through at least 1/2 the ascent. Unless you're just going to Mun, your payload will probably be docking, so will of course have 8 RCS thrusters of its own and a mono tank. That takes care of the top end so you need 8 more RCS clusters on the bottom (I usually mount them on the tips of the delta wings) and a BIG RCS tank in the ascent stage. On the way up, the payload RCS tank drains first. Thus, it's good practice to build your ascent stages so you can circularize the orbit with a tad of dV to spare. Then you can pump whatever RCS fuel is left out of the ascent stage into the payload before ditching the ascent stage, so the payload will be able to dock. Forgetting to do this is very annoying . Because the ascent is a long, constant curve, you're never holding still. This complicates dropping SRBs. To avoid them smashing into you, you need to use a lot of Seprotrons, all carefully placed to throw the boosters far away without tumbling, which can be tricky if the SRBs have wings on them. You'll probably have to get (I THINK it is) TT's latest Modular Multiwheels mod, the one with the "heavy strut" part. This strut can stretch a VERY long way. You often need this to go from the top of your payload through the bottom cup of the fairing onto the big fuel tank below, to keep the payload from wobbling through the fairing. This is only really a problem if you're launching long, lumpy payloads that have docking ports on both ends. Anyway, I like FAR (at least for rockets--it infuriates me with spaceplanes). Just say good-bye to launching huge rovers and T-shaped station components with pancake rockets.

Sorry didn't notice someone had posted in here. Still not dead, just a little hiatus. I need to dig through my development version to see where I left off, I think I was in the middle of an upscale of the parts. I need to do that and the config updates. But I don't plan on releasing anything before 0.21 because I want to see how the SAS updates affects the vectoring; might not need the compensator plugin so much anymore; we'll see. Haven't talk to Pirate in a while, so the status of the explorer shuttle model is unknown.