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Daredevil Satellite Launcher While work on crew capsules for spaceflight is progressing slowly and cost overruns are common, the recent probes prompted a debate on whether it is cheaper to simply stick to an unmanned spaceprogram for now. Fearing for their future opportunities, a few daredevil pilots brought about the idea of reusable planes as a means to launch small satellites. The idea is, that a manned plane launches one or two mini satellites, and then safely lands back in the vicinity of the KSC. While more economically thinking kerbals call the concept a wasteful publicity stunt without any benefit, some politicians recognized it as an opportunity to shift public scrutiny away from their own performances. So the idea was quickly approved. The challenge Your challenge, should you accept it, is to launch at least one mini satellite (essentially just a probe core) from a manned plane into an orbit around kerbin (periapsis above 70km). The plane must be over 5km altitude above sea level when you launch the satellite. Thus you can use an air breathing plane and launch the sat at 5km altitude above sea level, or a rocket plane and launch the sat at 75km altitude. The plane must then land back around KSC. Note that the FMRS mod is now part of the mod recommendations and should be used to switch between the plane and the satellite. Ranking is done by non-recovered mass per satellite. For example in my entry below, I started with 8455kg mass (8555kg minus launch clamp 100kg), had a mass of 3312kg when landed and launched 2 mini satellites into orbits around kerbin. This results in a mass expenditure of 2571.5kg per mini satellite. Minimum picture requirements for a ranking are 1. Design showing KER readouts in SPH/VAB, especially total vessel mass. 2. In flight, showing KER readouts roughly when launching the satellite(s). Must be over 5km altitude above sea level. 3. The satellite in flight, showing KER readouts with periapsis above 70km. 4. The plane, landed back on kerbin with KSC visible in the background, showing KER readouts, espcially the vehicle mass when landed. HINT : The Small Hardpoint functions as a separator. If you adjust the ejection force to 0, it does not mess up the vector of the launched object. Of course additional pictures, videos, etc are very welcome. As is a link if you stream it. The restrictions 1. No R&D, SPH/VAB, Runway/Launchpad facility upgrades! (=> 30part / 9ton mass limit, other facility upgrades are allowed) 2. Tweakscale is only allowed for wings/control surfaces/landing gear/adapters. 3. No mods except the ones specified below. Visual and similar mods are exempt from this rule. 4. No cheating. 5. Science/parts restrictions as shown here (thus no parachutes, reaction wheels, etc.) basicRocketry node provides a basic liquid fuel engine The mods 1. Install CKAN for a separate, clean KSP install. 2. Only select the "SETI-MetaModPack". Click "ApplyChanges". 3. Leave all recommendations selected. Click "Continue". 4. From the suggestions, only SETIprobeControlEnabler is allowed, so that you dont have to worry about a RemoteTech connection. Click "Continue" and wait for the the mods to be installed. 5. RCS Build Aid is among the recommendations, but is currently not available via ckan. You may (highly recommended) install that manually from here: https://github.com/linuxgurugamer/RCSBuildAid/releases 6. Visual mods are allowed at your own discretion. The ranking By spent mass per mini satellite: 1. @Yemo with a spent mass of 2571.5kg per mini satellite to kerbin orbit (8455kg launch mass, 8555kg minus launch clamp 100kg, 3312kg mass when landed, 2 mini satellites launched into orbits around kerbin. Thus a mass expenditure of (8455kg - 3312kg) / 2 =2571.5kg per mini satellite. I went for the rocket plane / high launch concept. Ejection force on Small Hardpoints set to 0 for a clean launch:

Mun Flyby After the spectacular success of the Daredevil Pilot who went to space in his plane cockpit using nothing else than solid boosters, there has been increasing pressure on the KSC to be less hesitant and more daring. The work on a liquid fuel engine had numerous setbacks and the public is growing impatient. So a special group has been tasked with the design of a Mun flyby probe using current technologies. The lower to the mun we can get, the better for appeasing the public. The challenge Your challenge, should you accept it, is to reach an periabsis as low as possible above the mun, under the facility upgrade and technological limits described below. Ranking is done by periapsis. For those who reach a periapsis below 10km, a second ranking is done by vehicle mass (KER readouts in SPH/VAB). Minimum picture requirements for a ranking are 1. Design showing KER readouts in SPH/VAB, especially total vessel mass. 2. In flight, at or very close to periapsis. Periapsis displayed by KER or mechjeb (switch KER to partless instead of career in KER settings available in SPH/VAB). Note that the altimeter shows altitude over terrain when in surface mode. Of course additional pictures, videos, etc are very welcome. As is a link if you stream it. The restrictions 1. No R&D, SPH/VAB, Runway/Launchpad facility upgrades! (=> 30part / 9ton mass limit, other facility upgrades are allowed) 2. Tweakscale is only allowed for wings/control surfaces/landing gear/adapters. 3. No mods except the ones specified below. Visual and similar mods are exempt from this rule. 4. No cheating. 5. Science/parts restrictions as shown here (thus no liquid fuel engines, reaction wheels, etc.) Engineering101 node, use the "Alkaline Fuel Cell Mini" to provide EC when lower than 10% capacity Structural Parts node Stability Node, the "Place-Anywhere 1 Linear RCS Port" can be used as an engine The mods 1. Install CKAN for a separate, clean KSP install. 2. Only select the "SETI-MetaModPack". Click "ApplyChanges". 3. Leave all recommendations selected. Click "Continue". 4. From the suggestions, only SETIprobeControlEnabler is allowed, so that you dont have to worry about a RemoteTech connection. Click "Continue" and wait for the the mods to be installed. 5. RCS Build Aid is among the recommendations, but is currently not available via ckan. You may (highly recommended) install that manually from here: https://github.com/linuxgurugamer/RCSBuildAid/releases 6. Visual mods are allowed at your own discretion. The ranking By periapsis above the mun: 1. @Yemo with a periapsis of ~11,667m above the mun My entry for the challenge:

Main challenge: Do a front flip on every celestial body, (excluding Sol). This does not need to be done on one trip, but has to be the same model / spaceship for each body This can be either manned or unmanned. Side Challenge: Do a front flip in orbit of each body. This is a compilation challenge. Evidence should be a collage or an album. Pics should be taken mid-flip. This is more of a time waster challenge, as it shouldn't be too difficult. Have fun!

Daredevil Spaceplane The "Daredevil Squadron" is home to the boldest pilots on kerbin since shortly after the invention of powered flight. It is therefore a natural recruiting place for the new spaceprogram. Unfortunately technological progress is not as fast as some of those pilots would like it to be and there is a growing fear that manned spaceflight with all the proper precautions, safety concerns and design delays for capsules is coming too late for some of the pilots. And for those kerbals who live in a cockpit, taking familiar risks in flight is much more appealing than taking the risk of missing their chance. Thus some of the daredevil pilots pushed hard and called in favors to try to go to space with the current technology, even if it is only for a quick peak into what lies beyond the confines of the kerbin atmosphere. The challenge Your challenge, should you accept it, is to reach an altitude (apoapsis) as high as possible, with a kerbal piloting the vessel, under the facility upgrade and technological limits described below and then safely return to the KSC (must be visible when landed). Ranking is done by altitude (apoapsis). For those who reach space, a second ranking is done by vehicle mass (KER readouts in SPH/VAB). Minimum picture requirements for a ranking are 1. Design showing KER readouts in SPH/VAB, especially total vessel mass. 2. In flight, at or very close to apoapsis. Apoapsis displayed by KER or mechjeb (switch KER to partless instead of career in KER settings available in SPH/VAB). Note that the altimeter shows altitude over terrain when in surface mode. 3. Safely landed back at Kerbin with KSC visible in the background. Beware, the cockpit was not designed for space flight, it is somewhat fragile. Of course additional pictures, videos, etc are very welcome. As is a link if you stream it. The challenge was inspired by @Steven Mading https://www.twitch.tv/dunbaratu who streamed trying out the "Giving Aircraft a Purpose" mod pack by @inigma on twitch (which is a bit buggy at the moment due to ksp spawn calculation changes). The restrictions 1. No R&D, SPH/VAB, Runway/Launchpad facility upgrades! (=> 30part / 9ton mass limit, regardless whether you start from Runway or Launchpad) 2. Tweakscale is only allowed for wings/control surfaces/landing gear/adapters. 3. No mods except the ones specified below. Visual and similar mods are exempt from this rule. 4. No cheating. 5. Science/parts restrictions as shown here (thus no liquid fuel engines, reaction wheels, RCS, decouplers, etc.) Start node Early Aviation node Modular Wings node The mods 1. Install CKAN for a separate, clean KSP install. 2. Only select the "SETI-MetaModPack". Click "ApplyChanges". 3. Leave all recommendations selected. Click "Continue". 4. From the suggestions, only SETIprobeControlEnabler is allowed, though for this challenge it does not matter. Click "Continue" and wait for the the mods to be installed. 5. RCS Build Aid is among the recommendations, but is currently not available via ckan. You may (highly recommended) install that manually from here: https://github.com/linuxgurugamer/RCSBuildAid/releases 6. Visual mods are allowed at your own discretion. The ranking By altitude: 1. @Tux1 with ~78,006m above sea level. 2. @Yemo with ~18,295m above sea level. (Altimeter shows 18,232m above terrain) By mass, for those who reach space: 1. @Tux1 with 5,766kg, reaching an altitude of ~78,006m above sea level. I ll start with a simple submission (no pics no clicks!), though I have tested the challenge before and space (70km+) is possible, given the restrictions.

HRO shuttles, originally designed for some advanced levels of STS challenge, now join together for even more daring mission than before Launch sequence First is HRO-M03 with all the deployable vehicles. Including the Elcanoplan 2 strapped on its back Barely enough thrust for takeoff (and that's with payloads having the tanks practically dry). I even activated the main engine of the Elcanoplan, but that didn't seem to make much difference either. Those boosters barely miss the tail wings (just don't forget to set SAS to prograde) Also waited a bit after the tank ran dry before separating it - to wait for the ship to get a bit more balanced (orbiter's tanks are set to drain from the tail first) 55 km? Eh, this isn't Laythe yet! Also forgot to ignite OMS OMS + upper pair of main engines = the best balanced solution with this payload. One ship in orbit OK, now to the second launch... What the Kraken?!! OK, After a tweak to the clamps... let's pretend that didn't happen HRO-M takes off a bit easier, despite having full payload bay as well Looks like we launched a bit too early Well, raise the apoapsis a bit higher and let's meet in one orbit Let's align... and wait for some sunlight Despite the size, HRO is quite good at docking. If you don't rush. (Hey, it's called Heavy Recovery Orbiter - what else could you expect?) This position will provide the best balancing And in couple passes we get the transfer to... somewhere green But this is... Anyway, let's get into polar orbit. By the way, HRO-M also has the scanner antenna in the bay Going down This modification of HRO-M has got some landing upgrades from the latest version of HRO-M03 And a full mining rig in the bay Minmus means "mine me", doesn't it? And a few days later... And in the meantime HROM-03 changed to equatorial orbit - so here's the direct intercept with it There's enough to fully fill all LFO and ore tanks of the craft in orbit So let's make another run down - this time at the equator And after refuel... Who needs atmosphere for horizontal takeoff? And back together - with plenty of fuel Transfer And over 300 days later... (yeah, completely missed the window) What's the best way for Minmus-Jool transfer? Oberth effect! Say goodbye to Kerbin! And a couple years later... Let's just capture into Laythe-Pol transfer orbit What a view! And then, since there seems to be enough fuel to reach the destinations independently, let's separate the ships Oh, hey there! Has anybody checked for running into Vall? Now to pass by Tylo - barely missing its SOI (turned to get better solution than with slingshots) and we are getting to the destination Let's capture with rocket engines, and then release the mapsat - it will change plane at apoapsis Now, to lower the orbit... the shuttle way Strangely enough, the moment you get in, it feels about as much (if not more) drag as on the same altitude on Kerbin. Just don't forget to stabilize the orbit Low Laythe orbit achieved! Next phase - going down there

As one can tell, Matt Lowne did a video showcasing a Laythe SSTO with 4025 m/s dV in LKO. So my challenge will be, can you do better? Could you make the most out of as little dV as possible? Here are the rules: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) No dirty cheating alpacas (no debug menu) 2) You must have either a video or a full album of the mission 3) KER must be installed 4) No mods (besides KER) 5) You must show the Resource Tab always if you make a video 6) You must bring at least 10 passengers with 2 pilots to Laythe and back 7) Finally, you have to have clear knowledge of gravity assists ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Leaderboard: 1st place: @herbal space program, 3390 m/s (Yay, you get your first badge) 2nd place: @Matt Lowne, 4025 m/s 3rd place: @Firemetal, 6250 m/s ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- So build away, intrepid builders. May the Best SSTO win! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Oh yeah, anyone who at least beat Matt's score gets a badge (WIP).

This mission completed for submission to the EM1 Mission of the Doing It Orion Style challenge. Only mod was TweakScale. I went a little overboard trying to match all the elements of the real SLS + Orion, down to the count and placement of the RCS thruster blocks. Definitely pleased with the final product, though! View from the VAB. Standing tall on the pad. Igniting the SSMEs first. Booster ignition and clamp release! I always love these kinds of shots. I don't much like the SLS myself but it is a nice-looking rocket to be sure. Look familiar? Halfway through the SRBs and just now supersonic. Not going to get rid of the launch tower until after the solids are jettisoned. Really starting to get some heating now, right at burnout. Gees will drop soon, though. Booster staging aided by some sepratrons clipped into the nosecones. Boosters receding; about half my launch fuel and pulling two gees. Throttling down to fine-tune my ascent. Fairing and LES jettison! Now I just need to go a little bit further... MECO in a disposal orbit. Separating the core. Nice shot of the ICPS here, compare to this. Extending solar panels as the core recedes. Circularizing. As you can see, I have 13 cubesats mounted around the ICPS decoupler. Orbit circularized. Testing out my RCS blocks. Note the placement is identical to here. Really good view of the ICPS. Went ahead and threw an antenna on here since it is unmanned. Extending the antennae on the KubeSats. KubeSat 1 away! These each consist of a probe core, an antenna, and an instrument of some kind. I plan to deploy them in low Kerbin orbit, kerbostationary transfer orbit, Munar free-return, and Munar orbit. I only brought 13 KubeSats because that's the number of adapters on Orion's Stage Adapter. Deploying a few more KubeSats: Let's see, where were we? Planning Munar Free Return. ICPS reignition! TweakScale is almost perfect, but it didn't adjust exhaust plume length. So it looks a little weird. Deploying another KubeSat with a slightly higher apoapse. Yet another. You can see the orbits of the individual KubeSats. Deploying KubeSat in Kerbostationary Transfer Orbit. There it is in KTO! Throttling down to finely adjust the free-return. And there's my free-return! Got a pretty good Munar Periapsis for a free-return. Releasing more KubeSats now that I'm in a free-return trajectory. Nice shot of the service module here too, along with the large battery to show I have backup in case the solar panels fail. Approaching cismunar space. Nice shot of the loop around the Mun; you can see that the KubeSats I released have spread out nicely. One of the KubeSats is on an impact trajectory, the others are not. I went ahead and used the ICPS for this burn so I could save some KubeSats for deployment in Munar Orbit. Deploying! Finally separating the ICPS and Orion is flying free! Nice swarm of KubeSats here along with me. Let's head a bit closer to the Mun. Tightening up that orbit... Much better! Did a few orbits until I was lined up to head back to Kerbin. Getting ready for the return burn. This is the first really good shot of Orion by itself. Starting the burn. And now my periapse is below the surface! This will be hot. Farewell, Mun! Earth approach. Separation from the Service Module. Hope I don't overshoot and come down on land. Very warm. Hitting the drogues immediately to try and get a splashdown. Popping the mains. This is gonna be close! Dropping the heat shield. Cut the drogues. Aaaaand... Splashdown!

I've seen this done before, but not as a challenge. The challenge is to launch a rocket, with a probe payload, around Ike and then launch the probe into an orbit next to the magic boulder. Then fly the rocket back to Kerbin. Rules: Both rocket and probe must be made of stock parts, The probe MUST be stationed in orbit almost close enough to touch the magic boulder. While the rocket does not need to land at the KSC it does however, need to be landed in one piece. Both the rocket and the probe can be manned or a drone. The probe must have a communications link with Kerbin after the rocket is gone. Size and parts do not matter as long as every thing is stock. The trip can take as long as you want, since speed is not the point of this challenge. Enjoy!

The Kinetic Science Kit Challenge. Background: Since Kraken Co's Founding, they wanted to smash something into a Planet, for science. Now, they want YOU to smash a payload into a planet with an atmosphere, and collect science on the way. At least one Kerbal must be brought along. Rules: No Debug(No Cheating Alpacas!) Screenshots or video to go along, or it didn't happen. Stock Parts Only Please. Graphic Mods like EVE and Maneuver Mods, such as MechJeb are okay. Refrain from Hyperedit at All Costs. For All Levels, IMPACT at the speed given. Normal Mode(Level 1): Smash a 6 Ton payload into Kerbin At least at 3500 m/s. Collect science during re-entry. Winners: Medium(Level 2): Smash a 12 Ton payload into Kerbin at last at 4250 m/s. Collect Science during re-entry. Winners: Harder (Level 3): Smash a 6 Ton payload into Eve at least 2000 m/s. Collect Science during re-entry. Winners: Very Difficult (Level 4): Smash a 12 Ton payload into Eve at least at 5000 m/s. Collect science airing re-entry. Winners: Extreme (Level 5): Smash a 6 Ton payload into Laythe at least 3000 m/s. Collect science. Winners: Bill's Level (Level 6): Smash a 12 Ton Payload into Laythe at least at 4000 m/s. Collect Science. Winners: Bob's Level (Level 7): Smash any payload over 6 tons into Jool. Collect science. Winners: Jebadiah's Level (Level 8) Smash into Jool with a payload over 6 tons at 10000 m/s. Collect science and enounter a Kraken attack. Collect Science. Winners: Kraken's Level(Level 9?) Survive any Level Above Level 6, Without using Parachutes. Something However, Must Crash into the Planet. Winners:

One wise kerbal once said, " Reach for the stars, and you will be successful." So, the KSP took it literally and decided to reach for the stars with their "amazingly awesome" spacecraft. The Challenge: Do the Orion missions listed below Orion Command module should be accurate and have 3 seat for stock, 5 seats for modded if possible. Following bonuses apply to all: Chute-O-Matic 3000 -- Have three main chutes and two drogue chutes, just like the real Orion does. * + 15 points * If using mods, and restricted to less, please note that in your submission post. Then, I may give you an exception. If not noted, but in the aforementioned situation, you WILL NOT get the bonus Note: You must complete previous mission to continue on to the next one. EFT-1 Badge: Go into a highly eccentric orbit of Kerbin to test high speed reentry Exploration Mission 1 Badge: http://imgur.com/a/PIVJx Build an SLS Block 1 launcher and mate an Orion Spacecraft to it. Then send them to the Mun (Orbit Only). Europa Clipper Build the SLS Block 1B Cargo and launch a probe to fly-by Laythe multiple times. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Deep Space Gateway (DSG) Mission Objective: Assemble a ship to go to Duna using the SLS in elliptical polar Munar orbit with AP above Munar south pole. Also, develop the SLS Block 2 Cargo and Block 1B Crew. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ MISSION OBJECTIVE (REQUIRED) +50 points ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ PHASE 1 EM-2 to EM-5 PHASE 2: EM-6 to Duna mission More Missions Coming!

BEFORE SOMEONE SAYS 'YOU CAN'T POST THIS TYPE OF THREAD HERE' I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I AM NEW TO THE FORUMS AND I HAD NO IDEA WHERE TO PUT THIS. Thank you. I give a challenge to all of you to build me a type of ship with specific requirements. I'm just looking for ideas from you guys and gals. (Note: You can keep the craft file of your creation for yourself, you just need to give me a copy.) Requirements: 1000-2000 Ton Payload Capacity (Mods can be used to see whether it can hold such an amount) Able to refuel. Must be able to get from Kerbin to other planets/moons. (Minmus at the least, and I would prefer if it could get to Duna) Can actually take off from the runway and get into space. (About time I note that it does NOT have to be an SSTO but I would like if it was.) At the least, 100,000 LF, 40,000 OX, 10,000 EC, 10,000 MonoProp, 5,000 Ore Capacity and 10,000 XenonGas. Science Equipment Must be able to land. Must have atleast one rover and scout ship. 10-30 Crew OPTIONAL: Make it a tough kitty. I am probably NOT going to get this built for me... I will also note that I might edit the craft. The only mod that can be used for parts is OPT.

Please Create an aircraft that uses stock parts. The only mods allowed are for additional launch sites or graphics enhancements. the idea is to create an unenhanced (let me mention the debug menu is only allowed if you wish to use object thrower) aircraft capable of reaching speeds above Mach 3. If on a PC install please include link to KerbalX. EDIT: With jet engines and it must be crewed with some way for all kerbals to live and at least 1/2 the parts recovered.

The Internet Problem I looked at the weekly challenge and said, "This will be easy!". I was wrong. At first, I took what I like to call the direct approach. I decided to modify a Stratolauncher to carry the groundstation. I quickly dismissed this idea due to aerodynamics. I then thought to build a cargo plane. Then I realized the Stearwing A300 existed. I used it instead. Whenever I tried to eject it out the back, the antenna struck the tail and exploded, since a part of the tail sticks down into the cargo bay. I moved it into the BOMB BAY. It fell back into the cargo bay upon deployment. With its parachutes, it descended safely into the ocean with no damage from a height of 3km. Then I realized it had to land within 200m. *sigh* I downloaded Bon Voyage. Will it work now? Can I drive it into Position? Find out next time! Oh yeah, I have to make a truck!

Briefing: A recent poll showed that 60% of kerbals in the middle class are dissatisfied with their current means of transportation. Many of those who were polled had no way to reliably get from their house to an underwater base meeting or a meeting in a sky city within 5 days. Your job, as the head designer for a little-known company named KerbTekh, is to make a vehicle that can fly, swim, and take off a runway, all in one. Objective: Make a vehicle that can fly, go underwater, and take off a runway, and is completely reusable (if going to Laythe or Eve, reusability is not required) Rules: 1: No mods allowed except for Kerbal Engineer. (Texture mods are obviously fine) 2: I'll take your word for proof, but pictures or videos would be great 3: There must be room for at least one kerbal. 4: No cheats of any kind. No debug menu, no anything like that. Points: can fly (10 pts) (required) can go at least 5m underwater (5 pts) (required) can take off from runway (5 pts) (required) can land after flying without exploding (10 pts) can break Mach one while flying (10 pts) can break Mach two while flying (15 pts) can go at a speed of over 10 m/s underwater (5 pts) can go at a speed of over 20 m/s underwater (10 pts) can go at a speed of over 30 m/s underwater (15 pts) can go over 50 m/s underwater (25 pts) done on Eve (60 pts) (no cheating to get there) done on Laythe (150 pts) (no cheating to get there) can go above altitude of 20K (10 pts) can go above altitude of 30K (15 pts) can reach space (10 pts) can float (5 pts) can sink (10 points) sandbox mode (5 pts) science mode (10 pts) career mode (20 pts) room for 1 kerbal (5 pts) (required) room for 2 kerbals (10 pts) room for 4 kerbals (20 pts) room for 10 kerbals (30 pts) can reach orbit (15 pts) Under 10,000KG (15 pts) Under 15,000KG (5 pts) Over 80,000KG (5 pts) Over 250,000KG (20 pts) Bon chance! Extra points may be awarded for a particularly creative design. I'm trying to post a picture of my ship but Microsoft edge is being weird.... I'll get a picture up as soon as I can

To follow up on the famous K Prize, this challenge asks you to show off your master spaceplane design and flying skills. Build a spaceplane capable of reaching orbit, and returning safely using a single jet, and a single rocket engine. I have found this an interesting limitation that makes spaceplane design a lot harder. Mostly because the trust vectors are no longer trivially aligned with the CoM. Enjoy! Rules: The spaceplane must follow the rules as defined by the K Prize. In short: a horizontal take-off stock SSTO that can reach orbit(pe>70km) and land again in one piece. The provisions of the K Prize do apply to this challenge too. Use exactly 1 jet engine - defined as an engine that requires intake air and liquid fuel to run. Use exactly 1 rocket engine - defined as an engine that runs entirely on on-board fuel. An ion engine is also allowed. Rapier engines are allowed, but cannot switch mode during the flight and as such operate entirely as a jet, or entirely as a rocket engine. Merging/clipping/offsetting the two engines together into one is also not allowed (this is not much different from a mode switching rapier). Please remember to take pictures or a video as proof and for our enjoyment. Advanced Aviators: @Scarecrow - Rotate the engines, why not? @Martian Emigrant - The perfect case for a Thud @goduranus - Reverse trust in reverse @StanK - Me @Wanderfound - With spare seats @foobar - You can see through it @tsgaerospace - Pushed up into space @Rosvall - Rolling into space @michal.don - Pancake to accelerate! ...can proudly wear their badge: I have done a few times in past versions. To show it is still possible in 1.3 below is my own new entry: Album: http://imgur.com/a/dDIOT

Try to get to Eeloo... for less than 50,000! I tried, trust me. you may see a crater near the equator. that was my launch crash location. HINT:

Guys, Sorry for the simple question, but i'm new to this! Currently i'm trying to complete the heat shield testing (.625) and I was curious on the altitude part. The requirement is 30-36,000m, does this mean the testing needs to take place within this altitude or needs to be tested through the entire range? Also, does it matter if i'm ascending or descending? -Thanks so much!

Slowest Aircraft Challenge The era of Jeb flying supersonic spaceplanes is in its prime, but the new generation of pilots are a little less, well thrill seeking. Your challenge is to design the slowest possible aircraft, without leaving the atmosphere, and maintaining this speed for at least 30 seconds, and be able to land! Rules: Remain below 70,000 m Sustain flight for 30 seconds to qualify No rocket engines Stock parts only No autopilots Engines must be running at full speed during 30 second testing, and have a stable-ish speed. Must provide video proof of feat, launching from ksp, to landing (OBS Studio is free) Must be decently controllable Must have a prograde at horizon No Hovering Scoring: Lowest speed during 30 second testing multiplied by average altitude during 30 second testing Lowest score wins Bonus scores are divided by 2 Bonus: Preform at eve! Must fly to eve from Kerbin(rocket engines are allowed during transfer)

The Physics Conundrum, or I hate 1.0 Aerodynamics So, I was doing the scenic route challenge, you remember, right? *FLASHBACK INITIATING* Today I rage quit. Here's a recap. Scenic view challenge attempt 2 going up *FOOTAGE MISSING* (99% of payload outside fairing, leansing at 85 degrees) Why you little [REDACTED] [REDACTED] impossible unless autostrut [REDACTED]. That's what I get for using SpaceY. Try again tomorrow with a smaller rocket.

We have found out at a meeting at the TGT Ind. HQ, that the Mün has a very big abundance of pure and efficient fuel making compounds. We need many rovers deployed to scan the surface of the Mün to find the deposits of this useful material. Please only use visual and informational (Stock visual enhancements, Kerbal engineer redux, etc.) mods, but there are exceptions for making it more difficult: RSS, Deadly reentry (if you want to recover your vessel). Very easy mode: send a rover to the Mün that has a surface scanner. Easy mode: send a rover to the Mün that has a: small/big drill an ore tank half full for comparing (for weight) 2 surface scanners and a narrow-band scanner. Hard mode: Send 3 different rovers on the same spacecraft that doesn't have asp. staging (you can't do fuel transferring either), and have these extra parts along/instead the normal mode parts on all of the rovers: Big drill a manned comm. pod Super mode: use an SSTO to do this (recover the SSTO as well), do it in IVA mode, land in a 0.5km radius of a waypoint/other craft, do it in career mode, use RSS, land on another planet's moon etc. just try and impress me. Required screenshots with UI open and that kind of stuff: craft in VAB (just curious), craft on launchpad, craft on it's way to space, craft on the Mün intercept course, before landing, the 1 or 3 rovers on the Mün with the ore tank's status panels open. Hope you like my first post! Good luck!

Welcome to the first annual KSC Car and Air show. This is a special contest for builders of cars, trucks, planes, and other wacky stuff. It is a community driven air show where KSP players can upload their craft here to be a part of this event. After all the slots are full, I will set up all the stuff in a save file, and then I will announce the winners of each category. I will also share the save file with everyone else, so they can find all the craft in one place. Have fun! Uploading guidlines: PLEASE INCLUDE A CRAFT FILE!! Also, please include screenshots, a good description, and the category of entry. (Cars/trucks/small aircraft/large aircraft/crazy wacky stuff) No more than 1 entry per category per user. STOCK ONLY! (Ven's stock revamp and BDarmory are allowed, as well as Airplane plus, KAX, Tweakscale, SXT.) DEADLINE: THERE IS NO DEADLINE! HA HA HAHA!! Open slots: Light Aircraft: 0 SLOTS OPEN. SUBMISSION IS CLOSED. Heavy aircraft: 0 SLOTS OPEN. SUBMISSION IS CLOSED. Cars: 3 slots open. Trucks: 4 slots open. Wacky stuff: 5 slots open. Sponsors: Thanks to our sponsors, Forests Inc., And Bullseye LLC. ALL RIGHTS GO TO SQUAD for the images. Current entries: "Heavy Aircraft:" Haruspex. (Condor) Thor_Wotansen. (Borr) drtricky. (ABH-17 Rapture) ShadowWolf56. (Boeing 737) Skylon. (SB-1 Dragonfly) EpicSpaceTroll139. (Airbus A380) DarkLion. (Batwing-SSTO) Draconiator. (KTR-10NP) DunDun92. (KC-1 Transport) ImmaStegosaurus. (AN-12E) "Light Aircraft:" Triop. (F-20 TigerShark) NotAnAimbot. (F-2F) LazySoUseHyperedit. (Cessna) TheEpicSquared. (AF-1) GDJ (Kraken-MK1-Disarmed) DunDun92. (F-10 Striker) Mumbro Kerman. (F-16C-50 Fighting Falcon) Draconiator. (Kerbtrolite-K-1) PaperAviator. (MIG-21) Draconiator. (IHNCWTNT) (I have no clue what to name this) "Cars:" Azimech. (Charger RT-31) tgaerospace. (TSG Zelion) qzgy. (BAC-Mono type 5) 53Miner53. (Formula-Solar-Stock) GDJ. (Avro-G-Prix Special) Dark Lion. (Kustom-Krazer) doggonemess. https://kerbalx.com/LevAerospace/M8-SpyRover-II-ORV(M8-Spy-Rover-II-ORV) "Trucks/tanks/trains:" KenjiKrafts. (10-15-Hllensturm-HDMT---32) Qzgy. (Mallard V3) NotAnAimbot. (Wolverine-2A1) EpicSpaceTroll139. (Oskar-Mayer-Wiener-Mobile) 53Miner53. (Deora-II) Ozelui. (Cargo-mate tractor) (Exo-Trailer) "Wacky stuff:" PaperAviator. (Canada Goose) EpicSpaceTroll139. (E-50A - Triton) DarkLion. (Bo) HB Stratos (BAC-Concorde) Andetech. (ADX-FJC Flying Car)

Tired of the same old stock career, which lacks balance and incentives to really consider your spending and design choices? Modding is a lot of work, if you are interested in the continued maintenance and development of the SETI mods, please consider supporting them via patreon. SETI-UbM Career Challenge Tired of the same old stock career, which lacks balance and incentives to really consider your spending and design choices? Where funds are piling up so fast, that they are at best only an early career issue for facility unlocks, but not for vessel design. Where even early career science is so abundant without farming, that it does not really matter what you unlock next. Where design restrictions beyond the 30 part 18ton limits are pretty irrelevant. Where contract progression is a bit too procedural. Where you routinely put a kerbal into orbit with one of your first launches. In a 1 kerbal capsule (0.8tons) which is much, much more mass efficient than the later 3 kerbal capsule (4tons). Where all powerful magic reaction wheels fix every control issue right from the start, so you never have to think about it. Where you don't need any life support at all for manned missions, but have to consult a calculator/spreadsheet to find out your commnet sat ranges. And so on... Well, it is pretty impossible to change everything. But if want a bit more balance, a bit less basic mod install hassle and a bit more incentive to design efficient vessels, while being willing to learn and adjust to something different than stock, this might be for you. What is the challenge? Play career with a specific meta mod pack and game settings and thus face decision and design challenges: What mission to select next, and is it really necessary to unlock a tech node or rather save the science in case a later mission needs specific tech? Spend the funds on a facility upgrade, or rather keep them as a reserve? How to control your vessel without magic reaction wheels (you will get them later for convenience, after you are able to do it without them)? Is it worth it to send a 1ton probe with all the expensive experiments for this flyby mission, or would a 300kg probe suffice, and then bring the experiments on the landing mission? etc. What designs do you use to complete the contracts (SETIcontracts are numbered)? How much tech unlocks did you need for them, what are their costs, masses, part count and dV? Would you use them again or design them differently the next time? I'll start with 2 of my designs 02.1 18km Manned Altitude mission, 14500funds, ~5tons, 23 parts: Jet engines are below the wings, in hindsight the tail is too exposed for landing on a dirt runway, and it needs more roll control). 03.0 Orbit Kerbin, 4800 funds, 6tons, 17parts, 3200dV + ~700dV from monoprop: First artificial satellite, no magic reaction wheels (because at this tech level you do not have any). INSTALL: 1. Make a clean copy of your KSP folder, so it does not interfere with your other careers/updates etc. 2. Make sure that your GameData folder is empty except for the Squad folder. 3. Install CKAN (thank you very much CKAN team, this would not be possible without you! @Olympic1, @linuxgurugamer, ...) 4. Search for and select SETI-MetaModPack, nothing else, and then click "Apply changes" and "Apply". 5. Leave all recommendations checked and click continue. Select the suggestions you like and click continue. 6. Wait until all those mods are installed and start the game to check out if it works. 7. Missing at the moment is AnomalySurvey mod from @nightingale (not yet updated to 1.3), it provided a very nice diversion from all the other contracts. Visiting the island, the pyramids and the mun arc and so on... OPTIONAL: 1. Install visual mods, in ckan or manually. Planetshine and RealPlume are already installed with the recommended mods, if available via ckan for current ksp version. 2. I use CKAN config installs of Stock Visual Enhancement at the moment. It produces some flicker on the start screen but works in game. Choose at your own discretion. 3. Of course you are free to add mods like kOS and KCT, I have just not tested playing with them for some time 4. Other contract and part packs might integrate well (CTT is used anyway), I simply can not guarantee it (eg NearFutureSpacecraft configs, and InterstellarExtended mostly uses the later tech tree which is not affected) CAREER SETTINGS: There are no changes to any mods necessary. Just a list of changes from stock (what to expect) and how to alter them. And then the career start options to get a challenging, yet not annoying game. Please provide feedback on the challenge here and/or gameplay/technical feedback on the SETI/UbM mods in the SETI thread linked above. I would also like to thank all the mod authors who made this meta mod pack and thus this challenge possible! 1 House rules 1.1 TweakScale can bridge part catalog gaps, or it can remove the challenge to tinker with your design, use with restraint. 1.2 No excessive science (KSC, Mun, Minmus) and funds (completing new contracts with existing vessels) farming, if you want a challenge. This is a guiding framework, not a rigid corset. You can farm KSC and science hop minmus, but if you are not interested in tech progression and decision challenges, why not start with lots of science and funds in the first place? KSC science can be a fun rover aside, if you just need a bit more science or are really not interested in surveys with aircraft etc. As with every open world game, self control and role playing are advisable for certain experiences. 2 Facilities 2.1 Action Groups, Maneuver nodes (from Mission Control) and 2 strategies are available from the start. 2.2 Kerbal hiring costs are 60k, fixed. 2.3 Many facilities have more levels, no size restrictions from the launch pad (only mass restrictions). 2.4 You start with 3 contract slots, 30 parts and 9ton max vessel size, and R&D can research nodes up to 40 science. 2.5 With efficient designs, you can gather science from "High above the Sun" (SETIcontract 04.2), i.e. leave Kerbin SoI without any facility upgrades. Though I would recommend the first tracking station upgrade to do a flyby of Mun and Minmus. 2.6 So be considerate how you use your funds and science and how you design your vessels. 3 Contracts 3.1 The SETIcontracts are numbered, and may depend on earlier SETIcontracts completion to be available, but you can check their requirements in MissionControl 3.2 For the full experience, I recommend reading a little ahead, eg looking at the contract hierarchy picture in the SETI thread. 3.3 Sure you can complete the Mun flyby contract and then accept and complete the Mun landing contract with the same craft. The contracts are a guiding framework, self-control might result in a more fun game. 4 TechTree 4.1 Use search function in tech tree (thanks to quick search mod by @Malah), if you do not find the part you are looking for. 4.2 Unmanned start, rovers @engineering101 for 4 science (you can place Kerbals in the command seat), planes @stability for an additional 4 science. 4.3 No reaction wheels until miniaturization, use fins, winglets, RCS, gimbals, etc. until then (Unmanned before Manned Challenge mod). 4.4 No fuel lines for a long time and later 2.5m engines, use engine clusters and efficent rocket design until then (Unmanned before Manned Challenge mod). 5 Part rebalances 5.1 Background processing is one of the mods installed, so take enough battery capacity with you 5.2 Many masses, costs and entryCosts are rebalanced, many experiments can be transmitted for 100% 5.3 Many small things, like larger integrated batteries and smaller + radial materials bays. 5.4 Magic reaction wheels are nerfed considerably, you can manually delete the SETIrebalanceReactionWheels folder if you really want the stock ones back 5.5 MysteryGoo and MaterialsBay are not inteded to be collectable (SETIrebalanceMaterialsGoo). If you want to science spam in the late game, the StationScience Cyclotron? can help with that 6 Special Parts 6.1 SETIprobeParts provides a bunch of useful stuff, especially for the early career, eg engines, tanks, etc. 6.2 Cyclindrical probe cores, which are better protected by 0.625m heat shield and have inbuilt thermometers 6.3 RCS tanks with built-in thrusters and small linear RCS 6.4 Early Mini Alkaline Fuel Cell @survivability, once activated, only uses resources when there is EC demand. 6.5 The Hybrid Rocket Booster by @Lord Aurelius is more expensive than an SRB, but you can throttle it 7 Remote Tech 7.1 KSC range 900Gm, equatorial ground stations cover keostationary orbit. Defined in SETI-RemoteTechConfig mod. 7.2 Signal delay is off by default, you can turn it back on per in-game RT settings or just refrain from manually controlling vessels outside of Kerbin SoI. 7.3 If you want probe control to depend on an active connection, just uninstall SETI-ProbeControlEnabler mod via ckan. Otherwise you only need a connection to transmit science, comsats are still useful for comfortable science transmission beyond equatorial Kerbin orbit. 7.4 RT antennas are relabalanced, most stock dishes are not rebalanced yet. Usually too heavy/costly/EC consuming for their range/cone. 8 TAC Life Support 8.1 Recycler descriptions amended, so that you know what fraction of the original resource demand is necessary. 8.2 US recyclers are for 1 kerbal, small TAC ones are usually for 3 kerbals, 2.5m TAC ones are usually for 9 kerbals 8.3 SETIgreenhouse provides a food recycler, please consult the graphic in the SETI thread on how it works. 9 Career start options

Hello Kerbanauts! I have a challagne for all of you! The highest current world absolute general aviation altitude record, propelled aircraft is 37,650 metres (123,520 ft) set by Alexandr Fedotov, in a Mikoyan Gurevitch E-266M (MiG-25M), on 31 August 1977. One of the leading test pilots of his era, Aleksandr Fedotov was a Major General in the Russian Airforce, he graduated from Flight School Stalingrad in 1950. He was a pilot in the air-force from 1950 to 1957,graduating from the Aravmir School for Military Pilots in 1952 and worked then as an instructor pilot. In 1958 he graduated from testpilot school and worked for the OKB Mikoyan. In 1965 he worked for the Moscow Aviation Institute (MAI). Between 1961 and 1977 he achieved 18 world records, including three absolute records on E-166 and MiG-25-jets. He held since August 31, 1977 the world altitude record for planes that take off under their own power (123,524 feet). Between 1976 and 1978 he was involved in the EPOS "Spiral"-Program. In 1977 he performed the maiden flight of the MiG-29. He died in a crash of a MiG-31 (together with V. S. Zaytsev) in 1984. He became a Hero of the Soviet Union in 1966 and in 1969 a Meritorious test pilot of the Soviet Union. So what's this got to do with the challenge? Well, all you have to do is build and fly a Plane to the highest peak the fastest, there is also a land category except I would only expect you to climb the mountains by the KSC. Rules : Well the rules are as follows ; No engine mods, Stock propulsion only. Wing mods are fine, wings don't add speed, just control. The plane or Land thing must be MANNED, if not expect to be added to the "skrub list" I want some form of proof as I will be making a badge, video is better but screenshots will do I want the plane's take off and a few mid flight ones too and finally the flight report with the landed plane. Yes you heard right you gotta land too! Here is the formula to work out score :Max altitude / Parts * 100 = A score so for instance, 400 / 90 * 100 = 444 Badges are won so to be given a shot you gotta be one of the leaders (in top 5) of a weight classes below, (I will make a leader-board as the entries come in :D) Feather = Under 5T Light = Under 10T Medium = 11-15T Heavy = 16 - 30T Behemoth = Over 31T Safe Flying, Kenji Info found here on Aleksander - http://thetartanterror.blogspot.co.uk/2009/04/aleksandr-vasilyevich-fedotov-1932-1984.html

Challenge: Safely re-enter then land a vessel with 1 stock part and an external command seat (with a kerbal riding it). If either the part or command seat are destroyed, the attempt is a failure.

Check out the amazing and creative space stations of our last challenge! This week we have another theme for you: "Have you found a green monolith yet?" If you have found one these rare easter eggs or more share your screenshots, videos or images. We want you to have fun and share it with the whole community! Thanks to @Just Jim for the idea and help! Now we have a new thread so you can share your ideas for new challenges!