The Cockpit Challenge - (a video challenge)

[Jean Deaux]

Greetings fellow challengers! While this challenge could easily have scoring applied to it for various challenges, there's just no good way to scan for cheating due to video editors. So, I've opted to just make this a participatory challenge with two category awards, and a badge of honor for your signature bar.

THE CHALLENGE

Fly your manned SSTO, Shuttle, or Rocket to space and reach a stable Kerbin Orbit, meaning both your Apoapsis and Periapsis are at least 65km. You are not allowed to leave the view of the cockpit until you feel you have reached a stable orbit, at which time you should enter the map mode and hover your mouse over the apoapsis and periapsis points to confirm your stable orbit. While you are in the map view, you are allowed to create a single NAV point if you wish to aid with your re-entry. Once you exit map mode and are back inside the cockpit, you may not leave the cockpit view again until you have landed. You may not execute any maneuver's outside of the cockpit view. The entire trip should be video captured as proof to the world of your efforts, your video's will serve as documentaries and training tools for future wanna be astronauts.

WHAT'S ALLOWED?

You're free to use whatever mod or ship design you like that doesn't provide any additional navigational assistance. All piloting and course selections must be 100% set by the user without any instrument guidance or assistance, other than the stock instrumentation on your control panel. No infinite fuels or other such cheats to provide an unlimited supply of any particular resource.

*EDIT* Since there seems to be a popular drive to use the mod Raster Prop Moniter, I'll create a new award category below for those pilots using any mod that shows navigation data within the cockpit.

THE AWARDS

[Astronaut Trainer] *Added*

Accomplish the mission goals as stated above with the assistance of navigational software added to the cockpit view.

[Astronaut Elite]

Accomplish the mission goals as stated above, landing safely back on Kerbin. Any ship type, any duration, any safe landing.

[Astronaut Legend]

Accomplish the mission goals as stated above AND land and stop your craft either on the runway or the launching pad safely with no damage.

Here's my entry showing one possibility for the Legend status award. Good luck to all

Successful Entries:

ASTRONAUT TRAINER:

1.

2.

3.

ASTRONAUT ELITE:

1.

2.

3.

ASTRONAUT LEGEND:

1. Jean Deaux

2. luizopiloto

3.

Disclaimer:

No Kerbals we harmed in the making of this challenge. Titles may or may not reflect actual public opinion of said title, boast at own risk. Do not wear while swimming.

Need a video capture app? I recommend Bandicam, free for use.

Edited February 26, 2015 by Jean Deaux

[Lhathron the Elf]

So no Raster Prop Moniter?

Looks like a fun challenge. If I had more time in my life I would do it.

[Jean Deaux]

I checked out that Raster Prop Moniter, that does look like a very useful mod. If it weren't for the orbital display, I'd allow it as there's quite a few cockpits that have very poor outside visibility and the external camera's would be very helpful.

[Hodo]

I checked out that Raster Prop Moniter, that does look like a very useful mod. If it weren't for the orbital display, I'd allow it as there's quite a few cockpits that have very poor outside visibility and the external camera's would be very helpful.

That is great news I may try this challenge if I get time.

[Starwhip]

I'm trying to do all the math beforehand. Is that cheating?

(Making equations that tell you where your apoapsis is, for example.)

EDIT:

" All piloting and course selections must be 100% set by the user without any instrument guidance or assistance. "

Excluding cockpit instruments?

Edited February 23, 2015 by Starwhip

[Jean Deaux]

That is great news I may try this challenge if I get time.

Great news? To be clear, I was not accepting the Raster Prop Monitor as an acceptable mod due to the orbital trajectory display.

I'm trying to do all the math beforehand. Is that cheating?

(Making equations that tell you where your apoapsis is, for example.)

EDIT:

" All piloting and course selections must be 100% set by the user without any instrument guidance or assistance. "

Excluding cockpit instruments?

That is acceptable, as long as you are flying the ship yourself, you're welcome to take notes to remind yourself of turns, angles, speeds, etc. Nothing wrong with a few practice runs or trials in the simulator. And no, I am not dis-allowing the default cockpit instrumentation. I'm referring to mods that add result trajectories (whether visual or numerical) over and above what the stock version of the game provides, such as the afore mentioned Raster Prop Monitor.

Edited February 23, 2015 by Jean Deaux

[luizopiloto]

I did something like this last year...

[Jean Deaux]

I did something like this last year...

That's a very impressive run, I wish like crazy I could accept this but the use of that Raster Prompt Monitor which displays your orbital progress disqualifies this as an entry per the rules of this challenge. I do hope you re-visit without this mod loaded as I'd wager you have the trained skills and practice to pull this off.

Edited February 23, 2015 by Jean Deaux

[Xannari Ferrows]

So basically Manley mode? I'd love a shot, but the computer is running really low on memory and I really can't afford to have any more applications.

[Hodo]

Great news? To be clear, I was not accepting the Raster Prop Monitor as an acceptable mod due to the orbital trajectory display.

That is acceptable, as long as you are flying the ship yourself, you're welcome to take notes to remind yourself of turns, angles, speeds, etc. Nothing wrong with a few practice runs or trials in the simulator. And no, I am not dis-allowing the default cockpit instrumentation. I'm referring to mods that add result trajectories (whether visual or numerical) over and above what the stock version of the game provides, such as the afore mentioned Raster Prop Monitor.

I misunderstood about the RPM statement then. Oh well I may have to avoid this then. As most of my cockpits use RPM.

[Jean Deaux]

So as not to discount or discourage the part of the community that enjoys flying IVA with cockpit mods, such as the discussed Raster Prop Mod, I'll allow the mod but will award successful entries into a new category due to the assistance of the navigational displays brought into the cockpit. Let's see you all out there in space!

[luizopiloto]

I did it...

[Jean Deaux]

I did it...

Yah you did, I knew you could. Did it with flying colors too, good circular orbit, didn't need a nav point to return, and used a SSTO... that's just garsh darn impressive! Graduated you to top of the class, congrats!