Command Pod Exploding at 45 km @ 2500 m/s

[arkie87]

My command pod, after returning from Minmus with a lost Kerbonaut, seems to refuse to enter the atmosphere. It basically explodes at 45 km going only 2500 m/s.

What gives?

I wish squad would show temperatures so at least we could troubleshoot...

[Anquietas314]

Do you have a heat shield attached? You need one ; if not they're under aerodynamic parts.

[Xannari Ferrows]

The new aerodynamic model kinda hates aggressive aerobraking. Do you have the heat shield yet? If not, simply try a less agressive method. It may take longer, but that's what they're doing here.

[Starwhip]

What's your other end of your orbit? If you came back from the Mun or something, you'll need a heatshield. (Or many, many aerobrakes, but ain't nobody got time for that).

[WOODY01]

Seems a little high and slow for that altitude to explode. Was it already at high tempatures? Heat can be transferred from one part to another, say an enginge to a tank to the pod.

I play with the reentry slider at 120% and the MkI pod can burn up on reentry, sometimes and sometimes not, without a heat shield. With the heat shield I need to pay attention of the pods orientation during reentry. Before 1.0 it was pretty much mission complete during descent in most cases no need to touch the keyboard, just hit the space to activate chutes and let the craft handle itself. Now how the COM is with a pod and heat shield it will come in at an angle allowing the pod to overheat if you are not careful.

[arkie87]

Seems a little high and slow for that altitude to explode. Was it already at high tempatures? Heat can be transferred from one part to another, say an enginge to a tank to the pod.

I play with the reentry slider at 120% and the MkI pod can burn up on reentry, sometimes and sometimes not, without a heat shield. With the heat shield I need to pay attention of the pods orientation during reentry. Before 1.0 it was pretty much mission complete during descent in most cases no need to touch the keyboard, just hit the space to activate chutes and let the craft handle itself. Now how the COM is with a pod and heat shield it will come in at an angle allowing the pod to overheat if you are not careful.

Yes, it is a little high and slow to burn up, based on my experience with 1.0, i've managed to re-enter many times without exploding at faster speeds etc and without a heat shield (i've made numerous re-entries from Minmus and Mun without heat shields, sometimes using powered breaking beforehand for good measure)

I suppose it's possible that i burned an engine, time warped, and the engine was still hot (it might not cool during time warp), heating up the rest of the parts...

[Francesco]

Were you always using the same exact ship, returning from Mun and Minmus?

Having different parts attached may dissipate heat in different ways.

[arkie87]

Were you always using the same exact ship, returning from Mun and Minmus?

Having different parts attached may dissipate heat in different ways.

that's possible. i just discovered the heating debug toolbar so i will investigate...

though it seems like there might be a bug in the convective term... http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/117511-Serious-Bug-in-Convective-Aerodynamic-Heating