Figuring out Parachutes

[goldenpsp]

So I never seemed to have this issue before but I am having an utter fail time with parachutes lately. Granted I didn't use the Mk1-2 command pod much. In my tests I had the command pod, either a M16-XL or Mk25 on the nose (2 separate tests) and 4 mk12 radial chutes. no extra heatshield and I had a stack separator to lose the engine. So it was literally just the command pod and chutes. In both cases I ended up splashing down at like 30m/s. Seems overly excessive given the larger parachutes seem made for the nose of that capsule.

Is there a way to figure out how many chutes you need without trial and error?

Edited May 16, 2015 by goldenpsp

[Snark]

Be aware that the Mk25 and Mk12-R are "drogue" chutes, designed to slow you from "really fast" to "still too fast to land". They're not really helpful for landing, they don't have enough drag.

For actual landing, you want "normal" chutes, i.e. either the Mk16, Mk16-XL, or Mk2-R. If you've got a Mk16-XL on there, that's a good start. If you need some more chutes than that and want radial, use the Mk2-R, not the Mk12-R.

[Aethon]

What Snark said. Also, try right clicking the MK-16XL and setting it to open at a higher altitude. I have my Mk-16 set to 1000m A(bove) G(round) L(evel) and two MK2-R set to pop at 900m AGL.

Trial and especially error are the blood and soul of KSP.

[Snark]

...try right clicking the MK-16XL and setting it to open at a higher altitude. I have my Mk-16 set to 1000m A(bove) G(round) L(evel) and two MK2-R set to pop at 900m AGL.

Yeah, good point. One thing that changed with 1.0 is that chutes open gradually now, instead of popping open instantly. On the one hand, that's good (no more sudden G shock sometimes ripping your ship apart)... but on the other hand, it means that the chutes take more distance to slow you down, so you need to allow for that.

[goldenpsp]

Be aware that the Mk25 and Mk12-R are "drogue" chutes, designed to slow you from "really fast" to "still too fast to land". They're not really helpful for landing, they don't have enough drag.

For actual landing, you want "normal" chutes, i.e. either the Mk16, Mk16-XL, or Mk2-R. If you've got a Mk16-XL on there, that's a good start. If you need some more chutes than that and want radial, use the Mk2-R, not the Mk12-R.

Oh snap, are those new? I never noticed two types of radial chutes before. Helps to pay attention to the changes I guess.

Edit, yea found the Mk2-r big difference. kind of annoying with the mods i have that the chutes aren't all together in the parts window anymore.

Edited May 16, 2015 by goldenpsp

[The-MathMog]

Oh snap, are those new? I never noticed two types of radial chutes before. Helps to pay attention to the changes I guess.

Edit, yea found the Mk2-r big difference. kind of annoying with the mods i have that the chutes aren't all together in the parts window anymore.

They are not new at all. Checked up on it, and they were probably added in 2012 They are very useful for deceleration on Duna

[DeMatt]

They are not new at all. Checked up on it, and they were probably added in 2012 They are very useful for deceleration on Duna

...The radial (= surface-mounted) version of the drogue chute IS new. Before version 1.0, there was only the radial version of the standard chute.

[cybersol]

For you particular problem with the lone command pod, I bet raising the opening altitude as others mentioned will solve it, even with fewer chutes than you have. Meanwhile, I still use http://ksp.freeiz.com/ for parachute planning. The site is not perfect for the new aero model, but I find it works well enough for starting guidelines.