Multiple active Satalite Missions Problem

[Razwald]

I'm a noob and love the game

I've been messing around with this game about 70 hours have a decent grasp of it. I'm only using Kerbal Alarm Clock for mods on career mode.

I have 4 may be 5 successful satellite orbits around Kerbin.

My issue is I have 2 active Kerban satellite missions and 2 active Mun missions. I can't seem to get the missions to become completed. Is there a pecking order when I do them as in the highest one on the list should be completed first? Am I just slightly off my orbits where it won't take. Another possibility I just thought of is it the longest active mission I need to complete first?

I make sure I have the right science equipment on each satellite when I send them to their orbit so that's not the issue.

Or do I need to use a mod to ensure I get on the exact orbit?

I am using the lowest thrust liquid engine. My next idea is using ION Propulsion to get a more precise orbit.

Thanks for your help.

Edited May 24, 2015 by Razwald

[Snark]

It's hard to say what the exact problem is without more information, but a few things are clear:

It doesn't matter what order you complete the contracts-- every contract is completely independent from every other one. It doesn't matter what order they're listed in the contracts window; you can complete any contract at any time.

For missions where you have to enter a specific orbit: my experience has been that it's not super-incredibly finicky about exact alignment. If you get close enough that they line up pretty well in map view and are only off by a pixel or two, it'll be fine. So my guess is that your problem isn't "my orbit is slightly off." Satellite contracts work just fine with liquid fuel engine, you definitely don't need to go to ion propulsion for extra precision.

The best way to debug what the problem is, is to look carefully at the contract window. Each contract is going to have a set of requirements, such as "be in orbit of Kerbin" or "have a thermometer on the satellite" or whatever. As-and-when each condition is satisfied, it gets a green check mark next to it. Your contract is completed when all check marks are checked simultaneously.

So, if you're ever wondering "why is this contract not completing?", just look at its list of requirements, and see which one doesn't have a green check mark-- that's the issue.

[FancyMouse]

I have seen many times that I'm about to fine-tune my orbit and it already marks me contract completed - the orbit doesn't even overlap and seems off a lot to my eyes, but whatever...

If you feel your orbit pretty exact, most of the time, the problem is either you get the orbit backwards (check AN/DN whether they are close to 180 degree), or you forgot to put some stuff (despite the obvious ones, battery doesn't count as power generator - you need solar panels), or simply you're trying to reuse some satellite that is launched before contract is accepted (you need a new one)

[Razwald]

To add more info. All the satellite contracts have things all ready completed from previous satellite contracts despite having no extra satellites in orbit other then the ones from completed contracts. They all have, build a satellite that can generate power and an antenna and they all have maintain stability checked off. There are only 2 contracts that need something special Goo around Kerban and Thermometer around Mun. Orbits is the only thing not checked off.

I've had these contracts for awhile. I downloaded this from Steam a few months ago. Got back into it a couple days ago. My concern is an update messed some things up.

It shouldn't matter but I'll cover everything does it matter what antenna I use. I'm using the Communotron 88-88. In the past Ive used the Communotron 16 and the Comms DTS-M1 together.

Here is my payload in case I've left something out. 8 sided probe, 1 Comm 88-88, 1 Battery Pack, 2 3x2 Solar panels, some structural parts, plus my GOO and thermometer.

I'm going to try removing all unessary science from my satellite and see if there are conflicts that way.

[Razwald]

(check AN/DN whether they are close to 180 degree)

Thanks Fancy Mouse I was just about to give up when I noticed I was going backwards on my Mun orbit ascending on the descending side. Luckily I had enough fuel for my ION engine to flip the orbit.

Figured it was something simple just wasn't sure what.

Thanks again guys.