Tests Vs Real Application

[Sputnix]

Heya,

No idea how to being searching for this - so I'm sorry if it's been asked already.

I'm doing the 'science' career mode (can't be bothered dealing with contracts and reputations ) and I'm in the early stages.

I built a basic pod, with a science bay and 4x mystery goo inside. On the bottom of this I put the 'baby' heat shield.

I have 2x radial parachutes on the science bay, and a radial + mk16 parachute on the pod.

I have a liquid fuel engine (for secondary stage / space) + 4 Thumper solid fuel as first stages.

Now, I did a test to ensure the thing wouldn't burn up on reentry. I got all the way to space, jettisoned the boosters + liquid fuel and did a test re-entry. Worked fine, no problems. No overheat components.

On the actual flight, I did 4x goo observations. I closed up the science bay, and proceeded to reentry.

However, I seem to overheat and blow up every time.

Does anyone have any thoughts as to why the test re-entry was ok, but the 'real mission' is such a failure?

Thanks in advance

[Sharpy]

Orbital flight is at least 2200m/s while vertical reentry from a suborbital jump up will rarely exceed 1000. First, make sure you're entering at a very shallow angle, maybe 48km periapsis. Then make sure your vesel is light and NOT streamlined. e.g. attach the lab to the pointy tip of the capsule. (you may add other draggy elements, like the girders before you get airbrakes.)

Alternatively - if you already unlocked EVA (leaving the cabin) you can "remove" the results of experiments from their respective devices while in space, bring them to the capsule, land the capsule alone and let the rest burn.

[Sputnix]

Orbital flight is at least 2200m/s while vertical reentry from a suborbital jump up will rarely exceed 1000. First, make sure you're entering at a very shallow angle, maybe 48km periapsis. Then make sure your vesel is light and NOT streamlined. e.g. attach the lab to the pointy tip of the capsule. (you may add other draggy elements, like the girders before you get airbrakes.)

Alternatively - if you already unlocked EVA (leaving the cabin) you can "remove" the results of experiments from their respective devices while in space, bring them to the capsule, land the capsule alone and let the rest burn.

Hmmz. Those primary solutions / suggestions sound good!

I also quite like that second suggestion. I was already flying with an scientist (who's now toast ) to try maximise science through collection... but I never thought of that .

Thank you!

Edited July 22, 2015 by Sputnix

[Thorbard]

Orbital flight is at least 2200m/s while vertical reentry from a suborbital jump up will rarely exceed 1000. First, make sure you're entering at a very shallow angle, maybe 48km periapsis. Then make sure your vesel is light and NOT streamlined. e.g. attach the lab to the pointy tip of the capsule. (you may add other draggy elements, like the girders before you get airbrakes.)

Alternatively - if you already unlocked EVA (leaving the cabin) you can "remove" the results of experiments from their respective devices while in space, bring them to the capsule, land the capsule alone and let the rest burn.

Making sure the test conditions match the real conditions is an important part of real world testing too!

[Sputnix]

Making sure the test conditions match the real conditions is an important part of real world testing too!

+1 for truth.

I think I just 'assumed' too much.

Plus I'm still adjusting to v1.0 improvements.

[Snark]

I also quite like that second suggestion. I was already flying with an scientist (who's now toast ) to try maximise science through collection...

Note that you don't actually have to have a scientist to do this. Any kerbal can take science results out of an experiment and transfer it to the pod. The only benefit that a scientist gives you is,

- boost to science points obtained

- can reset goo & materials bay experiments in the field

- can crew a science lab