Ideas for experiments while in orbit?

[ultrasquid]

Do we have parts that can imitate the physics of a tether? Some of the extendable solar panels certainly can throw off the center of gravity in their deployed state, so you might try attaching one of those for these experiments.

[CaptainArbitrary]

Will the game simulate gradient stabilization? In the real world, an orbiting object that\'s much longer than it is wide (or wider than long, whatever) will tend to change its attitude such that it\'s oriented radially with respect to the thing it\'s orbiting. That\'s \'cause the differential tidal acceleration on the far ends of the thing will give it a torque unless one end is pointing straight up and the other straight down.

It\'d be a pretty simple experiment to do, I think. Put a really long thing in orbit and just wait. See if it settles into a radial attitude.

(I doubt it seriously. I bet the game doesn\'t simulate tidal stresses at all, because whole vessels are in orbits based on their center of mass. Each part doesn\'t have its own orbit.)

[PakledHostage]

Then calculate the orbital period using the SMA, Pi and the gravitational parameter of Kerbin.

The gravitational parameter includes Kerbin\'s mass. What if you don\'t know Kerbin\'s mass? Now you\'ve got two unknowns: mass and radius.

Maybe your Kerbals have accurately surveyed Kerbin from the ground and have found it to have a radius of 600 km, but why not verify this value by another method now that they\'ve achieved space flight? Try calculating Kerbin\'s mass and radius without knowing either value to start. Do you get the expected value for Kerbin\'s radius? How far are you off? How can you improve the accuracy of your experiment?

[Teonlight]

You could use the damn robotics plugin and use a piston as the tether. It\'s got crazy bend-ability and it expands.

[SunJumper]

Measure the effects of the Krakenous force?