How are radiators used?

[Newpossum]

Hi. I'm running a stock game plus Mechjeb, no other mods.

Can someone please explain to me, in practical terms, how are radiators properly used? Do they have application in dispersing re-entry heat, or are they only for, I dunno, other stuff?

[Starhawk]

Hello newpossum and welcome to the forum!

Radiators are used for a few specific situations.

The first is when using the ISRU parts.  The drills and refinery generate a lot of heat and if excess isn't shed, they become hotter than optimal and lose efficiency.  A few radiators can solve that problem.

Another situation that comes to mind is when using Nervas for long burns, especially if you have multiple or many Nervas.  This will definitely require radiators.

Also, if you get very close to the Sun you may want/need radiators.

A couple of the passive (non-folding) radiators in a cargo bay can help to manage atmospheric shock-heating even with the cargo bay closed, or so I've read.

Happy landings!

[Newpossum]

Thanks for the answers, Starhawk!

But what's an ISRU? From what you said, I'm guessing it's to do with all that drilling and refining business, but I never figured out how that  works. I always play In Career Mode, so maybe it's just never getting far enough to unlock it all, but I never saw anything that looked like enough parts for a complete process. AND the tech tree has changed a lot while I was gone...

And what's a Nerva? Is that the atomic rocket engine, the super heavy one with low thrust but great ISP in vacuum?

I took a break of a few months from KSP, and it's like the game has changed hugely while I was gone...

Edited April 8, 2016 by Newpossum

[Snark]

2 hours ago, Newpossum said:

But what's an ISRU?

It's the "refinery" that converts mined ore into fuel.

2 hours ago, Newpossum said:

And what's a Nerva? Is that the atomic rocket engine, the super heavy one with low thrust but great ISP in vacuum?

Yep, that's it.

[Starhawk]

2 hours ago, Newpossum said:

But what's an ISRU? From what you said, I'm guessing it's to do with all that drilling and refining business, but I never figured out how that  works.

Yeah, it stands for In Situ Resource Utilization (I believe that's a NASA term) meaning you can land and then use the chemical resources around you combined with an energy source to create fuel.  All you need is drill(s), a refinery, and (lots of) power.

2 hours ago, Newpossum said:

And what's a Nerva? Is that the atomic rocket engine, the super heavy one with low thrust but great ISP in vacuum?

I took a break of a few months from KSP, and it's like the game has changed hugely while I was gone...

Yes, Nerva is the name (well they sort of truncated it for some reason to Nerv) of the LV-N Atomic Rocket Motor.

Happy landings!

[max_creative]

Radiatiors just dissapte heat from nearby parts. 

Which is vs the thermal control system, which is supposedly liquid cooled panels.

[Newpossum]

Thanks very much to all of you for your patience and helpful replies!

May your co-pilot always be sober when you are not