Testing Grounds at KSC

[Waxing_Kibbous]

I would love to see a dedicated space at KSC where one could place things like base parts for testing before launching. The space would be a flat patch of grassland (even cooler, surround it with a sort of obstacle laced racetrack for rover testing) where one could place things directly from the VAB or SPH. The player could choose where to place things within this area, allowing testing for ISRU systems and base assembly or whatever else players need before the Big Mission.

[Blaarkies]

it sounds cool, but so does the wind-tunnel testing building. 
I stick to the runway. Whatever you will be landing on another world, needs to at least be able to be driven off the runway for 50m without falling apart, its a good test already 
The problem is that it needs to be driven off the runway before you can "launch" the next part

[Magzimum]

The suggestion by the OP would be lovely. But we have to be honest that such a feature is in the "nice to have" category, not in the "essential" category.

Having said that, I propose to have 3 test sites:

1. A test track for rovers (which would instantly be abused for all kinds of challenges and competitions).
2. A steep slope for testing lander/station stability (ideally we get multiple slopes, but we should find a balance between limitations in user interface, time spent coding and the rewards for players). I think that Kerbals would be so smart to place these slopes such that you can also use them to jump onto the VAB with a rocket-car.
3. A wind tunnel, with upgrades (tier 1 only atmospheric subsonic, tier 2 supersonic and lower pressures, tier 3 hypersonic and all pressures).

 

[Freds]

A test track for rovers is a very very good idea!!! I usually test my rovers only in the runway and the slopes nearby, sometimes i make a 'tour' in the KSC If we have a test area, with small craters, slopes, etc, it would be better (and more fun )

 

[Wjolcz]

What I think would be ideal for this is a separate scenery in which you would be able to load multiple vessels (except with editor gizmos to move and rotate them around), enable physics and have a bunch of UI sliders (gravity, pressure, speed, ore concentration, etc). Add ramps and other low-poly obstacles for rover and base testing.

Nothing fancy. Just like it is in BeamNG.drive except the scenery being borderless.

Edited December 20, 2016 by Veeltch

[SpacePilotMax]

Computer simulation maybe? A Supercomputer building that can also maybe analize the received data transmissions to improve science gain?

[p1t1o]

This seems like a pretty simple addition (essentially an alternate launch site).

I like it!

[Kosmonaut]

See I also thought it would be cool to have kerbal training. IT would function on an EVA basis, with a few obstacles and the like, that could get kerbals less EXP than a flight but for less money, and could possibly lead to more specialization (EVA Specialist being like the Engineer but with more science out of observations and easier to control, or a geologist who could take better soil samples, or a better large ships pilot or small ships pilot, or an orbital mechanic, or anything else. I could go on forever). Things like a duna yard, or neutral buoyancy area, or a docking simulation, or parachute practice (once parachutes for kerbals are added).

EDIT: Maybe the vehicle training would funtion in a way similar to Besiege Sandbox

Edited December 21, 2016 by Kosmonaut