The KSP Bucket List - What Every KSP Player Should Do Before KSP2 Releases

[Ahres]

My fellow space enthusiasts, aerospace engineers, and demolition experts, I've been ushering our dear Kerbonauts around the Kerbolar System since version 1.1. It's been quite the ride, as all of you well know from your own experiences. I did things a little differently from some - I learned gravity turns, docking, landing, planetary transfers, etc. on my own without the help of YouTube or any other materials. For the most part, it was only myself, my patience, and the in-game tutorials that got me to where I am today.

In the beginning when I realized what this game was, and how it was everything I wanted in a space game, I just couldn't let myself spoil the journey of learning orbital mechanics and building up a space program from scratch. All the while not even initially knowing what it actually takes to get a rocket off the ground. I wanted to learn from the game while pulling from my own background in physics, my interest in aerospace, and through trial and error. It made for the most rewarding game experience I've ever had. I went from rockets' pointy ends being where the flamey end is supposed to be, and gravity turns consisting of going straight up until leaving the atmosphere and burning horizontally like crazy, to incrementally becoming more and more efficient in all aspects of the various standard missions that can be done, to the eventual successful landings on all 13 of the other terrestrial bodies. 

I'm mentioning all of this because now with Kerbal Space Program 2 closing in, I'm worried there are things that perhaps I've missed out on in the original game. While I will state my own accomplishments and playstyles, I'd like to hear from the KSP community about what we think are the essential items that should be on everyone's bucket list before the sequel arrives. Whether it's accomplishments that can be done in the stock game, like seeing the Mohole or an SSTO on Laythe, or things entirely different that are only achievable in a modded save like exploring some of the Kopernicus planet packs. 

For me, I'm mostly a stock player, and there are some experiences I want to save for KSP2. So I don't really need suggestions like extraplanetary launchpads or near-future/far-future/interstellar missions - although you can certainly still list them for other people that tune in here.

I've personally never done an Eve-return vehicle, nor a Jool V or grand tour mission. So those are on my list for sure. I've done plenty of crewed surface bases and ISRU refueling stations. I've also done USI-LS and OPM. What else am I missing out on though? I feel like there's a lot of KSP out there to be played that I just haven't taken the time to experience, whether it's exploring new worlds or ultra-realism or whatever else may be out there.

Please, feel free to give your recommendations.

[Hyperspace Industries]

Trying out visual mods, I have a regular laptop (same type one of my former teachers had), and it runs eve (default configs) and scatterer plenty good enough, it’s not perfect, I still get the occasional lag spikes especially when starting up, and blowing up, but believe me it's worth every second of lag you get.

Also, landing on every body in the kerbol system, not necessarily in the same ship.  I still have to do this one, farthest I’ve got is Vall, well, farthest without cheating.

Edited April 23, 2022 by Hyperspace Industries

[Aerodynamic Kerbal]

Try making some rocket replicas. Like Soyuz, Vostok,(R7 family rockets are easy) Gemini-Titan II, (I don't like the stock and only possible version, because it doesn't have the adapter piece and its only possible with a bunch of fairings) SATURN V? (No but Saturn V requires some building skill), Space Shuttle (I, myself can't either enter orbit or de-orbit it.), SLS (SLS is easy, if you were to ask me), Proton, Atlas V, Ariane V (Oh wait, hah there is a stock version), Delta II, III, IV, IV HEVY, Falcon 9 (I- Just can't land boosters without the landing legs going to hell), N1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Try making a probe to Jool, moving its orbit just with moons (and some small course changes, so get some fuel)

Use all engines in your save game. Just learn them.

Find YOUR save's green monolith (I FOUND IT YESTERDAY!!!111!!!111111!!!!!!!!!!!!!1111!!!!11!!!!1)

Edited April 23, 2022 by Aerodynamic Kerbal

[Maria Sirona]

Visit the Bop kraken. 

Edit: here is my reasoning.

Basically, the Kraken gets angry at Kerbalkind for disturbing it, and punishes them by transporting the KSC into another reality. That another reality is, you guessed it, KSP2!

Edited April 23, 2022 by Maria Sirona