Absent scanners and CommNet - is there any reason to do a polar orbit?

[JoeSchmuckatelli]

I remember there being parts (too lazy to look them up) that had to be in a polar orbit to work.  There were missions and reasons for putting ships into polar orbits - which I found enormously informative and educational when learning about orbital mechanics in KSP.

As far as I can see - there's nothing like this in Science!

...So does that mean doing a Polar Orbit in current KSP2 is similarly useless?  Or have I missed something obvious?  (which happens, tbh)

 

 

Edited December 27, 2023 by JoeSchmuckatelli

[The Aziz]

Right now? No. In the future of early access and beyond - hopefully.

In the predecessor the only reason to put things in solar orbit were resource scanners. For resources. Which aren't implemented yet.

[HebaruSan]

One of the monuments is at a high latitude. Polar isn't required for that, but it's useful.

[hatterson]

They've stated that things like resource scanners and mapping stuff are planned for the colonies and resources systems. So the plan is absolutely for there to be a reason to do a polar orbit in the future when you're scouting out where to mine or where to place your colony, but currently there isn't a reason to do it.

[Sea_Kerman]

and I hope it's actually simulated, not like in 1 where you get to a polar orbit and click a button and it's instant.

[Pareidolia]

If you'd like to have a reason for polar orbits now, check out this really cool mod: 

 

[Superfluous J]

One reason to go into a polar orbit is, you can land your lander anywhere on the planet and twice a day have a liftoff window to match orbits with your orbiter.

The only more convenient setup is an equatorial orbit and landing but then you're restricted to landing on or near the equator.

[Wheehaw Kerman]

7 hours ago, JoeSchmuckatelli said:

I remember there being parts (too lazy to look them up) that had to be in a polar orbit to work.  There were missions and reasons for putting ships into polar orbits - which I found enormously informative and educational when learning about orbital mechanics in KSP.

As far as I can see - there's nothing like this in Science!

...So does that mean doing a Polar Orbit in current KSP2 is similarly useless?  Or have I missed something obvious?  (which happens, tbh)

 

 

Something that bugged me with KSP1 was how you could launch a simple early game craft into a polar orbit and get an EVA report from each biome in a single very profitable launch - it was a bit OP and I felt a bit guilty about exploiting it.    Hopefully we’ll get some sort of scanning functionality that does incentivize polar orbits, though…

[JoeSchmuckatelli]

1 minute ago, Wheehaw Kerman said:

Something that bugged me with KSP1 was how you could launch a simple early game craft into a polar orbit and get an EVA report from each biome in a single very profitable launch - it was a bit OP and I felt a bit guilty about exploiting it.    Hopefully we’ll get some sort of scanning functionality that does incentivize polar orbits, though…

Grin!  I never knew that trick! 

People will always try to beat the system - it's actually one of the fun things about games.  Until it's not - I remember exploiting the stupidity of AI in FarCry... Hordes of dead bodies and stupid foes kept ignoring them to walk into the ambush.  Game got kinda silly after that. 

[Wheehaw Kerman]

Just now, JoeSchmuckatelli said:

Grin!  I never knew that trick! 

People will always try to beat the system - it's actually one of the fun things about games.  Until it's not - I remember exploiting the stupidity of AI in FarCry... Hordes of dead bodies and stupid foes kept ignoring them to walk into the ambush.  Game got kinda silly after that. 

It’s not quite as appalling as sticking nine command chairs in a 2.5 M service bay, stacking two of those in a Mün lander, and doing a mass tourist mission - I felt worse about doing that, and differently bad about feeling so smug about it :).

[Superfluous J]

4 minutes ago, Wheehaw Kerman said:

It’s not quite as appalling as sticking nine command chairs in a 2.5 M service bay, stacking two of those in a Mün lander, and doing a mass tourist mission

We call those "training runs"

Let's see if I recall. You launch, get into Mun orbit, then exit Kerbin's SOI, return, land on Minmus, and then one Kerbal gets out and plants a flag. That makes everybody level ... 3? Been a while since I did it.

Edited December 28, 2023 by Superfluous J

[Kerbart]

8 hours ago, JoeSchmuckatelli said:

...So does that mean doing a Polar Orbit in current KSP2 is similarly useless?  Or have I missed something obvious?  (which happens, tbh)

Well, just like prior to FS you could use a Lander Can as a reentry vehicle, but I never did, because you really shouldn't.

At one point there might be a comm network. And I'll be happy that I set up my 2 satellite polar relay network. And it's a fun exercise.

[Wheehaw Kerman]

9 hours ago, Superfluous J said:

We call those "training runs"

Let's see if I recall. You launch, get into Mun orbit, then exit Kerbin's SOI, return, land on Minmus, and then one Kerbal gets out and plants a flag. That makes everybody level ... 3? Been a while since I did it.

It’s exactly the same deal, but for ludicrous profits in Contracts mode, basically.  Really opens up the mid game fast, by reducing grind for money.