Greetings Kerbals.

[Washu]

Allow me to introduce myself, I am Washu (not my real name obviously) and I have bought this game a couple of days ago and I have been fiddling around with it a bit, So far I have managed a successful Mun mission and got my kerbals back home alive with a little help from a mechjeb and a script for the Autom8 function of that mod. I am reasonably good at orbital physics calculations but I am not a 'twitch' gamer so I prefer to automate time critical functions and concentrate on getting the navigation calculations spot on and design the vessel properly.

I am looking forward to designing a Joolvian exploration vessel with a landing on one of the moons and encounters with the rest next and if anyone has any idea how I can get the craft I need for this mission into orbit I would be interested.

[CommanderLOL]

Welcome washu

I wish I could help but I haven't got to the interplantary stage, but good luck and use a big rocket.

[Markus Reese]

Hiya and welcome aboard! Since you enjoy the calculative aspect of KSP, will reserve my tips for the actual flight unless asked. The ship itself, before getting to orbit, it comes down to once in orbit. Key to transfers is that once in orbit, you will get the same transfer distance using 1 engine as 10 since it all comes down to your specific impulse. In fact, with the nuclear engines for your transfer, fewer is better because of weight. 2.25t per engine. I typically run 1 or two for my return stage, maybe 2-4 for getting there. Only reason for multiple is looks and for a bit to do with patience. Cutting down with this weight will help you get to orbit as well. Anyways, if you are comfortable with what you would have in space, the following is the best booster suggestion.

I typically run three stages. I have a single or tristack core of the large boosters. This is my final accent or orbit escape engine. Since in space, engines run more efficient, this is usually limited to two of the large tanks. Attached around these I place radially three tank stacks which have a fuel crossfeed to the core ones. There are different ways to do this, If you have the single stack, you can feed sideways then core, jettisoning the outer engines in the fuel chain as they empty.

For jool with return, typically a heavy lifter is needed and I will radially do a third rack of 4 tank boosters that again operate like previously, feeding inwards. This setup means that you never really have dead weight. All engines are firing but since the fuel lines always draw from tanks being linefed first, you can jettison tanks and boosters as they empty. If you have enough, you won't need to run (or want cause the G-forces can break your rocket) then as you progress to orbit, the loss of thrust is counters by the fuel burn and less resistance. Other bonus is since the outer ones are taller, they also can be used to help stabilize the rocket.

[mustwinfull]

Welcome to the forums, Washu.

Well Done for your first successful Mun landing, keep on going and you will eventually be an inter-planetary explorer.

Have fun playing KSP and go blow up some rockets!

[sal_vager]

Hi Washu, welcome to the community

Need help raising a very large craft? More Boosters!

Seriously though, you will want to acquaint yourself with the daisy-chain booster design paradigm if you have not already, (basically each pair of boosters feed fuel into the next, and all engines fire) and you may want to look into the docking add-ons for in-orbit refuelling, or just make a lighter rocket.

[Capt'n Skunky]

Happy Launching!

Arrr!

Capt'n Skunky

KSP Community Manager