Doing the Math

[recon14193]

I have been playing KSP for a while now, but I feel like I am lacking so much because I have no clue how to do any of the math on my own. I always end up with so much extra fuel. I have things like mech jeb 2 which is able on its is able to make these amazing hohman transfers and provides the best fuel efficiency, but I really want to learn how to calculate all this on my own in order to take myself to the next level. I was wondering if anyone could point me in the right direction to learning rocket science on my own, or if anyone could start a thread teaching the basics and then building out on that to help me and anyone else who has the same goal as me because I am confident other people probably feel this way.

[UmbralRaptor]

Well, what's your current Math/Physics background? If you've already taken Calculus, I recommend Fundamentals of Astrodynamics.

More generally, how familiar are you with the rocket equation and Kepler's laws?

[Jason Patterson]

Surprisingly, wikipedia is a fairly good place to start. Reading any of the articles about orbital mechnics, delta-v, hohmann transfers, bielliptic transfers, gravity drag, or orbital maneuvering can give you quite a bit of information about the mechanics of spaceflight and most (all?) of the articles include some of the math involved. The actual equations are a bit clunky, but not particularly difficult to use, given good information.

[purpletarget]

Have I got a thread for you.

[elijah254]

its pretty easy, its not rocket science, oh wait

[Malaugrym]

Watch purpletargets videos. Exactly what you're asking for.

[bsalis]

Well you can use the Rocket Equation to work out the deltaV of a particular rocket. Knowing it for each stage is important as well. Then using a deltaV map and the ksp.olex.biz calculator, the only math you need to do is basic arithmetic.

[recon14193]

I just wanted to say thank you so much man. These videos were exactly what I wanted. I loved the intro of the first one because it fit the description of what I wanted out of learning this kind of subject for now. I want to be a real rocket scientist eventually, but that is for when I go to college in about a year.