Knightsnipe, Reporting in!

[Knightsnipe]

Hello everyone!

I downloaded the game two weeks ago and have been working my way on learning all the tricks of the game. Granted, I can't dock a craft with out mods to save my life. So, I use Mechjeb to help out with that and major rendezvous. (I've also been messing around with the Lazor powered mod.)

So far I have built a Space Station and I have landed a Kerbal on the mun... Sadly... I haven't brought him back yet... working that issue...

Pics!

Bethel Station

Mun lander and Bill

My big question I want to ask, is how do you build and get a space plane into orbit? I have been trying for a bit and always end up with firey wreckage and dead Kerbals. (not cool)

[Sapphire]

Welcome to KSP! I'm pretty new here myself, but everyone around here is really nice and helpful.

I won't say that I'm the best as single-stage-to-orbit (SSTO) craft like space shuttles, because I've only launched one, but here's what I do know.

You want your center of lift on your aircraft to be just slightly behind the center of mass.

Bring both jet engines (preferably turbojets) and rockets (I like aerospikes). When ascending, keep an eye on your intake air (top right Resources tab). When it starts getting really low, shut them down and fire up the rockets. This can be done fastest by messing around with the action groups. You don't wanna wait until intake air is at zero, because the jets have a nasty tendency to not flame out in sync, which will put you into a spin.

And of course, make sure your wings are big enough to give you lots of lift. You'll be re-entering without much, if any, fuel, so you should be prepared to glide.

And if addons and mods are your thing, I recommend checking out the B9 Aerospace pack. It's so good that SQUAD hired the creator, and its parts are geared towards aircraft and spaceplanes.

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/showthread.php/25241-0-20-2-B9-Aerospace-Pack-R3-New-pods-IVAs-engines-fuselages-structures

[Specialist290]

Welcome to the forums!

You might want to take a look at the Drawing Board (link in my sig) and see if any of the tutorials and guides there address any of your issues. You can also ask questions in the How To section, and people will be more than happy to provide whatever assistance they can render.

Happy landings!

[Capt'n Skunky]

Happy Launching!

Arrr!

Capt'n Skunky

KSP Community Manager