New person in need of help getting space station into orbit

[cnoblett94]

Hey all, I am fairly new and I need a ton of help. I can't seem to build a rocket that can get me into a simple 100km orbit around Kerbin. I want to start a space station up there but can't seem to put the right parts together. Anybody have a tip or schematic that can help me get going?

[SDIR]

You'll want to check out the tutorials section here. Covers a lot of the basics of orbital mechanics. Struts are your friend. If something is wobbling, add some struts to it stop it. And learn gravity turning to launch loads. It will allow you to lift much more than going straight up. And don't be afraid to fail. Just keep going, the learning curve is extremely steep. If all else fails, then go watch some youtube videos such as HOC gaming or scott manley and copy some of their designs. That's all I can say for now. Welcome to the game!

[Colonel_Panic]

Hey all, I am fairly new and I need a ton of help. I can't seem to build a rocket that can get me into a simple 100km orbit around Kerbin. I want to start a space station up there but can't seem to put the right parts together. Anybody have a tip or schematic that can help me get going?

Hi, I might be able to help, but first I'd need to know a bit more about what you're trying to do. Are you looking for help designing the modules to interconnect? or are you just trying to join them in space? My RCS tutorial (in my signature) might help you with both, though one thing to note about the former is only like docking ports can connect with each other. Make sure both parts have the same type docking port, and are clear enough around the docking port that the ships won't collide while docking or docked, or you'll run into spontaneous explosion issues.

EDIT: Sorry I misread your intial post and thought you said "I can build a rocket to get to orbit." For help with actual rocket design, take a look at my other tutorial on rocket design (also in signature). It's a bit long winded but should answer any questions you have about that. Once you've gone over it feel free to ask me questions on anything you need additional clarification on.

[Johnno]

My advice is start with small steps. Learn how to get into orbit, learn how to change your orbits, learn to rendezvous, learn to dock, THEN build a space station.

Some watch youtube videos, some read, some just use trial and error to learn. I'd recommend the Wiki Tutorials Section.

[Jod]

I patched my first station together from random scrap I was strapping to my WIP freighter that I tried to consistently get into orbit at the time. One equator full of debris later - about 5% of fuel/RCS/docking port modules actually made it into 150 km orbit and docked. The freighter also started behaving properly after, like, Mark VIII or something.

[KerbMav]

I patched my first station together from random scrap I was strapping to my WIP freighter that I tried to consistently get into orbit at the time. One equator full of debris later - about 5% of fuel/RCS/docking port modules actually made it into 150 km orbit and docked. The freighter also started behaving properly after, like, Mark VIII or something.

Did you pre-install docking clamps on all your "debris" or how did you assemble it into a station later?

[cnoblett94]

Okay I'm starting small. I'm just trying to get a space station core into orbit. I don't know if I'm just using the wrong type of boosters or not enough because I would think that if I used more boosters that would make the rocket much heavier and harder to get off the ground and out of the atmosphere. Also when should I do a gravity turn? At 15km? 10km?

[Jod]

Did you pre-install docking clamps on all your "debris" or how did you assemble it into a station later?

By "strapping" I meant attaching them to the cargo bay Sr clampotron of the WIP freighter transport. And I usually like adding a lot of different size docking ports if I'm not squeezing delta v out of that particular craft.

The station looks like this btw:

The stripy parts - not decouplers, they are all Sr. clampotrons and one ASAS.

I usually do the gravity turn at 25 000m, the atmosphere is too thick below that. The station core is usually really heavy, if you are not using jet engines then you will definitely need mainsails and orange tanks.

Edited June 12, 2013 by Jod

[Colonel_Panic]

Okay I'm starting small. I'm just trying to get a space station core into orbit. I don't know if I'm just using the wrong type of boosters or not enough because I would think that if I used more boosters that would make the rocket much heavier and harder to get off the ground and out of the atmosphere. Also when should I do a gravity turn? At 15km? 10km?

definitely watch my rocket building tutorial. It's not just about "more boosters", it's also about staging and fuel management. You need to use stages and fuel lines so that you're dropping the dead weight of empty tanks and extra engines as soon as you can.

Gravity turn depends on the rocket, but in general you want to start them early as possible, and as gently as possible so you follow a nice smooth curve toward your prograde.

[cnoblett94]

Alright Ill try watching your tutorials, but geez 2hrs long! Maybe you should think of breaking it up into separate videos or including a table of contents to jump around in the video to certain spots. I never really understood how to effectively use stages and fuel lines, but I guess I'll learn.

[Colonel_Panic]

Alright Ill try watching your tutorials, but geez 2hrs long! Maybe you should think of breaking it up into separate videos or including a table of contents to jump around in the video to certain spots. I never really understood how to effectively use stages and fuel lines, but I guess I'll learn.

yeah it is long, and I've been meaning to break it up somehow but there wasn't really a good way of doing it since I jump around a bit. If you want you can skip to the point where I start talking about the lifter stages. You'll know you're there when you see a big orange tank on the screen.

[cnoblett94]

Thanks very much I have now gotten my first kerbals into orbit around kerbin in a space station core! Haha its certainly going to be much more difficult from here to get to other planets and build in orbit.

[SDIR]

Don't worry, you'll get it, the learning curve is steep but doable. I suggest learning how to rendezvous and dock first. Just try with two small craft and move your way up.