hello and question

[bobbyo169]

Hello! I just stared playing ksp, and I'm enjoying it, although I'm missing a few hair clumps now. I can't figure out building efficient rockets. Does anyone have any tips on doing so? I calculate all of my delta v, account for weight loss through staging, calculate my thrust to weight, but I still can't get a lander on the moon. I can get sattelites into orbit, but I can't find an efficient rocket to get a lander to the moon. Any ideas, tips, or avenues to try? Thanks

[Lheim]

Show us the rocket you've tried. And tell us what you're doing with it?

[joppiesaus]

Welcome to the forums!

There are some tutorials on the web if you don't figure it out. You can watch them and you I think you would see what's wrong.

[Initar]

If you'r doing all these maths, you should be alright... Strange. Try some ways to optimize you thrust/weight ratio, like asparagus staging if you didn't. Here's my "apollo-like" rocket, for reference:

Anyway, welcome aboard!

Edited June 22, 2013 by Initar

[Vanamonde]

A common new player mistake is to try to increase the range by adding more fuel, which can instead make the rocket heavier and reduce its range. Try reducing weight instead of adding parts. Meanwhile, if you'd like to observe a tested rocket, I made one as an example. You can download it and read a guide for getting to the moons here: http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/showthread.php/25029-A-moon-rocket-for-newbies

[Capt'n Skunky]

Happy Launching!

Arrr!

Capt'n Skunky

KSP Community Manager

[bobbyo169]

I've tried asparagus staging, but even with that it doesn't seem to be working.. I've looked at several of Scott manleys videos, and I understand the physics behind the ideas, but im still missing something... I was at my bachelor party this weekend, so I can't upload a rocket now, I'll do that tomorrow. What's typically the optimum fuel tank to engine to use for your asparagus stages? Ive been using the kerbal engineer mod but its not showing a large difference in delta v with asparagusing my rocket (I've been doing the math on paper too, not just with the mod).

[bobbyo169]

Oh, and I'm confused as to how to do the math for calculating delta v and asparagus staging. Do you just calculate the delta v with the mass of spent fuel off your first asparagus "leaf"?

[sierra_seven_]

Take a look at the Kerbal Engineer mod (http://kerbalspaceprogram.com/0-18-1-kerbal-engineer-redux-v0-5/). This'll give you a really simple breakdown of Delta-V and weight-thrust ratio in the VAB, which is incredibly useful once you progress past the stage of trying to gauge your rocket's efficiency by eye. You can also find some basic Delta-V calculations on the KSP wiki; stuff like how much Delta-V you need to establish a Low Kerbin Orbit at 80km. Very useful! And welcome to the forums mate

[bobbyo169]

Thanks! I already have the kerbal engineer mod, but it doesn't seem to calculate delta v for solid fuel rockets, and it doesn't seem to be adding much delta v for asparagus staging. Unless I'm using it wrong or something.

[sierra_seven_]

Do you have a screenshottie of the design? It might be that you accidentally have a decoupler placed in the wrong staging level, or that you're using engines with a low atmospheric specific impulse. With my asparagus designs (all three of them ) I can easily pull 8000 D-V or so, enough for almost any mission inside the Kerbin SOI without needing to pull off an orbital refuelling!

[Tank Buddy]

Don't try going too big or too small. It is not quite necessary to calculate Delta-V when going to the Mun because you only need ~1km of Delta-V from a 70 Km orbit. That is to get an intercept. Remember you should start your burn when the Mun is rising when in a prograde orbit, but if you have a low T/W, you might want to start earlier. For me, getting better at KSP was a matter of trial and error (My current save name!) and watching youtube videos and tutorials. Some good channels are Scott Manley, Hoc Gaming, OperationDx1, MaceyDean, TryDyingToLive, WhiteOwl, and many others. I would recommend reading the Wiki and other forum posts.

I wouldn't like to copy anyone's design, but here is a successful lander, just for inspiration:

[Eric S]

Thanks! I already have the kerbal engineer mod, but it doesn't seem to calculate delta v for solid fuel rockets, and it doesn't seem to be adding much delta v for asparagus staging. Unless I'm using it wrong or something.

Solid rockets not getting counted is a known bug introduced when 0.20 came out. I think it affects MechJeb as well, but I'm not certain.

As for asparagus staging not adding much, it's not like it will double or triple your delta-V, and it's easy to get it wrong until you've got some practice with it. If you want, upload the .craft file somewhere and I'll take a look at it.

[Initar]

Well to be honest, I hardly make any calculation in KSP itself xD . I just tried a few times and learned the parts capabilities.