Ascent staging - More than one tank, and other questions.

[Skorpychan]

I'm reaching the limits of what I can accomplish with a single main engine and a lot of SRBs. Can I just stick fuel tanks with engines onto each other and fasten them down with struts to get additional thrust and lower center of mass?

Will the multiple-radial-items function still work properly on multiple tanks?

If I make a first stage from the multiple fat rocket components, how do I get them to connect to a single thin one further up? Do I just have to use a single 'core' stage, or is there a trick to it?

Is it viable to launch something up in multiple flights, dock and assemble in orbit, and then jet off to the final destination from there?

Or is it so mind-numbingly fiddly to synch orbits and dock things together that it's just simpler to launch the whole thing as a huge single load?

Is it possible to make fuel tank stacks empty from the bottom upwards?

Can I use struts to fasten stages to each other to avoid wobble, without them ending up stuck together when jettisoned?

What happens to all the fuel tanks and boosters I drop on the way up?

Edited June 25, 2013 by Skorpychan

[Rickenbacker]

I'm reaching the limits of what I can accomplish with a single main engine and a lot of SRBs. Can I just stick fuel tanks with engines onto each other and fasten them down with struts to get additional thrust and lower center of mass?

I don't see why not. Although you might want to make the side engines boosters, that you drop after they run out, as well as putting fuel lines so that they feed the center tank (which will then be full when you drop the boosters). Also read up on "asparagus staging", a more advanced version of liquid boosters.

Will the multiple-radial-items function still work properly on multiple tanks?

It'll work for attaching them to the middle, but you can't attach other items symmetrically to the side mounted tanks, I think. I might be wrong here.

If I make a first stage from the multiple fat rocket components, how do I get them to connect to a single thin one further up? Do I just have to use a single 'core' stage, or is there a trick to it?

You always build from the capsule/probe body down, so you need one single attachment point somewhere along the line. If I understood the question right.

Is it viable to launch something up in multiple flights, dock and assemble in orbit, and then jet off to the final destination from there?

Or is it so mind-numbingly fiddly to synch orbits and dock things together that it's just simpler to launch the whole thing as a huge single load?

Sure, just make sure it ends upp symmetric, as it'll wobble real easily when you burn your engines.

Is it possible to make fuel tank stacks empty from the bottom upwards?

Not with the stock game, but you can turn off fuel flow for the top tank in a stage (right click on it and click on the green arrow icons), then turn it on again right before the bottom one empties. Clumsy, but should leave you with a mostly empty bottom tank.

Can I use struts to fasten stages to each other to avoid wobble, without them ending up stuck together when jettisoned?

Yes, the struts go away magically when you stage.

What happens to all the fuel tanks and boosters I drop on the way up?

The Fuel Tank Fairies eat them when they get outside rendering range (20km).

[Dkmdlb]

Is it viable to launch something up in multiple flights, dock and assemble in orbit, and then jet off to the final destination from there?

Or is it so mind-numbingly fiddly to synch orbits and dock things together that it's just simpler to launch the whole thing as a huge single load?

This procedure is extremely common both in real life and in the game. Search Google for "Kerbal Rendezvous and Docking Tutorial" or something like that.

I would say many if not most interplanetary missions are flown this way.

[UmbralRaptor]

I'm reaching the limits of what I can accomplish with a single main engine and a lot of SRBs. Can I just stick fuel tanks with engines onto each other and fasten them down with struts to get additional thrust and lower center of mass?

Absolutely, though it's not always efficient. Asparagus staging is often preferred.

Will the multiple-radial-items function still work properly on multiple tanks?

Yes, but note that you can't go from, say, 6x symmetry to 2x or 3x.

If I make a first stage from the multiple fat rocket components, how do I get them to connect to a single thin one further up? Do I just have to use a single 'core' stage, or is there a trick to it?

Single core, possibly with struts. Also, vertical snap may help.

Is it viable to launch something up in multiple flights, dock and assemble in orbit, and then jet off to the final destination from there?

Completely viable, just be aware of the limited strength of docking ports.

Can I use struts to fasten stages to each other to avoid wobble, without them ending up stuck together when jettisoned?

This is default strut behavior.

What happens to all the fuel tanks and boosters I drop on the way up?

Ones within 2.5 km of you behave normally. Ones outside of that go on-rails (no drag, thrust, or other physical effects). If they're in an area with >0.01 atm pressure (~23 km on Kerbin) and moving, they'll be removed from the game.

[capi3101]

I'm going to direct you to the Historical Missions tutorial section in the wiki. Most of the answers to your questions are there. Start at the beginning with Sputnik I and move on when you feel comfortable.

And be reaaaaaallly impressed with yourself if you managed to get something in orbit with just a single main engine and SRBs. Truth be told, SRBs suck. Big time.

[Skorpychan]

I'm going to direct you to the Historical Missions tutorial section in the wiki. Most of the answers to your questions are there. Start at the beginning with Sputnik I and move on when you feel comfortable.

And be reaaaaaallly impressed with yourself if you managed to get something in orbit with just a single main engine and SRBs. Truth be told, SRBs suck. Big time.

One mainsail engine, eight big SRBs around the bottom, and 16 smaller ones around those. Got a nuclear-engined robot final stage into orbit, with a good amount of fuel still in the previous stage for orbital burns.

I'm roughly following NASA's efforts, but skipping bits that are difficult.

EDIT:

Ran a few missions up with a new design. Turns out, liquid-fuelled mainsail boosters work great. A mere 7 engines, and I was able to get most of the way into orbit with a full XL tank. And the second, smaller tank got me into a proper orbit. Pootling around up there on a slightly mismatched upper stage (fat tank, skinny rocket motor).

(At least, with the one I didn't accidentally jettison. Whoops.)

A hitch-hiker can and a 3-kerbal pod got up just fine, surprisingly.

Edited June 25, 2013 by Skorpychan