Anyone has an idea what happend here?

[Galileo Kerbonaut]

Hi all,

I've been playing KSP for quite some time, but I never really felt the need to post in the forums. All the answers I wanted were conveniently answered in existing posts. But 10 minutes ago, I've had the strangest experience and I would like to have your thoughts on it. Here's what happened:

I eagerly started 0.21 and built a very simple rocket to shoot into orbit; no fancy stuff at all. After making an orbit round trip, I landed at KSC. At an altitude of 6000 meters I executed the final stage of my rocket: decouple everything from the pod (tank and engine). During the descent I can see the tanks fall below me... 300 meters, 200 meters, 100 meters............. nothing! No impact, no explosion... nothing. The pod landed safely on the ground almost next to the still intact tank and engine. Anyone has an idea what's going on here?

[bogpad]

were you able to recreate the problem? Maybe it was just a weird one time glitch? Because I can assure you, for me, everything explodes just as fine as in .20 or before (actually, I could do with a little less exploding atm, gotta get used to the new system a bit more first)

[Galileo Kerbonaut]

I'm gonna launch the exact same rocket now and test it... I let you know in ten minutes.

[EDIT]

Same rocket, same procedure even weirder results. As I was looking to the falling parts (fuel tank + engine) I noticed that aprox. 300 meters from the ground the engine ignited itself for a few seconds (I could hear the sound and there was exhaust)... here is the result: now I have a pair.

Edited July 26, 2013 by Galileo Kerbonaut

[leopardenthusiast]

What is that on the fuel tank, on the other side from the battery?

[Galileo Kerbonaut]

A Mechjeb module. Other than that I use: Chaterrer, and Sub assembly loader...

[Mephane]

Okay, the big question is, is Mechjeb capable of automatically landing a craft like that, even when it has no probe body (maybe only possible since 0.21)? Because if the engine ignited, it seems very much like an automated powered descend...

[vidboi]

Okay, the big question is, is Mechjeb capable of automatically landing a craft like that, even when it has no probe body (maybe only possible since 0.21)? Because if the engine ignited, it seems very much like an automated powered descend...

The Mechjeb part is a probe body itself capable of controlling the craft. I believe it does continue to act on the craft after switching and whilst remaining in loading range, which would explain the behaviour here.

[Necandi Brasil]

If you use The landing guindance from mechjeb the rocket you just decoupled will land itself alone

[Tiron]

You'd have to activate the landing guidance, and I'm pretty sure the LV-909 isn't strong enough to land that unless it's basically skosh fuel.

I *do* know that on the ground I've seen a point about 300m out where thrust just seems to get shut off...but only on the ground. A broken-up spaceplane on the runway, with some of if still on wheels with the engines running. They'd stop dead about 300m, unless you approached it within that distance, at which point they'd start moving again until they hit that distance.

But I don't think a Mechjeb Unit can control an unfocused craft either...

[Galileo Kerbonaut]

Thanks guys. The problem appears to be the placing of the Mechjeb. In 0.20 I've always placed it on the fuel tank and I've never had this problem. In 0.21 however the Mechjeb NEEDS to be on the command pod to pull this of. Now everything explodes as it should.

[Mephane]

Now everything explodes as it should.

That's the Kerbal spirit! May I use this as my new signature?

[lammatt]

any debris in the atm gets deleted when it reaches 2.5km separation

[Galileo Kerbonaut]

That's the Kerbal spirit! May I use this as my new signature?

Sure, go ahead.

[Tiron]

any debris in the atm gets deleted when it reaches 2.5km separation

Technically, it's anything that's on-rails below an altitude of 20km. It's just that it puts things on rails at 2.5km distance from the focused craft. Unless you use something to extend it, I know Romfaror's LAZOR system can change the limits.

But it'll unload ANYTHING that meets those parameters. Manned craft, rovers descending under parachute, anything.

And I dunno about now, but up to at least 0.19, if a manned craft got unloaded, it marked the Kerbals inside as killed.