Most important lesson you've learned in KSP?

[Dwight_js]

I've learned to avoid quick-save. Failure can lead to the most epic rescue story lines.

[jwilhite]

I've learned to avoid quick-save. Failure can lead to the most epic rescue story lines.

Yeah, I've been avoiding quick-save, too. But I figure I must be doing something wrong because everyone else seems to recommend quick-save. It is supposed to make it impossible to revert to the launch pad when you use quick-save, or is that just a glitch I've been encountering?

[Commissioner Tadpole]

Never ever be quick to get to the launch pad. I keep forgetting to add struts due to this.

A similar rule is to not rush the launch. I keep forgetting to toggle the SAS on, which results in a spinning machine of death.

[Aragosnat]

When ording a new pc. Make sure you do so before the one you're playing KSP on dies as well as to remember to use those portable HD to save all info regularly. The KSP withdrawls are painful.

[Ravenchant]

When you're trying to send up a space station, make sure the crew are on board before you launch.

Funny, I do the opposite: ensure all modules are devoid of crew, then rendezvous and transfer kerbals once the station's up there.

[Madrias]

Keep your Center of Lift behind your Center of Mass, and keep Center of Thrust in-line with Center of Mass.

Also, once you build enough spaceplanes, follow your instincts. If it looks like it should fly, it'll probably do okay. If it looks crazy, check the relationships between CoL, CoM, and CoT.

[Tassyr]

Wow this thread took off! Here's one I JUST learned; Make sure you have parachutes. I just had to attempt a docking manuvre in a decaying orbit in Kerbin's atmosphere to deliver a module's worth of parachutes. Let's just say docking at 55km above sea level is NOT fun.

[Danish_Savage]

Stupid Kerbals tend not to scream in horror.

Turn off reaction wheels when driving a rover.

Enough struts can get anything into orbit.

Burning at the wrong time is the easiest way to run out of fuel.

No, drive whit reactionwheels on, and SAS on. Just use dockingmode

[lordlundar]

Never underestimate the importance of reaction wheels. Trying to utilize the last fuel of a heavy lifter to circularize an orbit is a pain.

Edited November 24, 2013 by lordlundar

[Guest]

Never give up, never surrender. No, wait... that was Galaxy Quest. Sorry!

[Kerbal01]

Direct ascents to orbit never work, indirect ascents and apoapsis coasts are much more efficient and work much better

[LethalDose]

"Orbiting" is just a fancy word for managing to miss the ground when you fall.

Also remember to deploy your solar panels ASAP so you don't run out of power.

[Dwight_js]

Yeah, I've been avoiding quick-save, too. But I figure I must be doing something wrong because everyone else seems to recommend quick-save. It is supposed to make it impossible to revert to the launch pad when you use quick-save, or is that just a glitch I've been encountering?

I think that once you quick-save you are only able to revert to the quick-save point, not the launch or assembly building. Most people recommend using it before an important maneuver so that if you mess it up you can try again right away. My point is that if you never let yourself deal with the consequences of failure, you are missing out on some potentially epic rescue mission scenarios. I had a blast rescuing my first kethane drill team from the Mun who overshot the kethane field by a few kilometers. It included salvaging parts off the remains of a crashed ship, and designing a modular rescue lander that could hop over and pick them up, then hop back to the kethane field for re-fueling before launching into orbit.

[evuljeenius]

Taking off retrograde when your docking target is traveling prograde is the least efficient way to reach your target.

[Seanner]

Make sure you have parachutes.

Make sure they don't activate on your takeoff stage .......................

Similarly, make sure your launch support things DO activate on your takeoff stage ......................

Similarly, make sure your engines ALSO activate when the tower detaches ..............

Otherwise...spend 4 hours designing ultimate rocket of perfection....press spacebar and blows up on the launchpad. I mean, really??

[Superfluous J]

I think that once you quick-save you are only able to revert to the quick-save point, not the launch or assembly building. Most people recommend using it before an important maneuver so that if you mess it up you can try again right away. My point is that if you never let yourself deal with the consequences of failure, you are missing out on some potentially epic rescue mission scenarios. I had a blast rescuing my first kethane drill team from the Mun who overshot the kethane field by a few kilometers. It included salvaging parts off the remains of a crashed ship, and designing a modular rescue lander that could hop over and pick them up, then hop back to the kethane field for re-fueling before launching into orbit.

I quick save all the time and have never had trouble reverting back to assembly. I'll have to test it but maybe if you actually use that quicksave you can no longer revert.

If you change ships (or go EVA. Or dock) you can't revert anyway so unless you're doing simple testing of something, a revert is kinda out of the question anyway.

[kelmv]

Make a checklist and check it thrice. Nothing sucks more than crossing that infamous horizon and losing comms due to a bad antenna, except for having the two Mainsail-powered boosted do the splits 1km in the air.

[harald705]

If you wan't to deorbit, never thrust towards the planet, thrust at retrograde.

[qromodynmc]

Well,dont laugh at me, " Most important lesson I learned; You just can go to mun by turning your rocket's noise to mun and pressing to launch."

[uui8457]

Always include parachutes, even if you're just going to the local space station. They don't weigh too much and are super useful for getting back to kerbin with minimal hassle.

ALWAYS

[RocketPilot573]

Smaller rockets are better...

[AeolusRoc]

1. Doing the math is worth the trouble

[Sido]

Smaller rockets are better...

So true

Cute parts for Cute Space Program

[kelmv]

If you wan't to deorbit, never thrust towards the planet, thrust at retrograde.

As I recall you can deorbit faster firing -rad than firing retrograde. It isn't as efficent, though.

[Whackjob]

"Get into orbit easy with this one weird trick!"

*clicks link*