Multiple Recovery for Science

[therealcrow999]

I normally transmit all my data in KSP, but early on in career mode its kind of hard since I am using RT2 and I don't have my satellite network up and running. I created a return rocket that would carry two science modules attached to the mk1 pod. Each module of course has parachutes to bring them back. I am also using Realchutes mod and Deadly Reentry, all latest version as of this posting.

My question is multiple recovery of science modules possible in KSP 0.23? At least I thought it was, because what I did, didn't seem to work at all.

Here is some picture showing the return rocket:

When I reentered Kerbin and the Deadly Reentry effects were done, I decoupled the heat shield and deployed chutes. The chutes cause the pod to flip around allowing me to decouple that module which had Science Jr. on it. Once that was decoupled I activated chutes on module with Goo containers module and decoupled after chutes deployed. Finally I deployed chutes on the mk1 pod and waited for it to full open.

While I was coming down I still saw all the modules and was watching the chutes. The Science Jr. module was the farthest away but then disappear from view and my game. I check Targetron to see if it was still there but it didn't show.

The pod chute fully opened now and watched the Goo canister modules come down and the chutes fully opened. I recovered pod just as pod hit water and the Goo module part was still coasting down. I went in Space Center and to Tracking Station Facility to hopefully recover that other module that was about to land in water, but it wasn't there.

Did I do something wrong? And is there special procedure to do, that allows all recovery of those sciences modules that I missed?

I haven't had much experience doing this, done it once in KSP 0.22 with just one module part and it seemed to work.

Thanks for any help you guys can give me.

[TechnicalK3rbal]

When an object gets more than ~2.4 km away, it just disappears if it below 20km in the atmosphere.

[therealcrow999]

So they disappear from game and can't be recoverable?

What about the Goo module part? Should I have waited for it to splash down before recovery of my pod?

When an object gets more than ~2.4 km away, it just disappears if it below 20km in the atmosphere.

[astropapi1]

They simply get deleted.

However, you can download the Lazor System and increase the render distance.

[therealcrow999]

I have lazor docking camera but I don't use it anymore, might put plugin to get longer render distance.

They simply get deleted.

However, you can download the Lazor System and increase the render distance.

[Taki117]

With your current setup you don't even need to decouple anything. All you really need to do is add another couple of radial chutes near the top (or move the ones on Your goo pod there) and then deploy them. As others have said if you get beyond 2.5km less than 22km up any craft not currently controlled gets deleted.

[therealcrow999]

Yeah I could of brought it down in one section, but I was going for something more dramatic. It really looked cool when I had them all break off.

With your current setup you don't even need to decouple anything. All you really need to do is add another couple of radial chutes near the top (or move the ones on Your goo pod there) and then deploy them. As others have said if you get beyond 2.5km less than 22km up any craft not currently controlled gets deleted.

[Peppe]

Split up lower or faster so they all stay within ranger?

[Dave Kerbin]

For the Science Jr you needed to release it later or otherwise adjust your entry so that it stays within 2.5km of your pod during the descent. If it passes outside that range it goes back to the simple 'on rails' simulation, and that simulation marks anything falling below 23km (varies by planet) as crashed and destroyed since it is not simulating complex items like parachutes.

For the Goo container you would have been ok if you let it land first. By switching back to the space center you ended the active simulation, putting everything back on rails while the Goo was still falling. Just like the Science Jr that meant the Goo container was marked as crashed and destroyed by the simplier on rails simulation.

Here are some examples of keeping everything together during a multiple recovery drop.

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/53159-Science-leads-to-wonderful-things-%28PIC-HEAVY%29?p=706051&viewfull=1#post706051

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/53159-Science-leads-to-wonderful-things-%28PIC-HEAVY%29?p=854958&viewfull=1#post854958

For sections that don't have a command pod or probe core they'll be listed as debris, so in the observation building you'll need to move your mouse to the top center of the screen to reveal the icon for showing debris. Once you can click on it you can use the green recovery button to get all the items.

[Champ]

The pod chute fully opened now and watched the Goo canister modules come down and the chutes fully opened. I recovered pod just as pod hit water and the Goo module part was still coasting down. I went in Space Center and to Tracking Station Facility to hopefully recover that other module that was about to land in water, but it wasn't there.

Stupid question : did you check in the "debris" tab in the tracking station ? If it wasnt destroyed by the distance, it would be here

[Superfluous J]

By rule, I never decouple things I want to save until I've gotten below 2.5km from the surface. You'd be fine doing it further, but it doesn't hurt at all and it guarantees you won't lose anything.

And yes, it IS more dramatic