Some Suggested Tweaks

[texasflyboy]

After designing and flying my first successful manned spacecraft after some highly iterative test flights, requiring spaceflight to identify design issues, I have a few tweaks I'd like to suggest.

- With the very dark nature of space, the lights have become very necessary and important. With that in mind, every ship will have lights. I would like to be able to stow the lights during launch. The old school incandescent lights could use a nice update to LED technology, and be flat panel, stow-able lights.

- EVA always use tethers. It would be nice to default to a tether that could be released as necessary.

- In the VAB it would be very useful to have the option to perform functional checks such as being able to deploy solar arrays or antennas (especially since you can't see the deployed array's/antenna's configuration unless you're in space) and other movable parts, to check for clearance etc. to other structure/parts.

- It would also be VERY useful to be able to turn off the VAB lights for a functional check of the above mentioned vehicle lights.

- I may not have found this feature yet but deploy-able "hinges" would be a useful feature to basically be able to fold any structure/part for launch.

That's it for now. Very fun game/simulation!

Jon

[Red Iron Crown]

If you're open to mods, Aviation Lights has a good selection of various colors of running lights. Kerbal Attachment System can provide your tethers. Infernal Robotics has movable hinges and other moving parts.

As for testing deployment of movable parts, I just test them on the launchpad and revert the flight afterwards.

[Guest]

- EVA always use tethers. It would be nice to default to a tether that could be released as necessary.

This is about the only thing I object to; tether should be OFF by default, you should be able to toggle it on while on a ladder.

[Taki117]

There is a mod called tweak able everything that allows you to deploy solar panels in the VAB, among other things.

[me68]

- EVA always use tethers. It would be nice to default to a tether that could be released as necessary.

Back when i heard that career mode was going to be coming out, this was the first thing i thought of. I thought it'd be cool if it was like an upgradable feature. The tether could be reeled in or out for maneuvering in space on a ladder, and would provide power for light and air, but with low technology, you wouldn't have RCS pack capabilities. Then with more science, you would be able to upgrade so your suit has the RCS pack in limited supply, and you could move off the ladders but still attached. Then with more science, you'd be able to detach the cord and have suit oxygen and power, with extended fuel for RCS, but could reattach the cord for extended EVA, as well as being able to leave a Kerbal outside while you go launch another mission without the Kerbal floating away.

That was my vision, but i'd be perfectly happy with just a tether so i didn't have to worry about Kerbals floating away.