Student Challenge - KSP in the schools - What do you think? www.thedeltav.com

[livesinacardboardbox]

Hi Everyone,

I'm building a student challenge for physics classes and extracurricular clubs. I've posted the rules and a prize matrix on my site www.thedeltav.com. I'd love to get constructive feedback from other KSP fans. Let me know!

[kookoo_gr]

if this challenge is intended for students then i would suggest at the regulations the following

1. Provide a mathematical background before the trip from the whole team (pilot, engineer and mission controller) since all of them will take part at the mission and they need to know this in case something goes wrong (also this will prevent from one member of the team to seat back and relax while the other does the whole work) eg. calculate the ÃŽâ€V required for a journey to the Mun and promote ÃŽâ€V savings.

2. An unmanned mission must go in advance before a manned mission to any celestial body or solar orbit

3. It would be nice for the designed ship to have about 10% (or another percentage) ÃŽâ€V than calculated in order to avoid unpredicted situations (orbital plane changes) and overbuilt ships but extra points for those that complete the mission within the ÃŽâ€V requirements of the mission

[cantab]

Looks very well presented. A couple of things I've noted:

You've got points for synchronous orbits around bodies where it's not possible (because the SOIs are smaller than the synchronous orbit radius). If you want to leave them in and have the students discover the impossibility themselves, that's fine, otherwise I'd blank them out.

Since you're using cost, if you haven't already I'd rework all the part costs. At present they're all over the place and make things weird. You might want to look into how things are for real rockets.

[Holo]

It would be fun to run this on the KSP forums as well, among forum members.

EDIT:

The discovery of the throttle was a major breakthrough because this allowed us to leave the ground.

This is quite possibly the most Kerbal thing I have ever read. Ever.

EDIT2:

THEY KEEP ON CALLING KERBIN "EARTH"

PLEASE STOP THIS OP

PLEASE

Just kidding, but it irks me so much. I hope you make another blog post soon, because I want to read more wonderfully Kerbal things such as this.

Edited April 15, 2014 by Holo

[vetrox]

This looks like so much fun i might have to participate! Nicely laid out site.

The only thing that bothers me (and its only a little thing really) Is the rewards for moho and eloo should be reversed as I struggle with moho but eeloo is easier (but that may just be me)

Edited April 15, 2014 by vetrox

[tutrakan4e]

This looks so fun! But I don't live in the USA and most of my classmates only think of how to look good and get famous in school. I think I'm the only one who is actually interested in rockets. Also, i think it would be unfair for me to participate because I'm pretty advanced in the game (spaceplanes are super easy, landings are second nature, docking is a piece of cake and interplanetary transfers are just simple) (not braggin or anything) I think I'll get my physics teacher to look into Kerbal Space Program.

[Heagar]

It might be interesting for you to watch the KASRA-project to evaluate if the intended goal is possible to reach (e.g. your students may be out of funds). And - most important - is there a posibility to overwatch every actions for the different groups? In case of KASRA - i am not a member of them - is well thought of with the mods they use, you may be able contact them per PM.

BTW: Your website is instable. I coud not explore it completly. That should be corrected by you or the provider.

[Taki117]

Reading some of the journal entries are amusing. I would participate, but I feel like it wouldn't be much of a challenge. It's amazing to see how the different groups tackle each obstacle.

[ihtoit]

throw this one at them. >:]

[The Destroyer]

Build fly Dream...

One of the greatest KSP videos...

[livesinacardboardbox]

if this challenge is intended for students then i would suggest at the regulations the following

1. Provide a mathematical background before the trip from the whole team (pilot, engineer and mission controller) since all of them will take part at the mission and they need to know this in case something goes wrong (also this will prevent from one member of the team to seat back and relax while the other does the whole work) eg. calculate the ÃŽâ€V required for a journey to the Mun and promote ÃŽâ€V savings.

2. An unmanned mission must go in advance before a manned mission to any celestial body or solar orbit

3. It would be nice for the designed ship to have about 10% (or another percentage) ÃŽâ€V than calculated in order to avoid unpredicted situations (orbital plane changes) and overbuilt ships but extra points for those that complete the mission within the ÃŽâ€V requirements of the mission

Thanks for the ideas.

My two main restrictions are:

1. Serving students with a variety of math abilities and interests

2. Limited time. A three class project including appropriate homework time would only have about 16 hrs of play time.

I'm thinking about having two levels of the project. One with math and one without. My current trial is with students with a variety of math backgrounds. One of the things, I like about KSP is that it does allow for some trial and error first. Well, perhaps some trial and lots of error. But it then later gives them a reason to do math. Especially when they get a taste of victory!

But perhaps I could say that they have to start calculating dV when they start interplanetary missions? Then provide a bonus for being within 10% of minimum dV?

I like the idea of unmanned mission first.

[livesinacardboardbox]

Looks very well presented. A couple of things I've noted:

You've got points for synchronous orbits around bodies where it's not possible (because the SOIs are smaller than the synchronous orbit radius). If you want to leave them in and have the students discover the impossibility themselves, that's fine, otherwise I'd blank them out.

Since you're using cost, if you haven't already I'd rework all the part costs. At present they're all over the place and make things weird. You might want to look into how things are for real rockets.

Yeah, I just realized I uploaded an image of the old prize matrix. I recently went through and determined which have synchronous orbits and removed the other prizes.

The cost issue really needs to be fixed. What do you think about basing cost on mass/class of component? For example, fuel tanks would have a cost proportional to the amount of fuel, but with a slight discount as you increase. For example a tank twice the size would cost only 1.9x as much.

[livesinacardboardbox]

This looks like so much fun i might have to participate! Nicely laid out site.

The only thing that bothers me (and its only a little thing really) Is the rewards for moho and eloo should be reversed as I struggle with moho but eeloo is easier (but that may just be me)

My first trip to Eeloo was easier than Moho. I was looking at science multipliers to get an idea of 'intended level of difficulty', but I think your right that it doesn't match up perfectly. Perhaps I'll have to combine dV with a uneven terrain bonus, to even it out a bit?