Tip for contracts [altitude/speed tests]

[Kamuchi]

While running out of fund for my SSTO program, I decided to finish up some simpler contracts I`ve had lying around.

Seeing some ask for how to do some annoying contracts regarding speed and altitude, here`s my solution to hopefully help you start thinking abit out of the box

Small plane, using tweakscale I shrunk the decoupler and girder and put the mk16 shute on to it.

This will allow you to fly to the required altitude, run the test and if you don`t care about losing the shute, decouple it so you can land easilly.

This can also be done with boosters, decouple after the test and add shutes to it so you can land safely

This is with FAR.

Edited August 3, 2014 by Kamuchi

[Heimdall5008]

For most of this "flying at Kerbin" contracts I prefer to set the DUT on top of an appropiate SRB, set the throttle and fuel to the right level, fire away and recover the complete ship with parachutes. Normally about 2-5 minutes.

Okay, this does not really work with "special" velocity requirements (300 to 880 m/s at 1500 to 2300 m altidude...) but for most of the contracts it will work, is really fast and cheap. You just have to get a bit expirience how fast and high what type of booster will get you.

[Kamuchi]

I know, but some have a small speed/altitude window so using a plain and decouplers is great.

Did with the T10 srb or something, stuck it ontop of a ssto and douple with shutes.

Just trying to provide people with alternate solution then rocket headache

Actually getting tired of contracts and switching my saves back to science... go to Mun and plant a flag, done, play with other ones and go back to Mun and plant a flag...or rescue a kerbal for the 3rd time :/

[Yarrula]

Save the decoupler and just use an action group to cut the chute when the test is done. But I usually go the SRB+recover route myself for those contracts.