Pure Stock Newbie Orbit

[Monthar]

This challenge is meant to both help new players and to let them attempt it as well. The goal is to achieve orbit and return safely on your first launch in a new career mode game with the fewest parts possible, while also completing the first 4 contracts and gaining as much science as possible.

All players are welcome to participate. Yes, that means new players, old pros and everyone in between.

Rules

1: Pure stock build (no mods) with the latest version of KSP (0.24.2.559 is the current build).

2: Must be a new career mode game. That means you haven't done anything in this career.

3: Accept the first 4 contracts. Those are launch, achieve 5000 meters, reach space and achieve orbit.

4: Your ship must be able to land safely after achieving orbit (command module must survive). So don't forget the parachutes.

5: You are not allowed to accept any other contracts until you've landed and recovered this first ship.

6: You are only allowed to launch one ship before recovering the orbiter. So no launching a command pod by itself to the launchpad or runway while the first ship is in orbit just to get the extra science.

7: You are allowed to revert the flight, both to the launch and to the VAB as many times as you need to in order to figure out what will do the job.

8: No cheats, no editing saves, no debug menu.

9: You are not allowed to leave Kerbin's sphere of influence (SOI). So no science from Mun, Minmus or any any other planet or moon in the solar system. This is to keep the challenge fair for all levels of skill and experience.

Orbit means both AP and PE are at least 70km.

A new career mode game starts with 10,000 Kerbucks (or whatever they're called) and 0 science. Accepting the first 4 contracts brings your total funds to 36,506 Kerbucks.

Scoring

1: 1 point for every point of science earned. Hint - Don't forget your crew and eva reports.

2: 1 point for every 1,000 Kerbucks you earn over the 36,506 you will have after accepting the first 4 contracts. Yes, you can recover the ship and any debris before submitting your entry. You are allowed to round off, so 91,989 Kerbucks earned would be 92 points.

3: -1 point for every 1,000 Kerbucks under the 36,506 you should have prior to launch.

4: -1 point for every part you use.

Proof

1 & 2: Before launch and after recovery screenshots of KSC with the contracts expanded to show all contracts. This will also show your funds and science before the launch and after recovery.

3: Screenshot of your ship in the VAB with the load ship menu to show the part count. This should be the only saved ship file you have and it will show the cost of the ship which should match the cost displayed in the lower left of the VAB.

4: Screenshot of your ship in orbit with both the AP and PE highlighted to prove it is a stable orbit. You can highlight both by left clicking on their icons on the map screen.

5: Screenshot of your ship after landing/splashdown with your Kerbal doing an EVA.

KSP's default screenshot key is F1. Steam's default screenshot key is F12. The folder your screenshots are in will depend on which of these two methods you use. KSP's screenshots are located at \Kerbal Space Program\screenshots.

You may also provide a link to download a copy of your ship file, but this is not necessary. The file is located at \Kerbal Space Program\saves\name you gave your career\Ships\VAB. In a steam install that's \Steam\steamapps\common\Kerbal Space Program\saves\name you gave your career\Ships\VAB. In my case with steam on my E: drive and the career I created for this challenge named "Newbie Challenge" it is E:\Steam\steamapps\common\Kerbal Space Program\saves\Newbie Challenge\Ships\VAB

You are allowed to post a video instead of screenshots as long as the video shows everything the required screenshots show.

I did test this out before creating the challenge. I managed to achieve orbit and recover the entire ship using just 20 parts. Here is the ship file for the ship I used. https://www.dropbox.com/s/ga9249lbnrem4bo/Newbie%20Orbitor.craft?dl=0 Yes, I misspelled Orbiter in the name of the ship, but have since fixed that on my end. I forgot to take screenshots during the test so I'll redo the challenge and add the rest of them shortly. BTW, the ship I used in testing did fall over when it splashed down and the command module broke off, but nothing was destroyed.

Here are the screenshots.

Pre-launch

VAB

Orbit Achieved

As you can see I have just a sliver of fuel left in the main engine for the de-orbit burn. I hope I don't have to get out and push.

Splashdown

One fuel tank was destroyed when the command capsule broke off.

Post Recovery

Ending funds 128,495 - pre-launch funds of 36,506 = 91,989 Kerbucks earned for 92 points. 144.9 science earned for 145 points. 20 parts used for -20 points. Total points for my attempt is 92+145-20 = 217 points.

A new rule, #9 has been added to make this more of a fair challenge for all skill levels.

Edited September 15, 2014 by Monthar
New rule

[Monthar]

Scoreboard

Monthar 217 points

Don't worry folks, my score doesn't count, it's just in there as a benchmark.

Before anyone asks, there are not any prizes. This is just for fun and to help the new players learn, while also giving them one they can try their hand at.

Edited September 15, 2014 by Monthar

[Wanderfound]

Do you want experienced players to enter this to demonstrate optimised ways of doing it, or would you prefer that we left the field clear for the newbies to work it out amongst themselves? There are pros and cons either way; demonstrations are useful, but the KSP mavens may intimidate the novices away from posting their own efforts.

[Monthar]

Both, because this isn't just for newbies to have a challenge they can attempt, but also to help them learn from the experienced players.

[Sirine]

Mind you. A veteran can go to Jool system visit some planet there and back with tier 0. (0 unlock of science). and no mod.

I'm able to land on Mun, and not able to come back.

[Monthar]

One of the rules is you have to return, so that Mun landing and not able to come back wouldn't qualify.

Do you veterans think limiting the challenge to not allow leaving Kerbin's SOI would make it fair?

[Sirine]

One of the rules is you have to return, so that Mun landing and not able to come back wouldn't qualify.

Do you veterans think limiting the challenge to not allow leaving Kerbin's SOI would make it fair?

Not leaving Kerbin's SOI. Yes. (In my own opinion only. ) And actually, going to Minmus land and back is much easier compare with Mun land and back.

Well, tell you what, I can go to Mun, land and back to Kerbin now. With tier 0. Zero mod.

[Monthar]

After watching some crazy videos, including Scott Manley's KSP version 0.22 2 launches for massive science, I think I'll add the no leaving Kerbin SOI rule. His first launch was a Minmus landing, Mun encounter and return. Then I watched another guy's video pulling off almost 1700 science on the first launch with a Duna and Minmus landing.

With the reduced science from transmissions and not being able to reuse the Science Jr. and Goo Canister without having a Science Lab to clean them in the 0.24.2.559 build (current iteration) that crazy 6000ish science Manley pulled off in the 2nd video likely won't be possible on the 2nd launch without pulling off the 1700ish sience the other guy managed in his first launch.

For the new players, here are links to the videos I'm referring to.

Scott Manley's 2 massive science videos.

allmhuran's almost 1700 science on first launch

Scott Manley does a great job explaining what he's doing instead of just showing you. I've learned quite a lot from watching his videos.

Edited September 15, 2014 by Monthar

[stanleywinford]

After watching some crazy videos, including Scott Manley's KSP version 0.22 2 launches for massive science, I think I'll add the no leaving Kerbin SOI rule. His first launch was a Minmus landing, Mun encounter and return. Then I watched another guy's video pulling off almost 1700 science on the first launch with a Duna and Minmus landing.

With the reduced science from transmissions and not being able to reuse the Science Jr. and Goo Canister without having a Science Lab to clean them in the 0.24.2.559 build (current iteration) that crazy 6000ish science Manley pulled off in the 2nd video likely won't be possible on the 2nd launch without pulling off the 1700ish sience the other guy managed in his first launch.

For the new players, here are links to the videos I'm referring to.

Scott Manley's 2 massive science videos.

allmhuran's almost 1700 science on first launch

Scott Manley does a great job explaining what he's doing instead of just showing you. I've learned quite a lot from watching his videos.

Scott Manley managed to complete the entire tech tree in only 2 launches. In version 0.24. See here:

[MarvinKitFox]

hum... so must remain within Kerbin SOI, not even visiting Mun or Minmus...

hmmmm.

Obviously getting Landing pad eva+sample+crewreport

Obviously getting Shore-flying-low, global high atmo crew+eva, lowspace global crew report.

Obviously want a polar orbit, to get eva-lowspace reports on all biomes.

Obviously want to hop to 250km once for global eva + crew report.

obviously getting landing biome flying + crew report, landed crew report, ground Eva + sample.

So what's left?

The other 7 biomes to fly through.. a few maybe, but not all possible!

The other 7 biomes to EVA and surface sample.. How fit is Jeb. How patient are you?

Don't forget about the other KSC-specific surface biomes!

Landed vs. splashed!!?

This could get COMPLEX!