Is it just me or is the Stayputnik useless now?

[passinglurker]

No SAS, No torqure, and as always only one stack attachment node. Honestly the only time I see someone using it now is on accident, because it doesn't seem like it can do anything you can't even use it as a battery cause it drains itself.

[Uncle Mort]

Agree ~ waste of space.

[Superfluous J]

I use it for the satellite contracts. I always bring one with an antenna, solar panel, and thermometer to any place I go and put it in location before doing the actual mission.

Then it's in place for all time for any "science in space around" contracts I may come across in the future.

[WanderingKid]

Just make sure to bring a reaction wheel if you're not Mk1 Pod driving it around. I used it for my first satellite mission. It was a wild ride, but it's viable.

[RobertR]

I used it once before I realized it doesn't have SAS. Its pretty useless. Doesn't really offer any advantage over the other probe cores.

[Slam_Jones]

Yeah I expected "No SAS" to mean it's unstable and requires constant adjustments.

The fact that it's literally uncontrollable makes it literally useless to me.

Sure, I can launch it, but it's never gonna go where I want it to. :|

[nadreck]

I use a 5 orange tank booster that parachutes back to recover about 70% of its value (before the booster falls below the 23k physics limit the 2nd stage gets to orbit or at least above 70km on a course that keeps it below apogee while I recover the booster stage), so I could easily use a Stayputnik on that, alternatively, before you earn the Okto it is possible to use it to fly a rescue craft equiped with a capsule and use the capsule's torque. Flying with a non pilot or a non SAS probe core is tricky, but I did manage a rescue a Kerbal mission with a scientist at the helm a couple of times. Landing on an airless body would be quite tricky though.

[comp_five]

I agree! I never use it, but the thing is, it isn't useful!

[mattihase]

in my early career i've been using them as no-return required science grabbers. i didn't notice the no tourqe thing as knowing probe cores i automatically shoved some reaction wheels on it. although the lack of SAS is annoying somehow i managed to get to the mun and minmus with them. time warp freeze may be OP but was really handy.

[problemecium]

Not having SAS was a nasty surprise, but it does have one major advantage early in the game - it weighs a lot less than the Mk1 pod, which makes it easier to hurl into space with only a few starting parts.

[passinglurker]

@5thHorseman/nadreck: If it was more convenient to place (i.e. surface attachable and physics-less) I'd agree that it would have a niche setting off science experiments and parachutes but the unpilotability combined with being the most inconvenient to incorporate into a vehicle out of all the probe cores I just don't see it as worth the ram it takes which is a shame as it was certainly the handsomest probe core compared to those ugly tinfoil covered octo boxes :/

[Superfluous J]

@5thHorseman/nadreck: If it was more convenient to place (i.e. surface attachable and physics-less) I'd agree that it would have a niche setting off science experiments and parachutes but the unpilotability combined with being the most inconvenient to incorporate into a vehicle out of all the probe cores I just don't see it as worth the ram it takes which is a shame as it was certainly the handsomest probe core compared to those ugly tinfoil covered octo boxes :/

Also: It's there. Long (relatively) before the others. And honestly I think it's necessary to have ONE probe core that doesn't have SAS just for completeness sake.

[foamyesque]

It has a niche. You can use it in conjunction with the Mk1 pod for early tech rescue craft, and it and a reaction wheel are a low-mass, low-tech solution for satellites. Once you get the OKTO, though, there's no reason I can see to use them.

[LameLefty]

It has a niche. You can use it in conjunction with the Mk1 pod for early tech rescue craft ...

Yep. This. I rescued two Kerbals in my current save this way, without the usual expedient of launching two Mk.1 pods to do it.

[Rakaydos]

The stayputnic is only good for staying put. who'd'a'thunk'it.

[Tommygun]

In career mode it has it's place as an early primitive satellite.

The problem with it is that Squad wants career mode to start with a manned craft instead of a satellite.

We need a more realistic tech tree.

[foamyesque]

In career mode it has it's place as an early primitive satellite.

The problem with it is that Squad wants career mode to start with a manned craft instead of a satellite.

We need a more realistic tech tree.

I'm of mixed opinions on that. A good chunk of the game's draw is watching the trio's reactions. For a realism mode-- e.g. something like RSS-- restructuring the tech tree to be a seriousface probes-first setup would make sense, but for vanilla semi-cartoony KSP, I'm not sure it does.

[passinglurker]

In career mode it has it's place as an early primitive satellite.

The problem with it is that Squad wants career mode to start with a manned craft instead of a satellite.

We need a more realistic tech tree.

While I agree Squad should structure the tree to make rover, plane, and probe tactics more accessible off the bat this is still "Kerbal" "Space" program it wouldn't be living up to its name if you can't touch space with kerbals right off the bat.

[Wallygator]

Kerbals run the space program, they don't need to immediately go to space. A more open and non-deterministic tech tree is a necessity for deeper game play. IMHO.

[Bill Phil]

The name is STAYPUTnik, and it can't stay put when it comes to attitude. Plus if it can't hold up to a LVL 0 kerbal, then there's no point. It's pretty far in the tree, and by that time I had a few LVL 1 kerbals. Seriously, the only point to probes now is so you don't risk valuable pilots. So why can't it have SAS? It should. Maybe they could move the Mk1 to the first tech node, and have a mk2 that has SAS ( I like the spherical shape...) to replace the current one. Also, I think all probes should get SAS and level up as other probes do. Some people like the aesthetic of a certain probe, and for me that's the Stayputnik. Now I can't use it....

Edited December 20, 2014 by Bill Phil

[Wanderfound]

It's good for early part tests; you don't need SAS if you're just flying straight up on a suborbital trajectory. Just strap some tailfins on to keep it flying straight-ish.

[PTNLemay]

Then it's in place for all time for any "science in space around" contracts I may come across in the future.

I haven't tried it yet, but do those contracts accept the data even if it has zero science left in it?

[passinglurker]

Some people like the aesthetic of a certain probe, and for me that's the Stayputnik. Now I can't use it....

this this this this I hate the octo, hex, and cube they are just so boring and the shape makes them standout starkly compared to the generally round/cylindrical rocket parts (octo2 is excused on the grounds that its low profile enough for me to ignore)

[I_Killed_Jeb]

they're great for... staying put.....

ok i'm sorry i'll go now...

[Superfluous J]

I haven't tried it yet, but do those contracts accept the data even if it has zero science left in it?

Yup! It's a pretty big loophole, actually.