How to get Funds in carreer mode

[vplehto]

Hi,

I have been playing KSP quite long now and always liked the Carreer mode. Now with 0.9 started again from scratch but I'm strugling with funding. Early on I have done now allmost all 90 science level from Science but now to advance further I would have to upgrade my R&D to next level and it costs 510 000.

I think this is a bit of an related to other topics also that for example Patents licensing is not an viable way at all.

At the moment the top contracts are around 90k but there is only one like that and then rest are like 20k or so.

What would be best ways to gather that 510k?

Any hints apriciated.

Edited January 4, 2015 by vplehto

[RainDreamer]

Well, all stock? Go grind those slow contracts, build up your rep. Testing parts of later tech tier, on orbit of kerbin, is the fastest way to gain fund that I have found. After that, satellite contracts.

Try to work at it, the final upgrade cost 4mil. I am struggling at 3 mil right now.

[WanderingKid]

Get reputation up for better contracts, and launch a bunch of satellites.

[Torquemadus]

If you haven't upgraded the Astronaut Complex yet, you will be offered survey contracts that don't require you to do any EVAs, and therefore don't require you to land. These can be spammed from polar orbit.

[Heimdall5008]

As already said, some part tests in orbit pay incredibly well (I had contracts that gave up to 600.000 on completion). And this do not even have to be heavy parts. Tests of the LV-1 and LV-1R pay really well in my expirience.

But the easiest way to get money (if you don't mind to do the same contract over and over again) is to but a probe with a thermometer in low orbit around every body you can reach. You will get often contracts for "Gather science". Just transmit the thermometer reading over and over again. In Kerbin orbit you get about 30.000 per contract. On Mun and Minimus much more. and the contract needs about 20 seconds. After this just go back to the mission control and decline contract till you get the same contract again...

[vplehto]

Tnx for everybody on good hints. Actually I haven't declined any of the contracts yet. So far just picked up the interesting and easy ones and succeed on those.

So probably now the easiest way is to start canceling some of the worst ones and then also trying the other suggested things.

I've done some LV-1 and LV-1R contracts but those I did mainly for the easy Science points at the time. Probably that thermometer satelite way sounds to me the thing that I would find enjoyable.

Also I haven't fully figured out the reputation stuff yet, even the meter + numbers are all fuzzy to me atm. will have to read more on that how the reputation affects.

[SRV Ron]

You can build lots of probe crafts that will go most anywhere in the limit of tier 4 parts. Those should be more then adequate for doing contracts to build up the funds needed for the upgrade.

[ghpstage]

You can build lots of probe crafts that will go most anywhere in the limit of tier 4 parts. Those should be more then adequate for doing contracts to build up the funds needed for the upgrade.

This.

The exploration contracts to most planets and moons can be done with probes for a low cost and at low weights, and will pay out hundreds of thousands each. On normal difficulty just doing the Mun and Minmus contracts will get you nearly the 510k you need for that upgrade!

Edited January 4, 2015 by ghpstage

[Wanderfound]

You can do half a dozen satellites as well as assorted "science from" contracts off a single < √20,000 launch. See http://s1378.photobucket.com/user/craigmotbey/Kerbal/Beta/Kerbodyne%20Showroom/Satshot/story for a demo.

The demo is done in FAR, but there's enough ÃŽâ€V slack to work in stock.

Edited January 4, 2015 by Wanderfound

[Heimdall5008]

Also I haven't fully figured out the reputation stuff yet, even the meter + numbers are all fuzzy to me atm. will have to read more on that how the reputation affects.

I've tried to explain my understanding of the reputation system here:

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/88299-Can-anyone-explain-some-things-about-REPUTATION?p=1307744&viewfull=1#post1307744

Maybe it will help you