Please help this newbie - Navigation Basics

[Scubapink]

Hi,

I'm trying to complete the early mission "Visual Survey over Kerbin"

I've activated this mission and found that I can select my destination and lock the navigation via the map, and I get a message "navigation set"

However when I launch my rocket I don't know where to fly - am I missing something or do I have to keep looking at the map view?

Thanks for not laughing at me (too much)

[Starhawk]

It's usually much easier to do these contracts after you unlock aircraft parts. While it is possible just using rockets, it's very difficult. I'd recommend other contract types until you are ready to build aircraft.

Once navigation is set, there should be a marker on the navball to show the direction to the mission target.

Edited February 1, 2015 by Starhawk

[Starwhip]

Well, do you know how to use the navball? Nothing pops up on the screen, showing you your target: there is only a small marker on the navball. Point at it and you'll get there eventually.

And I agree with Starhawk: planes make navigation contracts much, much easier.

Welcome to the Forum!

[Lohan2008]

1. use a airplane, you will have to fly in tight circles to find the right area. It comes up as text on screen where you are.

2. Follow the coloured indicator on navigaton ball (the blue ball) {Snicker, I said blue ball}

[panzer1b]

1st of all, for a beginner it is best to learn to use the navball, as well as the map view. The map view can give you a very rough estimate of where you are going, and is easier to see orbital information. The navball is really the bread and butter of this game, its very useful. and about everything maneuver, or target or general flight can be done with it. Two tips that will help. When you go into map mode, and set a maneuver node, the navball shows a blue target, place it directly in the middle, and your plane/rocket/whatever will execute that node. Stop burning once the right side is near 0- or green, green isnt always perfect, but its a good way to get close for most orbital maneuvers.

As for the contract, i strongly reccomend doing those with airplanes or gliders or some form of winged craft. Rockets may work, but are awkward to pilot, especially if yiu have had any previous experience with aircraft games (flight sims ect). While the aerodynamics and not that great (ok lemme be straight they SUCK as of now, 1.0 looks very promising though), and turbojets are overpowered imo, a plane still flies more or less like a real plane, minus stuff like stalling ect.

[metl]

Extract this mod to your KSP/GameData folder. Problem solved. The marker will be on he overhead map and makes navigating MUCH simpler.

In-Flight Waypoints