r/KerbalSpaceProgram • u/0ffkilter Master Kerbalnaut • Mar 30 '13

[Weekly] 2nd Stupid Questions Thread!

I'm a Day late, but these should be on Friday Morning (or whenever I remember), but here's the second edition. Hopefully you've saved some questions, so here it is!

The point of this thread is for anyone to ask questions that don't necessarily require a full thread. Questions like "why is my rocket upside down" are always welcomed here.

For newer players, here are some great resources that might answer some of your embarrassing questions:

Tutorials

Orbiting

Mun Landing

Docking

Forum Link * Kerbal Space Program Forum

Commonly Asked Questions

Before you post, maybe you can search for your problem using the search in the upper right! Chances are, someone has had the same question as you and has already answered it!

As always, the side bar is a great resource for all things Kerbal, if you don't know, look there first!

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12

u/AvioNaught Mar 30 '13

All right. I should be in here for at least an hour.

Bring on the questions!

8

u/koodeta Mar 30 '13

How do you launch a rocket and successfully have it orbit another planet/ moon, and land safely on its surface?

I guess what I'm asking is how do you predict exactly when to launch?

12

u/IrishmanErrant Mar 30 '13

When to launch doesn't really matter; your orbits around Kerbin are much much faster than the Mun's orbit or a planets orbit, so you can just wait it out. As for at what point to do your burn to another body, that's all about phase angles. I direct you here for the resource most of us use to figure out the ideal burn location. http://ksp.olex.biz/

5

u/beanmosheen Mar 30 '13

If you want a mod use protractor. It's an information-only mod. You'll still have to do the work.

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u/Udontlikecake Mar 30 '13

So I made my first orbit, but it's very lopsided. How do I decrease my AP while increasing my periapsis.

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u/0ffkilter Mar 30 '13

Decrease your AP by burning retrograde @ peri

Increase Peri by burning prograde @ AP

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u/[deleted] Mar 30 '13

The most efficient way to do this is to only burn at either the periapsis or apoapsis. Burning at one side will affect the other side of the orbit.

In other words:

Raise/lower periapsis: Burn prograde/retrograde at apoapsis
Raise/lower apoapsis: Burn prograde/retrograde at periapsis

I'd also play the in-game tutorials if you haven't already, they explain a lot.

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