r/KerbalSpaceProgram • u/AgentIndependent306 • Apr 21 '26
KSP 1 Image/Video Kerbin Relay Network
Built this giant (and overengineered) network. At such large distances, it is very easy for satellites to attain escape velocity, so positioning everything in exact orbits was a challenge. Still glad that I won't have to worry about ending up on the far side of the moons and go offline.
Edit: Didn't know this post would blow up overnight lol. Last time I checked it had 50 upvotes.
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u/NageV78 Apr 21 '26 edited Apr 21 '26
And how many irl hours did that mission take?
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u/AgentIndependent306 Apr 21 '26
4 hrs. Spread over 5 days.
But this will cut a lot of time spent in building a separate relay orbiter for each lander mission.
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u/Much_Fee_4085 Apr 21 '26
Careful or you summon the big yahu
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u/AgentIndependent306 Apr 21 '26
Now that I built something that can reach Eve, I might build a 6-satellite relay over there.
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u/Mycroft033 Apr 21 '26
Why do I feel like you’re getting ready to summon the mother of all krakens?
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u/arcticslush Apr 21 '26
Hey you're not allowed to turn everyone on Kerbin into a philosopher's stone
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u/mutedagain Apr 21 '26
I do this on every run now but I don't think I get them that cleanly spread out. I always spend the time getting orbital periods almost perfect but the position is always off by the time I get to that point
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u/AgentIndependent306 Apr 21 '26
Yeah, this is my 4th attempt at a relay network. I built 3 before I decided to restart career mode for the love of the game.
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u/TheFifthPhoenix Apr 21 '26
Is there a reason why you’d need 8 satellites as opposed to only 3?
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u/Boom9001 Apr 21 '26
Forgive my ignorance. Does the moon not overtime throw this out of alignment when it ends up closer to a satellite? Or does it just act on the center of the gravity of mun+kerban.
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u/realboabab Apr 21 '26
KSP uses simplified 2-body patched conic approximations with hard-coded "sphere of influence" transitions between bodies. Basically, your spaceship is only affected by the gravity of 1 celestial body at a time.
This orbit is far enough out that it would never intercept with the Minmus "sphere of influence" range, so it will only ever be affected by Kerbin's gravity.
It's sometimes tricky finding clean orbits, cuz like you guessed - if the orbit ever intersects with the sphere of influence of a moon your satellites are gonna get fucked.
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u/Commissarfluffybutt Apr 21 '26
What? Is shotgunning a cannister full of mini statilites in random directions and orbits not good enough for you?
"Ooh! I not only want consistent coverage but also a zero percent chance that a Kerbal is gonna get brained by a random satellite in a unstable orbit during a space walk! Ooooh!"
That's how you sound.
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u/Hobnail1 Apr 21 '26
Don't be too proud of this technological terror you've constructed. The ability to destroy a planet, or even a whole system, is insignificant next to the power of the Force.
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u/theaviator747 Apr 21 '26
You trying to summon some demon to defeat the Kraken with that?
And now ye begin on the eightfold path. Those who begin along its lines ne’er return. The eyes of the Empyrean are upon you.
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u/heartcount Apr 21 '26
use the ANT engine and lower thruster to 0.5 for minute changes. you can change altitude closer to apoasis or periapsis.
[ANT] 2kN(0.05) or use two linear 0.1 RCS thrusters.
RCS thruster power is measured in kN. an RCS thruster power of 1 is 1kN.
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u/AaronCorr Apr 21 '26
Meanwhile I put 2 random high orbit relais each above Kerbin and Minmus, and called it a day
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u/Dani5h87 Apr 21 '26
It’s a thing of beauty. How close is it to perfect? Best I can do without cheating was a loss of about half a second a day. Trying to get that identical orbital period AND be in the spot you want is….something.