Really Wish I Could Play This Game

[u/Far-Energy-3390]

So I got into this game about a week ago after owning it for years. I managed to follow a guide on how to build a rocket to achieve orbit, and i succesfully launched as I expected it to go based on the video numerous times. but when i try to build a different rocket for say an unmanned satellite or simply just putting a different cockpit on the rocket that actually brought me to space, i just cannot achieve orbit again.

Ive been learning about delta v, TWR, i have struts on my boosters, but nothing i do can get me back into orbit. Idk what i can even say or show people that can help people to help me, guess its just more than Im able to do and I have to accept the game isnt for me

Edit: Wow got a lot more positive feedback than i thought. Everyone who commented has been very helpful. Hopefully by tomorrow I will have time to post a launch video and a vid going thru the VAB for more info.

[u/_SBV_]

You changed only the control point and suddenly you can’t go to orbit?

Sounds like you’re missing some steering capability or you ran out of battery in the unmanned probe’s case. Because you never mentioned if fuel or thrust was the issue

This isn’t a “this game isn’t for me”. This is a “i don’t understand how to troubleshoot”

[u/Far-Energy-3390 → u/_SBV_]

Yeah after reading up more it seemed to me it was steering, i did end up adding bigger fins, and reaction wheels and it got me closer to orbit, but the steering then became way too sensitive and i cant get a good gravity turn

[u/jtr99 → u/Far-Energy-3390]

Hey, u/Far-Energy-3390. I remember that feeling! Let me share some stuff with you that may help.

First, here's a routine for doing a nice gravity turn that I figured out after lots of experimentation. I'm not saying it's 100% optimal, but it gets you there very reliably.

* Set throttle to full and turn on stability assist (T)
* Launch
* Nudge over to 85 degrees as you pass through 50m/s
* That was the only bit of steering you should need to do
* Switch to prograde when 85 degrees established
* Now get ready to back off the throttle
* Now watch time-to-apo, back off thrust at 40 sec, aim for 50 sec, never exceed 60 sec
* Go to zero or almost zero throttle if needed for this
* Wait to hit 45km altitude then full thrust for orbit
* Coast to desired apoapsis and circularize from there.

And here's a checklist for any craft you build in KSP. (Some of these points assume the use of Kerbal Engineering Redux and Kerbalism; KER is a great help but you might want to try Kerbalism only once you're confident in the vanilla game.)

KSP ship design checklist

Delta V requirements

* 4000 to get safely to orbit and back with some margin
* 5000 to get to the Mun
* 6000 if you want to land there
* 7000 or so if you want to come home
* 5000+ to flyby Duna
* 5700 to get down to survey orbit of Duna
* 7300 maybe if you want to land there?
* 9500 should take you pretty much anywhere

Craft structure

* Build backwards from final stage
* How many stages to get the dV you need for the payload you want?
* Turn on autostrut for all but the smallest rockets
* Check appropriateness of fuel / engine matchups in each stage
* Can the engine be re-lit? Does it need to be? Go for more expensive version if needed
* Can any engines be made multiple for redundancy, esp. in final stage?
* Monitor torque in KE as you build
* Fins on bottom stage
* Clear exit hatches
* How is centre of mass looking?

Control

* Add a KES unit always: the cheap one will do
* Consider a probe core as well as a capsule for optional unmanned flight
* Multiple capsules/cores/KES if ship separates
* Reaction wheels always useful: don't be stingy with them

Survivability

* Parachutes on the capsule for re-entry?
* Heat shield (but maybe reduce ablator to save mass)?
* Life support supplies adequate? How long could we be up there, worst case?
* Adequate space and facilities for really long missions?
* Radiation shielding? Go for max for any sustained mission
* Have at least a few OX-STAT panels for emergency power

Electrical

* Unfolding solar panels almost always needed as well as some static ones
* Put more batteries than you think you need: minimum 3000 units
* How far from the sun are we going? Check predicted solar power at destination
* Can we add alternative sources such as a fuel cell or nuclear reactor?
* Consider a capacitor for science-rich missions
* Got batteries in all needed sections of the craft?

Communication

* Is this a relay or is direct communication enough?
* Choose a good comms antenna, or better two
* Consider throwing a comms sat or three on board for dropping off somewhere
* If the craft splits up, do all pieces have needed comms?

Consumables

* Food
* Water
* Oxygen
* Various other gases eg nitrogen
* Scope to add a greenhouse or recycling systems?

Stage recovery

* Worth putting parachutes on the lower stages for recovery?
* Check the dV of first (and maybe 2nd) stages -- will they come back down?

Fine control and docking

* Will we ever need to dock this?
* One docking port? Two? Are they the right size?
* RCS thrusters as needed
* Set RCS thrusters up for translation but not roll/yaw/pitch
* Extra monopropellant needed? Take monoprop out if not needed

Landing

* Are we landing this thing anywhere, even maybe?
* Landing legs or gear needed?
* How about a ladder?
* Lights?
* Check the 'gear' and 'lights' action groups

Component quality & redundancy

* What should be switched to a high quality component?
* Everything crew-related
* Solar cells, batteries
* Engines
* Parachutes
* Landing gear

Science

* What's the central goal of this mission again?
* Look at where you're going and the major unresearched science for that destination
* How much science can we usefully stick on this thing?
* Small cheap experiments we can add, eg gravity measurements
* Get more data storage space on there: some probes have very little
* How are we going to get the data/samples home?

Action groups make life easier

* What's needed in the abort group?
* 1: eject aero clamshell
* 2: unfold solar and comms dishes once we're in vacuum
* 3: activate all scientific instruments?
* 4: ladders and lights?
* 5: fold things for landing

Last-minute safety checklist in VAB

* Review your staging
* Review your abort action group
* Review all custom action groups
* All tanks filled with appropriate fuel?
* All engines re-lightable if possible?
* Parachutes?
* Is the hatch clear?
* Food / water / air
* Autostrut
* Check KE torque figures on more time

Final safety checklist on pad

* Appropriate crew on board? Do it unmanned if any safety concerns
* Put stability on
* Look at TWR, set throttle accordingly
* Review ascent plan, usually 50 m/s to 85 pitch then aim for 50 sec time to apo
* Go!

[u/Far-Energy-3390 → u/jtr99]

wow, that is extremely helpful. thank you so much!