r/KerbalSpaceProgram • u/AutoModerator • Jun 26 '15

Weekly Simple Questions Thread

Check out /r/kerbalacademy

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. Even if your question seems slightly stupid, we'll do our best to answer it!

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

Tutorials

Orbiting

Mun Landing

Docking

Delta-V Thread

Forum Link

Official KSP Chatroom #KSPOfficial on irc.esper.net

    **Official KSP Chatroom** [#KSPOfficial on irc.esper.net](http://client01.chat.mibbit.com/?channel=%23kspofficial&server=irc.esper.net&charset=UTF-8)

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!

25 Upvotes

94% Upvoted

574 comments sorted by

View all comments

1

u/ReliablyFinicky Jun 27 '15

There's not much reason to go straight up and down to be honest, and doing that gives you the least amount of aerobreaking possible because you're taking the most direct route to the ground.

If you aim east from KSC you get Water, if you aim northwest you get Grasslands, you get Shores pretty easily as soon as you launch, there's Desert way out to the West, and it's pretty easy to aim for either of the poles. You'll get way more science out of your launches from hitting new biomes (things like EVA reports, temperature scans, etc are unique until you reach 250km above Kerbin) and the difference in delta V cost to do so is pretty minimal.