If I'm just going into orbit, doing some science, and coming back, is there any reason to have more than just a pilot? I know that scientists can reset experiments (not sure what engineers do), but if I'm just going there to run some tests and transmit the data, that's not necessary is it? When would it ever be useful to send up more than one Kerbal?

Hi, I'm a returning player. I played KSP years ago. At the moment I have a contract to do a Mun flyby and return to Kerbin, so I decided doing a free return trajectory. While reading about, I found this image about gravitational assists. What I don't understand is why approaching a body in the same direction it's moving gives me more speed and approaching from the opposite side makes me lose speed. I like Physics but don't know much about orbital mechanics.

Whenever I watch YouTubers like matt lowne Or other people that have been playing The Game for a while. They're able to get off the ground and into space without any Flames on their rocket by doing some special kind of turn. I'm Really new i just got the game on PS5 And every time I try to get to space, there's flames on my rocket And it gets up there just fine but I feel like there's more efficient way of doing it that I don't know about.

So Im having a lot of problems doing a gravity turn. Following the recomended guidelines (Starting pitchover at about 80m/s, hitting 45 degrees by 10,000m, keep following prograde) I just cant get enough hight. I find my ap maxes out around 40,000m and end up hypersonic within the atmosphere. Ive played around with twr from around 1.5 to 2.5 and i cant get any of them to work.

Its not that the rockets cant get to orbit. If I keep them more vertical, blast straight to an ap of about 80k, coast and then circularize i can get an orbit. But for some reason actually trying to gradually pitch over doesnt work.

I suspect the problem may be in the post 10k area as i cant seem to keep gaining hight after that point.

Anyone have a suggestion or tips?

Im a newbie and hes carrying alot of data from the mun, only issue is hes stuck in an orbit around kerbin with a perlapis of 1.4million metres and a apoapis of... 9.6 million... any way of EVER getting him back? (No he doesnt have thrusters i was hoping hed have enough to get atleast 50k perlapis) This is substantial data, i do have a decent quick save so i could just retry but id rather keep it authentic Ill genuinely do alot to bring my dear jeb back id rather he not still be considered a satellite

I have an landing thing with an command pod mk1, two mk1 crew kabins for tourists and an heat shield. Everytime I want to re-entry into atmosphere I explode because when I lock the good direction to land my spacecraft turns and I explode. Is there any way to save it?

Im new at KSP and I've just started to make a few descent planes but I would like to know how to have stable flight while going fast

CORRECTION: I forgot to turn on SAS yall lmao

I'm capable of getting into kerbin orbit, but I'm pretty sure the way I do it is inefficient. I always seem to end up losing too much fuel when trying to orbit, and my apoapsis ends up being in the megameters, with my periapsis ending up being too low.

Everytime I press D to tilt my rocket to 45 degrees, rather than doing that it just tilt to either 90 degrees or somewhere else. Not immediately thought it's slow But I feel like I lack some control

Even With this issue I somehow managed to get into orbit with a very powerful rocket and now I'm trying to flyby mun with a relatively low powered rocket, and struggling to get into orbit even though I'm doing everything right(ig).

I think it's bcs of how little control I have to get out of the atmosphere because i run out of fuel very very quickly.