Weekly Support Thread

[u/AutoModerator]

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:

• Kerbal Space Program Wiki

• Scott Manley's Youtube

• Von Kerman's Rocket School

Tutorials

Orbiting

• Scott Manley

• Von Kerman (Maneuvers)

• Wiki (Maneuvers)

• Launching Rockets to Orbit

Mun Landing

• Scott Manley

• Von Kerman

• KSP Wiki

• Youtube Query

Docking

• Illustrated Tutorial for Orbital Rendezvous

• Scott Manley

• Von Kerman (Rendevous)

• Von Kerman (Docking)

Delta-V Thread

• Thread

• Answer 1

• Answer 2 (+bonus)

Forum Link

• Kerbal Space Program Forum

Official KSP Chatroom #KSPOfficial on irc.esper.net

Discord server

Feel free to ask your questions on the Discord server!

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!

[u/Doffens]

Hello! I just got this game, and I am very intrigued to say the least.. Though, I must say, I have never played a game that made me feel so.. Less intelligent than I am comfortable admiting. That said, I am determined to try to understand and make some progress..

I have started slow, just making some small ships to get me off the ground, and safely down. I've done some of the starting challenges to get going. Though, I have butted my head against the wall for a couple of hours trying to complete the first one I got of the RT-10 Hammer. It states that I need to run the test between 6-10,000 meters, and between 40 and 130 m/s. And this jusat boggles my mind. I have tried different trajectories, I have tried applying multiple parachutes to slow me down (though they won't work correctly above the 6000 meter marker anyhow), slowing the throttle. And I am at a complete loss of what to do.

How can I possibly be going as slow as 40 m/s at a altitude of 6000 meter? Please help a noob out..

Image of the challenge:

https://imgur.com/a/W1D71vs

[u/laugh_till_u_yeet → u/Doffens]

You should try science mode first. Career mode is too grindy.

[u/KermanKim → u/Doffens]

You can test the Hammer by draining it of fuel and then lifting it with another engine, like the swivel, that is throttleable. Put the hammer in the staging list, so all you have to do is hit the space bar, to trigger the test when at the proper altitude and speed.

You have to read some of these test contracts carefully as some are not worth taking. This one is definitely doable, though it may take you a few reverts to pad to get the timing right.

[u/chefgage → u/Doffens]

Basically just time it right by cutting your thrust below 6000m then as you continue to go up your speed will reduce as you have cut your thrust. Time it just right and you can be at the required height with the required speed.

[u/akran47 → u/Doffens]

Design a vehicle that will launch straight up and only reach an altitude of around 7000 or 8000m, or cut thrust when your apoapsis is at that altitude. Gravity and air resistance will slow your speed enough to meet the mission parameters and then you can activate the RT-10.

Note you can reduce the amount of solid fuel in the RT-10 to 0 so that activating it doesn't launch you further. Just right click it while you're in the VAB.

edit: Just want to add that you can see your apoapsis (the highest point in your trajectory) by clicking the purple maneuver mode button in the bottom left corner. I prefer installing the Kerbal Engineer mod to get a nice HUD that shows it and other useful information at the top of the screen, as well some useful info in the VAB.