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[Dutchling]

Does anyone know how science instruments work? I understand I cannot measure air pressure in a vacuum but both the air pressure and the temperature stuff don't work at random places / times :/

[sluissa]

I think pressure has to be in an atmosphere, and temperature has to be in low orbit or lower(in atmosphere or ground level) around something. I've never had them work in high orbit.

[Dutchling]

Ah, you're right

[BigD145]

Just let mechjeb play the whole game for you. Saves so much time and trouble.

Because losing a probe you invested tons of time in due to a mechanic that's not realistic is fun!

Because bringing a rocket you've brought into orbit 5000 times before is super fun!

*cough*quicksave*cough*

HACKS!!!

Here's mechjeb. http://jenkins.mumech.com/job/MechJeb2/

[ank]

eh, I just landed that probe on Duna and transmitted a whole bunch of science . Now I'm working on a full Duna mission using my new 2.5m probes and shiny clapotron Sr.s to put together a booster section, a command module, and a lander

Also, Fritz, remember you can transmit your findings back to kerbin, and don't be afraid of the data loss for transmitting. At your point in the game, science now is better than science maybe later, if you manage it. Also remember to repeat experiments and keep transmitting until you run out of any way to either charge your batteries or the science gain drops below 1

You don't lose any science from transmitting, in fact: transmitting is so good that I kinda consider it an exploit. You just have to transmit the same data over and over again, until you are only getting a tiny amount each time.

For that reason I now reserve transmitting to crew reports and one way probes, like sending a suicide probe to Jool itself.

Also, don't worry about running out of science, by my estimates there are at least 100 times more science in the Kerbol system, than you need to unlock all the parts.

[IronTomato]

I made a pretty successful spaceplane. I feel good. It can't complete an orbit due to lack of oxidizer for some reason, but it can easily cruise right along at over 1000 meters per second in the upper atmosphere. It's also the first spaceplane I've built that can take off AND land easily.

Edited to fix typos.

[Sean Mirrsen]

Did what you suggested, and it worked out well - I got enough science bucks to get batteries and science jr, unfortunately jastrzab 1 after reaching 12k km went back to the Mun and crashed, taking Jebediah with him.
So as far as I understand, science jr generates science passively and uses electric charge to transmit it back to Kerbin?


fakeedit: darn, I wish my flights were that successful, kaian

12k km or 12km? Straight up?

The best way to escape from Mun, Minmus, or any atmosphereless body, is to burn sideways right off the bat. Just put the rocket horizontal and steer away from mountains. That way you waste minimal delta-V to fighting gravity, and chances are, you'll at least put yourself in a good enough spot to "get out and push".

[andrea]

of course, if you are inside a crater or near mountains, be sure to be above surrounding obstacles before attemtping a sideways burn. otherwise, results may not be ideal.

[BigD145]

I'm getting tired of restaging subassemblies.

[Greiger]

I just staged my subassemblies before saving them and they seem to keep the staging.  Unless I just get very lucky.

[BigD145]

My staging tends to stay in the right order but they overlap existing staging. Instead of 10 stages I get 5. A top set of asparagus engines fire at the same time as a bottom set of asparagus. That way only leads to madness.

[Sean Mirrsen]

Just pre-create a set of empty stages for the subassembly to occupy before connecting it - then it should work.

In other news, the latest release of the Near Future Propulsion Pack had thrown me and my Ike Exploratory Lander a very unfortunate curveball.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

The large PITs have their thrust vector pointing in reverse. The exploratory "lander" will have to settle for a flyby. :\
At least the Enhanced Navball shows the node-retrograde vector.

[10ebbor10]

Ooh, shiney engines.

[BigD145]

Now my rover has too much traction and a too small wheel base. Damnit.
*flips rover

[da_nang]

I usually end up with not enough traction and a very large wheel base. Cue Minmus rovin' rage.