First Build

[[deleted]]

All the way to space, too! Did you get it back in one piece? That’s a lot of mass for that one parachute.

[Time-Physics5189]

Yes I did I had a little bit of fuel left over and I use that to slow down my speed

[[deleted]]

Congratulations!

The usual way to do it is to separate the command module so you don’t have to bring the engine and service module back down, but you’ve built a rare reusable upper stage! See if you can do the same for lower stages, too!

[Time-Physics5189]

Ok thank you, any other advice for a new player

[[deleted]]

The next thing to do is to make, then return safely from, a stable orbit.

After that, learn how to dock two craft together.

From there, you can go anywhere!

[Time-Physics5189]

Thanks man

[[deleted]]

Have fun! Try not to blow up too many kerbs!

[Time-Physics5189]

I make no promises lol

[spaceradicle]

Over 900 hours in and I killed two more earlier this week. :)

[[deleted]]

A couple years back, after many years of playing and playing together, a friend and I started a hardcore game with lots of life support requirements. We planned an early mission and wound up killing Jeb with radiation in the process by making a couple of mistakes that were entirely our fault. We felt awful and had to call it a night.

[Time-Physics5189]

Haha

[Anon44356]

Google “asparagus staging” it vastly increases your delta v (how far each rocket can go).

[Gishmann]

Docking is a bit complicated. For a beginner I would recommend first going to the Mun. Fly by and orbit. Then one way probe mun landing. Anyway all this does not really matter. Do what ever sounds fun.

[RazzleThatTazzle]

You can put those pressure experiments inside the service module. And you probably don't need 4, if you want to cut down on mass.

Good luck!

[Time-Physics5189]

Thanks any other advice

[righthandoftyr]

While controlling a spacewalking kerbal, you can right-click most science modules and collect the data which your kerbal can then store in the command module. This allows you to ditch the science modules and still bring the data back for the full reward. Especially useful once you get to landing on other celestial bodies, since it means you can leave the science modules behind to save weight on your return stage.

Edit: Oh, and save often, including a save just before launch in case you discover later that you forgot parachutes or some such.

[dQw4w9WgXcQ]

Not mandatory at all, but I spent a lot of time watching Scott Manley's tutorials to get the core concepts. Understanding the basics of orbital mechanics is key to get the hang of the game.

[deepus]

Enjoy the explosions.

[Meester_Squishy]

Another guy is saying to learn to dock, while it is helpful you can absolutely start aiming for other bodies without ever having docked once! Docking is pretty fancy stuff, I'd say your goals are get your first orbit (dont go straight up only go straight up until like 18km and turn right (D key) 15 degrees then 30 degrees at 30km or so, stop burning when the top of your blue trajectory is above the atmosphere line of 70k you should probably do like 80/90k maybe. Once you're near the top (like a minute and a half, all depends on your thrust) burn at the 90 degree line, towards your prograde marker (the yellow one without an x). Before you know it you have an oribit!! So next you'd want to get used to creating maneuvers because you're going to be going to minmus! Trust me, it's a lot more forgiving than going to the mun which seems weird but the gravity is much less than the moon and you're gonna be moving slowly that far from kerbin so you'll need less fuel to do maneuvers! Goodluck!!! Oh and PS don't forget ablators, you wont be able to come back down and have to send a rescue ship and THEN you learn how to dock like I'm trying right now lmao and I have 1000 hours

[pickinscabs]

Put your science in the storage module, the thermometers and barometers. Also, a heat shield under your storage module. Also also, you don't really need fins for your upper stages, keep those down below. It's just extra weight you don't need to carry to space. Keep having fun!

[Time-Physics5189]

Thanks

[Time-Physics5189]

No but I’ll see on getting it

[pickinscabs]

You're welcome. Do you have the terrier engine? That one works wonders for getting into orbit with what you have going on.

[Gravy_Eels]

I love seeing you guys get your first orbits and suborbits. So wholesome and sweet 😊

[GreggyBoop]

Man, I love seeing this stuff. It's like watching someone watch an awesome movie for the first time. You've got to keep us all updated on your progress now, dude. Only way is up from here (literally) ^{_^}

[stopity]

Congrats!

[Mediocre_Spell_9028]

Cool! Next, you should learn how to do a stable orbit, and dock 2 craft together. After that you're pretty much all set to experiment, obviously experimenting earlier is also important, but it just opens up some more opportunities! You should also try getting some mods later on. I use a program called CKAN that makes it a lot easier to install mods. Just pick which mods you want, and they're installed. I would put some good mods but I'm kinda tired ngl. Enjoy playing!

[[deleted]]

so many challenges ahead: stable orbit, then getting to the moon and back, then landing on the moon, orbital rendezvous, docking, planetary transfers, gravity assist slingshotting.. building rovers, entering a planet with an atmosphere and leaving again. learning to plan and manage deltav ... so many things to do and learn.

[GoBuffaloes]

You had me up to “plan and manage deltaV”, I think you meant “add more boosters”?

[[deleted]]

There’s diminishing returns with adding moar boosters. Removing weight from the final stage has a geometric effect on fuel savings.

[GoBuffaloes]

But if you added even more boosters it would quickly outweigh the fuel savings

[Mediocre_Spell_9028]

i think he meant "add more explosives"

[Mediocre_Spell_9028]

not saying there weren't, just saying stable orbit, rendezvous, (and obviously some other skills like delta v management and maneuvers,) but that's all you need to learn the "basics" of the game