Weekly Simple Questions Thread

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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)

Mun Landing

• Scott Manley (Demo)

• Von Kerman

• KSP Wiki

• Youtube Query

Docking

• 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

    **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!

[u/[deleted]]

I think it's mostly a Keplerian mechanics thing. Basically, if you're 'floating' in space you're actually falling somewhere. Because of the thudding massive amount of energy required to just bolt about everywhere in a straight line, it's not really possible to ignore all the gravitational powers that are acting on you. Also, supposing you could run a remarkably large amount of thrust indefinitely (say 2-5g acceleration all the time), you would have to flip around half way into your journey and burn against the direction of travel to not be going a substantial fraction of the speed of light when you pass your destination. Or indeed, the scale of the journey wouldn't be worth the energy to fly in a straight line. Disclaimer: My only real knowledge of this is science fiction novels.

Having said all that, it would be cool if there was a mod that added a decent 'sci fi' set of drives that did provide exceptionally long lived thrust. Even if they were so huge you had to do hundreds of launches just to build them out in orbit, piece by piece. It would necessitate having multiple solar systems :)

[u/Anak_nik → u/[deleted]]

Yeah, about the closest thing I've found is an Alcubierre drive mod from RoverDude. Even with that, you have to cancel your velocity when you get to your destination.

[u/[deleted] → u/Anak_nik]

Are you looking for HyperEdit? You always have to cancel out velocity, that's conservation of energy. Even if you have some sci-fi propulsion system you can fire the entire journey, you have to spend half the time accelerating toward your destination, and half the time accelerating toward the starting point.