Asparagus Staging: The Key To Putting Crap Into Space

If you're trying your best to get a rocket up and out of the atmosphere, but just can't seem to balance out your thrust:weight ratio, this guide will ensure you are soaring through space with a very simple build

Outdated?

This guide is super old (original was 2013, V2 was 2015). While it's contents and images might seem very out-of-date; I assure you that the application of Asparagus-Staging as described below is still incredibly practical across all versions of KSP. With KSP2 on the way, I find it hard to work up the enthusiasm to rebuild this guide for a V3, but it isn't completely out of the question.

For now, just know that the images below may differ wildly from what your game may look like, both in UI and 3D models; but should still serve as a valuable tool for your space-venturing endeavors.

Disclaimer And Notices

I can confirm this method still works as of 8/25/2016

I did not design this type of staging.

Basic Build

This part of the guide can be done just by looking at the pictures, but be sure to read anyways for clarity!

To keep it as simple as we can, use the Mk1 Command pod.

One of the key ingredients in a good asparagus is to make sure it stays straight, so be sure to add an AdvancedSAS.

Many different tanks can be used as the center of the asparagus, but the Jumbo-64 will provide the best results for beginners as far as understanding how asparagus staging actually works.

The Jumbo-64 tank on top of the engine we want will overheat the engine before it can get very high at all. So we will need a smaller tank below it. Just grab the smallest Rockomax brand tank and stick in underneath the Jumbo-64.
(Important: As of version 0.20, a strange wobble will occur causing the rocket to become difficult to stear when these 2 tanks are placed in this fashion, so until this is fixed, add Strut Connectors to hold the Jumbo-64 firmly against the smaller tank.)

Now that that overheating problem won't be an issue, we can now attach our Mainsail engine.

This is the center of our asparagus, from here on, it is crucial that your symmetry mode is set to 2.
Any of the radial decouplers will work, but the TT-70 will provide the most distance from the center.
Now we need to set up our 6 outer tanks, we will do this by keeping our symmetry mode on 2 so we only ever end up having to attach these parts once. Place a FL-T800 on the center of your decoupler.

Though there is a more effective version of asparagus staging, it can create problems with decoupling, so we will just be using the LV-T45.

Now to save (a lot of) time, we are going to copy our outer rocket (and decoupler) by pressing your respective operating system's modifier key, and left clicking on the decoupler.

Doing this will give you an exact copy of what ever you click on, as well as the parts branching away from it. Make sure your symmetry option is still set to 2, and paste your copies to match the pictures.

You should now have 6 rockets symmetrically placed around your jumbo. The last parts we need to attach are the fuel lines that make this rocket have its efficiency. Place your lines to match the picture (be sure the lines are facing the correct direction.

Our rocket is now finished, all we need to do now is set up our staging and we will be ready to fly.

Staging

Staging for this build is something you'll be able to do from memory after getting it the first time,so don't worry if it looks and or sounds complicated.

To start, you need ALL of your engines on your initial launch stage.

Next, if you had done the decoupler and fuel tank placing steps correctly with symmetry-2 on, your decouplers on your staging bar should be in pairs.

The stage followed by your engines firing, should be 2 of your decouplers detaching, the 2 that decoupler first should be the 2 that don't have fuel lines feeding in to them. In other words, the first 2 should be the ones that you originally hooked fuel lines up to.

The following stage will be another 2 of your decouplers, these 2 are the ones that are directly next in line in the direction your fuel lines are flowing.

The final stage is the remaining 2 decouplers. After passing through this stage, you will (should) only have your Jumbo left.

When you are done, check the below lists to make sure you have it right.

0	Decoupler X2
1	Decoupler X2
2	Decoupler X2
3	All Engines

Launch And Flight

Before Launching:

• Turn your SAS on (Press T)
  
• Throttle up all the way
  
  This launch is as simple as just hitting the space-bar from here.
  
  

  Stage 3

  
  Go ahead and hit the space-bar once, all of your engines should be firing at full blast now.
  

  Stage 2

  
  On your staging bar, (given that your staging is set up correctly) you should see 2 of your engines running out quite quickly, those 2 should run out at the same time, and as soon as they do, hit the space-bar.
  

  Stage 1

  
  Again you should see that 2 of your engines are running out faster than the other remaining 2. When these run out, hit the space-bar.
  

  Stage 0

  
  You should now only have 2 rockets left, it will take a bit longer for these 2 to empty than the other 4 (see: Explaination section) but as soon as they do, hit the space-bar one last time.
  
  For additional support, you can check my video of me launching this exact rocket
  
  
  
  Checklist:
  
• You have no rockets attached to your exterior
  
• Your jumbo fuel tank is full, or nearly full
  
• Your Mainsail engine is still in one piece
  
  If that checklist matches your situation by this point then...
  

  You have successfully asparagus staged a rocket

Advanced Builds

There is potentially no limit to how many rockets you can add, this guide shows a tutorial for 6 for the sake of simplicity. I personally have done a 64 staged asparagus, and even that was overkill (and not to mention hard on my computer). Though in the long run, 6 won't be enough.


If you do decide to add more rockets to your asparagus, then keep in mind

• Your rocket must be symmetrically balanced
  
• Your fuel lines must all face the correct direction
  
• You have to add the appropriate number of stages and have them all in the correct order
  
  Don't be afraid to push your limits, we are Kerbonauts after all :)

Troubleshooting

"My tanks are running out of fuel at completely different times"
-Make sure you are using the same engines, and fuel tanks for all of your outer rockets.
-Check to see that your fuel lines are all facing toward the flow to the center tank

"My rocket keeps buckling under the weight of itself"
-Go to your structure parts menu and grab a few struts that you can connect, from your jumbo, to the outer rockets, then make sure what ever your launching is secured as well.

"My rocket keeps exploding as soon as i go to launch it"
-Go to your structure parts menu and grab some launch enhancers, and place them evenly around your outer rockets. The issue your having is a weight overload, this will disapear as soon as the rocket is properly launched given that the center of thrust, and mass are even.

"My jumbo tank is overheating and exploding"
-This can either be fixed by dialing back the throttle to just over the 2/3 mark, or by adding a small rockomax tank in between the jumbo, and the mainsail.

Explaination

The reason this works as well as it does, is not through any type of exploit or glitch. To put it as simply as possible, the 3 tanks that are hooked up to eachother, let's call them tanks A, B, and C, and the jumbo will be X.

A tank, fires its engine, while refueling B tank

B tank fires it's engines, recieves fuel from A tank, and fuels C tank

C tank fires it's engines, recieves fuel from B tank, and fuels X tank

Ultimately, A, B, and C are working to keep X filled, while also firing their engines. And when those tanks run out, without any tank to refuel them, they are detached as dead weight and allow the remaining tanks -and over all the jumbo tank- to procede higher and faster.

Want to help build and grow this guide?

If you spot any spelling/grammar/ or punctuation errors or typos, leave the comment section alone, drop me an email directly at [e-mail]

If you have any suggestions for the guide, go ahead and email those too.

And hey, I've considered writing up a german version of this guide, so if you speak and write german and english fluently, add me up and we can talk about some dates we could discuss the possibility. You would of course get equal credit for the translated guide and be featured on the guide's page.

Thanks For Reading, Be Sure To Rate, And Good Luck!

Check out my other guides!
Achieving Orbit
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=142129627
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=142774323
Building And Managing A Probe (Coming Later)

[udkudk]

In vanilla efficiency depends on Rocket type and tanks aerodynamic profile.

[Doomer Ralsei]

Asparagus staging means that you can drop engine and tank weight sooner and thus improving efficiency, this still works today in game and much better than just firing all engines at the same time
dont listen to folks unless youve tested it yourself

[N.KagnitO)))]

This is way better than whatever I was trying. I'm gonna use this on all of my rockets!

[FlavoredTortilla]

Overall, great guide and will still get crap into space using this build!

[FlavoredTortilla]

Just anyone that is wondering "why" this staging is not as important, it's because aerodynamics reworked drag to per part instead of an average of mass. flying a pancake wide faced into the wind requires more DeltaV to push thru atmosphere at this point than it did before. The principle still works and you "can" do it, but it no longer saves you DeltaV like it did before.

[PenguinX20]

currently, this is only outdated because it says that engines will overheat, this is no longer the case as engines only overheat stuff below them

[Celestiality]

the first thing i thought before reading was "ASPARAGUS SPACE PROGRAM" ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[Duke49th]

I just want to add that it still works as in earlier versions. Also you don't need to change any settings or direction of fuel flow or priorities etc. pp.
Of course unless any mod is changing something.
I am using this type of staging ever since I saw it on youtube back in 2012, 2013 or so.

[TalenTaylor]

@The Ultimate Cat Lord
I haven't been back on KSP in so so long. I wouldn't be surprised if it had been. It should still work to some degree though, its just basic math.

[The Ultimate Cat Lord]

as of 2020 it seems asparigus staging has been nerfed.