A hopefully helpful tip for protecting satilite antenna

[anon_omis]

With my very first satilite I wanted on the top to be the antenna that looks like a dish when deployed. Only problem was, it would be exposed during launch. I wasn't sure how well it would stand but the part of me that wanted realism knew that real satilites are enclosed in the rocket to keep it safe.

Knowing that this wasn't possible YET I found an alternet way to protect it.

When attaching the antenna, don't let it just snap into position in the center on top. You can finagle it a bit so it is very, very close to the center but not at the snap point. This leaves that point open for another part. Take the smallest decoupler and place it on that snap point. Since it is hollow in the center the antenna fits through. Then, on top of the decoupler place a modular girder segment. This fits around the antenne and allows you to add more to the rocket, such as a nose cone.

Word to the wise: do some tests on the ground with the staging and structure around the satilite as it is possible for the decouplers to do damage to near by solar panels. Though if you do it right you shouldn't have an issue.

[bpivk]

I use the procedural fairings mod. It makes a custom nose cone in the shape of your payload and it looks really nice. Try it sometimes.

[anon_omis]

Originally posted by gxs:

I use the procedural fairings mod. It makes a custom nose cone in the shape of your payload and it looks really nice. Try it sometimes.

Where's the challenge in using mods!?!?

[Streetlamp Le Moose]

You seem to be under the misunderstanding that mods are this evil thing that magically makes the game too easy and no fun. Mods are a pretty big part of this game, especially at this point. The developers are busy working on the core part of the game so the modding community has acted as an extension of the developers by implementing parts that are not stock. I think the term "mod" just has a bad connotation because of all the idiots in online multiplayer games.

[bpivk]

Originally posted by wtd2010:

Originally posted by gxs:

I use the procedural fairings mod. It makes a custom nose cone in the shape of your payload and it looks really nice. Try it sometimes.

Where's the challenge in using mods!?!?

Where is the lack of challenge buy using this mod?

See it goes both ways. I use mods that add stuff that's missing in the core game and that includes more parts including fairings and mining which will end in the final game in any case. I don't see the advantage or disadvantage a mod like this brings but feel free to enlighten me.

[Fel]

@gsx: No point in trying to convince him, it's like the people that hate MechJeb and say things like it forces you to use the autopilots.

But sure, fairing in standard parts can be done, it's just costly on parts count.

[A Fat, Angry Serval]

Originally posted by wtd2010:

Originally posted by gxs:

I use the procedural fairings mod. It makes a custom nose cone in the shape of your payload and it looks really nice. Try it sometimes.

Where's the challenge in using mods!?!?

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/StopHavingFunGuys

[sierra_one_]

Originally posted by wtd2010:

Where's the challenge in using mods!?!?

I see where this guy's coming from. Personally, I only like using stock parts because the vast majority of modded parts look different to the stock ones, and that irritates me. Building makeshift fairings to protect the antenna is very kerbal-esque and OP should be proud of coming up with a decent stock fairing method like that.

[Fel]

Indeed, it's fun to do once or twice, but it also amps the parts count, a lot, and that can be a problem on a lot of lower end machines.

And want challenge, how about http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/showthread.php/20451-0-21-Ferram-Aerospace-Research-v0-9-6-Aerodynamics-Fixes-For-Planes-Rockets ?
Say hello to structural failings if accelerating too fast, and celebrate the effectiveness of nosecones.
That is a mod too, and it tends to make thee game quite a lot more challenging.

[bpivk]

Originally posted by Fel:

That is a mod too, and it tends to make thee game quite a lot more challenging.

Yup. It does save dV because of the proper aerodynamics but making a rocket that doesn't fall apart or a plane that actually flies in this mod is a challenge.

[anon_omis]

Guys I don't think mods are bad. I just want to be proficent in the vanilla game first. That and part of me is weary of the idea that if a new update for the game comes out but the mods aren't updated I might be dependant on the parts from the mod.

[sierra_one_]

Originally posted by wtd2010:

Guys I don't think mods are bad. I just want to be proficent in the vanilla game first. That and part of me is weary of the idea that if a new update for the game comes out but the mods aren't updated I might be dependant on the parts from the mod.

Very wise. Did you see the forums on the night of 0.21? The moment MechJeb was no longer supported...

[Streetlamp Le Moose]

Originally posted by sierra_seven_:

Originally posted by wtd2010:

Guys I don't think mods are bad. I just want to be proficent in the vanilla game first. That and part of me is weary of the idea that if a new update for the game comes out but the mods aren't updated I might be dependant on the parts from the mod.

Very wise. Did you see the forums on the night of 0.21? The moment MechJeb was no longer supported...

Haha, yes! I spent close to 75 hours in the game before I downloaded my first mod. Glad I did.

[sierra_one_]

Originally posted by You're Killing Me Smalls!:

Haha, yes! I spent close to 75 hours in the game before I downloaded my first mod. Glad I did.

GUIZE GUIZE I CAn'T FIND PERIAPSISES IN THE VAB WAT DO

[anon_omis]

Originally posted by sierra_seven_:

Originally posted by wtd2010:

Guys I don't think mods are bad. I just want to be proficent in the vanilla game first. That and part of me is weary of the idea that if a new update for the game comes out but the mods aren't updated I might be dependant on the parts from the mod.

Very wise. Did you see the forums on the night of 0.21? The moment MechJeb was no longer supported...

No I did not, as I had a brief hiatus from the game shortly after getting it, if it had not been updated before my purchase of the game. Also, on that note, how will we recieve updates? I know with minecraft the client is connected to Mojang but here I'm not so sure. Will it just update upon logging into Steam?

[Fel]

To be fair, whenever you use mods, in any game, you shoudl disable auto updates, because mos take time to update.

KSP seems less problematic than Minecraft in that aspect, because most parts mods don't need upddating, unless there has been a big change either in the basic functionnalities of the game, or on how the files need to be written.