Early game career mission - Sideways (500km)

[Deohawk]

Hi all, just got the game and have enjoyed it thus far. The challenges are good for the brain. I was expecting early on to have a tutorial with most missions, but that didn't happen. I accepted a mission to fly sideways and land >500km away from the village. I am having a terrible time with this one. Just not enough fuel, or it burns too quickly. I also have been unsuccessful adding a 2nd fuel tank. so can't get a second stage going. Any advice?

[Olleus]

I think I got that one by essentially going to orbit (or almost orbit) and then crashing back down. Do you have the tech that lets you have stage separators?

[toinkertoy]

Originally posted by Olleus:

I think I got that one by essentially going to orbit (or almost orbit) and then crashing back down. Do you have the tech that lets you have stage separators?

yes this is the easiest way to do it! can be done in conjunction with the Droo orbit tutorial! (and the craft it provides)

ADD: if you want to go the sounding rocket route it's very possible, just requires getting access to the ability to make much bigger goblin engines (like 200-250% sized) so you can make a bigger sounding rocket that goes a couple hundred kilometres high and subsequently lands over 500 km away!

[toinkertoy]

The craft provided for the tutorial has just enough to orbit and then de-orbit but some have had issues with it as it provides JUST barley enough (you'll be empty after the deorbit burn.

This craft I made for deploying single cubesats is a bit more forgiving (much more energy in it's third stage) feel free to use that if you would like!

https://www.simplerockets.com/c/Vyn26s/Droo-Orbit-CubeSat-Deployer-for-Career

[Deohawk]

Originally posted by Olleus:

I think I got that one by essentially going to orbit (or almost orbit) and then crashing back down. Do you have the tech that lets you have stage separators?

Yes, I have the stage separator and I placed it above the mainfurl tank, then placed a 2nd fuel tank above it. It says no fuel and I also only see two stages on the checklist. The main tank and the separator. I feel like I am somehow off track. I was given ONE tutorial and that's it. Feel like I should have had a bit more hand holding early on.

[Olleus]

Originally posted by Deohawk:

Originally posted by Olleus:

I think I got that one by essentially going to orbit (or almost orbit) and then crashing back down. Do you have the tech that lets you have stage separators?

Yes, I have the stage separator and I placed it above the mainfurl tank, then placed a 2nd fuel tank above it. It says no fuel and I also only see two stages on the checklist. The main tank and the separator. I feel like I am somehow off track. I was given ONE tutorial and that's it. Feel like I should have had a bit more hand holding early on.

Did you also place an engine above the stage separator to go with the second fuel tank?

But you're entirely right, the tutorials are absolutely woeful in the game.

[Deohawk]

omg..2nd fuel tank needs an engine attached. That's it. My brain was thinking the stage separator would transfer fuel from the top tank down. Now let me put that knowledge to the test and I'll let you know if I have luck.

[toinkertoy]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=AynXoLjYrKc

[Beats64]

I managed to combine this mission with Wet Rockets and got paid twice for 1 launch. No staging required. I just put 3 150% belled nozzles (requires Explosives With A Hole) on a .77m wide by 7m height tank and adjusted to get the best Delta V. Then set my compass to 57 degrees, launched and waited until i was at about 30m/s, tipped her over to 70. After that I just used my instincts and eventually ended up at 45... she cruised up to about a buck 30 and i locked her and let her fall. Splash....

[Rasip]

I did it by adding a pair of fins to the front like a plane and flying sideways once i got high enough. If you launch at about 290 degrees you can hit that water for the splash.

[ulzgoroth]

Heck, I went sub-orbital just to get the 100 km version...

[Deohawk]

I think the real issue is that tutorials are bugged, do not continue at launch pad etc. With the feedback I have received I have been able to accomplish what the tutorials are supposed to teach, but wow, what a challenge. Thanks all!

[KapKaboomz]

My problem isn't going far. its actually landing afterwards because most of the time my craft burns up when reentering and i am not sure which trajectory to fly with to get the least heat damage

[toinkertoy]

It’s less about trajectory and more about velocity (as far as burning up is concerned). A 40-45° launch angle should suffice to hit 500 km then you just need enough fuel to lob 500ish kilometers (but not much further then that or you will gain too much velocity to reenter without burning up)

At a 40-45° launch angle from Juno village you’re looking for enough fuel to land somewhere in the giant lake to the north. That will get 500 kilometers and minimal heating when coming back through the atmosphere.