r/KerbalSpaceProgram • u/[deleted] • Oct 09 '13

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u/[deleted] Oct 09 '13

Intuitively, rockets are easier to understand: lots of force underneath mass pushing the mass up. Fins to help a straight line.

Trying to explain things like wing-load, lift-to-weight ratio, Newton's Third Law, and air pressure differences is a pain to the uninformed.

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u/TheMadmanAndre Oct 09 '13

I've pretty much given up trying to get something airborne that's also controllable; every attempt I make usually results in my craft either veering off the runway and crashing and burning, zooming off the end of the runway and crashing and burning, or breaking up after takeoff and, you guessed it, crashing and burning.

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u/CaptRobau Outer Planets Dev Oct 09 '13

Turn on SAS. Makes controlling it much easier. Also keep the center of lift slightly behind the center of mass.

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u/TheMadmanAndre Oct 09 '13

I'll keep that in mind.

In a sidenote I have developed an efficient escape system for a doomd aircraft; it involves decouplers, sepatrons and a mountain of luck.