Well, I've installed plugins now. First batch is ISA mapsat, protractor, graph-o-tron, mechjeb and bobcat.
I've started a fresh game to reduce clutter in space. Mechjeb is really, REALLY stronk at automating some of the tasks I've already done dozens of times. I definitely recommend you use mechjeb for stuff you already know how to do, as it'll save you a lot of time. But I
STRONGLY urge you not to use it for maneuvers that aren't trivial for you already. You'll never learn otherwise. In future updates, Mechjeb will be
OFF unless otherwise noted. All missions to new places will be done manually.
Since it's a new save, Kerbin will need a Kraftworld for me to use as a refueling platform. It's also going to be a test of Mechjeb. This is the MK II Kraftworld Kore Komponent:
Similar to the Kommunity Kraftworld, except the probe has been replaced with a MechJeb probe body. I've also made a few minor tweaks. Battery stack is smaller, struts are moved around to make the hub more rigid. Spotlights have been added to illuminate docking ports and solar panels are mounted around the main tank.
It's all fitted around a fairly conventional launch assembly. 8 SRBs and 4 mainsail engines in stage 1. SRBs decouple when fuel runs out. Mainsails decouple when they run out. A 4x LV-45 cluster powers the centre column into orbit.
To get into orbit, I simply opened the Mechjeb pane, toggled Ascent autopilot. I entered my desired orbit parameters (150km periapsis/apiapsis, 0 degree inclination), left all other values as default. I then pressed engage, followed by spacebar and leaned back.
And the thing flew itself into a beautiful 150-kilometre orbit all on its own. I had to transfer a wee amount of fuel from the Kraftworld tank to finish the circularizing burn, but it was no biggie.
Next up was the Science! module. I learned from the previous iteration of the Kraftworld and went with an altogether flatter design to keep the whole thing from getting too wobbly. The Science! module features 4 giant solar panels, a pair of satellite dishes, as well as an assortment of measuring equipment. (basically, every module I had in the Science section).
I launched the rocket the same way as I did the Kore Komponent. Except, when I finalized my orbit, I aborted the mission and told it to restart. This allowed mechjeb to know exactly how long the insertion maneuver would take. I then ticked the "Time Launch to Rendezvous" box, selected the Kraftworld Kore and got a neat little countdown, telling me when the ideal launch window for an immediate rendezvous would occur.
Again, once the timer hit 0, all I had to do was hit space and go grab a beer while the autopilot did the ascent burn for me.
Which got me within 1.5km of the Kraftworld. Pretty good. My manual rendezvous encounters usually place me somewhere in the 1-2km range. But I do those from a parking orbit instead of directly from ascent. This saved me about 15-20 minutes of fiddly maneuvering to finish a maneuver I've already done manually about two dozen times.
For the final approach, I switched to Smart A.S.S. This window basically allows me to pick and maintain a direction based on my orbit or my target (if I've set one). For the approach, the interesting directions are Rvel - (Relative Velocity Minus) and Tgt + (Towards target). Pointing at Rvel- and burning matches my velocity with my target so we're static compared to each other. Tgt+ then allows me to close with the target. Minor adjustments are necessary. (I used Rvel- to stop at 1km, 500m, 250m and 100m and adjust my approach vector). Used to be I had to eyeball the Rvel- vector based on how my targets marker moved across the screen, which was an inexact science at best.
Once the Kore Komponent was within 150m, I killed relative velocity again and switched control to the Kore Komponent to line up a docking port with the approaching Science! module. I then engaged SAS in the Kore Komponent (but not RCS) to ensure it wouldn't drift before switching back to the Science module.
Once I had a docking port targeted, I used Par- (parallel difference decrease) to ensure my science module continually pointed directly at the docking port (which offset my terrible RCS thruster placement). I then switched to docking mode and used RCS controls to do the final docking approach.
I topped off the tank in the Kraftworld with a fuel transfer, then decoupled the tug for de-orbiting. In hindsight I should've just let it remain on the Kraftworld, as it was a neat secondary fuel reservoir. Oh well...
I switched to the tug and used RCS to maneuver it free of the Kraftworld. Then burned retrograde to de-orbit it.
Graph-o-tron confirms all the scientific equipment made it up intact
Kraftworld Kodexia 2.0 now shines as a beautiful symbol of progress from the Heavanz.