Regan Brown
Kerbal Space Program is a complex game that does not provide much instruction on how to play it. One of the challenges is learning how to connect fuel tanks. The first step is to understand staging, as fuel lines go in one direction, and engines pull fuel from the farthest fuel tank. This can be maximized by using onion staging, where you can drop the weight of the first set of tanks and engines once they are empty and repeat until you are left with a single engine and full tank. You can also set priority on the tanks so that one set drains before the other. Additionally, you can activate advanced tweakables in the options to set different tank priorities and allow crossfeed on decouplers for fuel to flow from radial to core.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Engine type | Liquid fuel and oxidizer, liquid fuel only, monopropellant, ion, nuclear |
| Engine use | Lower stage, upper stage, RCS thrusters, small probes |
| Controls | WASD for RCS, IJKL for directional inputs, H and N for towards and away |
| Tips | Use struts to reinforce designs, watch tutorials, start small, use onion staging |
| Fuel flow | One-directional, engines pull fuel from the farthest tank, can set tank priority |
| Fuel crossfeed | Pump fuel from one tank to another, against tank pressure |
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What You'll Learn
Setting tank priorities
To set tank priorities in Kerbal Space Program, you can follow these steps:
- Activate advanced tweakables: Go to the options menu and enable advanced tweakables. This will allow you to access additional settings for your fuel tanks, including the ability to set priorities.
- Right-click on a fuel tank: By right-clicking on a fuel tank, you can access its settings and make adjustments.
- Enable Fuel Flow Overlay: Turning on the Fuel Flow Overlay will help you visualise the fuel flow between tanks and engines.
- Set tank priorities: With advanced tweakables activated, you can now set the priority of each fuel tank. This determines the order in which the tanks will be drained. For example, you can set priority so that one set of tanks drains first before moving on to the next set.
- Manage fuel lines: Ensure that your fuel lines are connected correctly. Fuel lines typically go in one direction, and engines will pull fuel from the farthest fuel tank. Consider using ""onion staging"" to maximise fuel efficiency, where fuel lines are connected in a specific pattern to take advantage of this.
- Allow crossfeed on decouplers: If you're using radial and core tanks together, make sure to allow crossfeed on decouplers so that fuel can flow between them.
- Check fuel compatibility: Ensure that the fuel in your tanks is compatible with the engines. For example, boosters typically use solid fuel, while normal engines use an oxidizer/liquid fuel mix.
By following these steps, you can effectively set tank priorities and manage your fuel usage in Kerbal Space Program.
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Using solid fuel boosters
Solid fuel boosters in Kerbal Space Program are a great option for players who want to save money and are in the early stages of the game. They are cheap and have a good thrust-to-weight ratio, making them perfect for getting your rockets off the ground. However, they are quite inefficient and difficult to steer.
One thing to note about solid fuel boosters is that once they are ignited, they cannot be throttled or turned off. They will burn until they run out of fuel or are destroyed. As such, it is important to jettison the empty solid fuel boosters once they have expended their fuel to reduce weight.
Additionally, solid fuel boosters cannot be refuelled or have their fuel flow changed. They are standalone and do not interact with other fuel tanks. This means that you cannot set a target for the boosters to use fuel from a specific tank, as they are fuelled independently.
If you are having trouble getting your solid fuel boosters to work, it may be because you are trying to use liquid fuel. Boosters use solid fuel, not an oxidizer/liquid fuel mix which normal engines use. Ensure that your fuel is compatible, and then check that you have fuel lines running from the tanks to the boosters.
To summarise, solid fuel boosters are a great, cost-effective option for players who want to get their rockets off the ground without breaking the bank. Just remember that they are difficult to steer, cannot be turned off, and require compatible fuel with the correct fuel lines.
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Using liquid fuel engines
Understanding Liquid Fuel Engines
Liquid fuel engines in Kerbal Space Program use a mix of regular fuel and an oxidiser, usually liquid fuel and oxidiser (LFO). This combination allows for greater control over the engine's performance. Unlike solid fuel engines, liquid fuel engines can be shut down and restarted on command, and their power can be adjusted by throttling up or down. This throttle control is a unique advantage of liquid fuel engines, allowing for precise power settings.
Setting Up Liquid Fuel Engines
To set up liquid fuel engines, follow these steps:
- Engine Activation: Right-click on the engine and select "Activate" to ensure it has been activated by staging. This is a crucial step to enable engine functionality.
- Throttling: Make sure you are throttled up by using the left Shift key. Throttling controls the power output of the engine, and you can adjust it according to your needs.
- Fuel Tanks: Verify that you are using the correct fuel tanks. Liquid fuel engines require tanks that contain both liquid fuel and an oxidiser. Using jet fuel tanks (Mk0, Mk1, etc.) will not work as they only contain liquid fuel.
- Fuel Lines: Ensure that the fuel can reach the engine by connecting the fuel tanks directly to the engine. Check that the fuel lines are properly set up and running in the correct direction.
- Tank Priority: You can set priorities for your fuel tanks to determine the order in which they drain. This is especially useful if you have multiple engines and want to manage your fuel efficiently.
- Advanced Tweakables: If needed, activate advanced tweakables in the options to access additional settings. This allows you to fine-tune fuel flow and set tank priorities more precisely.
Staging and Fuel Management
Understanding staging is essential when using liquid fuel engines. Engines will pull fuel from the farthest fuel tank accessible, so consider using "onion staging" to maximise fuel efficiency. This involves strategically connecting fuel lines between tanks to take advantage of the engine's tendency to pull fuel from the farthest source. Additionally, consider starting small and gradually increasing the complexity of your designs as you become more familiar with liquid fuel engines.
Tutorials and Resources
Given the complexity of Kerbal Space Program, it is highly recommended to watch tutorials and learn from experienced players. Scott Manley's tutorials on YouTube are widely regarded as some of the best resources for beginners. His videos cover a range of topics, from basic gameplay mechanics to more advanced techniques, and can provide valuable insights into using liquid fuel engines effectively.
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Using onion staging for fuel efficiency
In Kerbal Space Program, onion staging is a technique used to maximize fuel efficiency. It involves arranging fuel tanks in a layered structure, with one layer built on top of another, similar to the layers of an onion. This approach is particularly suitable for larger rockets, as it allows for more fuel tanks to be added without the complexity of individual fuel lines and staging encountered in other methods like asparagus staging.
To implement onion staging, you can follow these steps:
- Design a grid pattern: Imagine a 3x3 grid, where each block represents a fuel tank. Number the blocks from 1 to 9, starting from the top left and moving towards the bottom right.
- Position the fuel tanks: Place fuel tanks in each block of the grid, with engines underneath them. Ensure that all tanks except for the central tank (number 5) are attached to the central tank using radial decouplers.
- Connect the fuel lines: Set up the fuel lines to direct fuel flow. Connect the lines from tank 1 to 2 to 3 to 6 and finally to the central tank (5). Similarly, connect the lines from tank 9 to 8 to 7 to 4 and then to the central tank.
- Drop the outer tanks: Once the outer tanks (1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 8, 7, and 4) are empty, you can detach them, reducing the weight of your spacecraft.
- Repeat the process: As you ascend, repeat this process of drawing fuel from the farthest tanks, dropping the tanks, and reducing weight. This will help you conserve fuel and increase efficiency.
It is important to note that onion staging may require additional structural parts, such as struts, to stabilize the rocket due to the increased weight and size of the outer layers. Additionally, when using onion staging, ensure that you have compatible fuel types for your engines and boosters. Solid boosters, for example, cannot use liquid fuel.
By utilizing onion staging, you can achieve greater fuel efficiency, allowing you to reach higher altitudes and have more fuel left for maneuvers or missions beyond the initial orbit. It is a powerful technique that can enhance your Kerbal Space Program experience and enable you to explore further with greater flexibility.
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Using crossfeed to transfer fuel
To transfer fuel using crossfeed in Kerbal Space Program, you need to understand the game's mechanics and the challenges involved. Firstly, it's important to know that fuel lines in Kerbal Space Program have a specific direction, and engines will always pull fuel from the farthest fuel tank. This is a crucial concept to maximize fuel efficiency and engine power relative to mass, often referred to as "onion staging."
To achieve crossfeed, you can activate advanced tweakables in the options menu. This allows you to set different tank priorities and enable crossfeed on decouplers, ensuring fuel can flow from radial to core. Additionally, you can turn on the Fuel Flow Overlay by right-clicking on a fuel tank, which helps visualize fuel flow.
However, it's important to note that crossfeed in Kerbal Space Program is not without its challenges. Pumping large amounts of fuel quickly is difficult, and you must stop pumping when the tank is empty to avoid a pump explosion. This requires shutting down a massive flow without causing a water hammer.
Another challenge is the risk of leaking fuel and oxidizer during crossfeed, especially when detaching side tanks under acceleration, which can be complex and often goes wrong in the game. To mitigate this, you can use a unidirectional valve on the "main" side, allowing fuel in but never out, and ensure rapid separation to prevent any risks from endangering the main craft.
Additionally, when using crossfeed, you should be aware that fuel cannot run through all types of decouplers. In some cases, you may need to create a fuel supply link manually. It's also important to ensure that your fuel is compatible with the engines you're using, as boosters typically use solid fuel, while normal engines use an oxidizer/liquid fuel mix.
Frequently asked questions
To connect fuel tanks in Kerbal Space Program, you need to turn on advanced tweakables in the options menu. This allows you to set different tank priorities and fuel flow direction. You can also use the Fuel Flow Overlay by right-clicking on a fuel tank.
By setting the priority of fuel tanks, you can control the order in which they drain. Engines always pull fuel from the farthest fuel tank. You can use "onion staging" to maximize fuel efficiency by connecting fuel lines from multiple tanks to a central tank.
No, solid rocket boosters have a set flow and cannot transfer fuel to or from other tanks. Liquid fuel engines can be used with multiple tanks, but solid boosters can only use solid fuel.
Kerbal Space Program is a complex game that requires a lot of trial and error. It is recommended to start small and watch tutorials to understand the basics, such as staging and fuel management. You can also use mods to assist with calculations and autopilot.
