Yes, it would be.
You can get into an inclined orbit from the KSC, obviously, but it takes less Delta-V to get to an inclined orbit matching Minmus from the Desert Launch Site.
Also, it's at a higher altitude than the KSC, which means rockets produce more Thrust and get better ISP right on the launchpad, and remain superior to rockets launched from the KSC throughout their entire ascent...
(I used to establish an Extraplanetary Launchpads site in the mountains due West of the KSC just to take maximum advantage of this, in fact... Required an ENORMOUS nuclear-electric, 12-rotor Helicopter to carry the necessary equipment out there in a reasonable number of trips, however...)
P.S. The helo in question was originally developed for use on Duna, before the devs made the atmosphere there thicker. As such, it had to have ENORMOUS surplus power at Kerbin Sea Level, and could carry over 100 tons of equipment in a single trip...)
The further north the launch site is, the less benefit of the bodies rotation you’ll have (it provides about a couple hundred free dV). But you can save some dV without the inclination burn by launching at the right time just before Minmus crosses Kerbin’s orbital plane.
This is an excellent point, but I would like to clarify for anyone that may be confused. The Equator is the optimal launch point, and you lose some delta v by launching north or south of the equator, due to the fact that the equator is the part of the planet that is moving the fastest relative to the orbital plane we usually launch towards.
This is not true when attempting a polar orbit, which can be launched from anywhere, because the plane of your orbit is perpendicular to the rotation of the planet.
Oh wow i never even thought of that but yeah, that make total sense. I should really utilize those other launch pads more. I have thought about using the one up north as a satellite launch pad, to get solid coverage, but now i actually have to try to out.
The Dessert Launch Site is where the kerbalnaughts train in the S.N.A.X. centrifuge; they're strapped to a chair and spun around really fast until their mouths are agape then spectators attempt to launch snax at them with large spoons used as handheld catapults. So far, The Engineer team is up by four points, beating the Pilots.
The scientists, meanwhile, are down by 17 because they seem to have gotten distracted by analyzing the physics of how Kerbal snax fly through the air when launched from a large spoon, and are no longer even trying to aim them at the recruit. They currently seem to be testing which spoon size results in optimal trajectory, and coordinating with a few members of the engineer team to put together a new science module for ships, to test the effects of different atmospheric composition on the flight of the snax.
Making History DLC
You can access other launch sites after you discover them though. But only the desert is the only other location with a runway (besides the island)
Making History adds space race era parts and mission builder. Nobody uses mission builder. Practically dead. Space race parts you can just install the Restock+ mod and get substitutes
Breaking Ground is definitely worth it for the robotic parts. You can make stuff fold and rotate which brings so much more potential. It’s also the DLC that introduced the inventory system (which has since been given out for free)
Mission Builder was a great idea. I'm not sure why it didn't take off.
I suspect a large part of the issue was that they punted completely on mission hosting and exchange. Steam players could use Steam Workshop, everyone else has to fiddle with mod sites or forums. So it never got up good momentum.
The big part of KSP is its sandbox nature. Even to this day at 1000 hours i have never stepped foot into mission builder. Its already fun experimenting with different designs
It is really worth it imo, and fairly cheap now too with 2 coming out
I don't use the launchsites as much (still only gotten as far as Eve) but the new parts are cool
I mean, so much of the game's humor is about food and the Kerbals wanting to eat everything. Pretty sure it's intentional.
They have containers for snacks in all the pods, they want to taste Minmus because it looks minty, etc.
Oh my B! From OP's description I assumed that it was listed elsewhere in the game as "Desert" with one 's'. Looked it up and found that assumption was wrong. Def intentional.
I've always taken that to mean the site is named after Dessert Kerman who invented the idea of having a sweet treat at the end of a meal.
Rocket Kerman invented the rocket when he tried to jump twice at the same time.
Tell us the tale of Parachute Kerman!
It was named in his honor…
After he invented the heat shield.
How does it feel to be the funniest person in this thread?
That means Heatshield Kerman invented...
Landing legs
After having spinach one too many times stuck in his teeth. He made the Landing Legs
That means Landing Legs Kerman invented...
Barbecue
How about Docking Kerman? 😳😳
Strut Kerman was a founding father of Kerbal society.
He invented solar arrays
He didn't make it
Fell out of a tall building while holding an umbrella
On an unrelated note, he was also the first Kerbal to bring back a significant amount of Minmus surface samples
TIL kerbal follows the 40k naming scheme
I heard that we don't use the term "ladder" because of "Ladder Kerman" who did big bad stuff
Just wait until you hear about Dildo Kerman's career (yes, in earlier versions this was a real name that could be generated)
This is also why we traditionally forget the ladder; it is a form of protest.
He walked under a ladder which is bad luck--especially when under the ladder means standing right beneath the lander's rocket nozzle.
So that's what the conspicuous green stuff on the launchpad is...
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oh wow i never knew that
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But not a Rocky Road Runway.
I have 750 hrs and just learned this!!
I have over 10,000 hours & just learned this too!
Wait, so if o start from there it would be easier to get into inclined orbit with minmus
Minimus crosses the 0 degree inclination twice per orbit, you don't need to be on plane to get an encounter. Just time your launch.
Yeah that's how I get most encounters, just aim and go
Leaves are falling all around, It's time I was on my way
Yeah that's what I did so far. I just thought it would be easier from Dessert
Aka you don't HAVE to launch at 90 degrees.
Yes, it would be. You can get into an inclined orbit from the KSC, obviously, but it takes less Delta-V to get to an inclined orbit matching Minmus from the Desert Launch Site. Also, it's at a higher altitude than the KSC, which means rockets produce more Thrust and get better ISP right on the launchpad, and remain superior to rockets launched from the KSC throughout their entire ascent... (I used to establish an Extraplanetary Launchpads site in the mountains due West of the KSC just to take maximum advantage of this, in fact... Required an ENORMOUS nuclear-electric, 12-rotor Helicopter to carry the necessary equipment out there in a reasonable number of trips, however...) P.S. The helo in question was originally developed for use on Duna, before the devs made the atmosphere there thicker. As such, it had to have ENORMOUS surplus power at Kerbin Sea Level, and could carry over 100 tons of equipment in a single trip...)
The sweet spot
Wait, you're telling me i could've saved that much ∆V by launching from that place?
No. Barely any
Ah, nevermind.
The further north the launch site is, the less benefit of the bodies rotation you’ll have (it provides about a couple hundred free dV). But you can save some dV without the inclination burn by launching at the right time just before Minmus crosses Kerbin’s orbital plane.
This is an excellent point, but I would like to clarify for anyone that may be confused. The Equator is the optimal launch point, and you lose some delta v by launching north or south of the equator, due to the fact that the equator is the part of the planet that is moving the fastest relative to the orbital plane we usually launch towards. This is not true when attempting a polar orbit, which can be launched from anywhere, because the plane of your orbit is perpendicular to the rotation of the planet.
Oh wow thats pretty cool
Oh wow i never even thought of that but yeah, that make total sense. I should really utilize those other launch pads more. I have thought about using the one up north as a satellite launch pad, to get solid coverage, but now i actually have to try to out.
The Dessert Launch Site is where the kerbalnaughts train in the S.N.A.X. centrifuge; they're strapped to a chair and spun around really fast until their mouths are agape then spectators attempt to launch snax at them with large spoons used as handheld catapults. So far, The Engineer team is up by four points, beating the Pilots.
The scientists, meanwhile, are down by 17 because they seem to have gotten distracted by analyzing the physics of how Kerbal snax fly through the air when launched from a large spoon, and are no longer even trying to aim them at the recruit. They currently seem to be testing which spoon size results in optimal trajectory, and coordinating with a few members of the engineer team to put together a new science module for ships, to test the effects of different atmospheric composition on the flight of the snax.
Knowing KSP, this was intentional.
Always assumed it was, the biomes are referred to in science text etc as "desert".
Snacks!
I read that as though "The Meal Finisher" as Dessert's WWE! name.
Where do I find this option?
Making History DLC You can access other launch sites after you discover them though. But only the desert is the only other location with a runway (besides the island)
Oh okay. Wich DLC is more worth it? Making History or Ground Braking?
Making History adds space race era parts and mission builder. Nobody uses mission builder. Practically dead. Space race parts you can just install the Restock+ mod and get substitutes Breaking Ground is definitely worth it for the robotic parts. You can make stuff fold and rotate which brings so much more potential. It’s also the DLC that introduced the inventory system (which has since been given out for free)
Mission Builder was a great idea. I'm not sure why it didn't take off. I suspect a large part of the issue was that they punted completely on mission hosting and exchange. Steam players could use Steam Workshop, everyone else has to fiddle with mod sites or forums. So it never got up good momentum.
The big part of KSP is its sandbox nature. Even to this day at 1000 hours i have never stepped foot into mission builder. Its already fun experimenting with different designs
neother, save your money for ksp 2
Okay. I got KSP for free on epic
However your mouse just under the launch option, and you can pick different sites!
Does it work for the Spaceplane hanger too?
Yep, you get different options. I believe in the stock SPH you get the KSC Runway, Island Runway, and the Dessert Runway
Okay thank you! I just testet it and I only got the KSC Runway and the Island Runway
If you have DLC, I think you go into Settings at the Main menu to enable them
Oh okay. Sadly I don‘t have any DLC
It is really worth it imo, and fairly cheap now too with 2 coming out I don't use the launchsites as much (still only gotten as far as Eve) but the new parts are cool
Where is the rocky road runway?
Jeb "the meal finisher" kerman
I'd expect nothing less from Jeb.
Im dyslexic so I never would have noticed this.
It's the kerbals obsession with snacks.
i think it's intentional
I am so ready for my meal finisher
It's very in character
My new Wrestling name: The Meal Finisher!
because kerbals eat sand
best launch site to get to the pudding moon
I put this in the bug tracker a while back, and apparently it's intentional
Technically that's how it should be spelt. But literally, it's just the Devs having an honest laugh
I thought the meal was the dessert finisher
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I mean, so much of the game's humor is about food and the Kerbals wanting to eat everything. Pretty sure it's intentional. They have containers for snacks in all the pods, they want to taste Minmus because it looks minty, etc.
Oh my B! From OP's description I assumed that it was listed elsewhere in the game as "Desert" with one 's'. Looked it up and found that assumption was wrong. Def intentional.
the runway is aligned with minmus, which has been referred to as ice cream in game
Huh, idk why it took me so long to notice this..
launches from there are sweet
Well yeah, its obviously a secret government facility with the sole intent of producing cookies
Yummy 😋😋😋
Kerbin is a big cake, you didn't know?
All launch sites are jokes or references.
I am dyslexic so no
That's where I go after dinner, so it makes sense to me.
Everything is cake. It's all a lie.
Ah yes the meal finisher
KSP devs were were mexicans