Exploring KSP 2 and first impressions: Nuclear spaceplane with 20k Δv in orbit

[@dathaniel9403]

Regarding specific impulse, the reason that it uses the unit of seconds (as opposed to meters per second, because specific impulse is directly proportional to exhaust velocity) is so the figure is the same in any unit system that uses seconds. Otherwise, you'd have specific impulse for SI units, Imperial units, etc. Meters per second is also dimensionally equivalent to Newton-seconds / kilogram, or the impulse (change in momentum) provided by each kilogram of fuel. By using seconds for Isp, you can put in whatever gravitational acceleration value in whatever units system you want and it will still be valid.

[@ThylineTheGay]

Mmh, they could show the current calculated Delta v m/s also

[@butteronmytoasts]

i figured g would be a relative usage for an equation that calculates the decrease in drag along the projected flight path. unless they just have good enough tolerances for that

[@leokastenberg800]

There's also an alternative to the version of the rocket equation used in the video which uses exit velocity of the engine instead of Isp

[@kerbinsphere]

The other reason I believe has to do with how you measure specific impulse itself when testing an engine. You can't put a speedometer on rocket exhaust, so they have to measure how much force it's generating for how long with a certain amount of fuel, and then do calculations from there, and guess what you can't get rid of on the surface of earth (which is the only place you can test rocket engines) is? Yeah, that pesky 9.81m/s^2 gravity, which means I believe they also model force measurements around that? I could be wrong and it's true that they could just convert it, but irl you can't just set specific impulse in a config file, you have to have some way of testing it, and since gravity is in there, it makes sense that that would work it's way into the equation somewhere

[@kerbinsphere]

@@leokastenberg800 yeah, it's just dv = Ve * ln(m0/m1) instead of dv = ISP * g * ln(m0/m1) * important to note that Ve is exhaust velocity here

[@Stratzenblitz75]

BRAD! I'm so excited to another video from you! It's cool to see how well KSP1 spaceplane design has translated over: it seems KSP2 uses a similar drag model as KSP1 so I guess its not too surprising. Have you noticed any changes in the atmosphere in KSP2? Does it seem thinner, soupier, or about the same? Looking forward to more antics from Bill!

[@hsbylo]

Yo it’s him!

[@tricky2917]

Your turn, buddy.

[@bongchong1]

Oh my god they both are still alive!!

[@mephisto8101]

Welcome back to you too, good Sir! Seems KSP2 is getting on track again.

[@BradleyWhistance]

It seems quite similar on the whole. In essence, the same drag model

[@SPACECATIZZY]

damn 2 years. It seriously hasn't even felt like that long wtf, glad to see you back

[@Nicolas_Gamer5476]

it’s seriously been 2 years???

[@SPACECATIZZY]

@@Nicolas_Gamer5476 right? i could’ve sworn id just watched his latest videos

[@Nicolas_Gamer5476]

@@SPACECATIZZY yea last time i checked it was 5 months ago but that doesnt feel like 5 months ago

[@KerbalSpaceProgramOfficial]

Welcome back 💚

[@Voxelowo]

Any idea when the full ksp2 release is coming?

[@TheRocketForge]

@@Voxelowojust wait

[@totallynottitan126]

It never will! 😩

[@isaactrockman4417]

@@Voxelowowelp

[@anekdoche7055]

huh, that was disappointing

[@ShadowZone]

Good to see new content from you, Bradley, and that spaceplane is really something! Regarding the fairing stuff mentioned at 7:50, even after playing months of KSP2, I am still not sure if interstage fairings actually close or of I have just created an open cylinder. But then again, it doesn't appear that fairings really protect against hat yet, soooo.... I guess the devs have still some work to do on that front.

[@TheWinsmith]

Almost all use cases for interstage fairings can be replaced by engine plates. An engine plate is basically an interstage fairing that builds itself.

[@ShadowZone]

@@TheWinsmith I can't remember how long you can make the engine plates fairing, so maybe interstage fairings can be extended longer?

[@MattLowne]

Has it really been 2 years? 😯😯 Welcome back!

[@creativecarveciteclimb5684]

Let's go you're back! I thought you quit youtube after those years of waiting. Also, a few months later, after figuring out what is causing the "phantom roll", you are going to find a way to save 50% of the initial mass somehow. Keep it going!

[@thespacepeacock]

Welcome back Bradley! It's great to see you back and playing KSP2. i'm excited to see what feats you can pull off in the game!

[@N9GamingOfficial]

HE'S BACK! BY THE NINES HE'S BACK! Always loved watching your videos, super stoked to see your name in my uploads again :D

[@alexsiemers7898]

With how upsetting the initial launch was last year it’s nice to hear that your first impressions of the game as it is now seem pretty positive.

[@DrBlort]

I haven't been playing enough KSP 2 yet to know why the phantom roll happens, but don't discard an actual bug at this stage Also, welcome back! It's good to see you again, I missed your videos!

[@nonsaline]

2 years! Welcome back!, I'm imagining that you just got back from a mars flyby round trip that you spent sitting in a lawn chair strapped to a rocket to save mass. I'd love to see a crack at the land speed record for ksp2 if you ever find yourself bored of space :)

[@blockgqmer]

We all missed you so much. Welcome back to ksp

[@Izayuukan]

Hi Bradley, this made my day. I'm not sad about the gap in uploads, I'm just happy that you're back!

[@Matthew_ksp]

Welcome back! It's good to see you're back, I can only imagine what crazy missions you'll do in KSP2, can't wait!

[@mephisto8101]

Nice to see you too here. And congrats to your 1500 Subs!

[@Matthew_ksp]

@@mephisto8101 thanks!

[@tobiassteindl2308]

12:50 THANK YOU!! For ages I have been wondering on why we measure ISP divided by g, and came to the conclusion that there's no damn reason to do so. I'm glad someone like you is getting the word out there.

[@snottytoe6957]

One feature I would love to have back is the maneuver node planner mode where you can fine tune your node with the little UI in the bottom instead of having to angle my camera so that I can see my SOI intercept path and the node from wherever I may already be orbiting. Also being able to adjust the node with scroll wheel was always nice, and seeing my projected periapsis from the UI instead of having to look at the orbital trajectory itself to see my height.

[@royeverett]

I've been patiently waiting for a KSP 2 video from you. Thank you for delivering! I'm excited to see what you'll accomplish in this game!

[@matrick1356]

THE LEGEND IS BACK

[@Ricky-CC]

Welcome back Bradley! So happy you’re back. I’m really looking forward to what you can do in KSP 2. A low mass SSTO mission would be interesting to see!

[@riverbull5112]

So great to have you back!!! I've really missed your creativity and ingenuity - I can't wait to see what you do next!

[@JohnSmith-cb6qx]

Can't wait to see what you have cooked up for KSP2!

[@IvanRodriguez-tl2zr]

I'm glad you're doing well after 2 years! Don't feel rushed to make new videos and take your time to make great videos.

[@spartanjack175]

It's really been 2 years? You made some of the best ksp videos, glad to see you're still around.

[@distinguished199]

I was literally just rewatching the odyssey by Bill today! So happy you're back Bradley.

[@macebobkasson1629]

I am so glad to hear from you. Your wit and professionalism were sorely missed.

[@andrewwright9018]

Welcome back Brad! So good to hear from you, looking forward to whatever you make!

[@SpaceMan226]

the goat is back

[@epsiloneridani7737]

I was literally rewatching your eve 9t mission, and you drop a new one today. What a treat and it's never too long a wait for your content

[@fRiX15]

Finally you are back! I was waiting for more than one year, you are one of the best youtuber and I was expecting a videos from you one of these months

[@Kurgutt]

Glad you're back Bradley ❤ Can't wait to see more cutting edge efficient designs or some Bill shenaniganries in KSP 2

[@OliverPI-v6j]

Good to see you back!

[@phoenics2465]

THE LEGEND IS BACK! the community missed you bradley, welcome back

[@asmodeus1033]

i missed you so much glad you are back again with quality content ❤️

[@cost-pluscontent2371]

Looked up your channel several times to see if you’d uploaded. Welcome back!

[@GuybrushKerman]

Well well well look who came crawwwwling back. So happy to wake up to a new Brad video waiting for me and very excited for the next! Always enjoy SRB only challenges, or perhaps a nuclear engine-only video to demonstrate how strong the new ones are?

[@mephisto8101]

Hey, it's been a while sice I saw something from you too. Good to see all the folks somehow returning.

[@GuybrushKerman]

You'll have to wait a while longer (apologies) but my next project is in production. It's a big'un. Hopefully you'll catch it when it eventually comes out!

[@linecraftman3907]

Welcome back Bradley! To build an interstage you can use the engine plates or tube parts, which are both procedural

[@linecraftman3907]

Additionally, there are two nuclear engines in KSP 2. One is the same as in ksp 1, a nuclear thermal rocket which passes hydrogen over hot nuclear core and the second is a gas core NTR, which heats hydrogen with nuclear plasma, thus putting way more energy into yhe exhaust. Considering the game isn't making you use up uranium when you burn the engine, I'd guess it uses closed cycle. Soon we should also get a third NTR engine which has an afterburner mode that lets you burn the hydrogen with oxygen for more thrust.

[@phoenix0166]

Welcome back Bradley! Can’t wait to see just what you do with these new hyper-efficient engines lol

[@lb2791]

Glad you're back and with an excellent video to boot! As to the power of the nuclear engines: I think when the game came out they were so good you could build a spaceplane with only swervs. I hope they toned it down a little. I get why we need more efficient engines given they plan on implementing other star systems but they should be balanced in some way to the other engines, maybe make them massive or at least absolutely useless in atmosphere.

[@NevinThinagar]

I'm so happy that you're back! Can't wait to see what you'll do in this new game!

[@thatoneguy9291]

You’re one of the reasons I made it to my first planet other than Kerbin, welcome back.

[@elenawhistance]

Welcome back!

[@TonyChan-eh3nz]

>disappears for 2 years >Returns and makes video again >Gives us hope >As according to "youtube disappearing 101" disappear again to crush said hope(we haven't gotten here yet) I hope this doesn't happen

[@RadSlayer67]

wonder how krumpf reacted to bill's long awaited return! (seriously though, welcome back!)

[@KsNewSpace]

I have itches too to come back to making videos 😅 Were you nervous at all?

[@ChrisHovord]

Yoooo Bradley!! so glad to see you doing videos again... I was generally wondering if we would see a return from you just a few weeks ago so glad to see you back. As for missions though I would suggest the Odyssey of Bill 2.0 of course, especially when they let us go interstellar with KSP2. either way looking forward to the break down of the math ( that I will never understand ) in future videos

[@admiralfluffy42]

Welcome back! Hope you’re doing well. Missed your videos.

[@SpainSpace]

As someone said, it really didn't feel that long since you last uploaded. Welcome back! I was happy to see the video notification pop up on my phone. Hopefully KSP2 gives us a second decade of great videos :)

[@MinerBat]

Also, the ability to thrust during timewarm now makes ion engines a lot more fun to use. Also there is a bug that if power runs out during timewarm with an ion engine the engine will continue producing thrust (despite playing the engine shutdown noise)

[@spyshark_5002]

I eventually would love to see a solar tour like what you did in Odyssey by Bill #1, and also about how the planets, engines, and equipment has changed since KSP1. Ex. 52k DeltaV is a lot, but in the context of KSP2 is it truly a lot, or can you get nothing of note done with it? Specifically, what is the new numerical environment and meta?

[@f4lenwarrior]

Welcome back to content production, ive missed seeing your vids in my feed.

[@IvanRodriguez-tl2zr]

Video Idea: Leave the Kerbolar System with as much velocity as possible given the available parts Since KSP 2 has support for longer burns, long ion engine burns are much easier.

[@barronrisling5354]

Not quite yet unfortunately, in my experience with the current version crafts with very low T/WR simply stop producing thrust during timewarp *but continue to consume resources*. I only found this out after sending Ion propelled probes to Eve and Jool. I have yet to see the problem with nuclear engines at least

[@timharnans]

Thanks Brad, you made me remember I have KSP 1, I haven’t played it in probably a year.

[@NickBDesigns]

Great to see you back in the saddle I am excited to see the progress this game makes in the future

[@entropy1331]

So glad to see you back Brad!!!

[@gabecichocki3915]

Holy heck the king the legend has returned!1 Love your content

[@mephisto8101]

Welcome back! Nice to see you again.

[@commonsenseless9894]

*ding* (Bradley Wistance video upload) Me: Woooooo!!! Yeah baby! That's what we've been waiting for! Thats what its all about!

[@ArmyPig007]

Spaceplanes always feel like such a cheat but I love them so much because of it. Good to see you again Bradley, doesn't feel like it's been two years at all.

[@clayel1]

woah, bradley is back!

[@ethanochs1570]

The legend is back!

[@randomguy0047]

Welcome back brad!!!!

[@AeroplaneB29]

Your Finally back! You were always my favorite KSP you-tuber

[@kaulquappentv6888]

As for the phantom roll, would using slightly angled wings (in a V formation) work to correct it (automatically)? Given that you're already using 2 stabilizers in the back to achieve stability in the yaw axis, maybe slightly angling them (into said v formation) might fix the issue for now? Maybe 5 degrees would already suffice? Not sure though, might give it a shot myself.

[@Joshs4stro]

welcome back!!!

[@necrosniper]

I played through the whole of KSP 2 mission. A few tips I came across: Never trust the Dv readout. The thickness of wings matter when it comes to heat and aerobraking. The inflatable heat shield isn't reliable. There are a few new mods that will make everything so much easier: Science Arkive, Alarm Clock, Kerbal Life Hacks, Community Fixes, Micro Engineer, Maneuver Node Controller. Also, the Under Pressure mission is currently bugged probably due to vessel name change or docking and will not complete in some cases. Also if your craft wobbles and flys apart on the launchpad, returning to launch pad resets the craft and makes it a lot more riggid.

[@Octahedran]

You should look at modern KSP 1 graphical modding. Now we got fantastic ground scatter and fully volumetric clouds! Also nice to see a content creators first impression of KSP 2 after all the bug fixes

[@andrewelliott3284]

Very excited to see you back!

[@zachbowles4516]

oh my god hes back

[@proxima_fish]

omg he's back :D

[@SALTrobot]

proxima sighting

[@TheOneGaming0]

WELCOME BACK!

[@PunishedKrab]

Just when the world needed him the most, he returned. Kraken speed, Bradley

[@leonidasi6170]

Holy crap welcome back!!

[@Countryballsandstuff999]

Welcome back, Brad! We thought you were gone

[@galacticalliance4801]

man disappears for 2 years, comes back to not ksp, but ksp 2 and immediately builds the most ridiculous nuclear spaceplane out there right now. im happy to see youre still alive, thought we lost you there.

[@kingofthewimps2828]

One of the most accomplished kerbalnauts has made a return.

[@volksgenosseerichhonecker5104]

This is very important regarding unrestricted angles: Turn of the Magnet Snapping and press shift while rotating. Then it will be smooth and you can choose an angle.

[@GarrettBodley]

RETURN OF THE KING

[@red12b]

Yay! The return of Bill's Odyssey!

[@palauxhing]

I literally just finished binging all of the odyssey by bill episodes earlier today, and suddenly Brad uploads again after 2 years.

[@Dinkymod]

So happy to see some new vids - and of KSP2!! :-)

[@Kennanjk]

Nice new video.

[@Son_Of_Atreides]

Finally someone else calling out the outrageous misappropriation of g in that equation and the rediculousness of specific impulse being measured in seconds. Bill will never stand for it.

[@hubertcumberdale8175]

Interstate fairings can be built with the interstage coupler, a decoupler, and a fairing. It can get a little fiddly getting it to snap into the fuel tank or whatever above it, and I have had one where I just accepted a gap in between fairing and tank but it def possible. The key was that it's slightly wider than it looks, and based off the way the fairing just deletes that part if you go too close, it is definitely not an intended feature yet.

[@charliekempf]

Always a good day when Brad uploads

[@feuby8480]

When I saw you posted, I immediatly watched. I Want an odyssey by bill mission on KSP2. No matter what. Put someone somewhere, rescue him, I don't care, I'm here just for the jokes and the story ! good to see you back !

[@SoggywafflesPLAYZ]

I LOVE YOUR VIDEOS, please keep making the odyssey by bill

[@SteinGaming2006]

This is why i stay subscibed

[@ДмитрийКовальчук-р9и]

You have returned! What a legend!

[@bewilderbeestie]

What's holding the back of the spaceplane up? The landing gear looks approximately central, just below the ramjets, which means they can't counterbalance the weight of the nuclear engine. Is there something very heavy in the nose?

[@johnseekins3850]

Oh how we've missed you so Bradley!

[@dill2479]

so happy to see you back :D

[@Bananappleboy]

can't wait for The Odyssey by Bill Season 2, where he boards a Xeelee Nightfighter, and destroys the Kerbol solar system

[@fartpluswetone8077]

Or he finds a Forerunner ship and explores the galaxy and raises a lot of uncomfortable questions.

[@TheOfficialPanning]

Damn its been a while, bradley.

[@cbadcruiser]

For the Phantom roll, I have noticed that if you revert to launch, the custom wings get screwed up. The wings get deformed and are asymmetric and create rolling. Never had it when going straight from the VAB to the launch pad or runway, but frequently have it when reverting to launch. Not saying that this is your cause for phantom rolling, but it might be.

[@BradleyWhistance]

This would explain what I have observed so far. Will keep an eye on this.

[@creativecarveciteclimb5684]

Nice observation!

[@jacksonclark3581]

And when the word needed him most…… He came back!

[@chengzeli-jr7gb]

We just can’t wait to see the Odyssey by Bill!

[@schrimblo]

oh my god, welcome back bradley

[@jakey.philosophy]

For interstage fairings, press c to freely move the fairing arrows, that makes it much easier to create them. they are still pretty buggy, but I have been able to create some passable ones by doing that

[@EnderRobber101]

Welcome Back!