Can you launch a Rocket UPSIDE DOWN in KSP?

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Today's video features a very cursed rocket and flight plan, inspired by a recent challenge thrown down by the official Kerbal Space Program media team, and also inspired by a Reddit challenge from 10 years ago, which itself was inspired by an XKCD comic
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My PC specs:
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090
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3840 x 2160, 144Hz
Up Goer Five:
xkcd.com/1133/
/ weekly_challenge_up_go...
This video is intended for audiences 13+ years old.
Music Attributions:
The 2 songs used in the intro are by the awesome Approaching Nirvana!
Check them out:
/ @approachingnirvana
The songs used were Aim for Me (Instrumental) and Final Flight, and you can stream them on Spotify:
open.spotify.com/track/6wI3j0...
open.spotify.com/track/6FKLxb...
2 Kevin Macleod songs were used:
The music that plays during the ad is "Take a Chance" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
creativecommons.org/licenses/b...
The music that plays during the launch is "Also sprach Zarathustra" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) (You might know it as the 2001: A Space Odyssey Theme)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
creativecommons.org/licenses/b...
Download link for Kevin Macleod:
incompetech.com/music/royalty...

[@MattLowne]

Get an exclusive Surfshark Holiday deal! Enter promo code MATTLOWNE to get up to 6 additional months for free at surfshark.deals/mattlowne

[@seankasoa9769]

hi

[@Carnasa]

Taking off upside down? Truly only something a madman would consider… Hang on wait

[@MrMonkey3]

yooo its you

[@spaceflight001]

CARNASA HIMSELF!!!

[@mr_enceladus]

Yoo it's that Australian guy

[@VitaeLibra]

This is like the "They don't know I'm australian" meme with the person standing in the corner... On their head

[@Yosef_Marks]

Nobody's crazy enough to land a full Saturn V upside down in Mars using RSS, right? Right?!

[@Ukrainianboi]

Matt is a officially Australian professional rocket builder

[@AlrenClan]

Truly become mart

[@MrMonkey3]

lol

[@ethanochs1570]

@TheHarryChannel2016 r/woooooooosh

[@JackFox-in6xi]

Aussie Aussie Aussie, Oi Oi Oi

[@user-ev6rd7mp5r]

It’s an, a is not grammatically correct.

[@Skoran]

I added "LIGHTS" as last part of my rocket build checklist because I also ended doing allot in the dark. Could help with the pitch black landing and docking.

[@Stant123]

6:30 Naturally, should you want to bring this contraption into compliance with the original challenge, it's as simple as viewing the thing as a face of a clock, moving the helper rockets to either the 3 or 9 o'clock position (instead of their current 12 o'clock position) on said imaginary clock face, turning the rocket motors up from there, and the process of launching remains exactly the same. So in my opinion, even though as created it fails the compliance test, the simplicity of bringing it into compliance makes it a non issue.

[@darvo110]

Came here to say the same thing. I reckon it gets a pass

[@isaiahcollins1879]

Technically it was still pointing to space, because if you go sideways fast enough you go up

[@lasereyes2415]

Absolubely

[@giantmanice]

I agree

[@GimpyChinaman]

The ten hundred words text editor is still live if any of y'all wanna make your own up-goer-five-style descriptions of complex things or processes.

[@user-jn7hv5fq6g]

Quick! While it is still possible, you must rescue the kerbals on Jool before pressure and thermodynamics are invented! I want to see how you would get them out of that thick atmosphere and heavy gravity.

[@patricktho6546]

6:30 you just could have mounted the rotating boosters to the left, so it points downwards and stil turns you

[@Kaiasky]

I think the brightness filter just washed out the contrast by turning black into grey. You want a filter that maps (0, 0, 0) to (0, 0, 0) but scales up faster, mapping (50, 50, 50) to (255, 255, 255) or the like. You might be able to bump up both contrast and brightness to get the effect, but I'd look for a proper color curves filter

[@AA_shiftspy]

Love the "There's a segway there right" as the segway, instead of actually doing something with what you set up. I don't know if it's just me but it really got me laughing.😅

[@NohusBluxome]

"segway" is a two wheeled vehicle. You are looking for "segue". :)

[@grrey01]

Upgoer 5 is explaining the Saturn V only using the 100 most commonly used words in the English Language.

[@vicroc4]

I thought it was something like that.

[@tmuiuocrndqs]

Not one hundred, ten hundred

[@eekee6034]

That makes sense. I thought it sounded like something out of Anglish, which is an attempt to create an English language with no foreign influence. (It's a ridiculous goal, but taking out the Norman French influence and later weirdness makes some sense.) As I understand it, the most commonly used words are amongst the least influenced.

[@grrey01]

@@tmuiuocrndqs I sit corrected. I was commenting from memory.

[@BerzerkaDurk]

Did the devs stop to consider the irony of a "most cursed rocket challenge"??!? For the past 10 months I've been waiting to be able to build a rocket that ISN'T cursed.

[@KingMoronProductions]

"Scratching your heads thinking what is Matt going to do" in this video called "Building an Upside-down Rocket in Kerbal Space Program" HMMMMM gosh yes I am flummoxed! xD

[@thedoomstanley1048]

It was an honor partaking in the glorious thumbnail vote. When do we get the wide kerman walking video?

[@Agent-ic1pe]

What do we want? Wide Kerman Walking! When do we want it? Now!

[@j-mr-t4025]

Re: the aquatic science node. I'm pretty sure a recent devlog has confirmed that this includes some sort of diving bell, that being the piece you also talked about in your initial For Science coverage.

[@GeordonAerospace]

BTW the author of XKCD is Randall Munroe, author of How to, What it? and What if? 2

[@Bulltoad_Real]

13:36 as an australian i can confirm this is how we land

[@sparkieT88]

I thought you were making a christmas tree for launch

[@squirrelag]

I for one love the editing flair. It was a great way to start the day.

[@AnonymousRedCat]

the creator of XKCD is Randall Munroe (I hope I spelled it right), just in case you were wondering.

[@engineergamingfun]

Great video, I found multiple parts quite entertaining...can tell you put a lot of work into these.

[@janneaalto3956]

How about a tethered rocket, similar to podracers? Or a Doctor Evil Space Program, with Dick Rockets launching Boob satellites and finally setting up an Evil Lair on the Mun?

[@MrMeow-iq7kq]

"Space launch is the earliest part of a flight that reaches space. Space launch involves liftoff." You did not have liftoff with the engines facing down, therefore you did not have a proper space launch and have failed the challenge.

[@SockTaters]

This game is gorgeous!

[@finndyer8216]

They really posted that challenge like the game itself wasn't enough of a curse on your rocket already

[@HeatherBragg-be9kq]

Thank you so much for putting in the time to make these videos they always make my day

[@levelzapstudios1145]

I never use maneuver nodes for mun missions. it's just always seemed less complicated to eyeball it, but I still use maneuver nodes for interplanetary missions of course.

[@johnryan6019]

This was excellent. One of your best

[@CURSEDvids]

Opinions on a podcast? I would definitley listen to Matt and guests waffle on for an hour

[@Man2quilla]

Up Goer Five is from XKCD's book "How To," where he explains things while only using the 1000 most common words on the English language

[@randallbestrcb]

That was very fun to watch. Your content is always 100% 👍

[@eekee6034]

"Vibe" has been coming and going since the 60s. It's both before my time and after my time. I appreciate the conversational tone. 👍 The twists were a lot of fun too :)

[@R-BGamingUK]

Honestly, as someone who wants to launch rockets into space, KSP2 makes me intrested with the potential and cringe with the condition of the game.

[@TheHutchy01]

Randall from XKCD used to work at NASA. Admittedly it was on robotics not rocketry, but still NASA.

[@CreativeSanbox-KH]

When I was watching this I was sitting in a cursed way

[@kaz49]

My goodness you got me good with that segue

[@marc4276]

What a video Matt, it made my day. HAHAHA

[@chrissmyth60]

The fact that matt literally has to speed up footage to hide lag and make the game watchable is comedic

[@ecoop20]

Kudos for the smooth ad transition 👌

[@ElliottBurton-iu7ud]

The shot you're looking for is a panning shot, great video!

[@FruitLoops_]

The other good thing about For Science! is that now you'll be able to rebirth Lowne Aerospace!

[@billdoor9038]

The stupid and irrelevant tangents during mission crucial moments are what make these videos worth watching

[@isaiahcollins1879]

14:02 liwally getting sturdy

[@catsoelite2551]

You could've used the water to have the rocket float on flotation devices attached to a point around the top of the rocket so it would turn around and sit in the water rightside-up

[@jacobshelton3743]

14:03 jebidiah Kerman hits the griddy

[@tehllama42]

I feel like the Tim Dodd tie-in was sorely underutilized. Flamey side up, pointy side down for life

[@VileStorms]

I like the fish stick commentary, to heck with the people that have gold fish attention spans!

[@Pknuckles1804]

The wheel thing works. Used it to load an asteroid onto the top of a rocket and launch it back to orbit.

[@Graham-ce5bv]

these videos never fail to make me smile

[@garbage6577]

i don't mind sitting through matt's sponsorships. he's so smart with the transitions between the video and the sponsorship segment.

[@Zpajro]

If you don't want to do an Apollo-style mission, try doing a N1-style mission ^^

[@brotrongamingyt1994]

As an Aussie I label this with the kangaroo seal of Australian.

[@Garzini]

Ah, the old Technical Doo-Dah Panning Shot !

[@nemliveproductions]

12:27 for science got it a review rating polarity flip

[@patricktho6546]

16:40 you could do a whisky review

[@valecasini]

8:39 well here I have to say that you were wrong 😅 it never said "upon launch"... But anyway the mission went very good and it was a successful coursed rocket launch! 👏

[@justinbrown5581]

i liked this specifically because of the everyday astronaut and high elon memes during launch.

[@emm4148]

I honestly don’t watch ur videos for the game I just come to listen like a podcast lmao 🤣

[@YMandarin]

well that's another way to launch upside down

[@Callonian]

Technically the flamey bits were point down at launch. They were pointing up at spawn.

[@caseyknolla8419]

The tangents are definitely your thing. They're welcome and encouraged!

[@Cabin_Fever13]

Refried beans are so good. Why did i have to become poor to discover something so awesome

[@captaincrunch416]

Protip for getting your wheel to roll better. Offset the Center of Gravity from the geometric center of the wheel. If you make the center of the wheel sit below the C.G. the wheel will naturally roll so the C.G is below the center of the wheel. Either a large weight, such as fuel tank placed at the top of the circle, or offsetting the rocket in a circle who's circumference is appriciably lather than the rocket's height would work. For bonus points use a n oval shape that will naturally want to come to rest pointing upward.

[@ganymedemlem6119]

If you ever end up going back to KSP1 a "permanent" Eve base would be really cool. Something where kerbals could shuttle down for science excursions to the planet's surface then return to orbit to process the science and return it to Kerbin.

[@TheLilram2100]

Woke up Qeued new Matt Lowne video Saw kerbals land upside down on the Mun, plant flag, hit the griddy and leave…I think todays gonna be a good day

[@benb101]

There's a real life application for this somewhere.

[@WyndellCoutinho]

Space X taking notes for starship:

[@UnexpectedInquisition]

This is pretty damn cursed. I think Tyler Raiz accidentally may win this contest however, if he unironically submits his Mars City flying spaghetti monster

[@jenniferkemp2337]

that picture was from "Thing Explainer"

[@antares8826]

I was hoping for Option D (The thumbnail community post from earlier). The one you ended up using is more in line with the others, but personally nothing can to wide Jeb

[@antares8826]

Edit: He changed it xD

[@canadiangoose1451]

When fire go up fire no go space but fire go space when fire go up but turn down? 🤯🤯🤯

[@theotimeyt]

It says 27 mins ago, it’s been several hours

[@Veloxyll]

Will Aquatic science include a fish fingers module?

[@williamruiz26]

Matt: oh no I selected th wrong launch area. Me: haha dumba......wait a minute this is a segwa....nooooooooooooooooo Mat: this is a segway

[@user-cb6rt2js7m]

Great Video👍

[@lucas13flu]

I'm happy the shark wasn't just clickbait, as we can clearly see there was a shark in the video 😂

[@alexlabs4858]

My alt account is a small 4K subscriber chemistry channel and I do the very same thing to avoid accidental plagiarism or copying someone else’s style. Big fan of a lot of the chemistry KZbinrs but I do actively try not to watch their vids for the most part to make sure things stay unique. Idk how I could get through not watching Marcus House’s weekly space vids but I think it’s great you do that to be different!

[@Snacks2912]

Matt maybe you should include the KSP2 soundtrack in your videos its really good and i think it can make your videos freaking awesome!!1!11!

[@thepolishtech1552]

In order to make this fit the rules of the challenge you can just rotate the rotation engines so they are ‘up’ but still rotated enough to provide a turning force. I may be wrong but this is my interpretation of the challenge

[@jdotoz]

He could just put them at 3 or 9 o'clock as well.

[@thepolishtech1552]

@@jdotoz true that, I haven’t even thought about that

[@CindyHuskyGirl]

This is how rockets work in Australia

[@JakartaGamingJKG]

Ooh wow this was amazing 😊

[@LAffinity]

World champion Matt strikes again! ❤

[@djkaijones42069]

I live in shared accommodation don't be worried everybody likes different things for a reason, I so can't wait for my ps5 to have ksp2 on

[@frontdoortwobyfour5983]

Matt Lowne = best videogame youtuber

[@theprogrammer32]

I think to *truly* challenge the XKCD comic, it should be done with a replica of the saturn V and not some custom rocket

[@PiffGaming]

B-roll/ beauty shots

[@AppoapsisStudios]

Finally, a launch pad in the water that doesn’t need vessel mover!

[@eekee6034]

I start on the runway, open the Set Position cheat and just delete the fractional part of the longitude. It puts me about half-way between the longitudes of KSC and the island runway.

[@oliver__8804]

Can you do more Blunderbirds in Ksp2

[@xiamaravera2790]

Matt lowne is the best ksp youtuber

[@bewilderbeestie]

I was surprised you didn't just install an old version of KSP2 and then build a normal rocket.

[@jordandegraaff]

Matt, I don’t suppose we will get a planet coaster Christmas build? 😢

[@Mohegan13]

I assumed the cursed part was making it in KSP2.

[@stoplookin9484]

18:14 So true

[@chriswoodend2036]

Would have been more cursed if you landed the service module instead.

[@twitchy.mp3]

Has the buggy lag been patched? This video made me reconsider getting ksp2! (:

[@luisdanielmesa]

make it a pendullum, between 4 towers.

[@xchoo]

Another curse in this video, @23:23, although Podley and Bill disappear when transferred to the command module. 👻

[@tomalper4760]

Wait wait wait, the challenge is technically wrong, you turn the rocket around meaning that the engine is still pointing down!

[@Baum27737]

now try it again in the water and see if it works with the new boyancy

[@deltasixgaming]

But when you technically Launched your engines were facing down