Difference between revisions of "Asteroid"

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(Added a little information that seemed lacking)
(*the science differs from the usual surface samples; *moved the flag part to the paragraph that it's a part;)
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Currently, asteroids are the only celestial bodies not on rails, meaning that they can be captured by other bodies or interacted with by player controlled space craft. Asteroids can be found and monitored via the tracking station and come in various sizes, ranging from class A (tiny) to class E (Huge). Their coloration ranges from light to dark grey, with patches of black and white dispersed over the surface.
 
Currently, asteroids are the only celestial bodies not on rails, meaning that they can be captured by other bodies or interacted with by player controlled space craft. Asteroids can be found and monitored via the tracking station and come in various sizes, ranging from class A (tiny) to class E (Huge). Their coloration ranges from light to dark grey, with patches of black and white dispersed over the surface.
  
The game counts asteroids as being parts, instead of true celestial bodies. The part configuration file used as a prototype for each procedurally-generated asteroid can be found in <tt style="white-space:nowrap;">[[GameData]]/NASAmission/Parts/[[Parts/NASAmission/PotatoRoid/part.cfg|PotatoRoid]]/</tt>. Because they are parts, asteroids don't have any gravity and do not possess a [[sphere of influence]]. You can also transfer resources through them, making them useful as big refuelling stations.
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The game counts asteroids as being parts, instead of true celestial bodies. The part configuration file used as a prototype for each procedurally-generated asteroid can be found in <tt style="white-space:nowrap;">[[GameData]]/NASAmission/Parts/[[Parts/NASAmission/PotatoRoid/part.cfg|PotatoRoid]]/</tt>. Because they are parts, asteroids don't have any gravity and do not possess a [[sphere of influence]]. They also allow to manually transfer resources through them, making them usable as big refuelling stations. [[Extend-o-matic Series A1 Deployable Flag]]s can't be placed on the asteroid, because of the lack of gravity a Kerbal don't stand on the surface but instead floats along with the asteroid.
  
 
Asteroids should not be confused with [[captured asteroid]]s (e.g. Gilly), as the latter are on rails and have gravity.
 
Asteroids should not be confused with [[captured asteroid]]s (e.g. Gilly), as the latter are on rails and have gravity.
  
 
== Capturing asteroids ==
 
== Capturing asteroids ==
The update in which asteroids were released is called [[Asteroid Redirect Mission]]. The general notion is to rendezvous with an asteroid and attach to it with an [[Advanced Grabbing Unit]]. You can then rename it, and/or the craft can then use its engines to alter the orbit of the asteroid. This can be used to get it into a stable orbit around [[Kerbin]] or another celestial body and even land it. Capturing an Asteroid is similar to [[docking]].
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The update in which asteroids were released is called [[Asteroid Redirect Mission]]. The general notion is to rendezvous with an asteroid and attach to it with an [[Advanced Grabbing Unit]]. They can be renamed when docked, and/or the craft can then use its engines to alter the orbit of the asteroid. This can be used to get it into a stable orbit around [[Kerbin]] or another celestial body and even land it. Capturing an Asteroid is similar to [[docking]].
  
 
The rendezvous is identical to the usual docking with targeting the asteroid and reducing the relative inclination. Although docking or grappling with an escaping target is more difficult, because the instrumentation isn't really implemented to do that sort of docking. On close approach instead of targeting a specific docking port the [[center of mass]] needs to be target when the asteroid should be moved. Once grappled it simply behaves as though the ship needs to get a closed orbit and [[retrograde]] until it is no longer an escape trajectory.
 
The rendezvous is identical to the usual docking with targeting the asteroid and reducing the relative inclination. Although docking or grappling with an escaping target is more difficult, because the instrumentation isn't really implemented to do that sort of docking. On close approach instead of targeting a specific docking port the [[center of mass]] needs to be target when the asteroid should be moved. Once grappled it simply behaves as though the ship needs to get a closed orbit and [[retrograde]] until it is no longer an escape trajectory.
  
 
Depending on the size, exactly hitting the center of mass is not crucial, because the Advanced Grabbing Unit can be tilted to point the thrust better along the center of mass. And when the asteroid is smaller, the unit needs to be gimballed less.
 
Depending on the size, exactly hitting the center of mass is not crucial, because the Advanced Grabbing Unit can be tilted to point the thrust better along the center of mass. And when the asteroid is smaller, the unit needs to be gimballed less.
 
Even though you can collect samples of their surfaces for science, you cannot currently place flags on them.
 
  
 
=== Science ===
 
=== Science ===
Kerbals which fly close to an asteroid during an EVA can take samples from each asteroid to a maximum of 70 [[Science]]. Different samples of equal value can be collected from the same asteroid in different situations, like high orbit, low orbits, atmosphere and even in different biomes when the asteroid is landed on a celestial body.
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Kerbals which fly close to an asteroid during an EVA can take samples from each asteroid to a maximum of 70 [[Science]]. Different samples of equal value can be collected from the same asteroid in different situations, like high orbit, low orbits, atmosphere and even in different biomes when the asteroid is landed on a celestial body. The mechanic is different from the [[Surface Sample]]s, because instead of doing the experiment on the Kerbal, the asteroids needs to be used to collect scientific data, much like any other part used for scientific experiments.
  
 
== Gallery ==
 
== Gallery ==
<gallery><!-- please in alphabetical order -->
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<gallery><!-- please in alphabetical order of the classes -->
 
File:AsteroidLanding.png|An A-class asteroid landing on Kerbin
 
File:AsteroidLanding.png|An A-class asteroid landing on Kerbin
 
File:A class asteroid.jpg|An A-Class asteroid with multiple probes attached over Kerbin
 
File:A class asteroid.jpg|An A-Class asteroid with multiple probes attached over Kerbin

Revision as of 09:18, 30 May 2014

An E class asteroid

An asteroid is a randomly created celestial body with sizes between 3 and 30 meters.

Currently, asteroids are the only celestial bodies not on rails, meaning that they can be captured by other bodies or interacted with by player controlled space craft. Asteroids can be found and monitored via the tracking station and come in various sizes, ranging from class A (tiny) to class E (Huge). Their coloration ranges from light to dark grey, with patches of black and white dispersed over the surface.

The game counts asteroids as being parts, instead of true celestial bodies. The part configuration file used as a prototype for each procedurally-generated asteroid can be found in GameData/NASAmission/Parts/PotatoRoid/. Because they are parts, asteroids don't have any gravity and do not possess a sphere of influence. They also allow to manually transfer resources through them, making them usable as big refuelling stations. Extend-o-matic Series A1 Deployable Flags can't be placed on the asteroid, because of the lack of gravity a Kerbal don't stand on the surface but instead floats along with the asteroid.

Asteroids should not be confused with captured asteroids (e.g. Gilly), as the latter are on rails and have gravity.

Capturing asteroids

The update in which asteroids were released is called Asteroid Redirect Mission. The general notion is to rendezvous with an asteroid and attach to it with an Advanced Grabbing Unit. They can be renamed when docked, and/or the craft can then use its engines to alter the orbit of the asteroid. This can be used to get it into a stable orbit around Kerbin or another celestial body and even land it. Capturing an Asteroid is similar to docking.

The rendezvous is identical to the usual docking with targeting the asteroid and reducing the relative inclination. Although docking or grappling with an escaping target is more difficult, because the instrumentation isn't really implemented to do that sort of docking. On close approach instead of targeting a specific docking port the center of mass needs to be target when the asteroid should be moved. Once grappled it simply behaves as though the ship needs to get a closed orbit and retrograde until it is no longer an escape trajectory.

Depending on the size, exactly hitting the center of mass is not crucial, because the Advanced Grabbing Unit can be tilted to point the thrust better along the center of mass. And when the asteroid is smaller, the unit needs to be gimballed less.

Science

Kerbals which fly close to an asteroid during an EVA can take samples from each asteroid to a maximum of 70 Science. Different samples of equal value can be collected from the same asteroid in different situations, like high orbit, low orbits, atmosphere and even in different biomes when the asteroid is landed on a celestial body. The mechanic is different from the Surface Samples, because instead of doing the experiment on the Kerbal, the asteroids needs to be used to collect scientific data, much like any other part used for scientific experiments.

Gallery

See also

References