A rocket launches from the launch pad.
Launch is a stage that will bring a rocket into space. It is a very important part of a mission; if something wrong happens during this stage, the mission will be failed.
Stages[]
After clicking the Launch button in the build menu, the built rocket will be transferred to the launch pad, where it is launched.
Liftoff[]
By firing the first stage engine(s) for the first time, the rocket will leave the ground, and start rising.
Angle indicator appears[]
Shortly after launch the angle indicator appears, that will warn the player to start turning.
Max Q[]
During this phase the rocket is now exposed to the highest dynamic pressures on the rocket.
Turning[]
Then the rocket turns over to the side and reaches a steep angle as it gets higher.
Booster separation[]
If boosters are present; if they run out of propellant, they will separate from the rocket. The core stage will bring the rest of the rocket to orbit at its best.
Stage staging[]
After the rocket's core stage had ran out of fuel, it's time to separate it. Then the second stage will take over with its engines that are used in space to push it further out into orbit.
Orbit insertion[]
The second stage, now burning, is struggling to get to orbit. After a few minutes of firing its engine, it gets into a stable (but not completely so stable) orbit. The engine shuts down and continues its mission in space.
Post‐launch activities[]
After orbit insertion the rocket will then rendezvous to a space station, go to other planets or release a payload into a specific orbit.
Launch warnings and failures[]
If the rocket is too heavy, has no parachute/heat shield or uncontrollable, the game warns the player to add the missing part(s), reduce weight or use a more powerful engine to lift it off right away. If the rocket has a malfunction during launch the mission will be rendered a failure. If there were astronauts on board they will use the launch abort system to safely return to Earth.
Image gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Many rockets are launch successfully and others a failure.
- The rocket may explode if it has another rocket inside the said rocket.
- Some launches are just testing.
- Unlike in real life, the launch pad has no launch tower.
- You can create your own launch tower by building it with structural parts, empty fuel tanks, solar panels (for the service arms), landing legs (for launch clamps), separators (for detaching the rocket from the tower) and Docking Ports and wheels (for decoration).