On: A Rocket Built by Students Reaches Space

[luizfzs]

We can use Kerbal Space Program as base and set it to 70km

[marcosdumay → luizfzs]

Kerbin is designed as smaller than Earth and with a thinner atmosphere. The end result is that it's much easier to make a rocket there.

[CydeWeys → luizfzs]

I know you're joking, but, KSP models a planet that's different from Earth in a number of ways. On Kerbin there is zero atmospheric drag past 70km; it's not the edge of space, it's the demarcation line at which indefinite stable orbits are possible. That is very different from Earth.

[fernandopj → CydeWeys]

KSP is a whole different beast if you use the Real Solar System mod (which you should, once you learn the basics).

[CydeWeys → fernandopj]

One of the differences of that mod is that it changes the 70k value to what it actually is in the real world, though.

[thaumasiotes → CydeWeys]

> it changes the 70k value to what it actually is in the real world, though.

This surprised me. What is the real-world altitude at which there is zero atmospheric drag? I thought the atmosphere was basically just continuous.

[vkou → luizfzs]

Kerbin has a soup-like lower atmosphere, and is much smaller, and much denser than the Earth.