retrograde question

WalterWhite

New Member
Nov 14, 2025
8
8
Does this look right.
I would expect retrograde to be in the opposite direction of travel.
Yet as I am falling the RCS is not aligning me with the direction of travel so I can't slow down to a stop directly under the craft
In the picture below, the craft is falling to the left. Retrograde is not working.
2025-12-05 11_14_06-Kitten Space Agency (KSA) v2025.12.24.3014.jpg
 
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I believe you're meant to use the "SURF" (for surface) controls when in atmosphere as you're no longer in orbit (ORBT for Orbit or OVEL for orbital velocity). Try using "BACK" under SURF, though I admit this doesn't always work for me.
 
Yeah the assigned reference frame matters. You'd get behavior closer to what you expect in the SURF frame that close to the ground that OVEL.
 
Well, if the goal is to make the game more approachable to kids in school, a simple mechanism like KSP would be good.
Maybe have a selectable option as to auto reference or manual reference.
KSP is easier to land.