| name | realism-overhaul |
| description | Comprehensive knowledge base for the Realism Overhaul (RO) mod suite in Kerbal Space Program (KSP 1.12.x). Covers all 68 KSP-RO GitHub organization repositories across 8 categories: core foundational mods (RealismOverhaul, RP-1, RSS, RealFuels, ProceduralParts), engine & propulsion (SolverEngines, AJE, ROEngines, RealPlume), parts/tanks/capsules (ROTanks, ROCapsules, ProceduralFairings), life support & reliability (TACLS, TestFlight, ROKerbalism, DeadlyReentry), visual enhancements (RSS-Textures, RSSVE, RealHeat, RealISRU), historical spacecraft (SovietRockets, USProbesPack, FASA-RO, Skylab, SalyutStations), utility mods (KJR, KerbalKonstructs, KSCSwitcher, RealAntennas, ContractConfigurator), and infrastructure/build tools. Includes installation dependencies, .netkan conflict maps, changelog highlights through v18.0.0, forum thread references, technical deep-dives, troubleshooting FAQs, and the official "False KSP Lessons" guide.
|
| author | Acea |
| sources | ["https://github.com/KSP-RO (all 68 repositories)","https://github.com/KSP-RO/RealismOverhaul (RO master repo)","https://raw.githubusercontent.com/KSP-RO/RealismOverhaul/master/RealismOverhaul.netkan","https://github.com/KSP-RO/RealismOverhaul/wiki","https://github.com/KSP-RO/RP-1/wiki","https://github.com/KSP-RO/RealSolarSystem/wiki","https://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/topic/155700-112-ksp-ro-realism-overhaul-16-may-2022/ (RO release thread)","https://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/topic/88409-realism-overhaul-discussion-thread/ (RO discussion thread)","https://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/topic/190040-rp-1-realistic-progression-one-for-ksp-1123 (RP-1 thread)","https://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/topic/177216-112-real-solar-system (RSS thread)","https://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/topic/58236-18-real-fuels (RealFuels thread)","https://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/topic/50296-112-deadly-reentry-v790-the-barbie-edition-aug-5th-2021 (DRE thread)","https://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/topic/204080-18-procedural-parts (ProceduralParts thread)","https://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/topic/139868-18-111-advanced-jet-engine-v2170-june-26 (AJE thread)","https://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/topic/188033-ksp112x-realplume-stock-v408-realplume-v1332-25jun2021 (RealPlume thread)","https://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/topic/146465-112x-tac-life-support-v0180-release-19th-sep-2021 (TACLS thread)","https://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/topic/184206-kerbal-joint-reinforcement-next (KJR thread)","https://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/topic/204210-ksp-18-kerbal-konstructs-continued (KK thread)","https://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/topic/91625-1101-contract-configurator-v1305-2020-10-05 (CC thread)","https://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/topic/190382-15-110-kerbalism-311 (Kerbalism thread)","https://web.archive.org (Wayback Machine archives of forum threads)","https://spacedock.info (SpaceDock mod metadata)","https://github.com/KSP-CKAN (CKAN metadata)","https://www.reddit.com/r/RealSolarSystem/ (RSS/RO subreddit)"] |
| category | gaming |
| version | 1 |
| last_updated | "2026-06-22T00:00:00.000Z" |
| applies_when | list_directory:GameData/RealismOverhaul |
Realism Overhaul (RO) — KSP Mod Suite Knowledge Base
⚠ CONDITIONAL SKILL: This knowledge base applies when Realism Overhaul is installed in the current KSP instance. To verify: check that <KSP_ROOT>/GameData/RealismOverhaul/ exists as a directory. If not present, the information below is not relevant.
Detection method:
ls -d <KSP_ROOT>/GameData/RealismOverhaul/ 2>/dev/null && echo "RO installed" || echo "RO NOT installed"
Test-Path "<KSP_ROOT>\GameData\RealismOverhaul" -PathType Container
📖 Quick-reference companion: All detail from the references below is also available as a single searchable document — RO-COMPLETE-REFERENCE.md (92 KB, 1,615 lines). Use Ctrl+F to find anything across all 8 categories at once.
1. WHAT IS REALISM OVERHAUL?
Realism Overhaul (RO) is the flagship mod suite of the KSP-RO GitHub organization (68 repositories). It is a comprehensive "multipatch to KSP" that transforms Kerbal Space Program into a realistic spaceflight simulator by modifying parts and gameplay to match real-world rocket science, engineering, and orbital mechanics.
RO does NOT add new parts — it applies Module Manager patches to existing parts (stock and mod-added) to make their performance, dimensions, masses, and capabilities match real-world counterparts.
Key Changes from Stock KSP
- Engines: Real sizes, real thrust/Isp, limited ignitions, ullage simulation, real fuels
- Pods/Capsules: Full-size, real-weight equivalents
- Propellant Tanks: Correct dry mass ratios, multiple tank types with real-world vehicle examples
- Solar Panels: Lower power output, lighter mass, decay over time
- Reaction Wheels: Much weaker (realistic torque, no magic attitude control)
- ElectricCharge: Displayed in watts in tooltips and Solar Panel menu
- Crew mass: 100 kg each (person + suit)
Complete repo index: references/00-repo-index.md
All 68 repositories sorted by category with stars, forks, issues, and descriptions.
2. INSTALLATION & DEPENDENCIES
2.1 Official Dependency Tree (from RealismOverhaul.netkan)
Hard DEPENDS (14 mods — CKAN installs automatically):
| # | Mod | Purpose |
|---|
| 1 | ModuleManager | Config patching engine |
| 2 | TweakScaleRescaled-Redist | Part scaling support |
| 3 | AdvancedJetEngine (AJE) | Realistic jet engine thermodynamics |
| 4 | FAR | Ferram Aerospace Research — realistic aerodynamics |
| 5 | KerbalJointReinforcementContinued | Physics joint stabilization (prevents "Kraken") |
| 6 | RealChute | Realistic parachute behavior |
| 7 | RealChuteForStock | RealChute configs for stock parachutes |
| 8 | RealFuels | Real propellants, tank types, engine performance |
| 9 | ROUtils | Base library for all RO mods |
| 10 | RealHeat | Real heating model (conductive/convective/radiative) |
| 11 | RealPlume | Realistic exhaust plume effects |
| 12 | SmokeScreen | Particle effects plugin for RealPlume |
| 13 | KSPCommunityFixes | Community bug-fix compilation |
| 14 | KerbalChangelog | In-game changelog display |
2.2 Install Locations
| Source | Target |
|---|
GameData/RealismOverhaul | KSP/GameData/ |
GameData/EngineGroupController | KSP/GameData/ |
EngineGroupController is unique to RO — bundled with the standard install.
2.3 CONFLICTS (Must NOT Install)
| Mod | Reason |
|---|
| DeadlyReentry | ⚠️ RO v18.x uses RealHeat for thermal modeling; CKAN refuses both |
| EngineLightRelit | Conflicts with RO engine lighting configs |
| RocketSoundEnhancement | Conflicts with RO sound configs |
| StockWaterfallEffects | Conflicts with RO plume system |
| WaterfallRestock | Conflicts with RO plume system |
| TweakableEverythingCont | Incompatible tweak system |
| RealPlumeConfigs | RO provides its own (provides: in .netkan) |
| TestFlightConfig | RO provides its own (provides: in .netkan) |
Full installation instructions, dependency tree, conflict map, and .netkan analysis:
See references/01-core-mods.md (RealismOverhaul section — Installation & Dependencies).
3. REPOSITORY CATEGORIES & DOCUMENTATION MAP
3.1 Core / Foundational Mods
references/01-core-mods.md
- RealismOverhaul — Flagship multipatch (9,716 commits, 175 releases, CC-BY-SA)
- RP-1 (Realistic Progression One) — Historical career mode with tech tree (v4.4.0.0)
- RealSolarSystem (RSS) — 1:1 scale real solar system via Kopernicus
- RealFuels — Real propellants, tank types, ullage, tech levels (128 releases)
- ProceduralParts — Procedurally generated tanks/SRBs, any size and shape
Also includes: System requirements, False KSP Lessons (10 myths debunked), changelog highlights (v10.3.0–v18.0.0), FAQ & troubleshooting, known incompatibilities table.
3.2 Engine & Propulsion
references/02-engines-propulsion.md
- SolverEngines — Developer plugin enabling AJE-style engine solvers (42 releases, LGPL)
- AJE (Advanced Jet Engine) — Real thermodynamics via NASA EngineSim + JSBSim (v2.17.0)
- ROEngines — Accurate 3D models for 50+ liquid engines, 19 solid, 13 maneuvering
- RealPlume — SmokeScreen-based realistic exhaust plume effects (v13.3.2)
- RealPlume-StockConfigs — Plume config assignments for stock-sized engines
Also includes: Engine technical details (ullage, limited ignitions, throttle limits, pressure-fed vs pump-fed, H-1 TEATEB ignition), RealPlume particle system architecture, AJE Brayton cycle thermodynamics, SABRE specs (Mach 5.5 / 600–800 kN), SolverEngines API reference, common engine FAQ.
3.3 Parts, Tanks & Capsules
references/03-parts-tanks-capsules.md
- ROTanks — Modular SSTU-based tanks (Atlas, Titan, Centaur, Saturn parts)
- ROCapsules — 12 spacecraft families (Apollo, Gemini, Mercury, Orion, Starliner, etc.)
- ROHeatshields — Dynamically resizable heatshields
- ProceduralFairings — Auto-reshaping fairings with 10 pre-set historic shapes
- ProceduralFairings-ForEverything — Patcher replacing stock fairings
- StagedAnimation — Stage-triggered animation plugin
Also includes: Tank type mapping (cryogenic, ServiceModule, balloon, structural, spherical), B9PartSwitch fuel switching workflow, tech levels by era (1950s–1980s+), engine clustering with thrust plates, complete ROCapsules part inventory, ProceduralFairings auto-reshaping algorithm, FAQ.
3.4 Life Support & Reliability
references/04-lifesupport-reliability.md
- TacLifeSupport — Food, water, O2, electricity; background processing since v0.13.2
- TestFlight — Part reliability system; 8 failure types; logarithmic reliability curves
- ROKerbalism — RO/RP-1 config pack; historical life support, ISRU chains, radiation
- Kerbalism — ⚠️ OUTDATED (v3.11, Dec 2019, KSP 1.5–1.10) — use ROKerbalism instead
- DeadlyReentry — ⚠️ INCOMPATIBLE with RO v18.x (listed in .netkan conflicts)
Also includes: TestFlight reliability mechanics (base reliability, flight data accumulation, persistent tracking), DeadlyReentry heat model (3 modes — but CONFLICT with RO), Kerbalism radiation system (cosmic background + solar flares + planetary belts), G-force formula, FAQ.
3.5 Visual & Environmental
references/05-visuals-environment.md
- RSS-Textures — High-resolution planetary textures (2048/4096/8192 resolution tiers)
- RSSVE — Visual enhancement pack (EVE clouds + Scatterer atmospheric scattering)
- RSS-CanaveralHD — HD terrain for Cape Canaveral / KSC
- RealHeat — Real heating model (hard DEPENDS of RO); 3 heat transfer modes
- RealISRU — Realistic in-situ resource utilization; 5 resource chain tables
- ROSolar — Realistic solar panels with decay
- RSSTimeFormatter — Time formatting for RSS date systems
Also includes: Texture resolution vs VRAM tables, EVE config details (cloud layers, city lights, aurora), RealHeat heat transfer mode comparison, RealISRU resource chains with Earth analogues, visual FAQ.
3.6 Historical Spacecraft & Launch Vehicles
references/06-historical-spacecraft.md
- SovietRockets — Soyuz/Proton/Zenit variants (7 Soyuz, 5 Proton, 3 Zenit)
- SovietSpacecraft — Vostok, Voskhod, Soyuz, TKS/VA
- SovietProbes — Long-term Soviet probe project
- USProbesPack — Pioneer, Mariner, Ranger, Surveyor probes
- USRockets — Older/obscure US launchers
- Antares-Cygnus — Antares launch vehicle + Cygnus cargo (5 Antares variants)
- SalyutStations — DOS/OPS-style space stations
- Skylab — Broken and unbroken Skylab (Saturn V compatible)
- FASA-RO — FASA Realism Overhaul Edition (Saturn V / Apollo / Gemini)
- RNMisc — Raidernick's miscellaneous mods
- US-Soviet Solar Panels Pack — Standalone solar panels
Also includes: Explorer 1 ascent procedure, Hydyne fuel formulation, complete spec tables (crew, mass, dimensions, duration) for each spacecraft, Saturn V stage specs, Apollo CSM/LM specs, Antares/Cygnus variant comparison, FAQ.
3.7 Utilities & Tools
references/07-utilities-tools.md
- KerbalJointReinforcement-Continued — ⚠️ Hard DEPENDS of RO; auto-strut, physics stabilization
- KerbalKonstructs — Static object placement; in-game editor broken on 1.12.x
- KSCSwitcher — Moves KSC to new launch sites (9 supported sites)
- RealAntennas — Communications via Friis equation + Shannon-Hartley theorem
- ContractConfigurator — Config-based contract creation (⚠️ potentially outdated: v1.30.5, Oct 2020)
- LunarTransferPlanner — Lunar transfer planning tool
- KJR-Next (related) — Complete rewrite of KJR (compiled for 1.12.3, no dependencies)
- RemoteTech vs RealAntennas — Either/or (both listed in .netkan recommends)
Also includes: RealAntennas link budget calculation, ContractConfigurator 12 parameter types, KSCSwitcher launch site coordinates, KJR-C auto-strut mechanics, "Kraken" glossary, mod dependency chain table.
3.8 Infrastructure & Build Tools
references/08-infrastructure-build.md
- BuildTools — 10-step CI/CD pipeline (CKAN API, version stamping, changelog generation)
- ROLibrary — Shared code library for ROx family (PartModule bases, physics helpers)
- ROUtils — Lowest-level base library (logging, config helpers, extension methods)
- CFGProjectGenerator — Generates .csproj from .cfg files
- RP1AnalyticsWebApp — Player analytics ("Spyware v2.0")
- RP-1-ExpressInstall — CKAN metapackage for RO/RP-1
- ECM-Viewer — Browser-based engine config parameter viewer
- GoForLaunch — Collaborative RP-0 career repository
Also includes: Build pipeline sequence, ROLibrary API data flow diagram, RP-1 Express Install dependency list, build infrastructure dependency graph.
4. CRITICAL: DEADLYREENTRY CONFLICT
DeadlyReentry is INCOMPATIBLE with current Realism Overhaul (RO v18.x).
The RO .netkan master file explicitly lists DeadlyReentry in its conflicts: section. CKAN will refuse to install both simultaneously. RO v18.x uses RealHeat (a hard DEPENDS) for thermal modeling, making DRE redundant and conflicting.
- For reentry heating in current RO: use RealHeat + ROHeatshields
- DeadlyReentry is still maintained as a KSP-RO repo and may return to compatibility in future versions
- The DRE section in references/04-lifesupport-reliability.md is provided for historical documentation only
5. FALSE KSP LESSONS (v18.0.0)
Full reference in references/01-core-mods.md (False KSP Lessons section). Key myths debunked:
| # | Myth | Fact |
|---|
| 1 | MOAR BOOSTERS is best | High TWR causes aerodynamic destruction, mass penalty, inability to throttle down |
| 2 | Asparagus staging is optimal | Adds dry mass, complexity, drag; serial staging is simpler and often better |
| 3 | Nuclear engines are always best | Low TWR, massive boil-off for interplanetary — hypergolics often better |
| 4 | You need a 10 km/s interplanetary stage | Realistic transfers with aerocapture need far less |
| 5 | SSTO spaceplanes are efficient | High dry mass; staged rockets are more efficient for payload delivery |
| 6 | Ion engines are endgame superiority | Extremely low TWR; requires very long burns and massive solar arrays |
| 7 | You always need Reaction Wheels | RCS is lighter for large craft; real reaction wheels are weak |
| 8 | Solar panels are always efficient | Solar panel decay reduces output over time; RTGs better for long missions |
| 9 | More engines = more better | Clustering adds dry mass; use procedural tanks and thrust plates instead |
| 10 | TWR < 1 is always fine | Insufficient TWR causes gravity losses; aim for TWR 1.2–1.5 on launch |
6. KEY TECHNICAL TERMS
7. SUPPORT & TROUBLESHOOTING
Common Issues Quick Reference
| Issue | Solution | See |
|---|
| Engine won't fire (pressure-fed) | Use ServiceModule tank type | 03 FAQ |
| Engine turning off too early (MechJeb) | Set minimum acceleration limit > 0 | 01 FAQ |
| Zero ignitions | Check EngineIgnitor tooltip; some engines have limited ignitions | 02 FAQ |
| LH2 boil-off during interplanetary | Switch to hypergolics; use exterior radiator fins + large power supply | 01 RealFuels appendix |
| Parts exploding on launch | Reduce TWR; check RealHeat multiplier; add heat shields | 01 FAQ |
| RCS burning up during reentry | Place RCS above fuselage for aerodynamic shielding | 04 DRE appendix |
| No communication link | Check antenna dish diameter/power; RealAntennas uses Friis equation | 07 RealAntennas FAQ |
| Vessel spontaneously destroyed | Likely "Kraken" physics instability; ensure KJR-C is installed (hard DEPENDS) | 07 KJR section |
8. CROSS-MOD INTEGRATION NOTES
Either/Or Pairs (from .netkan)
| Choice A | Choice B | Purpose |
|---|
| RemoteTech | RealAntennas | Communications |
| Kerbalism-Config-RO | TACLS | Life support |
| TestFlight | TestLite | Part reliability |
| VenStockRevamp | Restock | Stock visual overhaul |
Deprecated / Superseded Mods
| Old Mod | Replace With | Status |
|---|
| DeadlyReentry | RealHeat + ROHeatshields | ⚠️ CONFLICTS with RO v18.x |
| EngineIgnitor (standalone) | RealFuels (integrated) | Merged into RealFuels |
| RemoteTech | RealAntennas | Legacy support only |
| AIES Aerospace | Not maintained | May not work with current RO |
| Kerbalism (v3.11, 2019) | ROKerbalism | OUTDATED — KSP 1.5–1.10 only |
| ContractConfigurator (v1.30.5, 2020) | KSP-RO maintained fork | Potentially outdated |
| RP-0 | RP-1 (Realistic Progression One) | Superseded career mode |
| StretchySRBs / StretchyTanks | ProceduralParts | Legacy — ProceduralParts hides old parts |
9. QUICK REFERENCE: REPO MAP BY CATEGORY
| Category | File | Repos Covered |
|---|
| Core | 01-core-mods | RealismOverhaul, RP-1, RealSolarSystem, RealFuels, ProceduralParts |
| Engines/Propulsion | 02-engines-propulsion | SolverEngines, AJE, ROEngines, RealPlume, RealPlume-StockConfigs |
| Parts/Tanks/Capsules | 03-parts-tanks-capsules | ROTanks, ROCapsules, ROHeatshields, ProceduralFairings, PFFE, ProceduralSolidsLibrary, StagedAnimation |
| Life Support/Reliability | 04-lifesupport-reliability | TacLifeSupport, TestFlight, ROKerbalism, Kerbalism, DeadlyReentry |
| Visuals/Environment | 05-visuals-environment | RSS-Textures, RSSVE, RSS-CanaveralHD, RealHeat, RealISRU, ROSolar, RSSTimeFormatter |
| Historical Spacecraft | 06-historical-spacecraft | SovietRockets, SovietSpacecraft, SovietProbes, USProbesPack, USRockets, Antares-Cygnus, SalyutStations, Skylab, FASA-RO, RNMisc, ROStations |
| Utilities/Tools | 07-utilities-tools | KJR-C, KerbalKonstructs, KSCSwitcher, RealAntennas, ContractConfigurator, LunarTransferPlanner, CustomPreLaunchChecks, FlightSchool, KerbalRenamer, CanaveralPads |
| Infrastructure/Build | 08-infrastructure-build | BuildTools, BuildLibs, CFGProjectGenerator, ROLibrary, ROUtils, ROLoadingImages, RP-1-ExpressInstall, RP1AnalyticsWebApp, ECM-Viewer, GoForLaunch |
| Index (all 68) | 00-repo-index | Every KSP-RO repo with stats |
End of SKILL.md. See referenced files in references/ for detailed documentation on each category.
