KSP-RO/RealismOverhaul — pull request #39 by Felger (2014-11-10 23:43:47+00:00)
Title: Near Future Engines

I've completed the overhaul of Near Future Propulsion Engines. Some Notes

I absolutely want to make a note on the support entry to the effect of:
"As in real life, these engines are very low-thrust. Recommend the use of Orbit Manipulator (http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/70881-0-25-Orbit-Manipulator-Series-(Updated-March-12-2014)) for use of Ion Engines at high warp. All Near Future Engines are compatible, as well as the PB-ION (NSTAR) Ion engine"

I've also introduced three new categories of part (With appropriate title tagging in the individual config files)
RSSROConfig = True - Has the same meaning it always has. This is a part based on a real life part.
RSSROConfig = Test - This part is based on a laboratory test article. Real flight hardware may perform differently.
RSSROConfig = Theoretical - This part is based on theoretical predictions of engine performance, coupled with empirical research at lower performance regimes to produce a trend.
RSSROConfig = Extrapolated - A step better than theoretical, an extrapolated engine is determined from empirical testing of a smaller device. Still not incredibly realistic, but closer.

This is to cover the wide range of engine origins found in Near Future Propulsion, and to make clear to the player which ones can be used for highly simulationist plays, and which should probably be reserved for wishful thinking type missions.

At some point, I plan on making a compatibility pack for KSP Interstellar, and will probably continue to use that sort of scheme (I expect nearly all of the KSPI engines to fall under Theoretical. Only a few are even close to Test or Extrapolated)