Hmm, okay. I don't use mods, right now. All Vanilla, and I'm in Career mode so I don't yet have everything unlocked. I'm hoping for manned missions, because getting ground samples yields gargantuan amounts of science, but I'd settle for a probe mission first just to get the hang of going to other planets.
I usually burn with an orbit around 200,000M. I prefer liquid engines, seem to have most bang for buck. Nuclear seems promising, but doesn't seem to have very much thrust. I find SRB's to be only useful when hauling oneself off of the launchpad. My go-to engine right now once I've achieved orbit is a large Rockomax tank with a Skipper engine. I find if I add more fuel, or more engines, it's either too heavy, or consumes fuel too fast? I find the Mainsail engines (Strongest engine I have access to) seems to make my ship come apart once I cross over around 100,000M unless I'm really careful with the throttle, even with massive amounts of reinforcement have been installed.
I'm not sure exactly how to calculate out the Hohmann transfer calculations... which is likely hindering my progress. I've read a good option is to haul up fuel and use multiple ships, and dock in orbit, to ensure enough fuel for the journey, but I haven't yet made a successful orbital intercept.
