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Core Conversions
[This article has been updated for MKS 0.50.0]
MKS has a tremendous amount of depth. A lot of this depth centers around the various conversions and resources that it supports. While this can be daunting, the conversions themselves are fairly small, and when taken one step at a time, are easy to understand and grasp.
The most common reason for failure in MKS is when players attempt to do everything in a single go. If you are new to MKS, start with the most basic conversions (if any!). Over time, you will better be able to decide how far down the processing chain rabbit hole you wish to go.
The resource conversions are covered below in order of progression - that is, you should be able to build a successful base using each of these before moving onto ones further down the list. It also assumes you use USI-LS, since USI-LS has very tight integration with the rest of the USI mods, and many of the later chains are only relevant if you are using USI-LS mechanics.
The first converters are based on life support. The simplest of these is the converter for life support itself (1). These converters will provide everything your colony needs to be 100% self sufficient for your life support needs.
1x🍏Supplies = 1x💩Mulch
Kerbals will consume Supplies and produce an equivalent mass of Mulch. Supplies are an abstraction consisting of oxygen, food (in this case, a nutritious but unappealing algae-based paste), and water (over 90% of the mass of a unit of supplies). Water represents not only drinking water, but also water used for hygiene and food preparation. USI-LS recyclers can reduce Kerbal supply demand.
📦 = 🍏
Supplies can be added in the VAB or shipped to your colony or station as part of a resupply mission.
10x💩Mulch + 1x🌱Fertilizer = 11x🍏Supplies
Mulch can be combined with a bit of Fertilizer and the power of agroponics to grow new Supplies.
📦 = 🌱
Fertilizer can be added in the VAB or shipped to your colony or station as part of a resupply mission. Shipping Fertilizer is significantly more space efficient than shipping Supplies.
10x🌰Gypsum = 1x🌱Fertilizer
Gypsum is a good source of calcium and sulfur, essential nutrients for plants, and can be converted into Fertilizer.
🌏 = 🌰
Gypsum is a harvestable planetary resource.
25x🔸Minerals = 1x🌱Fertilizer
Minerals are a representation of non-metallic mineral deposits, and can be assumed to contain some crucial elements for plant growth, though the conversion rate is not as efficient as Gypsum (above).
🌏 = 🔸
Minerals are a harvestable planetary resource.
Life support converters are limited to Mulch as their sole input. However, there are circumstances where you will want to generate significantly more Supplies than possible with available Mulch. These converters are generally used alongside the Life Support converters above, since there is no competition for input resources.
[WIP]