diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 5789ba3..5201245 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -3,3 +3,4 @@
 /Plugin/obj
 /Plugin/bin
 /Aerostats.zip
+/.vs/Aerostats/v14/*.suo
diff --git a/Plugin/Aerostats.csproj b/Plugin/Aerostats.csproj
index c74cc1a..deb5434 100644
--- a/Plugin/Aerostats.csproj
+++ b/Plugin/Aerostats.csproj
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
     <DebugSymbols>true</DebugSymbols>
     <DebugType>full</DebugType>
     <Optimize>false</Optimize>
-    <OutputPath>..\..\1.0_dev\GameData\Aerostats\Plugin\</OutputPath>
+    <OutputPath>..\..\..\..\Jeux\KSP_1_0_5\GameData\Aerostats\Plugin\</OutputPath>
     <DefineConstants>DEBUG;TRACE</DefineConstants>
     <ErrorReport>prompt</ErrorReport>
     <WarningLevel>4</WarningLevel>
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@
   </PropertyGroup>
   <ItemGroup>
     <Reference Include="Assembly-CSharp">
-      <HintPath>..\..\1.0_dev\KSP_Data\Managed\Assembly-CSharp.dll</HintPath>
+      <HintPath>..\..\..\..\Jeux\KSP_1_0_5\KSP_Data\Managed\Assembly-CSharp.dll</HintPath>
       <Private>False</Private>
     </Reference>
     <Reference Include="System" />
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@
     <Reference Include="System.Data" />
     <Reference Include="System.Xml" />
     <Reference Include="UnityEngine">
-      <HintPath>..\..\1.0_dev\KSP_Data\Managed\UnityEngine.dll</HintPath>
+      <HintPath>..\..\..\..\Jeux\KSP_1_0_5\KSP_Data\Managed\UnityEngine.dll</HintPath>
       <Private>False</Private>
     </Reference>
   </ItemGroup>
@@ -53,7 +53,8 @@
   </ItemGroup>
   <Import Project="$(MSBuildToolsPath)\Microsoft.CSharp.targets" />
   <PropertyGroup>
-    <PostBuildEvent>if $(ConfigurationName)==Release ("$(ProjectDir)..\build\build-package.bat")</PostBuildEvent>
+    <PostBuildEvent>if $(ConfigurationName)==Debug ("$(ProjectDir)..\build\prepare-debug.bat" "$(OutDir)")
+if $(ConfigurationName)==Release ("$(ProjectDir)..\build\build-package.bat")</PostBuildEvent>
   </PropertyGroup>
   <!-- To modify your build process, add your task inside one of the targets below and uncomment it. 
        Other similar extension points exist, see Microsoft.Common.targets.
diff --git a/Plugin/ModuleAerostat.cs b/Plugin/ModuleAerostat.cs
index 8aa891f..b9bdfde 100644
--- a/Plugin/ModuleAerostat.cs
+++ b/Plugin/ModuleAerostat.cs
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ namespace Aerostats
         private static readonly float ZeroCelsius = 273.15f;
         private static readonly float StandardPressure = 100000.0f;
         private static readonly float StpVolumeToMoles = 100000.0f / R / 273.15f;
-
+        
         /// <summary>
         /// Maximum rate at which gas can be injected in the balloon to fill it, in m^3/s at stp
         /// </summary>
@@ -79,38 +79,44 @@ namespace Aerostats
         [KSPField(isPersistant = false, guiActive = false)]
         public float SpringHardness = 5000.0f;
 
-        private bool Staged;
+        [KSPField(isPersistant = false, guiActive = true)]
+        public string Status;
+
+        private bool Deployed;
 
         private bool Destroyed;
 
         /// <summary>
         /// Gas quantity currently inside the balloon
         /// </summary>
-        [KSPField(isPersistant = true, guiActive = true)]
+        [KSPField(guiName = "Gas quantity", isPersistant = true, guiActive = true)]
         public float LiftingGasQuantity;
 
+        [KSPField(guiName = "Volume", isPersistant = false, guiActive = true)]
+        public string VolumeStatus;
+
         /// <summary>
         /// Inflation ratio of the balloon (0=empty, 1=maximum)
         /// </summary>
         private float Inflation = 0;
 
+        private float Radius = 0.01f;
+
         private GameObject Balloon;
         private LineRenderer Spring;
 
         private Vector3 EstimatedNextFramePosition;
 
-        public override void OnStart(PartModule.StartState state)
-        {
-            if (!HighLogic.LoadedSceneIsEditor && !HighLogic.LoadedSceneIsFlight) { return; }
+        [KSPEvent(guiActive = true, active = true, externalToEVAOnly = false, guiActiveUnfocused = true, guiName = "Deploy balloon", unfocusedRange = 5)]
+        public void Deploy()
+        {
+            if (Destroyed || Deployed)
+                return;
 
-            ScreenMessages.PostScreenMessage("Aerostat loaded");
-            part.stagingIcon = "PARACHUTES";
-        }
+            Deployed = true;
 
-        private void OnStaged()
-        {
             UnityEngine.Debug.Log("Aerostats: staged");
-            ScreenMessages.PostScreenMessage("staged");
+            Util.PostScreenMessage("staged");
 
             Balloon = GameObject.CreatePrimitive(PrimitiveType.Sphere);
             Balloon.transform.position = part.Rigidbody.position + part.Rigidbody.transform.up;
@@ -131,35 +137,55 @@ namespace Aerostats
 
             part.OnJustAboutToBeDestroyed += OnPartDestroyed;
 
-            EstimatedNextFramePosition = part.Rigidbody.position;
+            EstimatedNextFramePosition = part.Rigidbody.position;
         }
 
-        private void OnPartDestroyed()
-        {
+        [KSPEvent(guiActive = true, active = true, externalToEVAOnly = false, guiActiveUnfocused = true, guiName = "Cut rope", unfocusedRange = 5)]
+        public void Cut()
+        {
+            if (Destroyed || !Deployed)
+                return;
+
             Destroy(Balloon); // another option could be to let it float freely, but in this case the buoyancy code should be implemented in a separate MonoBehavior
             Balloon = null;
             Spring = null;
             part.OnJustAboutToBeDestroyed -= OnPartDestroyed;
-            Destroyed = true;
+            Destroyed = true;
+        }
+
+        public override void OnStart(PartModule.StartState state)
+        {
+            if (!HighLogic.LoadedSceneIsEditor && !HighLogic.LoadedSceneIsFlight) { return; }
+
+            Util.PostScreenMessage("Aerostat loaded");
+            part.stagingIcon = "PARACHUTES";
+        }
+
+        private void OnPartDestroyed()
+        {
+            Cut();
         }
 
         private void FixedUpdate()
         {
             if (Destroyed)
+            {
+                Status = "separated";
+                VolumeStatus = "-";
                 return;
+            }
 
-            if (!Staged && GameSettings.LAUNCH_STAGES.GetKeyDown() && vessel.isActiveVessel && (part.inverseStage == Staging.CurrentStage - 1 || Staging.CurrentStage == 0))
+            if (GameSettings.LAUNCH_STAGES.GetKeyDown() && vessel.isActiveVessel && (part.inverseStage == Staging.CurrentStage - 1 || Staging.CurrentStage == 0))
             {
-                Staged = true;
-                OnStaged();
+                Deploy();
             }
 
-            if (Staged)
+            if (Deployed)
             {
                 // detect Krakensbane teleportation, and fix up the balloon position (otherwise it results in instant ship disintegration due to extreme forces on the spring)
-                if((part.Rigidbody.position - EstimatedNextFramePosition).magnitude > 1000.0f)
+                if ((part.Rigidbody.position - EstimatedNextFramePosition).magnitude > 1000.0f)
                 {
-                    ScreenMessages.PostScreenMessage("Krakensbane teleportation detected! (dist=" + (part.Rigidbody.position - EstimatedNextFramePosition).magnitude+")");
+                    Util.PostScreenMessage("Krakensbane teleportation detected! (dist=" + (part.Rigidbody.position - EstimatedNextFramePosition).magnitude+")");
                     var offset = part.rigidbody.position - EstimatedNextFramePosition;
                     Balloon.rigidbody.position += offset;
                     Balloon.transform.position = Balloon.rigidbody.position;
@@ -179,11 +205,21 @@ namespace Aerostats
                     // infalting balloon
                     float stepFinalQuantity = Math.Min(LiftingGasQuantity + MaxGasFillRate * Time.fixedDeltaTime, Math.Min(LiftingGasTargetQuantity, currentMaxQuantity));
                     float step = Math.Max(stepFinalQuantity - LiftingGasQuantity, 0.0f);
-                    LiftingGasQuantity += part.RequestResource("Helium", step);
+                    float stepResource = part.RequestResource("Helium", step);
+                    LiftingGasQuantity += stepResource;
+                    if(step > 0.0f)
+                    {
+                        Status = stepResource > 0.0f ? "inflating" : "out-of-gas";
+                    }
+                    else
+                    {
+                        Status = "nominal";
+                    }
                 }
                 else
                 {
                     // deflating balloon
+                    Status = LiftingGasTargetQuantity == LiftingGasQuantity ? "nominal" : "deflating";
                     LiftingGasQuantity = Math.Max(LiftingGasQuantity - MaxGasVentRate * Time.fixedDeltaTime, LiftingGasTargetQuantity);
                 }
 
@@ -191,6 +227,7 @@ namespace Aerostats
                 // balloon security valve
                 if (LiftingGasQuantity > currentMaxQuantity)
                 {
+                    Status = "full (venting)";
                     Util.PostSingleScreenMessage("security valve", "Some gas has been vented by the balloon security valve");
                     LiftingGasQuantity = currentMaxQuantity;
                 }
@@ -198,6 +235,7 @@ namespace Aerostats
                 float currentGasMoles = StpVolumeToMoles * LiftingGasQuantity;
                 float currentGasVolume = currentGasMoles * R * balloonInternalTemperature / externalPressure;
                 Inflation = currentGasVolume / MaxBalloonVolume;
+                VolumeStatus = Mathf.Round(currentGasVolume) + " / " + Mathf.Round(MaxBalloonVolume);
 
                 Util.PostSingleScreenMessage("inflation", "Inflation = " + (Inflation * 100.0f).ToString("0.00") + "%");
 
@@ -210,8 +248,8 @@ namespace Aerostats
                 //Util.PostSingleScreenMessage("gravity", "Gravity accel = (" + gravityAccel.x + ", " + gravityAccel.y + ", " + gravityAccel.z + ")");
                     
                 // V = 4/3*pi*r^3
-                float radius = Mathf.Pow(currentGasVolume * 0.75f / Mathf.PI, 0.333f);
-                float scale = radius * 2.0f + 0.1f;
+                Radius = Mathf.Pow(currentGasVolume * 0.75f / Mathf.PI, 0.333f);
+                float scale = Radius * 2.0f + 0.1f;
                 Balloon.transform.localScale = new Vector3(scale,scale,scale);
                 Balloon.rigidbody.mass = (BalloonEmptyMass + balloonGasMass) * 0.001f;
 
@@ -221,16 +259,16 @@ namespace Aerostats
                 var airVelocity = Balloon.rigidbody.velocity + Krakensbane.GetFrameVelocity() /*- vessel.mainBody.getRFrmVel(vessel.GetWorldPos3D())*/;
                 float sqVel = (float)airVelocity.magnitude;
                 sqVel *= sqVel;
-                float dragForce = 0.5f * airDensity * sqVel * BalloonDragCoeff * (Mathf.PI * radius * radius);
+                float dragForce = 0.5f * airDensity * sqVel * BalloonDragCoeff * (Mathf.PI * Radius * Radius);
                 Util.PostSingleScreenMessage("balloon drag", "Drag = " + dragForce + "N");
                 Balloon.rigidbody.AddForce(-airVelocity.normalized * dragForce / 1000.0f, ForceMode.Force);
 
                 // spring between balloon and base
-                float restLength = SpringRestLength + radius;
+                float restLength = SpringRestLength + Radius;
                 var springVec = Balloon.rigidbody.position - part.rigidbody.position;
                 float springLength = springVec.magnitude;
                 float springForceMag = 0;
-                var balloonAttachPoint = Balloon.rigidbody.position - Balloon.transform.up.normalized * radius;
+                var balloonAttachPoint = Balloon.rigidbody.position - Balloon.transform.up.normalized * Radius;
                 if(springLength > restLength)
                 {
                     float tensingLength = springLength - restLength;
@@ -240,6 +278,22 @@ namespace Aerostats
                     Balloon.rigidbody.AddForceAtPosition(-springForce, balloonAttachPoint, ForceMode.Force);
                 }
                 Util.PostSingleScreenMessage("spring force", "Spring force = " + springForceMag + "N");
+            }
+            else
+            {
+                Status = "packed";
+                VolumeStatus = "-";
+            }
+        }
+
+        private void LateUpdate()
+        {
+            if (Destroyed)
+                return;
+
+            if (Deployed)
+            {
+                var balloonAttachPoint = Balloon.rigidbody.position - Balloon.transform.up.normalized * Radius;
 
                 Spring.SetPosition(0, part.transform.position);
                 Spring.SetPosition(1, balloonAttachPoint);
diff --git a/Plugin/Util.cs b/Plugin/Util.cs
index db943f6..8518997 100644
--- a/Plugin/Util.cs
+++ b/Plugin/Util.cs
@@ -1,4 +1,8 @@
-using System;
+#if DEBUG
+#define ENABLE_ONSCREEN_DEBUG
+#endif
+
+using System;
 using System.Collections.Generic;
 using System.Linq;
 using System.Text;
@@ -11,9 +15,18 @@ namespace Aerostats
 
         public static void PostSingleScreenMessage(string id, string message)
         {
+            #if ENABLE_ONSCREEN_DEBUG
             if (messages.ContainsKey(id))
                 ScreenMessages.RemoveMessage(messages[id]);
             messages[id] = ScreenMessages.PostScreenMessage(message);
+            #endif
+        }
+
+        public static void PostScreenMessage(string message)
+        {
+            #if ENABLE_ONSCREEN_DEBUG
+            ScreenMessages.PostScreenMessage(message);
+            #endif
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/build/prepare-debug.bat b/build/prepare-debug.bat
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..22aa495
--- /dev/null
+++ b/build/prepare-debug.bat
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+@echo off
+
+rem get parameters that are passed by visual studio post build event
+SET outDllPath=%1
+
+rem make sure the initial working directory is the one containing the current script
+SET scriptPath=%~dp0
+SET initialWD=%CD%
+
+rem generate the MDB file needed by Monodevelop and UnityVS for debugging
+rem see http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/index.php?/topic/102909-ksp-plugin-debugging-for-visual-studio-and-monodevelop-on-all-os/&page=1 for information on how to setup your debugging environment
+echo "Aerostats.dll -> %outDllPath%Aerostats.dll.mdb"
+cd %outDllPath%
+cmd /C "c:\Program Files (x86)\Mono\bin\pdb2mdb" Aerostats.dll
+
+cd %initialWD%
diff --git a/todo.txt b/todo.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..db949ee
--- /dev/null
+++ b/todo.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+save/load balloon state
+test in orbit
+button to deploy
+button to cut the rope