Scenario Deltaglider on Curiosity Trajectory

flytandem

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I've been mostly out of touch with space news as of late so I was delighted to see our current window to Mars was being utilized. Seeing the launch time and the countdown clock for the arrival at Mars I massaged the TransX eject data and have a deltaglider sitting on the runway at the cape, ready to launch, with what I think is an approximation of the trajectory that the Mars Science Laboratory is taking. It could be way off but I have no idea how to find out the actual eject values. Corrections are appreciated. Anyway, here's what I came up with yesterday morning.

Code:
BEGIN_DESC
Deltaglider at Cape Canaveral, ready to launch to Mars, on same flight trajectory as the Mars Science Laboratory. Nov 26, 2011.
END_DESC

BEGIN_ENVIRONMENT
  System Sol
  Date MJD 55891.6231686278
END_ENVIRONMENT

BEGIN_FOCUS
  Ship GL-01
END_FOCUS

BEGIN_CAMERA
  TARGET GL-01
  MODE Cockpit
  FOV 60.00
END_CAMERA

BEGIN_HUD
  TYPE Surface
END_HUD

BEGIN_MFD Left
  TYPE User
  MODE TransX
  Ship  GL-01
  FNumber 3
  Int 1
  Orbit True
  Vector  -4920347.07195 3858614.02439 -1221099.36919
  Vector  193.620071222 142.617959089 -329.514782821
  Double  3.98600439969e+014
  Double  55891.6231679
  Handle Earth
  Handle NULL
  Handle NULL
Select Target
 0 Escape
Autoplan
0 0
Plan type
0 0
Plan
0 1
Plan
0 0
Plan
0 0
Select Minor
 0 None
Manoeuvre mode
0 0
Base Orbit
0 0
Prograde vel.
 0  0
Man. date
 0  55891.6224639
Outward vel.
 0  0
Ch. plane vel.
 0  0
Intercept with
0 0
Orbits to Icept
0 0
Graph projection
0 3
Scale to view
0 0
Advanced
0 0
Pe Distance
 0  6570661.94026
Ej Orientation
 0  -0.742700428576
Equatorial view
0 0
Finvars
  Finish BaseFunction
  Int 2
  Orbit False
  Handle Sun
  Handle Earth
  Handle Mars
Select Target
 0 Mars
Autoplan
0 0
Plan type
0 2
Plan
0 0
Plan
0 0
Plan
0 1
Select Minor
 0 None
Manoeuvre mode
0 0
Base Orbit
0 1
Prograde vel.
 0  0
Man. date
 0  55891.6231679
Outward vel.
 0  0
Ch. plane vel.
 0  0
Intercept with
0 0
Orbits to Icept
0 0
Graph projection
0 0
Scale to view
0 0
Advanced
0 0
Prograde vel.
 0  2865.50523391
Eject date
 4  55891.6465028
Outward vel.
 4  1381.66298252
Ch. plane vel.
 3  697.148402316
Finvars
  Finish BaseFunction
  Int 5
  Orbit True
  Vector  5804765489.25 -2104999791.59 434952450.537
  Vector  -3309.43185818 1200.39670827 -244.611612173
  Double  4.28282991638e+013
  Double  56123.7886658
  Handle Mars
  Handle NULL
  Handle NULL
Select Target
 0 None
Autoplan
0 0
Plan type
0 1
Plan
0 0
Plan
0 2
Plan
0 0
Select Minor
 0 None
Manoeuvre mode
0 0
Base Orbit
0 0
Prograde vel.
 0  0
Man. date
 0  55891.6231679
Outward vel.
 0  0
Ch. plane vel.
 0  0
Intercept with
0 0
Orbits to Icept
0 0
Graph projection
0 1
Scale to view
0 0
Advanced
0 0
Draw Base
0 0
Finvars
  Finish BaseFunction
END_MFD

BEGIN_MFD Right
  TYPE User
  MODE TransX
END_MFD

BEGIN_SHIPS
GL-01:DeltaGlider
  STATUS Landed Earth
  POS -80.6856603 28.5903180
  HEADING 330.38
  AFCMODE 7
  PRPLEVEL 0:1.000000 1:1.000000
  NAVFREQ 402 94 0 0
  XPDR 0
  GEAR 1 1.0000
  AAP 0:0 0:0 0:0
END
END_SHIPS

BEGIN_VistaBoost
END
 

dgatsoulis

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It looks like NASA went for a higher inclination. Here is a pic of the TransX plans minutes after TMI. On the left is flytandem's plan and on the right is the MSL's. (Data provided by ajaja).
The middle MFD is a comparison of the ships' orbits.
msl.jpg


Here is the scenario:
Code:
BEGIN_DESC
Contains the latest simulation state.
END_DESC

BEGIN_ENVIRONMENT
  System Sol
  Date MJD 55891.6676941882
END_ENVIRONMENT

BEGIN_FOCUS
  Ship MSL
END_FOCUS

BEGIN_CAMERA
  TARGET GL-01
  MODE Cockpit
  FOV 60.00
END_CAMERA

BEGIN_HUD
  TYPE Orbit
  REF AUTO
END_HUD

BEGIN_MFD Left
  TYPE User
  MODE TransX
  Ship  MSL
  FNumber 3
  Int 1
  Orbit True
  Vector  4197564.27943 -9824681.46991 

6679699.9744
  Vector  -2832.50776234 -4548.12535435 

6729.26675285
  Double  3.98600439969e+014
  Double  55891.6676938
  Handle Earth
  Handle NULL
  Handle NULL
Select Target
 0 Escape
Autoplan
0 0
Plan type
0 0
Plan
0 1
Plan
0 0
Plan
0 0
Select Minor
 0 None
Manoeuvre mode
0 0
Base Orbit
0 0
Prograde vel.
 0  0
Man. date
 0  55891.6632588
Outward vel.
 0  0
Ch. plane vel.
 0  0
Intercept with
0 0
Orbits to Icept
0 0
Graph projection
0 0
Scale to view
0 0
Advanced
0 0
Pe Distance
 0  7645212
Ej Orientation
 0  0
Equatorial view
0 0
Finvars
  Finish BaseFunction
  Int 2
  Orbit True
  Vector  64986389066.6 -113944667.048 

132699306823
  Vector  -29178.5817843 -957.545502201 

15461.408448
  Double  1.32712838556e+020
  Double  55891.651981
  Handle Sun
  Handle Earth
  Handle Mars
Select Target
 0 Mars
Autoplan
0 0
Plan type
0 2
Plan
0 0
Plan
0 0
Plan
0 1
Select Minor
 0 None
Manoeuvre mode
0 0
Base Orbit
0 0
Prograde vel.
 0  0
Man. date
 0  55891.6676932
Outward vel.
 0  0
Ch. plane vel.
 0  0
Intercept with
0 0
Orbits to Icept
0 0
Graph projection
0 0
Scale to view
0 0
Advanced
0 0
Prograde vel.
 0  0
Eject date
 0  55891.6631808
Outward vel.
 0  0
Ch. plane vel.
 0  0
Finvars
  Finish BaseFunction
  Int 5
  Orbit True
  Vector  5857730749.3 -1982091084.12 

274560289.144
  Vector  -3168.87779709 1369.77122292 -

149.87450664
  Double  4.28282991638e+013
  Double  56127.9709562
  Handle Mars
  Handle NULL
  Handle NULL
Select Target
 0 None
Autoplan
0 0
Plan type
0 1
Plan
0 0
Plan
0 2
Plan
0 0
Select Minor
 0 None
Manoeuvre mode
0 0
Base Orbit
0 0
Prograde vel.
 0  0
Man. date
 0  55891.6631937
Outward vel.
 0  0
Ch. plane vel.
 0  0
Intercept with
0 0
Orbits to Icept
0 0
Graph projection
0 0
Scale to view
0 0
Advanced
0 0
Draw Base
0 0
Finvars
  Finish BaseFunction
  Ship  GL-01
  FNumber 3
  Int 1
  Orbit True
  Vector  4784439.74747 -8415487.0613 

7350577.93408
  Vector  -2693.56704286 -3924.80762167 

7306.6627529
  Double  3.98600439969e+014
  Double  55891.666794
  Handle Earth
  Handle NULL
  Handle NULL
Select Target
 0 Escape
Autoplan
0 0
Plan type
0 0
Plan
0 1
Plan
0 0
Plan
0 0
Select Minor
 0 None
Manoeuvre mode
0 0
Base Orbit
0 0
Prograde vel.
 0  0
Man. date
 0  55891.6667935
Outward vel.
 0  0
Ch. plane vel.
 0  0
Intercept with
0 0
Orbits to Icept
0 0
Graph projection
0 3
Scale to view
0 0
Advanced
0 0
Pe Distance
 0  6570661.94026
Ej Orientation
 0  -0.742700428576
Equatorial view
0 0
Finvars
  Finish BaseFunction
  Int 2
  Orbit True
  Vector  64985525101.5 -97154138.3501 

132714205097
  Vector  -29179.771752 -711.657362469 

15490.5780317
  Double  1.32712838556e+020
  Double  55891.6519156
  Handle Sun
  Handle Earth
  Handle Mars
Select Target
 0 Mars
Autoplan
0 0
Plan type
0 2
Plan
0 0
Plan
0 0
Plan
0 1
Select Minor
 0 None
Manoeuvre mode
0 0
Base Orbit
0 0
Prograde vel.
 0  0
Man. date
 0  55891.6667935
Outward vel.
 0  0
Ch. plane vel.
 0  0
Intercept with
0 0
Orbits to Icept
0 0
Graph projection
0 0
Scale to view
0 0
Advanced
0 0
Prograde vel.
 0  0
Eject date
 0  55891.6525413
Outward vel.
 0  0
Ch. plane vel.
 0  0
Finvars
  Finish BaseFunction
  Int 5
  Orbit True
  Vector  5798451356.12 -1972237038.57 

897378722.678
  Vector  -3261.59681759 1212.16307807 -

245.188221564
  Double  4.28282991638e+013
  Double  56124.0893512
  Handle Mars
  Handle NULL
  Handle NULL
Select Target
 0 None
Autoplan
0 0
Plan type
0 1
Plan
0 0
Plan
0 2
Plan
0 0
Select Minor
 0 None
Manoeuvre mode
0 0
Base Orbit
0 0
Prograde vel.
 0  0
Man. date
 0  55891.6625901
Outward vel.
 0  0
Ch. plane vel.
 0  0
Intercept with
0 0
Orbits to Icept
0 0
Graph projection
0 1
Scale to view
0 0
Advanced
0 0
Draw Base
0 0
Finvars
  Finish BaseFunction
END_MFD

BEGIN_MFD Right
  TYPE User
  MODE TransX
END_MFD

BEGIN_SHIPS
MSL:DeltaGlider
  STATUS Orbiting Earth
  RPOS 4197470.16 -9824832.60 6679923.58
  RVEL -2832.536 -4548.060 6729.223
  AROT -1.77 -0.39 1.93
  AFCMODE 7
  PRPLEVEL 0:1.000000 1:1.000000
  NAVFREQ 402 94 0 0
  XPDR 0
  GEAR 1 1.0000
  AAP 0:0 0:0 0:0
END
GL-01:DeltaGlider
  STATUS Orbiting Earth
  RPOS 4571903.82 -8715229.48 7913975.96
  RVEL -2769.890 -3785.112 7182.314
  AROT -24.08 25.44 28.26
  RCSMODE 2
  PRPLEVEL 0:1.000000 1:1.000000
  NAVFREQ 402 94 0 0
  XPDR 0
  GEAR 1 1.0000
  AAP 0:0 0:0 0:0
END
END_SHIPS

BEGIN_ExtMFD
END
 

flytandem

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It looks like NASA went for a higher inclination. Here is a pic of the TransX plans minutes after TMI. On the left is flytandem's plan and on the right is the MSL's. (Data provided by ajaja).(snip)
Do you have a TransX plan from on the ground prior to launch?

---------- Post added at 06:51 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:54 PM ----------

Looking at the two deltagliders supplied by dgatsoulis (thanks) I noticed that the orbits as shown on Map had the orbit of the one I flew (DG-01) as coming from directly over Cape Canaveral which isn't surprising since it was a launch to orbit from that location without much if any plane change, but the other (MSL) has its orbit not in plane with the Cape but rather appears to have passed a few hundred miles north of the Cape. Strange? Other than that, the two have similar overall values for deltaV and arrival dates at Mars.
 

dgatsoulis

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Do you have a TransX plan from on the ground prior to launch?

Not from the ground, because there is a big plane change during the TMI burn. The MSL starts from a parking orbit of 102 x 201 nm (189 x 372 km) with an inclination of 28.9 degrees and when the burn ends it has an inclination of 34.8 degrees.
I copied the parking orbit in Orbiter and setup a manoeuvre in TransX that (i think) closely resembles what the burn must have been like.
Here is the scenario with the plan, ~130 seconds before the burn:
Code:
BEGIN_DESC
Contains the latest simulation state.
END_DESC

BEGIN_ENVIRONMENT
  System Sol
  Date MJD 55891.6843079904
END_ENVIRONMENT

BEGIN_FOCUS
  Ship MSL
END_FOCUS

BEGIN_CAMERA
  TARGET MSL
  MODE Cockpit
  FOV 60.00
END_CAMERA

BEGIN_HUD
  TYPE Orbit
  REF AUTO
END_HUD

BEGIN_MFD Left
  TYPE User
  MODE TransX
  Ship  MSL
  FNumber 2
  Int 1
  Orbit True
  Vector  4509612.56883 943942.19827 -4820195.97202
  Vector  4664.88991328 -5255.90358449 3199.85232014
  Double  3.98600439969e+014
  Double  55891.6832929
  Handle Earth
  Handle NULL
  Handle NULL
Select Target
 0 Escape
Autoplan
0 0
Plan type
0 0
Plan
0 1
Plan
0 0
Plan
0 0
Select Minor
 0 None
Manoeuvre mode
0 1
Base Orbit
0 0
Prograde vel.
 2  3606.90164121
Man. date
 5  55891.6875051
Outward vel.
 0  0
Ch. plane vel.
 1  1498.34273499
Intercept with
0 0
Orbits to Icept
0 0
Graph projection
0 0
Scale to view
0 0
Advanced
0 0
Pe Distance
 0  6671000
Ej Orientation
 0  0
Equatorial view
0 0
Finvars
  Finish BaseFunction
  Int 2
  Orbit True
  Vector  64902059687.6 -115293156.97 132737420004
  Vector  -29218.4164268 -975.02317095 15418.0431406
  Double  1.32712838556e+020
  Double  55891.6873742
  Handle Sun
  Handle Earth
  Handle Mars
Select Target
 0 Mars
Autoplan
0 0
Plan type
0 2
Plan
0 0
Plan
0 0
Plan
0 1
Select Minor
 0 None
Manoeuvre mode
0 0
Base Orbit
0 0
Prograde vel.
 0  0
Man. date
 0  55891.6841837
Outward vel.
 0  0
Ch. plane vel.
 0  0
Intercept with
0 0
Orbits to Icept
0 0
Graph projection
0 0
Scale to view
0 0
Advanced
0 0
Prograde vel.
 0  0
Eject date
 0  55891.6806375
Outward vel.
 0  0
Ch. plane vel.
 0  0
Finvars
  Finish BaseFunction
END_MFD

BEGIN_MFD Right
  TYPE Orbit
  PROJ Frame
  FRAME Ecliptic
  REF Earth
END_MFD

BEGIN_SHIPS
MSL:DeltaGlider
  STATUS Orbiting Earth
  RPOS 4894737.21 478914.11 -4515131.28
  RVEL 4110.332 -5339.444 3750.532
  AROT -75.06 -51.70 44.57
  AFCMODE 7
  PRPLEVEL 0:1.000000 1:1.000000
  NAVFREQ 402 94 0 0
  XPDR 0
  GEAR 1 1.0000
  AAP 0:0 0:0 0:0
END
END_SHIPS

BEGIN_ExtMFD
END
:cheers:
 

flytandem

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Thanks.
There are probably very good reasons that MSL did a plane change in their planned eject burn. There are many more factors in space travel than simply what route to take. I noticed that based on this TransX maneuver, MSL did burn an extra 220 m/s deltav (3906 m/s) over the burn I had set up (3688 m/s) (scenario below) with both routes arriving at Mars at about the same time, which does allow some sense of satisfaction. This was a save I made just before my eject burn.

Code:
BEGIN_DESC
Orbiter saved state at T = 2194
END_DESC

BEGIN_ENVIRONMENT
  System Sol
  Date MJD 55891.6485674888
END_ENVIRONMENT

BEGIN_FOCUS
  Ship GL-01
END_FOCUS

BEGIN_CAMERA
  TARGET GL-01
  MODE Cockpit
  FOV 60.00
END_CAMERA

BEGIN_HUD
  TYPE Orbit
  REF AUTO
END_HUD

BEGIN_MFD Left
  TYPE User
  MODE TransX
  Ship  GL-01
  FNumber 3
  Int 1
  Orbit True
  Vector  -2821342.17407 4570199.10517 -3791963.33559
  Vector  6185.76770634 -104.814406516 -4727.85544249
  Double  3.98600439969e+014
  Double  55891.6322525
  Handle Earth
  Handle NULL
  Handle NULL
Select Target
 0 Escape
Autoplan
0 0
Plan type
0 0
Plan
0 1
Plan
0 0
Plan
0 0
Select Minor
 0 None
Manoeuvre mode
0 1
Base Orbit
0 0
Prograde vel.
 4  3687.53108608
Man. date
 5  55891.6498425
Outward vel.
 0  0
Ch. plane vel.
 0  0
Intercept with
0 0
Orbits to Icept
0 0
Graph projection
0 1
Scale to view
0 0
Advanced
0 0
Pe Distance
 3  6574066.41651
Ej Orientation
 3  -0.743883063677
Equatorial view
0 0
Finvars
  Finish BaseFunction
  Int 2
  Orbit True
  Vector  64985272347 -94757037.8781 132712150160
  Vector  -29225.3627434 -661.71399422 15456.1151844
  Double  1.32712838556e+020
  Double  55891.6498423
  Handle Sun
  Handle Earth
  Handle Mars
Select Target
 0 Mars
Autoplan
0 0
Plan type
0 2
Plan
0 0
Plan
0 0
Plan
0 1
Select Minor
 0 None
Manoeuvre mode
0 0
Base Orbit
0 0
Prograde vel.
 0  0
Man. date
 0  55891.6336269
Outward vel.
 0  0
Ch. plane vel.
 0  0
Intercept with
0 0
Orbits to Icept
0 0
Graph projection
0 0
Scale to view
0 0
Advanced
0 0
Prograde vel.
 6  0
Eject date
 0  55891.6465028
Outward vel.
 6  0
Ch. plane vel.
 6  0
Finvars
  Finish BaseFunction
  Int 5
  Orbit True
  Vector  5821014273.6 -2045973247.29 496160924.239
  Vector  -3356.02921207 1178.87964968 -282.514271094
  Double  4.28282991638e+013
  Double  56122.3746282
  Handle Mars
  Handle NULL
  Handle NULL
Select Target
 0 None
Autoplan
0 0
Plan type
0 1
Plan
0 0
Plan
0 2
Plan
0 0
Select Minor
 0 None
Manoeuvre mode
0 0
Base Orbit
0 0
Prograde vel.
 0  0
Man. date
 0  55891.6347753
Outward vel.
 0  0
Ch. plane vel.
 0  0
Intercept with
0 0
Orbits to Icept
0 0
Graph projection
0 1
Scale to view
0 0
Advanced
0 0
Draw Base
0 0
Finvars
  Finish BaseFunction
END_MFD

BEGIN_MFD Right
  TYPE Map
  REF Earth
  POS 0.00 0.00
  DISP 1711
END_MFD

BEGIN_SHIPS
GL-01:DeltaGlider
  STATUS Orbiting Earth
  RPOS 5475385.63 -538337.99 -3598847.78
  RVEL 2719.198 -5376.482 4932.828
  AROT -43.89 -13.68 115.86
  AFCMODE 7
  PRPLEVEL 0:0.582840 1:0.963648
  NAVFREQ 402 94 0 0
  XPDR 0
  TRIM 1.000000
  AAP 0:0 0:0 0:0
END
END_SHIPS

BEGIN_VistaBoost
END
 

Ajaja

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dgatsoulis said:
Here is the scenario with the plan, ~130 seconds before the burn:
Code:
Date MJD 55891.6843079904
16:25 UTC? But real maneuver started at T+0:31 (15:33UTC) and finished at T+0:39 (15:41 UTC).

flytandem said:
Date MJD 55891.6485674888
Excellent time fit! :)

---------- Post added at 10:29 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:33 PM ----------

Yes. I get dV >3900 m/s with plane change too
Code:
BEGIN_DESC
Contains the latest simulation state.
END_DESC

BEGIN_ENVIRONMENT
  System Sol
  Date MJD 55891.6472455999
END_ENVIRONMENT

BEGIN_FOCUS
  Ship GL-01
END_FOCUS

BEGIN_CAMERA
  TARGET GL-01
  MODE Cockpit
  FOV 50.00
END_CAMERA

BEGIN_MFD Left
  TYPE User
  MODE TransX
  Ship  GL-01
  FNumber 3
  Int 1
  Orbit True
  Vector  3557589.09367 1733059.84914 -5247489.10097
  Vector  5601.4658294 -4965.15171473 2153.81168262
  Double  3.98600439969e+014
  Double  55891.6468633
  Handle Earth
  Handle NULL
  Handle NULL
Select Target
 0 Escape
Autoplan
0 0
Plan type
0 0
Plan
0 1
Plan
0 0
Plan
0 0
Select Minor
 0 None
Manoeuvre mode
0 1
Base Orbit
0 0
Prograde vel.
 4  3595.612854
Man. date
 5  55891.65271
Outward vel.
 0  0
Ch. plane vel.
 4  1569.4729
Intercept with
0 0
Orbits to Icept
0 0
Graph projection
0 0
Scale to view
0 0
Advanced
0 0
Pe Distance
 0  7645212
Ej Orientation
 0  0
Equatorial view
0 0
Finvars
  Finish BaseFunction
  Int 2
  Orbit True
  Vector  64983133821.2 -112700853.004 132699653074
  Vector  -29206.5413218 -938.584528448 15453.8649813
  Double  1.32712838556e+020
  Double  55891.6527037
  Handle Sun
  Handle Earth
  Handle Mars
Select Target
 0 Mars
Autoplan
0 0
Plan type
0 2
Plan
0 0
Plan
0 0
Plan
0 1
Select Minor
 0 None
Manoeuvre mode
0 0
Base Orbit
0 0
Prograde vel.
 0  0
Man. date
 0  55891.6472456
Outward vel.
 0  0
Ch. plane vel.
 0  0
Intercept with
0 0
Orbits to Icept
0 0
Graph projection
0 0
Scale to view
0 0
Advanced
0 0
Prograde vel.
 0  0
Eject date
 0  55891.6469672
Outward vel.
 0  0
Ch. plane vel.
 0  0
Finvars
  Finish BaseFunction
  Int 5
  Orbit True
  Vector  5734278694.47 -2308829128.88 322055704.566
  Vector  -3281.59879676 1356.24197757 -226.16579355
  Double  4.28282991638e+013
  Double  56125.103459
  Handle Mars
  Handle NULL
  Handle NULL
Select Target
 0 None
Autoplan
0 0
Plan type
0 1
Plan
0 0
Plan
0 2
Plan
0 0
Select Minor
 0 None
Manoeuvre mode
0 0
Base Orbit
0 0
Prograde vel.
 0  0
Man. date
 0  55891.6472279
Outward vel.
 0  0
Ch. plane vel.
 0  0
Intercept with
0 0
Orbits to Icept
0 0
Graph projection
0 0
Scale to view
0 0
Advanced
0 0
Draw Base
0 0
Finvars
  Finish BaseFunction
END_MFD

BEGIN_MFD Right
  TYPE User
  MODE TransX
END_MFD

BEGIN_SHIPS
GL-01:DeltaGlider
  STATUS Orbiting Earth
  RPOS 3739840.14749908 1567765.29147341 -5172337.47906494
  RVEL 5431.98081658 -5041.74298109 2395.84604604
  AROT -43.76918611 -13.43525095 115.82114182
  VROT -0.00677370 -0.00001674 -0.00025976
  AFCMODE 7
  PRPLEVEL 0:0.58112000 1:0.95800000
  NAVFREQ 402 94 0 0
  XPDR 0
  TRIM 0.01000000
  AAP 0:0 0:0 0:0
END
END_SHIPS
 

dgatsoulis

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16:25 UTC? But real maneuver started at T+0:31 (15:33UTC) and finished at T+0:39 (15:41 UTC). (..snip)
(...snip)Yes. I get dV >3900 m/s with plane change too
Thanks for the correction. Your scenario was much more accurate.:thumbup:

I was trying to get the plane change right and i forgot to check if i had the right time of ejection. :facepalm:
The interesting thing is, that even with a burn almost one hour later, we both got very similar values for dv, arrival date and encounter dv (more or less).

---EDIT---
:hmm: I wonder... Is this the purpose of NASA choosing such a trajectory? (If something goes wrong, you have time to fix it).
The only other reasons i can think are: telemetry and (at a much smaller extend) inclination at arrival. But both of them would require less dv for corrections, than the -220 m/s from an "optimal" plan.
I'm sure that there are many factors that i'm not counting into this. (For instance, during the burn,
attitude relative to the Sun, for thermal protection).
But if someone could explain to me, i'd be more than happy to learn.
 
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Screamer7

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I tried to replicate the trajectory of the Atlas booster. I watched the launch and noticed that the trajectory was just north of South Africa, crossing Madagascar.
When I do the same trajectory, I noticed that IMFD EIn is out by 49 degrees!
Why did they launch MSL at that trajectory?

P.S. I do not used TransX much, so I do not know how to use it.
 
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