thumper235
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- Jan 19, 2012
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Ok, A week or so ago I posted how excited I was that I was finally able to make it to the ISS. I had this lingering thought that it was just pure luck. So last-night I thought why not try it again using the DG-IV. My first successful attempt was with the most excellent Ravenstar. Well, It was a success. I am going to stick with planes for now since it is has been said various times that is what noobs should use.
Now, Instead of congestion up the forums with multiple threads asking questions, I decided to write them down, organize them, and do this in one post. You all have been so helpful to me. I really cannot thank you all for the help you have kindly shared with me and given thus far.
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1) I take-off and try to maintain proper heading - I cant keep it perfect, but close enough. Say a heading of 136 is needed I will be 2-5 degrees off by the time I make my initial orbit. Using Autopilot for take-off also leaves me in the same ballpark maybe a little less. I have learned to use weight balance or trim tab to adjust my ascent angle. It seems using this keeps my flight much smoother and keeps me on course a little better.
Question - Is being off by 2-5 degrees normal? Would a real spacecraft/pilot have numbers like this?
Question 2 - If needed, Would you possibly share with me some ideas or techniques or ANYTHING to try out to help me on this part?
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2) Align planes with ISS - I have figured out how to use this, and how to correctly make my burns. I have also have a working understanding of how it ties into your takeoff heading being that its what corrects a "Bad" heading. The closer to your target heading you achieve equals more fuel saved by making less burns. I can make my Inclination right in the .02 -.05 range of my target depending on how long I want to work on it.
Question - When you personally do the ISS scenario how close are your numbers here? I want to be realistic with how this would play out for a real astronaut.
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3) Synchronizing my orbit with ISS. I understand the concept behind this. I can set my position to where I need to chase OR follow the ISS. This is where I loose any and all efficiency, but I can technically do it.
To modify whether I need to speed-up and catch the ISS or let the ISS catch me is by making a very small Pro/retro burn. There are 2 places I do this. When looking at your sync orbit display, You see the dotted line that runs through earth, each side of that line is where I make these small burns. At this point is where I become some sort of space-cowboy/cheater. Well, atleast I feel im cheating the system since Im not using it the way it was intended.
once I see the ISS and can make out its solar panels and other distinct features I make a small pro/retro burn to keep us "together". This will be the only burn I make that ignores the dotted-line rule I mentioned above. At this point I shred my RCS thrusters up trying to grab hold of the ISS.
Question - What is the easiest way I can learn how to use this more efficiently. For some reason I am having trouble with the tutorials on youtube.
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What I do in order
1) Take-off and try to keep heading
2) Align planes
3) sync orbit
4) turn on docking nav
5) Rape Rcs thrusters
My goals
1) learn and perform the ISS scenario like I know what im doing.
2) Re-enter earths atmosphere and land at KSC.
3) Take on the moon. 1)flyby and return to earth 2)land and return to earth
3) Mars with landing + return to earth
4) JUPITER BABY! visit any of her moons I can.
5) Go visit everyone else and to pick up my trophy at Brighton beach.
If I follow it in this order I think I should learn the skills needed to achieve my ultimate goal which is getting to Jupiter and being able to perform basic spaceflight.
Now, Instead of congestion up the forums with multiple threads asking questions, I decided to write them down, organize them, and do this in one post. You all have been so helpful to me. I really cannot thank you all for the help you have kindly shared with me and given thus far.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
1) I take-off and try to maintain proper heading - I cant keep it perfect, but close enough. Say a heading of 136 is needed I will be 2-5 degrees off by the time I make my initial orbit. Using Autopilot for take-off also leaves me in the same ballpark maybe a little less. I have learned to use weight balance or trim tab to adjust my ascent angle. It seems using this keeps my flight much smoother and keeps me on course a little better.
Question - Is being off by 2-5 degrees normal? Would a real spacecraft/pilot have numbers like this?
Question 2 - If needed, Would you possibly share with me some ideas or techniques or ANYTHING to try out to help me on this part?
------------------------------------------------------------------------
2) Align planes with ISS - I have figured out how to use this, and how to correctly make my burns. I have also have a working understanding of how it ties into your takeoff heading being that its what corrects a "Bad" heading. The closer to your target heading you achieve equals more fuel saved by making less burns. I can make my Inclination right in the .02 -.05 range of my target depending on how long I want to work on it.
Question - When you personally do the ISS scenario how close are your numbers here? I want to be realistic with how this would play out for a real astronaut.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
3) Synchronizing my orbit with ISS. I understand the concept behind this. I can set my position to where I need to chase OR follow the ISS. This is where I loose any and all efficiency, but I can technically do it.
To modify whether I need to speed-up and catch the ISS or let the ISS catch me is by making a very small Pro/retro burn. There are 2 places I do this. When looking at your sync orbit display, You see the dotted line that runs through earth, each side of that line is where I make these small burns. At this point is where I become some sort of space-cowboy/cheater. Well, atleast I feel im cheating the system since Im not using it the way it was intended.
once I see the ISS and can make out its solar panels and other distinct features I make a small pro/retro burn to keep us "together". This will be the only burn I make that ignores the dotted-line rule I mentioned above. At this point I shred my RCS thrusters up trying to grab hold of the ISS.
Question - What is the easiest way I can learn how to use this more efficiently. For some reason I am having trouble with the tutorials on youtube.
---------------------------------------------------------------
What I do in order
1) Take-off and try to keep heading
2) Align planes
3) sync orbit
4) turn on docking nav
5) Rape Rcs thrusters
My goals
1) learn and perform the ISS scenario like I know what im doing.
2) Re-enter earths atmosphere and land at KSC.
3) Take on the moon. 1)flyby and return to earth 2)land and return to earth
3) Mars with landing + return to earth
4) JUPITER BABY! visit any of her moons I can.
5) Go visit everyone else and to pick up my trophy at Brighton beach.
If I follow it in this order I think I should learn the skills needed to achieve my ultimate goal which is getting to Jupiter and being able to perform basic spaceflight.