Flight Question Geo Stationary Orbit

[jambooger]

Ive been cking out other threads but cant figure out how to Align my orbit with the earths equator. Currently I am in a 3.57M orbit. Which MFD would be the most useful?

 

[Jarvitä]

It's simple really, if you're at the ascending node, you just have to align yourself orbit-antinormal and initiate the burn. On the descending node, burn orbit-normal. Just set your orbit MFD to equatorial frame and watch the inclination indicator.

 

[jambooger]

It's simple really, if you're at the ascending node, you just have to align yourself orbit-antinormal and initiate the burn. On the descending node, burn orbit-normal. Just set your orbit MFD to equatorial frame and watch the inclination indicator.

Thanks that does sound pretty simple. I will give it a try.



---------- Post added 06-28-10 at 02:56 AM ---------- Previous post was 06-27-10 at 06:01 AM ----------

I cant get Atlantis to match earths rotational speed. I am in a 3.5786 M orbit with ecc of 0.000. Also Inc is 0.00. When I accelerate time earth rotates faster than me.

 

[Izack]

Equatorial inclination? Your ecliptic inclination should be ~23.45 degrees. Equatorial inclination should be 0.

 

[jambooger]

Equatorial inclination? Your ecliptic inclination should be ~23.45 degrees. Equatorial inclination should be 0.

Yes those are my readings.

 

[Izack]

What do you see on Map MFD (assuming you're in Orbiter 2010)?
You shouldn't be able to see any orbit predictions before or ahead of you, because you in theory should be stationary over one point on the map. For that matter, what point are you over? (Country, city, etc.)

 

[jambooger]

What do you see on Map MFD (assuming you're in Orbiter 2010)?
You shouldn't be able to see any orbit predictions before or ahead of you, because you in theory should be stationary over one point on the map. For that matter, what point are you over? (Country, city, etc.)

My orbit is a horizonal line. Im approaching South America.

 

[Izack]

Based on the information you've given (3.57M orbit, 0 inclination, 0 eccentricity) all point to a geostationary orbit.

Maybe OrbitMFD just isn't accurate enough (4 significant digits) to get you into that orbit.

Exactly how much faster is the Earth spinning?

Or are you perhaps in a retrograde orbit? (Idiotic as that sounds, it's the only other solution I can think of.)

 

[jambooger]

Based on the information you've given (3.57M orbit, 0 inclination, 0 eccentricity) all point to a geostationary orbit.

Maybe OrbitMFD just isn't accurate enough (4 significant digits) to get you into that orbit.

Exactly how much faster is the Earth spinning?

Or are you perhaps in a retrograde orbit? (Idiotic as that sounds, it's the only other solution I can think of.)

Earth is not alot faster. I have too acc x100 to see it. Explain retrograde orbit please. You may be on to something.

 

[Izack]

If you were in a retrograde orbit, you would be orbiting in a direction opposite to the Earth's rotation (West to East instead of East to West.) In that case, you could have 0 inclination and the correct altitude, but in the wrong direction, meaning that the Earth would appear to spin twice as fast as it should if you were stationary, instead of not spinning at all as in a true geostationary orbit.

If you only have to accelerate to 100x to see the effects, then this may be the case.

 

[jambooger]

If you were in a retrograde orbit, you would be orbiting in a direction opposite to the Earth's rotation (West to East instead of East to West.) In that case, you could have 0 inclination and the correct altitude, but in the wrong direction, meaning that the Earth would appear to spin twice as fast as it should if you were stationary, instead of not spinning at all as in a true geostationary orbit.

If you only have to accelerate to 100x to see the effects, then this may be the case.

I think that may be my problem. Is there a way to correct without a total re-launch?

 

[Izack]

I think that may be my problem. Is there a way to correct without a total re-launch?

Not unless you have enough Dv for a 180 degree plane change. :shrug:

 

[Kevon Daye]

Heres a good way to figure it out. On the OrbitMFD is the green line moving clockwise, counter-clockwise, or not at all.

 

[jambooger]

Heres a good way to figure it out. On the OrbitMFD is the green line moving clockwise, counter-clockwise, or not at all.

Its moving counter-clockwise.

 

[N_Molson]

Based on the information you've given (3.57M orbit, 0 inclination, 0 eccentricity) all point to a geostationary orbit.

Huh, I think you only forgot a decimal

Your Altitude should be 35.7M kilometers above the ground, not 3.57M

T should be 84.16M seconds.

The orbit hasn't to be perfectly circular, as long you stay close enough from these values (especially for T). In real life they correct the satellite's orbit by firing it's thrusters a few times a year or so.

 

[jambooger]

Huh, I think you only forgot a decimal

Your Altitude should be 35.7M kilometers above the ground, not 3.57M

T should be 84.16M seconds.

The orbit hasn't to be perfectly circular, as long you stay close enough from these values (especially for T). In real life they correct the satellite's orbit by firing it's thrusters a few times a year or so.

That was it!! Darn decimals. I should have looked at the orbital time. That would have been a big clue. Thanks N_Molson :tiphat: and everybody else. Im good now.

 

[Goth]

lol

Its moving counter-clockwise.

This is correct, anyway, it's prograde orbiting.

 

[RisingFury]

Based on the information you've given (3.57M orbit, 0 inclination, 0 eccentricity) all point to a geostationary orbit.

Maybe OrbitMFD just isn't accurate enough (4 significant digits) to get you into that orbit.

No no no!

You need to go way higher to reach geostationary orbit! You'll never get there with the Space Shuttle, at least not without refueling it. Your orbit needs to be like 37 M (IIRC) above the surface.

 

[T.Neo]

You'll never get there with the Space Shuttle, at least not without refueling it.

Correction: at least not without refueling it, several times...

At least in Orbiter you can use the Scn Editor. The real shuttle can't refuel mid-flight.

 

[Izack]

Oops! It is 35.7M...I got messed up there. :embarrassed: