When of the most notoriously difficult things to do in Orbiter is the navigation and flight of low-thrust spacecraft (ie, ion-thrusters) like Dawn, Hayabusa, or Deep Space 1. So to go along with my regular [ame="http://www.orbithangar.com/searchid.php?ID=4439"]Trajectory Planner[/ame], I've made a program for designing trajectories for low-thrust spacecraft like my [ame="http://www.orbithangar.com/searchid.php?ID=789"]Chapman Ion[/ame] probes. Because of the more technical nature of this program, and the greater option in it, I've included a .pdf guide in this beta.
This program is definitely for the advanced orbitnaut. But if you are like me, and want to include flying ion-engine spacecraft in your Orbiter experience, then try this program out, and tell me what you think.
Special note, the burn values are based on TransX standards, if you use IMFD, switch the sign on the outward value since IMFD uses inward (Vi) instead of outward.
LTTPlanner.zip (1.43mb)
NOTE: Some people have reported issues when downloading this file. To successfully download it, right-click on the file and select 'Save Target As' or equivalent.
This program is definitely for the advanced orbitnaut. But if you are like me, and want to include flying ion-engine spacecraft in your Orbiter experience, then try this program out, and tell me what you think.
Special note, the burn values are based on TransX standards, if you use IMFD, switch the sign on the outward value since IMFD uses inward (Vi) instead of outward.
LTTPlanner.zip (1.43mb)
NOTE: Some people have reported issues when downloading this file. To successfully download it, right-click on the file and select 'Save Target As' or equivalent.