1987VCRProductions
Well-known member
I finally did a complete flight with the stock Orbiter 2010 Atlantis from launch to landing completely manually. The launch was the easy part for me. Having sat through hundreds of automated Shuttle Fleet launches, and having the ascent trajectory and flight events permanently etched into my memory as a result, I put Atlantis into a direct ascent trajectory, with a roll midway through the ascent to a heads-up attitude.
I completed a good OMS-2 burn and watched on my map as the ET plummeted into the Pacific Ocean. After opening the payload bay doors and deploying the Ku-band antenna for use with the TDRS system that the Shuttle Program built, I climbed to an altitude of 620km and deployed the Carina satellite.
I decided that I should try a manual reentry and landing at KSC runway 33. I stowed the antenna, closed the payload bay doors and, using Aerobrake MFD as a reference, I performed a good deorbit burn over the Indian Ocean. I found aerobraking to be very easy and manageable. The catch was that I needed to end up over KSC with just the right amount of energy. That was the tricky part.
It took me about 7 or 8 tries, each time dialing in where I needed to be. Some attempts I would have just a tad too much energy and I would either be moving too fast to make the HAC turn towards the runway or I would be overshooting KSC completely. On other attempts, I would make it to Florida but just not have quite enough energy to make runway 33.
I finally got an attempt where I was making it to KSC consistently but ever so slightly low on energy. Loading that save, I was able to gain that energy back by pulling up to increase my altitude (I was still moving fast enough to do that). I used Glideslope 2.3 for the HAC and runway alignment. Having grown up on Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004, greasing my magnificent flying machine onto the runway was second nature to me.
I couldn't believe that I had actually done it. At wheel stop I just stared in awe at Atlantis for several minutes. That manual mission was the most satisfying moment in Orbiter for me since I first completed a complete Apollo moon mission. I'm still a little bit ecstatic if you can't tell.
I completed a good OMS-2 burn and watched on my map as the ET plummeted into the Pacific Ocean. After opening the payload bay doors and deploying the Ku-band antenna for use with the TDRS system that the Shuttle Program built, I climbed to an altitude of 620km and deployed the Carina satellite.
I decided that I should try a manual reentry and landing at KSC runway 33. I stowed the antenna, closed the payload bay doors and, using Aerobrake MFD as a reference, I performed a good deorbit burn over the Indian Ocean. I found aerobraking to be very easy and manageable. The catch was that I needed to end up over KSC with just the right amount of energy. That was the tricky part.
It took me about 7 or 8 tries, each time dialing in where I needed to be. Some attempts I would have just a tad too much energy and I would either be moving too fast to make the HAC turn towards the runway or I would be overshooting KSC completely. On other attempts, I would make it to Florida but just not have quite enough energy to make runway 33.
I finally got an attempt where I was making it to KSC consistently but ever so slightly low on energy. Loading that save, I was able to gain that energy back by pulling up to increase my altitude (I was still moving fast enough to do that). I used Glideslope 2.3 for the HAC and runway alignment. Having grown up on Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004, greasing my magnificent flying machine onto the runway was second nature to me.
I couldn't believe that I had actually done it. At wheel stop I just stared in awe at Atlantis for several minutes. That manual mission was the most satisfying moment in Orbiter for me since I first completed a complete Apollo moon mission. I'm still a little bit ecstatic if you can't tell.
