Boy this stuff looks difficult

[hpodity]

Hey guys

Nice to meet you and hopefully I'll get to know you over the coming while.

My name's Hugh and I'm an undergrad at McGill with aspirations towards becoming an astronaut, the other day I was looking for a space flight simulator and I stumbled upon this, gotta admit, I was a bit deterred by the sheer size of the manual, but this game looks like it could be extremely helpful to me and a lot of fun, so here's hoping

BTW How long did it take you guys to become proficient at this?

 

[Eagle]

About a day to learn basic orbiting and undocking/redocking.
About a month to get rendezvous and transfers down.
Somewhere in between to figure out orbital planes.

It helps to read tutorials. And Remember: Faster = Higher, Slower = Lower and the inside track is shorter.

Good luck, you can get it.

EDIT:
Oh and learn with the DeltaGlider, its simpler and has more delta v than the shuttle. When flying the shuttle remember that the thrust isn't in the direction of its nose but about 14 degrees below.

 

[Hielor]

It helps to read tutorials. And Remember: Faster = Higher, Slower = Lower and the inside track is faster.

Faster = Higher
Slower = Lower
Higher = Slower
Lower = Faster

It's not confusing at all

Also (given east = prograde):
East takes you out
Out takes you west
West takes you in
In takes you east
North and south bring you back
-- Larry Niven, The Smoke Ring

 

[EtherDragon]

Welcome!

It took me months to become proficient at this "game."

But it's worth it.

If only to be able to throw the word "Apojove" at people who make up stuff. Then watch them squirm as you explain, that "Yes, it's a real word, and it's derived from Apoapsis, which is the highest point in an orbit. No, I didn't make it up. Apojove referrs to the highest point in an orbit around a particular planet, much like Apogee is the Apoapsis of a body orbiting the Earth."

=p

 

[PhantomCruiser]

I'm still a noob at Orbiter myself. There loads of info here at the site, but I think the best advice anyone could give you is to download "Go Play In Space" by Bruce Irving. My copy is tab'd and highlighted, plus all sorts of notes that I've made myself. The manual that comes with it is really good as well, but "Go Play..." will help you to jump right in.
After a while you'll be able to launch a DG from KSC to ISS, plane change and dock with MIR, then plane change again and tranfer to the moon, dock with the wheel (btw go to orbit hanger and get the lunar wheel replacement (shiny or dark), it's great), plane change again to land at Brighton Beach (or wherever) all from memory. It won't take near as long as you may think either.
Welcome to the forum, and welcome to what my wife calls "that damn game"... She just doesn't understand... At least it's not internet porn...

 

[Hielor]

... She just doesn't understand... At least it's not internet porn...

The difference being that you might actually get to use what you learn from watching pr0n. The odds of any of us actually using what we learn in Orbiter are pretty low.

 

[PhantomCruiser]

...you might actually get to use what you learn from watching pr0n...

I don't know about that... There's all kinds of thing I wish I could do (or rather wish she would do), so I'd think that my chances of either are about even.

 

[Eagle]

Faster = Higher
Slower = Lower
Higher = Slower
Lower = Faster

It's not confusing at all

Also (given east = prograde):
East takes you out
Out takes you west
West takes you in
In takes you east
North and south bring you back
-- Larry Niven, The Smoke Ring

You might say its circular logic.

 

[tblaxland]

I also learnt predominantly from Go Play in Space. A very good hands-on guide. I found some theoretical background useful from understanding why I was doing what I was doing. The Orbiter web page also has links to these useful sites:

JPL Basics of Spaceflight:
http://www2.jpl.nasa.gov/basics/

Braeunig's Rocket and Space Technology
http://www.braeunig.us/space/index.htm

EDIT: Welcome and good luck.

 

[Tommy]

Also check out the "Recommended Add-ons" sticky thread here on the forum. Orbiter will enable you to get a good understanding of Orbital Mechanics (the rules and techniques of spaceflight) that will certainly make you a better candidate for becoming an Astronaut. Since the future of spaceflight looks to have much more civilian involvement than before, I would expect Astronautics to be a good growth market, with high tech, high paying jobs available for people with the proper training and knowledge.

As for learning Orbiter, think small steps. Start with an easy vessel like the Delta Glider. It helps to start with the DG already in orbit, and get a decent understanding of how an orbit works. Learn about transfers (changing orbital altitude), circularisation, and plane changes. Learn how to match planes, sync, and dock. Once you understand how to manipulate your orbit, then you can learn how to get into one. Many people start by trying to launch into orbit, yet don't understand what an orbit is. It's hard to hit a target you can't see clearly.

If you have questions, please use the forum search first, chances are the answer you need is already available. If not, it's usually best to start a new thread rather than revive an old, "dead" thread. There are many quite smart people here who can help solve any problem you may encounter, and are more than happy to do so.

Simply browsing the forum here you will learn quite a bit about everything space related.

 

[dbeachy1]

I also learnt predominantly from Go Play in Space. A very good hands-on guide.

+1. You can download "Go Play In Space" here: http://www.aovi93.dsl.pipex.com/play_in_space.htm. Highly recommended!

to the forum!

 

[Quick_Nick]

Braeunig's Rocket and Space Technology
http://www.braeunig.us/space/index.htm

EDIT: Welcome and good luck.

I really recommend that site (particularly this page) once you begin to know what you're doing.

@hpodity

Just from your ability to type coherent text, I prefer you over some other people we've had join the forum in the past. Good luck, and happy orbiting!

 

[atuhalpa]

Hpodity, I am trying an experiment by offering to tutor neophytes by using the standard DG scenarios and VOIP applications. You can PM me if you are interested. I am not an Orbiter pro but I do know the basics and believe I can make it easy for you to get up and running with the least amount of frustration.

I have found Orbiter to be the single most rewarding computer simulation I have ever played, and after three years I still learn something new every time I complete a mission.

 

[TSPenguin]

to the forum!
As always I highly recommend Orbital Operations.

 

[Pquardzvaark]

From one newbie to another, welcome aboard!

For some reason I've found the orbital maneuvers easier than atmospheric flight.

Anyway, have fun and patience, it's got a bit of a steep learning curve but looks to be rewarding.

 

[V8Li]

BTW How long did it take you guys to become proficient at this?

6 months. Reentry will take longer but once you've understand what's going on it's the best thing you can do in Orbitersim (that's what I like the most anyway). A while back I had a 3 years sim-time with no crushes (refueling stations and some bases on Moon and Mars)

 

[mjl1966]

Another nub, here. I have found Orbiter very daunting, so it looks like it's going to take patience. Getting the Delta Glider into orbit and doing an ISS docking is achievable in a matter of days if you stay at it. (And, yeah, it takes *forever* to do the docking). I just got the SSU and wow! talk about complicated. (If you don't use autopilot)

Orbiter simulates the real environment, so the real challenge is the math. I'm totally lost in orbital mechanics right now, but I'll get there. I think. Maybe.

If you really wanna work for NASA, I think Orbiter is the absolute perfect thing for you. It shows you how hard rocket science really is. And how cool it is.

-MJL

 

[flytandem]

Hey guys

Nice to meet you and hopefully I'll get to know you over the coming while.

My name's Hugh and I'm an undergrad at McGill with aspirations towards becoming an astronaut, the other day I was looking for a space flight simulator and I stumbled upon this, gotta admit, I was a bit deterred by the sheer size of the manual, but this game looks like it could be extremely helpful to me and a lot of fun, so here's hoping

BTW How long did it take you guys to become proficient at this?

Cool. I used to live just west of McGill and rode my 10speed every day past the campus out to a hang glider shop I worked at at 500 Sauve St Ouest. circa '77. Bonne temps!

But to answer your question... it all depends on what "proficient" means. I still stumble my way through and it's now 51 months and counting. But I have the biggest smile with every stumbling step I take. You see, as long as you're having fun, you win!:speakcool:

 

[John_L]

Your search is definitely over. There's none bigger, better, or cheaper Welcome, and along with your purchase... a forum of Orbiter fans to answer questions, create new add-ons and more.

 

[Shadow Addict]

I started in March, played for a few weeks, then quit and picked it up a few weeks ago. The farthest I'd gotten the first time through was rendezvous and docking from on-orbit, and I found that nearly impossible. Then, when I picked it up again, I'd say it took me about three days to get proficient at launch and precise reentry, and then a few more to master rendezvous and docking. Overall, about three weeks total.