Interceptor
Well-known member
Hi,I feel realy stupid for asking this but what do you need to look at to determine the distance to the moon in IMFD,so I can MCC half way there.Thanks
Advanced Question Distance to the moon or other planets in IMFD
- Thread starter Interceptor
- Start date
dgatsoulis
ele2png user
Hey Interceptor, what's up?
First of all... there's no such thing as a stupid question. Not in this forum!
(Take this from a guy who asked "Is there such a thing as a Jovio-synchronous orbit?"
-What's the point? Jupiter doesn't have a "surface", anyway!- (That came to my mind - unfortunately- a couple of hours AFTER i posted the question!!! lol)
But i got 3 answers even for THAT! hehehe
Now to your question...
IMFD shows you a TIn, (Time to Interecept), at the "Course" window, doesn't it?
So (in my opinion), it would be a good idea to check your TIn when you've reached MECO (Main Engines Cut Off) from your TransLunar, TransMartian, (whatever) Injection and then plan your MCC when TIn reaches half that time.
First of all... there's no such thing as a stupid question. Not in this forum!
(Take this from a guy who asked "Is there such a thing as a Jovio-synchronous orbit?"
-What's the point? Jupiter doesn't have a "surface", anyway!- (That came to my mind - unfortunately- a couple of hours AFTER i posted the question!!! lol)
But i got 3 answers even for THAT! hehehe
Now to your question...
IMFD shows you a TIn, (Time to Interecept), at the "Course" window, doesn't it?
So (in my opinion), it would be a good idea to check your TIn when you've reached MECO (Main Engines Cut Off) from your TransLunar, TransMartian, (whatever) Injection and then plan your MCC when TIn reaches half that time.
Interceptor
Well-known member
Thanks dgatsoulis,you always come thru,by the way how's the weather in Greece right now?
dgatsoulis
ele2png user
Thanks dgatsoulis,you always come thru,by the way how's the weather in Greece right now?
It's 23.00 at night here now, but it was another beautiful day here, (Blue cloudless sky, 12C - 20C temperature)
Yesterday, on the other hand, it was pouring "cats and dogs" or... as the Greek expression goes... "priests". (You know, those Greek-othodox priests, dressed in black, with the funny hat's and the beards!)
But, it's gonna be (another) snowless winter i think! (At least here in Sparta).
I haven't seen snow since 2001!
Tommy
Well-known member
Don't get to stuck on making MCC's at any certain distance during the trip. For interplanetary trips I often make a correction burn just before leaving the source SOI (using Orbit Eject's AB). I almost never make a MCC before the plane change for two plane trajectories. After that (or after the halfway point - just guess, no need to be perfect) I watch the dV indicated. If it's low, I wait. If it's going down, I wait. Usually, I won't make a correction until the dV is over 1k, or I'm at least 2/3 of the way there.
Most of the time, for larger targets like Jupiter, the plane change is the only MCC until the Planet Approach burn, about 3 SOI's away. Mars is a bit trickier, but accuracy increases the closer you get, and a correction burn made too soon can make things worse. Watch your PeA in IMFD's Map program, and if it's within the target's SOI don't bother making a correction even if Target Intercept thinks you should - you'll only pay for it later.
Any minor plane change (dVp) will tend to be more efficient if made just outside the target's SOI, so the Planet Approach burn is an ideal place to tidy up your PeA and Inc.
Most of the time, for larger targets like Jupiter, the plane change is the only MCC until the Planet Approach burn, about 3 SOI's away. Mars is a bit trickier, but accuracy increases the closer you get, and a correction burn made too soon can make things worse. Watch your PeA in IMFD's Map program, and if it's within the target's SOI don't bother making a correction even if Target Intercept thinks you should - you'll only pay for it later.
Any minor plane change (dVp) will tend to be more efficient if made just outside the target's SOI, so the Planet Approach burn is an ideal place to tidy up your PeA and Inc.
