OFSS IV-pilot roll call

[ADSWNJ]

I would fly mission 4 if non-spherical gravity sources (i.e. annoying fluctuating orbits) were always turned off. Or if I knew how to rendezvous with a station if they were turned on.

Because if one turns that parameter on, and another turns them off, the periapsis/apoapsis of the station wouldn't have continuity.

That's a deal then. Leave them on and let's tune the approach to match the shape of the target orbit in each dimension, then do a high precision approach. I'll guide you in!

The interesting challenge is if the target is in free drift versus on an AP or killrotted. That's non-trivial to handle, depending on how fast the rotation is.

 

[Pipcard]

Actually I'll fly mission 5.

 

[Castor]

Let's set up an OFSS IV sub-forum with a series of threads for initial set-up (downloading packages / problems installing / etc), then one for each mission with problems / hints / tips / tutorials, then one for each mission success (screenshots, scenarios, etc).

Actually, I have been thinking of the same thing; but I am not sure how to set up a sub-forum. Now, since we are posting in the OFSS III forum, I would not want to clutter it either. Should I contact an administrator ?

I want to make this a great learning experience and a tour of the cool features of new ships and tools, so people who fly all the missions get to feel "I built that" on their own version of the space station, plus "I contributed to the core space station" as part of a mission too.

We're here to support each other as a flight academy class!

Great post ! :thumbup:

The interesting challenge is if the target is in free drift versus on an AP or killrotted.

During the course of the first three missions, the station will be in free drift. The primary aim of the XR2 mission is to deliver a CMG to the station, for precise attitude control.

Actually I'll fly mission 5.

Welcome aboard !

---------- Post added at 05:39 AM ---------- Previous post was at 03:41 AM ----------

As for the mission package, I'm running a little behind on the documentation. Will try to get it up as soon as possible..

 

[Athena]

Mind if I be the back-up pilot for #4?

 

[Castor]

Mind if I be the back-up pilot for #4?

:thumbup:

 

[kamaz]

I've never learned to land correctly, so I will offer my services for #1, #5, and there's a good chance I could be able to do #6 and #8 depending on the exact difficulty.

From the management POV, #1 looks like a very simple mission, so I'd suggest re-assigning that to a less experienced pilot.

Also, why does #8 list reentry if there is no landing?

 

[Castor]

I've never learned to land correctly, so I will offer my services for #1, #5, and there's a good chance I could be able to do #6 and #8 depending on the exact difficulty.

kamaz, can I assign you to flight# 1 ?

Also, why does #8 list reentry if there is no landing?

Flt# 5 will be carrying the Tranzit space tug to orbit, which has to be deorbited by the pilot of Flt# 8. Since we can't have space junk falling here and there, the skill to perform a targeted deorbit burn is necessary.

 

[kamaz]

kamaz, can I assign you to flight# 1 ?

Sure.

---------- Post added at 10:15 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:11 AM ----------

Flt# 5 will be carrying the Tranzit space tug to orbit, which has to be deorbited by the pilot of Flt# 8. Since we can't have space junk falling here and there, the skill to perform a targeted deorbit burn is necessary.

If by "target" you mean "Indian Ocean", I know how to do that...

 

[ADSWNJ]

During the course of the first three missions, the station will be in free drift. The primary aim of the XR2 mission is to deliver a CMG to the station, for precise attitude control.

Nice It will be wrestled into submission, for sure!!

 

[kamaz]

From: K1SS Inc.
To: Flight Director
Subject: Detailed OFSS-IV-1 specifications

Dear Mr. Castor,

Thank you for selecting Kamaz-1 Space Systems, LLC (K1SS) for conducting the OFSS-IV-1 flight. Due to critical nature of the mission, our company will put all the needed effort so that the mission succeeds. For this reason, we would like to receive the following information so that the mission can be prepared appropriately:

1. Projected flight date and window [in real time]

2. Target orbit (PeA, ApA, Inc, LAN, etc.) and allowed deviations.

3. Who is responsible for the assembly of the launch vehicle and payload, i.e. will the OFSS-IV consortium deliver a pre-assembled vehicle to the launch pad, or is K1SS responsible for procurement and integration of the launch vehicle and payload? [i.e. who makes the launch scenario?]

4. Should the orbit circularization (periapsis raising) burn be performed using the payload's engines (if any), or using the upper stage engines. In case of the latter, please indicate whether the upper stage should be left attached to the payload or deorbited.

5. Please indicate requested vehicle state at handover [e.g. KILLROT enabled/disabled].

Best regards,
Kamaz
Managing Director
K1SS, LLC

---------- Post added at 06:13 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:06 PM ----------

I have done some test flights and I think something could be corrected.

Since the flights take place from WIN and CSSC I'm assuming we're going to target a roughly equatorial orbit. So if launch due east from CSSC, with a BM-220 as payload on:

- Themis-A HE0 (no SRBs), I can get to a 250km circular orbit and I have ~4.5 tons of propellant left after the upper stage deorbit burn
- Themis-A HE6 (6xSRB), I can get to 500km circular orbit and I have ~4.9 tons of propellant left after the upper stage deorbit burn

BM-220 weights 10 tons. This means that for reasonable orbital altitudes, the payload could be increased by up to 3 tons without problems. (I'd like to have some reserve propellant.)

The reason I'm pointing this out is that this could allow to include power supply + altitude control in the first flight, simplifying further operations (i.e. no need to dock to with a spinning station).

NB I cannot find the CMG module in my install for some reason, so I don't know how much it weights.

 

[Castor]

Couple of recent developments:

1) RV Orientation and Glideslope MFD have been added to the list of optional requirements.
2) The documentation is really falling behind. If someone can help me in making it, I would really appreciate it.
3) A request for a new subforum has been sent to the mods.

If by "target" you mean "Indian Ocean", I know how to do that...

I was thinking of something a bit more specific than an entire ocean...[ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spacecraft_cemetery"]here[/ame].
But, yes, a precise reentry is not needed.

1. Projected flight date and window [in real time]

Projected launch date : May 24 (Saturday)
Completion date: May 28 (Wednesday)

2. Target orbit (PeA, ApA, Inc, LAN, etc.) and allowed deviations.

PeA= 800 km (error: 25km)
ApA= 800km (error: 15km)
Inc = 64° (error: 3°)
LAN = 105° (deviations do not matter)
Non-Spherical Gravity Sources must be turned on.

3. Who is responsible for the assembly of the launch vehicle and payload, i.e. will the OFSS-IV consortium deliver a pre-assembled vehicle to the launch pad, or is K1SS responsible for procurement and integration of the launch vehicle and payload? [i.e. who makes the launch scenario?]

Launch scenario will be available in the provided flight package.

4. Should the orbit circularization (periapsis raising) burn be performed using the payload's engines (if any), or using the upper stage engines. In case of the latter, please indicate whether the upper stage should be left attached to the payload or deorbited.

The second stage of the Themis has to be used for all burns, but only a maximum of 2 restarts are permitted.

5. Please indicate requested vehicle state at handover [e.g. KILLROT enabled/disabled].

1) All NAV modes disabled.
2) Zero angular velocity at time of save.

 

[kamaz]

PeA= 800 km (error: 25km)
ApA= 800km (error: 15km)
Inc = 64° (error: 3°)
LAN = 105° (deviations do not matter)
Non-Spherical Gravity Sources must be turned on.

This is ecliptic frame or equatorial frame?

I'm sorry about asking so many questions, but I put this in a wrong orbit, we can close the project... :lol:

 

[Castor]

Sorry, I should have been more clear. All this is in the equatorial frame.

I also want to add this: the second stage of the Themis must remain attached to the command module at the end of the flight.

---------- Post added at 05:35 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:32 PM ----------

BM-220 weights 10 tons. This means that for reasonable orbital altitudes, the payload could be increased by up to 3 tons without problems. (I'd like to have some reserve propellant.)

The reason I'm pointing this out is that this could allow to include power supply + altitude control in the first flight, simplifying further operations (i.e. no need to dock to with a spinning station).

Initially, I had planned to just send the command module bundled up in an XR5. Eventually, it was decided to go along with traditional "First launch-single module system". Also the CMG is to be docked with the airdock launched on the second mission.

 

[Pipcard]

Wait, how does one rendezvous with a station with only two engine restarts?
(keep in mind you will probably need to correct your orbit so that you can intercept it)

edit: oh, that's the first mission.

 

[Castor]

Wait, how does one rendezvous with a station with only two engine restarts?

The first mission does not include any rendezvous, just the launch of the core module.

 

[mojoey]

2) The documentation is really falling behind. If someone can help me in making it, I would really appreciate it.

Send me a PM with what you have, and I can take a look and help where I can.

 

[kamaz]

Could you check if the end result is supposed to look like that:

Because if so, then I have the mission worked out, and it's very simple. I can even write a step-by-step instruction how to fly it. Also note that I have 4.3tons of fuel left.

And, if all we need is BM201 sitting on top of Themis-A at CSSC then I can contribute the scenario.

Also, I propose that we give the station a name. I vote for Aurora in honor of Zarya(ISS).

 

[jedidia]

3) A request for a new subforum has been sent to the mods.

You could just open a social group

Also, if I were you, I'd prepare a package with all IMS config files you are going to use, with unique names, preferably in its own subfolder, for all participants... just to make sure that everyone is on the same page. Weird stuff is known to happen when people played with their IMS installations and later forget they did it...

 

[kamaz]

Wait, how does one rendezvous with a station with only two engine restarts?
(keep in mind you will probably need to correct your orbit so that you can intercept it)

edit: oh, that's the first mission.

Well... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oaxeJD8wiE

 

[Castor]

Could you check if the end result is supposed to look like that:

Looking good.

Because if so, then I have the mission worked out, and it's very simple. I can even write a step-by-step instruction how to fly it. Also note that I have 4.3tons of fuel left.

It would be a good opportunity to learn for those beginners who still fly with non-spherical gravity sources off.

And, if all we need is BM201 sitting on top of Themis-A at CSSC then I can contribute the scenario.

For the sake of uniformity, it would be better that there is one scenario. If you are free to fly now, I will post the scenario right away on this thread.

Also, I propose that we give the station a name. I vote for Aurora in honor of Zarya(ISS).

Anybody second that ?

You could just open a social group

Also, if I were you, I'd prepare a package with all IMS config files you are going to use, with unique names, preferably in its own subfolder, for all participants... just to make sure that everyone is on the same page. Weird stuff is known to happen when people played with their IMS installations and later forget they did it...

Thanks for the tips.