A few threads down I asked about what ship I could use to travel to another planet in, using the DG-IV as a ship to land on the other planet etc.
Anyway, I settled on the DG-EX - it seemed good to use two different DG models and I also liked the control panel for the EX.
Obviously I can't launch them together though (as in I can't launch them attached to one another).
So what is the best method for launching them both into an Earth orbit, docking, then travelling to another planet (the docking doesn't necessarily have to be in that part of the sequence, I could dock after I've already made the burn towards the other planet and escaped Earth's SOI)?
Preferably, I would like to launch them together, but I don't think this is possible. I can't effectively fly them both (or just fly the EX and monitor the DG-IV's autopilot). This leads me to thinking the best thing to do would be to have the EX already in orbit and then fly the DG-IV to orbit, and then dock with the EX. But then I realised it would be difficult to get them both in the same place within a short space of time, dock, and leave Earth.
Now I think instead of using IMFD to set a course from the ground, I'd be best off doing it in two parts. The first part would involve me launching into orbit in the DG-IV and docking with the EX. The second part would involve leaving Earth after docking.
Then I realised I don't know how to use IMFD and plan stuff once I'm already in orbit.
So I have two questions:
1. Can anybody link me to an IMFD tutorial which teaches you about how to use it when you're already in orbit, taking into account that some element of planning needs to be done when I'm still on EArth's surface (otherwise I could be launching at a really poor time)? I've done the Mars Awaits tutorial in Go Play In Space which uses IMFD and found it very easy and intuitive, but that only covers using IMFD from the ground.
2. Can anybody suggest a better plan, seeing as my problem stems from not being able to envisage when I should dock with the EX? I'm open to any suggestions, the only thing I really want to be involved is flying the DG-IV from the KSC at the start (ie. I don't want to start with the DG-IV already in orbit or anything).
Sorry for the long post, I always seem to be asking for help as well. Thanks for helping me.
Cheers.
Anyway, I settled on the DG-EX - it seemed good to use two different DG models and I also liked the control panel for the EX.
Obviously I can't launch them together though (as in I can't launch them attached to one another).
So what is the best method for launching them both into an Earth orbit, docking, then travelling to another planet (the docking doesn't necessarily have to be in that part of the sequence, I could dock after I've already made the burn towards the other planet and escaped Earth's SOI)?
Preferably, I would like to launch them together, but I don't think this is possible. I can't effectively fly them both (or just fly the EX and monitor the DG-IV's autopilot). This leads me to thinking the best thing to do would be to have the EX already in orbit and then fly the DG-IV to orbit, and then dock with the EX. But then I realised it would be difficult to get them both in the same place within a short space of time, dock, and leave Earth.
Now I think instead of using IMFD to set a course from the ground, I'd be best off doing it in two parts. The first part would involve me launching into orbit in the DG-IV and docking with the EX. The second part would involve leaving Earth after docking.
Then I realised I don't know how to use IMFD and plan stuff once I'm already in orbit.
So I have two questions:
1. Can anybody link me to an IMFD tutorial which teaches you about how to use it when you're already in orbit, taking into account that some element of planning needs to be done when I'm still on EArth's surface (otherwise I could be launching at a really poor time)? I've done the Mars Awaits tutorial in Go Play In Space which uses IMFD and found it very easy and intuitive, but that only covers using IMFD from the ground.
2. Can anybody suggest a better plan, seeing as my problem stems from not being able to envisage when I should dock with the EX? I'm open to any suggestions, the only thing I really want to be involved is flying the DG-IV from the KSC at the start (ie. I don't want to start with the DG-IV already in orbit or anything).
Sorry for the long post, I always seem to be asking for help as well. Thanks for helping me.
Cheers.