Question Any reentry AP?

[Kaito]

70 degrees...celcius?
The XR-5 can handle 2400 C. To not overheat, just make sure you're not going to fast and you're low enough in the atmosphere

 

[dbeachy1]

I reentered once with the XR5, but only because I was close to the base. I tried it later with the XR2, but I started overheating during the most dangerous part of entry interface. I couldn't deploy the radiators, I was screwed. I should really plan them out more carefully next time.
P.S. I found out that the shuttle has a special water cooling system that prevents overheating during reentry and landing. Why don't we have something like this for the XR series?

The whole point of the internal cooling system is to add additional challenge for pilots who want it. You can alter the difficulty by editing the following config file setting in your XR2RavernstarPrefs.cfg file:

#--------------------------------------------------------------------------
# Set internal systems heating rate; this is the rate at which the coolant temperature 
# in the liquid cooling system rises as it cools the ship's internal computer 
# and electronic systems.  The times listed indicate approximate maximum runtimes 
# before the radiator must be deployed to prevent overheating.
#   0 = easy      (~139 minutes)
#   1 = realistic (~63 minutes)
#   2 = OFF (coolant maintains nominal temperature without radiator being deployed)
#--------------------------------------------------------------------------
CoolantHeatingRate=1

The default setting is 1, which means you have about 63 minutes after you close the radiators before internal systems overheat. So in effect XR vessels do have an internal cooling system like the shuttle -- but (by default) you can't just run with radiators closed forever. If you want to be able to do that, just set CoolantHeatingRate=2.

 

[n122vu]

well, i do have the auto FCS, but i don't know how to activate it, and i dont like to open a MFD unless it's an AP because i don't have stick & pedals so i need to wait till i have enaugh money to buy them, then it will be more comfortable for me to fly without an AP.

Press CTRL+F4, then select AutoFCS. From the drop-down on the lower left of AutoFCS, select your base. Lower-right drop down, select your runway. There are two buttons marked "Set." Click the one in the upper-right. Close the AutoFCS window. You're now hands-off until touchdown.

Different vessels have different flight characteristics. In theory, AutoFCS can land any vessel, though it is optimized for the Space Shuttle. I haven't tried it with any other vessel and thus can't myself vouch for it's ability to land them.

PS - the readme for AutoFCS suggests it should be stable during time acceleration, possibly up to 100x. However, I have found that it behaves differently for me on different machines. My laptop has an intel processor and AutoFCS on that machine handles 100x time acceleration flawlessly. My desktop has an AMD64 X2 processor and AutoFCS on that machine can only handle 10x acceleration when coasting to Entry Interface (EI) without becoming unstable. After reaching EI, any time acceleration at all on that machine results in the shuttle taking a bath in the Pacific.

 

[Cale]

Different vessels have different flight characteristics. In theory, AutoFCS can land any vessel, though it is optimized for the Space Shuttle. I haven't tried it with any other vessel and thus can't myself vouch for it's ability to land them.

Mike Norman (the author of AFCS) included guidance files (found in the modules/plugin folder in Orbiter)for both the STS and DG/DGS for versions 2 and 2P1. It will also work with the XR1 and XR2. There should be three .ini files included:

AFCS.ini
AFCS (STS).ini
AFCS (DG).ini

The module always looks for the "AFCS.ini" file for guidance data. As installed, this file has the STS data pre-loaded.

If you wish to fly the DG/DGS/XR1/XR2, you'll need to copy the data from "AFCS (DG).ini" and paste it into the "AFCS.ini" file for it to work. The last thing you'll need if flying any of the DG-based vehicles is change the EI distance from the default (8.06M) to 6.98M. Two other important things to remember when using AFCS for the DG-based vessels:

1). Make sure the retro doors are OPEN. The .dll looks to see if the vessel has retro thrusters. If found, the autopilot uses the retro thrusters for the de-orbit burn. If you don't have the doors open, you're stay in orbit. But make sure you close the doors after the de-orbit burn is completed...otherwise, you'll be turned into plasma trying to re-enter.:blackeye:
2). Make sure no attitude-hold autopilots (ie. Prograde/Retrograde/HLevel) are on. Otherwise, AFCS will be unable to orient the spacecraft

I know Doug Beachy isn't a huge fan of autopilots for the XR-series, hence his reluctance to install them. To keep in that spirit when flying one of those beautiful birds, I turn off all automatic guidance and just leave the flight director on. Flying that profile manually to an unpowered landing is one heck of a challenge...and all the more satisfying when you do it successfully.

Best,

Cale

 

[n122vu]

Cale - Thanks for the info. Very helpful.

Regards,
n122vu

 

[Cale]

No problem-o

 

[AlphAPollo]

first, thank you all guys, these information was very helpfull.
second, i tried to do some reentrys with the DGIV(i stopped counting at the third one ).....
i burnt all the times.
i knew it was because of my speed, but i dont know how to deccelerate to 10-15 m/s(i saw somewhere this is the STS missions reentry speed)

 

[DanHawkridge]

No to re-enter you want your perigee to be about 60km from the Earths surface, you then aerobrake gently as you come down. If you re-enter too drastically then the dynamic pressure is like forcing your ship through 'hard' air. The pressure rips your ship to pieces. To avoid that you gently brake by setting a relativly high perigee like 50-60km, so you dont burn up

 

[AlphAPollo]

is the perigee the PeR on the Orbit MFD? because if it is then i do it alright- PeR 5.600

 

[Fizyk]

PeR is the perigee counted from the middle of Earth, so it should be about 6.440M (about 6380 km for Earth's radius + 60 km altitude). If you click "DST" button, it will change to PeA, showing altitude of the perigee (distance from the surface), and this is the number that should be 50-60k.

 

[AlphAPollo]

kk thx

 

[DanHawkridge]

Yes, you have to remeber that you are travelling 7400+ ms-1, o if you want to live you have to gently take off the speed. As 97% of the Mass of the Atmosphere is in the first 30km above the surface, you want to have lost most of your speed by then in the thinner upper atmosphere, then gently soar back down to a steady velocity for landing

 

[AlphAPollo]

i secceed!!!!! i sliced thru the atmosphere without disentegrating during EI!!!!!!!
i did it with the DGIV, but my elevons didn't work, so i crashed when i came to glideslope.

---------- Post added at 05:55 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:54 PM ----------

i did the reentry without any target base, to know i can do it.

---------- Post added at 05:56 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:55 PM ----------

if somebody can create a DGIV reentry playback, starting at the default ISS scenario, ending in KSC RWY 33, ill be glad.
i need to go to eat dinner now, the sleeping. bye!!

 

[Ark]

I just use a combo of basesync and aerobrake. Use basesync to align yourself perfectly with the target base, then do your retrograde burn so you come down close to the target. Then, set your AOA and use aerobrake to tune it so you'll glide in to the target base. Once you're close, just switch over to manual and fly her in.

 

[AlphAPollo]

in what distance from the base should i be when RETRO burning?
i'll take this knowlegde with me and whenever (if) i'll fly the real DGIV then i'll remember you, great guys that teached me when i was so young.
but if any case somebody can make a corresponding replay scenario, then post it in this thread.

 

[caningo]

Doesn't AutopilotMFD do all these things too? :hmm:

 

[AlphAPollo]

i'll check, but i have to shut off the computer. bye

 

[AlphAPollo]

i asked a question in this page. why arent anybody answer me?

 

[garyw]

There are several replies and then you said THIS

i'll check, but i have to shut off the computer. bye

So, I guess we are all waiting, with baited breath, for you to check...........

 

[Kveldulf]

in what distance from the base should i be when RETRO burning?
i'll take this knowlegde with me and whenever (if) i'll fly the real DGIV then i'll remember you, great guys that teached me when i was so young.
but if any case somebody can make a corresponding replay scenario, then post it in this thread.

The best option is to burn on the opposite side of the planet from the base you are trying to land at (use BaseSynchMFD for this). At this point, do the retro burn as described before.

Also, when entering the atmosphere in the DGIV, make sure that your control is set to ATM AUTO. That setting will use RCS during re-entry, and then automaticly switch to atmospheric controls.