Flight Question DG4 docking to ISS

[River Crab]

Yes, that's because it just barely misses the ISS by 1.7km, I think (I haven't actually tried it).

One more thing, if you still can't get it manually, try using the DGIV's autopilots (the codes are listed on the checklist on the lower panel) once you're close, and watch what they do. That's how I learned

 

[PeterRoss]

first silly question - when I select Intersect 1 or Intersect 2 and set target to ISS, I get 'No Intersection'.......

That is because your orbit isn't intersects with ISS orbit at the moment, your orbit lies inside ISS orbit. But orbits tend to drift abit so when you'll be closer than a quarter of circle before the closest approach you'll find your orbits intersects - at least that's what I've found while flying your scenario. In this exact case your apoapsis lies almost right on the ISS orbit so Intersect 1 and Ship Apoapsis are almost the same. But then again while you're doing circles and your orbit drifts your apoapsis can drift a dozens of kilometers away from target orbit, that's why I always try to rise my apoapsis a few kilometers above the target orbit - in this case orbits will surely intersect.

Ramming through ISS is even frustrating than missing it - I wish there would be a collision system in Orbiter

---------- Post added at 06:25 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:20 PM ----------

One more thing, if you still can't get it manually, try using the DGIV's autopilots (the codes are listed on the checklist on the lower panel) once you're close, and watch what they do. That's how I learned

Is there docking autopilot in DGIV?

 

[jimi]

I tried the autopilot and was watching intently, it docked, then warnings started going off - apparently the autopilot doesn't open the nose cone, so DGIV just went up to ISS and bumped into it....

 

[PeterRoss]

I tried the autopilot and was watching intently, it docked, then warnings started going off - apparently the autopilot doesn't open the nose cone, so DGIV just went up to ISS and bumped into it....

I guess you should open nose cone manually:lol:

So what was autopilot doing other way than you did?

 

[Ripley]

...I don't have a printer to print it out so may have to consider writing it out...

You can also run Orbiter in a smaller window, and let the browser open to read the instructions.
Go into "Video" tab of Launchpad, and you can click either on "full screen" or "window".

 

[jimi]

I guess you should open nose cone manually:lol:

So what was autopilot doing other way than you did?

my main problem was my lack of understanding about the relative velocity indicators (circle with dot and circle with cross), but also a lot of other little things that I need to see and understand while watching the auto pilot many more times to come. thanks for all you help guys - still very frustrated with this thing, but I'm sure I'll get there (eventually)
Now trying to land the little beastie back on terra firma but can't figure out how - auto pilot tells me that I need to set the re-entry angle or something, so I figured I'd just point the thing at the planet and hit the gas, but that didn't seem to work....

 

[garyw]

I figured I'd just point the thing at the planet and hit the gas, but that didn't seem to work....

Simple way to get it down, point retrograde and fire until the green line of the orbit mfd intersects the white circle of earth. On Map MFD you'll see part of the green track go red. You'll be coming down then :lol:

The DG-IV does have an entry autopilot. It won't get you down to a specific spot but it will get you down. It's worth using aerobrake MFD to target a specific location to land at.

 

[PeterRoss]

Garyw is right. Aerobrake MFD is a quite complex tool and maybe you don't need it right now but it will become necessary later when you'll want to land your vessel at the exact point on Earth's surface.

 

[orbitingpluto]

- auto pilot tells me that I need to set the re-entry angle or something, so I figured I'd just point the thing at the planet and hit the gas, but that didn't seem to work....

Ah, I remember doing that...

Anyway, to come back down, you have to get rid of some of the velocity that keeps you in orbit. To do that, point RETROGRADE and fire your engines till your perigee is about 70-120kms. Why 70-120kms? Well, if you do more than that, your reentry angle will get too steep, and the rest of your velocity combined with the rate at which you sank into the densest parts of the atmosphere can cause the ship burn. For the first try, don't aim for anywhere in particular. Once you learn how to keep em' alive, then you can worry about getting them to home base. Before that, it's God's problem.

 

[Ripley]

...Now trying to land the little beastie back on terra firma but can't figure out how - auto pilot tells me that I need to set the re-entry angle or something, so I figured I'd just point the thing at the planet and hit the gas, but that didn't seem to work....

Read Grover's guide!
http://orbiter-forum.com/showthread.php?t=18671

 

[Tommy]

For docking with the ISS you may find it easier to engage (in the ISS) the Prograde AP rather than the "Killrot" AP. Also, I suggest disabling "Gravity Gradient Torque" on the launch pad at first. This will help you keep your vessel aligned easier.

 

[Ilmars]

Are the Velocity Vector Indicators, V and -V reversed between Orbiter 2006 and 2010?

I've tried following the instructions in most of the tutorials/docs for their use and am getting quite confused when trying to use them in version 2010.

There is a playback tutorial in both versions of Orbiter called DG-ISS Sync Dock. If you run the playback in v2006, everything pertaining to the Velocity Vector Indicators works in accordance with the documentation. But when the playback is run in v2010, the V and -V indicators appear to be swapped in the HUD.

I know that the symbols have changed that represent the original + and circle +, but the -V and V labels seem to be swapped.

 

[PeterRoss]

Yes, in 2010 version the labels placed correctly.

 

[Kaito]

As far as the station rotating goes...do you have Gravity Gradient Torque, radiation pressure, and non-spherical gravity sources turned off?

Those will cause the station to rotate