getting into orbit?

[devie08]

hi im totally new to orbiter sim. and i am able to take off in my delta glider but find it difficult to get in orbit.
can anyone write a step by step walkthrough on how to do it?

thanks
devie08

 

[Urwumpe]

Did you already read the tutorial inside the manual?

 

[ar81]

See forum tutorials here
http://www.orbiter-forum.com/tutorials/

 

[devie08]

thanks

thnks for helping me:speakcool:

 

[Joey]

Hi devie,

so you're a newbie like me
What really helped is reading "Go play in space". Print it, keep a magic marker and post-its handy and start to follow this manual.
Perfect for the first steps!

Cheers

Joey

 

[caningo]

Hi devie,

so you're a newbie like me
What really helped is reading "Go play in space". Print it, keep a magic marker and post-its handy and start to follow this manual.
Perfect for the first steps!

Cheers

Joey

Great tip! That's the same way I started and it helped very much.

 

[devie08]

where is go play in space

where can i find the reccomended file or website?
i really dont know.

thanks
devie08:lol:

 

[TSPenguin]

See forum tutorials here
http://www.orbiter-forum.com/tutorials/

ar81 already linked to it. You can find it in the tutorial section of this forum as well. And googel will help you too.

 

[Scarecrow]

where can i find the reccomended file or website?
i really dont know.

thanks
devie08:lol:

Googleing "go play in space" should bring you right to it. It is very good. I highly recommend it.

 

[devie08]

ORBIT?

:sos:hi im sorry about all the posts recently ive been really confused lol. anyway i was wondering on what altitude you have to be at to enter orbit? please DONT send me any links to tutorials because i dont really understand them.

thanks
devie08.:speakcool:

 

[Scrooge McDuck]

Hi Devie08,

Just to inform you: I merged your new thread with the old. They are about the same subject, so creating new topics doesn't make sense, it's better to post in your existing topic.

Another note: you point out that you don't understand the tutorials you've read. It would be good to point out at what point you don't understand it? That way we could help you better.

But to answer your last question: the minimal altitude for a stable orbit is not the same for all planets. If the planet has an atmosphere, you would need to get above the atmosphere in order to be able to have a stable orbit. For Earth, you could say that you'd need to be above 160 km (roughly).

But remember: a beginner's mistake is to think that you 'are in orbit' as soon as you escaped the atmosphere, in space. That is not the case. If fly straight up to 160 km, you'll simply fall down again.
In order to enter an orbit around the earth, you have to gain more (horizontal) velocity.
Tip: Watch at the Orbit MFD, once your orbital path around the planet is round or at least above the planet surface, you are in orbit and won't crash on the earth soon. Make sure that your Orbit MFD is in the Proj-Ship mode, use Shift-P to do this.

regards,
mcduck

 

[devie08]

ok thanks scrooge mcduck. erm 1 more question can you tell me when i reach a certain height above earths atmosphere what buttons next to the mfd's do i press?? thanks so much..

devie08

 

[Scrooge McDuck]

Well, you don't have to wait with this until you're above the atmosphere, but this is what I usually do:

1. Press the "Sel" button and enable the Orbit-MFD.
2. Press "PRJ" to change the reference to ship.
3. Press "FRM" to change to EQU.
4. Press "DST" to set the altitudes relative to surface.
Now you have a nice tool to check the shape of your orbit.

You'll also see a long list of numbers.
For you, there are two particular interesting: ApA and PeA.
ApA means the highest altitude of your orbit above the earth's surface.
PeA means the lowest altitude.

Your ApA will be high enough if you already managed to get above the atmosphere.
PeA, will be too low (even below the earth's surface!)

5. Enable the "Prograde" autopilot, and burn your main engine (Ctrl "+"), just as long until PeA is above 160 km.
Then you can turn of the engine (the * key on numpad), and enjoy the view in your first stable orbit around earth!
Being in orbit means you'll keep falling around and around the earth, without ever hitting it.


But again, the best thing to do, is to follow some tutorials (it's the same as reading replies on the forum!). Another good start would be to open Orbiter.pdf, and start with the basic step-by-step tutorials.

regards,
mcduck

 

[devie08]

thnks so much. but there is 1 thing how do i make the ring enlarge on the orbit mfd?


-----Post Added-----


omg thanks so much just made my first orbit! woo i felt successful! haha thanks!

 

[Star explorer]

good for you devie when i first started it took me like 100 tries to get into orbit but now i can do it without much effort

 

[devie08]

oh no... i got all the way around earth in orbit but the starting point of the orbit wasnt so succesful! because the orbit ring wasnt large over the starting point! oh damn how do i make this part larger??

thanks
devie08.

 

[Urwumpe]

oh no... i got all the way around earth in orbit but the starting point of the orbit wasnt so succesful! because the orbit ring wasnt large over the starting point! oh damn how do i make this part larger??

What do you mean? Was your periapsis still below the surface of Earth?

(OrbitMFD: PeA value negative)

 

[devie08]

yes i dont know how to expand the circle so it dosent make me go back to earth until i want to deactivate prograde to go into re-entry.

 

[Urwumpe]

yes i dont know how to expand the circle so it dosent make me go back to earth until i want to deactivate prograde to go into re-entry.

Simple basic orbital maneuver. I hope you already read the tutorial.

If you burn prograde, the orbit radius opposite of your current position increases (as burning prograde always raises the orbit energy and thus always extends the semi-major axis). The periapsis (lowest point) of your orbit is always opposite of your apoapsis (highest point)

Now, employ this knowledge into doing what we cool people here call a circularization burn.

 

[Quick_Nick]

oh no... i got all the way around earth in orbit but the starting point of the orbit wasnt so succesful! because the orbit ring wasnt large over the starting point! oh damn how do i make this part larger??

thanks
devie08.

Well, that late in the flight, there might be a couple of options. If it is just your 'starting point' that is low and you are currently ascending (your ApA is at orbital altitude), simply wait and burn prograde when you reach or are near ApA. If you are not ascending enough and are going to soon fall, try thrusting at a higher AOA. In other words, point your nose some amount ABOVE the direction you are heading.
Burning in the direction you are going will raise the opposite side of your orbit. Burning in the other direction will lower it. Burning at a positive AOA (some amount 'up') will raise the orbit where you are, and burning at a negative AOA will lower the orbit where you are. Some opposite effects may occur for the opposite side of your orbit though. Balancing effects of 'up' and prograde is key.