Johan2011
Retired
Im trying to Launch the Stock Atlantis to the ISS but Cannot Rendezvous to the ISS. Can anybody Help Please?
-
ORBITER-FORUM will be temporarily closed at 2026-07-23 18:00 UTC while we complete some OF maintenance tasks. The amount of downtime is expected to take up to one hour, but probably less.
Problem I Cannot Rendezvous the ISS
- Thread starter Johan2011
- Start date
This should get you started:
jedidia
shoemaker without legs
The stock Atlantis is really hard to fly, because you're doing it all manually while having propellant tolerances close to an actual shuttle (i.e. next to none)...
Arvil
Well-known member
- Joined
- Apr 20, 2008
- Messages
- 520
- Reaction score
- 457
- Points
- 78
- Location
- Pennsylvania, USA
- Preferred Pronouns
- he/him
Yeah, I usually launch with limited fuel on until almost in orbit to eject the external tank, then turn off the limited fuel to finish orbit, rendezvous, and dock. Otherwise, I usually run out of gas.
C3PO
Addon Developer
- Joined
- Feb 11, 2008
- Messages
- 2,601
- Reaction score
- 31
- Points
- 63
Capt. Obvious here.
Launching realistic craft requires precision, because the margins are small compared to sci-fi craft.
The most important thing is to launch into the correct plane. (RInc close to zero)
Secondly, you can use time instead fuel to reach the intercept point. Plan for small burns and use orbital mechanics to arrive without high closing rates.
If you don't want to do complex math or use advanced MFDs, you could practise using the Deltaglider to train your brain in the "weird" world of orbital mechanics. It can take some time (at least for me, it did), but you might enjoy it (I certainly did!!!).
Launching realistic craft requires precision, because the margins are small compared to sci-fi craft.
The most important thing is to launch into the correct plane. (RInc close to zero)
Secondly, you can use time instead fuel to reach the intercept point. Plan for small burns and use orbital mechanics to arrive without high closing rates.
If you don't want to do complex math or use advanced MFDs, you could practise using the Deltaglider to train your brain in the "weird" world of orbital mechanics. It can take some time (at least for me, it did), but you might enjoy it (I certainly did!!!).
Orbiter User Manual 18.5
