Question IMFD Target vessel in a moon's orbit

[Zatnikitelman]

Tonight, I decided to fly a rendezvous mission to Earth's Moon, I flew an XR2 from Earth Orbit to the Moon in a 24 hour trajectory, then rendezvoused with an orbiting XR2 I had already placed in lunar orbit. The flight was one of my best, I pulled off a good synchronization of the orbits around the moon, and docked relatively well. My synching needs some work, but I know what to do about that. But my issue came when I was targeting the XR2 in lunar orbit. In IMFD, I didn't see how I could fine tune my arrival to coincide with the target vessel being at a certain point of its orbit. I had thought that IMFD's Planet Approach program would display the white line showing where the target would be, at the closest approach of my planned orbit, but it did not. I tried looking in the map program, but didn't find anything either. I ended up dropping into a higher orbit, but because I arrived behind the target, had to drop into a lower orbit and catch up to it which took more time and fuel than I intended. Am I missing something here? If IMFD doesn't have this built-in, is there a good method for estimating or eyeballing this?

One idea I had but didn't want to test out right then is to use the orbital period of the target, and my time to periapsis, and work out something that way (sorry, it's late and I didn't work out the exact methodology), and while that would have worked perfectly today since my target was in an almost perfectly circular orbit with its periapsis coinciding with mine, I don't think that would work on an elliptical orbit since the angular velocity varies from point to point. Perhaps it could be done, but that starts getting very math-heavy.

Thanks for any help or suggestions!
Matt

 

[dgatsoulis]

Can you post the scenario? It will be easier to show this using your flight as an example.

In general, your idea was correct. With IMFD, you need to use the Map and Delta velocity programs, wait for the target to at the point of your lunar periapsis and arrange your burn so that the time to lunar periapsis is a multiple of the target's orbital period. It works even for elliptical orbits; after all, your target will be back at the same position in one orbit.
Once inside the Moon's SOI, you can use the Target intecept program, to fine-tune your arrival.

TransX has a Cl.Approach value, which shows you what your distance to your target will be upon arrival, but given that you will pass through 2 gravitational sources (Earth-Sun) before you arrive at the Moon, the prediction is not very accurate.

More important than "hitting the target at periapsis" is arriving in-plane with the target. Sure, it is a 24h journey but that doesn't mean that you don't have to be efficient in fuel usage. Upon arrival at periapsis, you make a braking burn and arrange your apoapsis in such a way that you will intercept the target on the next periapsis pass.

 

[Zatnikitelman]

Sure! The first scenario is about halfway enroute to the moon. I've just switched the left IMFD into Planet Approach and setup a target periapsis of 140k above the lunar surface, and gotten my relative inclination down as much as possible, it's currently about 1.9 degrees. I didn't think of using the Target Intercept program though. The second scenario is where I originated from. XR2-01's orbit is from that of the XR2's default ascent to ISS scenarios, so it's not in the perfect orbit for a lunar transfer.

BEGIN_DESC
The approximate half-way point of a flight to the moon to rendezvous with an XR2 already orbiting the moon.
END_DESC

BEGIN_ENVIRONMENT
  System Sol
  Date MJD 51985.1929118394
END_ENVIRONMENT

BEGIN_FOCUS
  Ship XR2-01
END_FOCUS

BEGIN_CAMERA
  TARGET XR2-01
  MODE Cockpit
  FOV 40.00
END_CAMERA

BEGIN_MFD Left
  TYPE User
  MODE Interplanetary
  Scenario Old2
  MapMFD V5
  Reference Earth
  Target moon
  Center moon
  Data 0 1 1.753087658732072e-006 0 1 1 0 2 1 0 0 0
  MassLimit 1e+020
  CMode 2
  Config 1 1 1 1 100000 0
  ExtMode 2
  Periapis Moon
  END 
  CorMFD V4
  Reference Moon
  Target XR2-02
  Source XR2-01
  ActiveProg 3 3
  DataA 0 3 0 0 0 0
  DataB 1 1 51985.19291146059 0 140000 3.728062039211348 -3.11946965150012 51985.68053624674 0
  DVProg 0 0 0 1
  AdvConf 0 0.04014257279586939 2012022.994920543 2 1
  Guidance 1
  END 
  EjectMFD V5
  Reference Auto
  Data 0 1 3 0 1 51984.61982026797 10
  Guidance 0
  END 
  BaseAprMFD V2
  Reference Auto
  Target none
  Source none
  DataA 0 0 120000 0.10821 0.366519 1 1 51984.61982026797 51984.61982026797 0
  DataB 0 3 0 1 0 1
  END 
  SlingMFD V4
  Reference Auto
  Source none
  Data 0 1 1 3 0 1 51984.61982026797 0
  END 
  LaunchMFD V4
  Target None
  Data 0 1 1 3 0 1 0
  END 
  CF1_DataA 1 0
  CF1_DataB 51984.680137095 10 120000 2 20 150000
  CF1_SecTgt 
  mfdShare -1
  mfdProgram 2
END_MFD

BEGIN_MFD Right
  TYPE User
  MODE Interplanetary
  Scenario Old2
  MapMFD V5
  Reference Earth
  Target moon
  Center moon
  Data 0 1 1.753087658732072e-006 0 1 1 0 2 1 0 0 0
  MassLimit 1e+020
  CMode 2
  Config 1 1 1 1 100000 0
  ExtMode 2
  Periapis Moon
  END 
  CorMFD V4
  Reference Moon
  Target XR2-02
  Source XR2-01
  ActiveProg 3 3
  DataA 0 3 0 0 0 0
  DataB 1 1 51985.19291146059 0 140000 3.728062039211348 -3.11946965150012 51985.68053624674 0
  DVProg 0 0 0 1
  AdvConf 0 0.04014257279586939 2012022.994920543 2 1
  Guidance 1
  END 
  EjectMFD V5
  Reference Auto
  Data 0 1 3 0 1 51984.61982026797 10
  Guidance 0
  END 
  BaseAprMFD V2
  Reference Auto
  Target none
  Source none
  DataA 0 0 120000 0.10821 0.366519 1 1 51984.61982026797 51984.61982026797 0
  DataB 0 3 0 1 0 1
  END 
  SlingMFD V4
  Reference Auto
  Source none
  Data 0 1 1 3 0 1 51984.61982026797 0
  END 
  LaunchMFD V4
  Target None
  Data 0 1 1 3 0 1 0
  END 
  CF1_DataA 1 0
  CF1_DataB 51984.680137095 10 120000 2 20 150000
  CF1_SecTgt 
  mfdShare 0
  mfdProgram 4
END_MFD

BEGIN_PANEL
END_PANEL

BEGIN_SHIPS
XR2-01:XR2Ravenstar
  STATUS Orbiting Earth
  RPOS 16853939.04 4842639.93 -214104359.48
  RVEL 677.669 -24.016 -4492.443
  AROT -17.65 -23.93 -37.14
  RCSMODE 2
  PRPLEVEL 0:0.053440 1:0.938891
  IDS 0:199 100
  NAVFREQ 588 466 84 114
  XPDR 193
  SECONDARY_HUD 0
  LAST_ACTIVE_SECONDARY_HUD 0
  ADCTRL_MODE 0
  TAKEOFF_LANDING_CALLOUTS 4461.487227 20.150000 20.152000 0.000000 -4460.987328
  APU_FUEL_QTY 0.824000
  LOX_QTY 0.957799
  CABIN_O2_LEVEL 0.209000
  CREW_STATE 0
  INTERNAL_SYSTEMS_FAILURE 0
  COGSHIFT_MODES 0 0 0
  MWS_ACTIVE 0
  COOLANT_TEMP 31.200000
  DMG_0 1.000000 Left Wing
  DMG_1 1.000000 Right Wing
  DMG_2 1.000000 Left Aileron
  DMG_3 1.000000 Right Aileron
  DMG_4 1.000000 Landing Gear
  DMG_5 1.000000 Nosecone
  DMG_6 1.000000 Retro Doors
  DMG_7 1.000000 Top Hatch
  DMG_8 1.000000 Radiator
  DMG_9 1.000000 Airbrake
  DMG_10 1.000000 Left Main Engine
  DMG_11 1.000000 Right Main Engine
  DMG_12 1.000000 Left SCRAM Engine
  DMG_13 1.000000 Right SCRAM Engine
  DMG_14 1.000000 Fore Hover Engine
  DMG_15 1.000000 Aft Hover Engine
  DMG_16 1.000000 Left Retro Engine
  DMG_17 1.000000 Right Retro Engine
  DMG_18 1.000000 Forward Lower RCS
  DMG_19 1.000000 Aft Upper RCS
  DMG_20 1.000000 Forward Upper RCS
  DMG_21 1.000000 Aft Lower RCS
  DMG_22 1.000000 Forward Star. RCS
  DMG_23 1.000000 Aft Port RCS
  DMG_24 1.000000 Forward Port RCS
  DMG_25 1.000000 Aft Star. RCS
  DMG_26 1.000000 Outboard Upper Port RCS
  DMG_27 1.000000 Outboard Lower Star. RCS
  DMG_28 1.000000 Outboard Upper Star. RCS
  DMG_29 1.000000 Outboard Lower Port RCS
  DMG_30 1.000000 Aft RCS
  DMG_31 1.000000 Forward RCS
  DMG_32 1.000000 Bay Doors
  IS_CRASHED 0
  MET_STARTING_MJD 51984.605550
  INTERVAL1_ELAPSED_TIME -1.000000
  INTERVAL2_ELAPSED_TIME -1.000000
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  INTERVAL2_RUNNING 0
  ACTIVE_MDM 3
  TEMP_SCALE 2
  CUSTOM_AUTOPILOT_MODE 0
  AIRSPEED_HOLD_ENGAGED 0
  SCRAM0DIR 0.000000 0.000000 1.000000
  SCRAM1DIR 0.000000 0.000000 1.000000
  HOVER_BALANCE 0.000000
  MAIN0DIR 0.000000 0.000000 1.000000
  MAIN1DIR 0.000000 0.000000 1.000000
  GIMBAL_BUTTON_STATES 0 0 0 0 0 0
  ATTITUDE_HOLD_DATA 2.500000 0.000000 0 0 0.000000
  DESCENT_HOLD_DATA 0.000000 -3.000000 0
  AIRSPEED_HOLD_DATA 173.924650
  OVERRIDE_INTERLOCKS 0 0
  TERTIARY_HUD_ON 0
  CREW_DISPLAY_INDEX 0
  GEAR 0 0.0000
  RCOVER 0 0.0000
  NOSECONE 0 0.0000
  AIRLOCK 0 0.0000
  IAIRLOCK 0 0.0000
  CHAMBER 0 0.0000
  AIRBRAKE 0 0.0000
  RADIATOR 1 1.0000
  HATCH 0 0.0000
  SCRAM_DOORS 0 0.0000
  HOVER_DOORS 0 0.0000
  BAY_DOORS 0 0.0000
  APU_STATUS 0
  EXTCOOLING_STATUS 0
  TRIM -0.003000
  LIGHTS 0 0 0
  XRUMMU_CREW_DATA_VALID 1
  UMMUCREW XI0-Lee_Nash-39-65-78
  UMMUCREW XI1-Kara_Miller-32-65-58
  UMMUCREW XI2-Sharon_Valerii-26-67-54
  UMMUCREW XI3-Cameron_Mitchell-36-65-77
  UMMUCREW XI4-Samantha_Carter-33-66-53
  UMMUCREW XI5-Daniel_Jackson-35-68-75
  UMMUCREW XI6-Teal_c-31-64-104
  UMMUCREW XI7-Vala_Mal_Doran-30-67-53
  UMMUCREW XI8-Elizabeth_Weir-36-68-56
  UMMUCREW XI9-John_Sheppard-34-64-77
  UMMUCREW XI10-Rodney_McKay-35-72-90
  UMMUCREW XI11-Teyla_Emmagan-27-68-57
  UMMUCREW XI12-Ronon_Dex-32-63-97
  UMMUCREW XI13-Carson_Beckett-38-74-95
  PAYLOAD_SCREENS_DATA 0.2 0 1 1
END
XR2-01_Bay:XRPayloadBay
  STATUS Orbiting Earth
  RPOS 16853937.24 4842641.49 -214104361.57
  RVEL 677.669 -24.016 -4492.443
  AROT -17.65 -23.93 -37.14
  ATTACHED 0:3,XR2-01
  AFCMODE 7
END
XR2PayloadCHM-01-1:XR2PayloadCHM
  STATUS Orbiting Earth
  RPOS 16853939.46 4842639.88 -214104357.31
  RVEL 677.669 -24.016 -4492.443
  AROT -17.65 -23.93 -37.14
  ATTACHED 0:0,XR2-01
  AFCMODE 7
  NAVFREQ 0 0
END
XR2-02:XR2Ravenstar
  STATUS Orbiting Moon
  RPOS -1794102.18 -38643.45 501784.37
  RVEL 435.969 38.365 1561.919
  AROT -0.16 37.32 -88.47
  PRPLEVEL 0:0.796773 1:0.990600 2:1.000000
  IDS 0:203 100
  NAVFREQ 0 0 0 0
  XPDR 201
  SECONDARY_HUD 3
  LAST_ACTIVE_SECONDARY_HUD 0
  ADCTRL_MODE 0
  TAKEOFF_LANDING_CALLOUTS 1626.702176 86.126555 86.129031 0.000000 0.049379
  APU_FUEL_QTY 0.984953
  LOX_QTY 0.960493
  CABIN_O2_LEVEL 0.209000
  CREW_STATE 0
  INTERNAL_SYSTEMS_FAILURE 0
  COGSHIFT_MODES 0 0 0
  MWS_ACTIVE 0
  COOLANT_TEMP 31.200000
  DMG_0 1.000000 Left Wing
  DMG_1 1.000000 Right Wing
  DMG_2 1.000000 Left Aileron
  DMG_3 1.000000 Right Aileron
  DMG_4 1.000000 Landing Gear
  DMG_5 1.000000 Nosecone
  DMG_6 1.000000 Retro Doors
  DMG_7 1.000000 Top Hatch
  DMG_8 1.000000 Radiator
  DMG_9 1.000000 Airbrake
  DMG_10 1.000000 Left Main Engine
  DMG_11 1.000000 Right Main Engine
  DMG_12 1.000000 Left SCRAM Engine
  DMG_13 1.000000 Right SCRAM Engine
  DMG_14 1.000000 Fore Hover Engine
  DMG_15 1.000000 Aft Hover Engine
  DMG_16 1.000000 Left Retro Engine
  DMG_17 1.000000 Right Retro Engine
  DMG_18 1.000000 Forward Lower RCS
  DMG_19 1.000000 Aft Upper RCS
  DMG_20 1.000000 Forward Upper RCS
  DMG_21 1.000000 Aft Lower RCS
  DMG_22 1.000000 Forward Star. RCS
  DMG_23 1.000000 Aft Port RCS
  DMG_24 1.000000 Forward Port RCS
  DMG_25 1.000000 Aft Star. RCS
  DMG_26 1.000000 Outboard Upper Port RCS
  DMG_27 1.000000 Outboard Lower Star. RCS
  DMG_28 1.000000 Outboard Upper Star. RCS
  DMG_29 1.000000 Outboard Lower Port RCS
  DMG_30 1.000000 Aft RCS
  DMG_31 1.000000 Forward RCS
  DMG_32 1.000000 Bay Doors
  IS_CRASHED 0
  MET_STARTING_MJD 51984.638090
  INTERVAL1_ELAPSED_TIME -1.000000
  INTERVAL2_ELAPSED_TIME -1.000000
  MET_RUNNING 1
  INTERVAL1_RUNNING 0
  INTERVAL2_RUNNING 0
  ACTIVE_MDM 1
  TEMP_SCALE 2
  CUSTOM_AUTOPILOT_MODE 0
  AIRSPEED_HOLD_ENGAGED 0
  SCRAM0DIR 0.000000 0.000000 1.000000
  SCRAM1DIR 0.000000 0.000000 1.000000
  HOVER_BALANCE 0.000000
  MAIN0DIR 0.000000 0.000000 1.000000
  MAIN1DIR 0.000000 0.000000 1.000000
  GIMBAL_BUTTON_STATES 0 0 0 0 0 0
  ATTITUDE_HOLD_DATA 0.000000 0.000000 1 0 0.000000
  DESCENT_HOLD_DATA 0.000000 -3.000000 0
  AIRSPEED_HOLD_DATA 0.000000
  OVERRIDE_INTERLOCKS 0 0
  TERTIARY_HUD_ON 1
  CREW_DISPLAY_INDEX 0
  GEAR 0 0.0000
  RCOVER 1 1.0000
  NOSECONE 1 1.0000
  AIRLOCK 0 0.0000
  IAIRLOCK 0 0.0000
  CHAMBER 0 0.0000
  AIRBRAKE 0 0.0000
  RADIATOR 1 1.0000
  HATCH 0 0.0000
  SCRAM_DOORS 0 0.0000
  HOVER_DOORS 0 0.0000
  BAY_DOORS 0 0.0000
  APU_STATUS 0
  EXTCOOLING_STATUS 0
  TRIM 0.000000
  LIGHTS 0 0 0
  XRUMMU_CREW_DATA_VALID 1
  UMMUCREW XI0-Lee_Nash-39-65-78
  UMMUCREW XI1-Kara_Miller-32-65-58
  UMMUCREW XI2-Sharon_Valerii-26-67-54
  UMMUCREW XI3-Cameron_Mitchell-36-65-77
  UMMUCREW XI4-Samantha_Carter-33-66-53
  UMMUCREW XI5-Daniel_Jackson-35-68-75
  UMMUCREW XI6-Teal_c-31-64-104
  UMMUCREW XI7-Vala_Mal_Doran-30-67-53
  UMMUCREW XI8-Elizabeth_Weir-36-68-56
  UMMUCREW XI9-John_Sheppard-34-64-77
  UMMUCREW XI10-Rodney_McKay-35-72-90
  UMMUCREW XI11-Teyla_Emmagan-27-68-57
  UMMUCREW XI12-Ronon_Dex-32-63-97
  UMMUCREW XI13-Carson_Beckett-38-74-95
  PAYLOAD_SCREENS_DATA 0.2 0 1 0
END
XR2-02_Bay:XRPayloadBay
  STATUS Orbiting Earth
  RPOS 113815.57 7406774.03 -398667491.42
  RVEL 1410.807 -45.286 1520.589
  AROT -0.16 37.32 -88.47
  ATTACHED 0:3,XR2-02
  AFCMODE 7
END
END_SHIPS

BEGIN_VistaBoost
END

BEGIN_ExtMFD
END

BEGIN_DESC
XR2s setup to practice lunar orbit rendezvous.
END_DESC

BEGIN_ENVIRONMENT
  System Sol
  Date MJD 51984.6801370950
END_ENVIRONMENT

BEGIN_FOCUS
  Ship XR2-01
END_FOCUS

BEGIN_CAMERA
  TARGET XR2-01
  MODE Cockpit
  FOV 40.00
END_CAMERA

BEGIN_MFD Left
  TYPE User
  MODE Interplanetary
  Scenario Old2
  MapMFD V5
  Reference Auto
  Target none
  Center GravityRef
  Data 0 1 1e-006 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
  MassLimit 1e+020
  CMode 0
  Config 1 1 1 1 0 0
  ExtMode 0
  Periapis none
  END 
  CorMFD V4
  Reference Auto
  Target none
  Source none
  ActiveProg 0 1
  DataA 0 3 0 0 0 0
  DataB 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
  DVProg 0 0 0 1
  AdvConf 0 0 0 0 0
  Guidance 0
  END 
  EjectMFD V5
  Reference Auto
  Data 0 1 3 0 1 51984.61982026797 10
  Guidance 0
  END 
  BaseAprMFD V2
  Reference Auto
  Target none
  Source none
  DataA 0 0 120000 0.10821 0.366519 1 1 51984.61982026797 51984.61982026797 0
  DataB 0 3 0 1 0 1
  END 
  SlingMFD V4
  Reference Auto
  Source none
  Data 0 1 1 3 0 1 51984.61982026797 0
  END 
  LaunchMFD V4
  Target None
  Data 0 1 1 3 0 1 0
  END 
  CF1_DataA 1 0
  CF1_DataB 0 10 120000 2 20 150000
  CF1_SecTgt 
  mfdShare -1
  mfdProgram 1
END_MFD

BEGIN_MFD Right
  TYPE Orbit
  PROJ Ship
  FRAME Ecliptic
  ALT
  REF Earth
END_MFD

BEGIN_PANEL
END_PANEL

BEGIN_SHIPS
XR2-01:XR2Ravenstar
  STATUS Orbiting Earth
  RPOS 6420550.13 87750.11 -2071259.83
  RVEL 753.931 -7376.460 2024.421
  AROT 80.13 55.70 148.61
  RCSMODE 2
  PRPLEVEL 0:0.604335 1:0.947417
  IDS 0:199 100
  NAVFREQ 588 466 84 114
  XPDR 193
  SECONDARY_HUD 0
  LAST_ACTIVE_SECONDARY_HUD 0
  ADCTRL_MODE 0
  TAKEOFF_LANDING_CALLOUTS 7406.357887 20.150000 20.152000 0.000000 0.039094
  APU_FUEL_QTY 0.824000
  LOX_QTY 0.994313
  CABIN_O2_LEVEL 0.209000
  CREW_STATE 0
  INTERNAL_SYSTEMS_FAILURE 0
  COGSHIFT_MODES 0 0 0
  MWS_ACTIVE 0
  COOLANT_TEMP 31.663663
  DMG_0 1.000000 Left Wing
  DMG_1 1.000000 Right Wing
  DMG_2 1.000000 Left Aileron
  DMG_3 1.000000 Right Aileron
  DMG_4 1.000000 Landing Gear
  DMG_5 1.000000 Nosecone
  DMG_6 1.000000 Retro Doors
  DMG_7 1.000000 Top Hatch
  DMG_8 1.000000 Radiator
  DMG_9 1.000000 Airbrake
  DMG_10 1.000000 Left Main Engine
  DMG_11 1.000000 Right Main Engine
  DMG_12 1.000000 Left SCRAM Engine
  DMG_13 1.000000 Right SCRAM Engine
  DMG_14 1.000000 Fore Hover Engine
  DMG_15 1.000000 Aft Hover Engine
  DMG_16 1.000000 Left Retro Engine
  DMG_17 1.000000 Right Retro Engine
  DMG_18 1.000000 Forward Lower RCS
  DMG_19 1.000000 Aft Upper RCS
  DMG_20 1.000000 Forward Upper RCS
  DMG_21 1.000000 Aft Lower RCS
  DMG_22 1.000000 Forward Star. RCS
  DMG_23 1.000000 Aft Port RCS
  DMG_24 1.000000 Forward Port RCS
  DMG_25 1.000000 Aft Star. RCS
  DMG_26 1.000000 Outboard Upper Port RCS
  DMG_27 1.000000 Outboard Lower Star. RCS
  DMG_28 1.000000 Outboard Upper Star. RCS
  DMG_29 1.000000 Outboard Lower Port RCS
  DMG_30 1.000000 Aft RCS
  DMG_31 1.000000 Forward RCS
  DMG_32 1.000000 Bay Doors
  IS_CRASHED 0
  MET_STARTING_MJD 51984.605550
  INTERVAL1_ELAPSED_TIME -1.000000
  INTERVAL2_ELAPSED_TIME -1.000000
  MET_RUNNING 1
  INTERVAL1_RUNNING 0
  INTERVAL2_RUNNING 0
  ACTIVE_MDM 3
  TEMP_SCALE 2
  CUSTOM_AUTOPILOT_MODE 0
  AIRSPEED_HOLD_ENGAGED 0
  SCRAM0DIR 0.000000 0.000000 1.000000
  SCRAM1DIR 0.000000 0.000000 1.000000
  HOVER_BALANCE 0.000000
  MAIN0DIR 0.000000 0.000000 1.000000
  MAIN1DIR 0.000000 0.000000 1.000000
  GIMBAL_BUTTON_STATES 0 0 0 0 0 0
  ATTITUDE_HOLD_DATA 2.500000 0.000000 0 0 0.000000
  DESCENT_HOLD_DATA 0.000000 -3.000000 0
  AIRSPEED_HOLD_DATA 173.924650
  OVERRIDE_INTERLOCKS 0 0
  TERTIARY_HUD_ON 0
  CREW_DISPLAY_INDEX 0
  GEAR 0 0.0000
  RCOVER 0 0.0000
  NOSECONE 0 0.0000
  AIRLOCK 0 0.0000
  IAIRLOCK 0 0.0000
  CHAMBER 0 0.0000
  AIRBRAKE 0 0.0000
  RADIATOR 1 1.0000
  HATCH 0 0.0000
  SCRAM_DOORS 0 0.0000
  HOVER_DOORS 0 0.0000
  BAY_DOORS 0 0.0000
  APU_STATUS 0
  EXTCOOLING_STATUS 0
  TRIM -0.003000
  LIGHTS 0 0 0
  XRUMMU_CREW_DATA_VALID 1
  UMMUCREW XI0-Lee_Nash-39-65-78
  UMMUCREW XI1-Kara_Miller-32-65-58
  UMMUCREW XI2-Sharon_Valerii-26-67-54
  UMMUCREW XI3-Cameron_Mitchell-36-65-77
  UMMUCREW XI4-Samantha_Carter-33-66-53
  UMMUCREW XI5-Daniel_Jackson-35-68-75
  UMMUCREW XI6-Teal_c-31-64-104
  UMMUCREW XI7-Vala_Mal_Doran-30-67-53
  UMMUCREW XI8-Elizabeth_Weir-36-68-56
  UMMUCREW XI9-John_Sheppard-34-64-77
  UMMUCREW XI10-Rodney_McKay-35-72-90
  UMMUCREW XI11-Teyla_Emmagan-27-68-57
  UMMUCREW XI12-Ronon_Dex-32-63-97
  UMMUCREW XI13-Carson_Beckett-38-74-95
  PAYLOAD_SCREENS_DATA 0.2 0 1 1
END
XR2-01_Bay:XRPayloadBay
  STATUS Orbiting Earth
  RPOS 6420552.91 87748.76 -2071259.13
  RVEL 753.931 -7376.460 2024.421
  AROT 80.13 55.70 148.61
  ATTACHED 0:3,XR2-01
  AFCMODE 7
END
XR2PayloadCHM-01-1:XR2PayloadCHM
  STATUS Orbiting Earth
  RPOS 6420548.65 87751.48 -2071258.93
  RVEL 753.931 -7376.460 2024.421
  AROT 80.13 55.70 148.61
  ATTACHED 0:0,XR2-01
  AFCMODE 7
  NAVFREQ 0 0
END
XR2-02:XR2Ravenstar
  STATUS Orbiting Moon
  RPOS -1541566.23 -58634.17 -1045001.27
  RVEL -910.184 -0.900 1342.708
  AROT -0.16 37.32 -88.47
  PRPLEVEL 0:0.796773 1:0.990600 2:1.000000
  IDS 0:203 100
  NAVFREQ 0 0 0 0
  XPDR 201
  SECONDARY_HUD 3
  LAST_ACTIVE_SECONDARY_HUD 0
  ADCTRL_MODE 0
  TAKEOFF_LANDING_CALLOUTS 1626.754231 86.126555 86.129031 0.000000 0.016465
  APU_FUEL_QTY 0.984953
  LOX_QTY 0.997007
  CABIN_O2_LEVEL 0.209000
  CREW_STATE 0
  INTERNAL_SYSTEMS_FAILURE 0
  COGSHIFT_MODES 0 0 0
  MWS_ACTIVE 0
  COOLANT_TEMP 31.200000
  DMG_0 1.000000 Left Wing
  DMG_1 1.000000 Right Wing
  DMG_2 1.000000 Left Aileron
  DMG_3 1.000000 Right Aileron
  DMG_4 1.000000 Landing Gear
  DMG_5 1.000000 Nosecone
  DMG_6 1.000000 Retro Doors
  DMG_7 1.000000 Top Hatch
  DMG_8 1.000000 Radiator
  DMG_9 1.000000 Airbrake
  DMG_10 1.000000 Left Main Engine
  DMG_11 1.000000 Right Main Engine
  DMG_12 1.000000 Left SCRAM Engine
  DMG_13 1.000000 Right SCRAM Engine
  DMG_14 1.000000 Fore Hover Engine
  DMG_15 1.000000 Aft Hover Engine
  DMG_16 1.000000 Left Retro Engine
  DMG_17 1.000000 Right Retro Engine
  DMG_18 1.000000 Forward Lower RCS
  DMG_19 1.000000 Aft Upper RCS
  DMG_20 1.000000 Forward Upper RCS
  DMG_21 1.000000 Aft Lower RCS
  DMG_22 1.000000 Forward Star. RCS
  DMG_23 1.000000 Aft Port RCS
  DMG_24 1.000000 Forward Port RCS
  DMG_25 1.000000 Aft Star. RCS
  DMG_26 1.000000 Outboard Upper Port RCS
  DMG_27 1.000000 Outboard Lower Star. RCS
  DMG_28 1.000000 Outboard Upper Star. RCS
  DMG_29 1.000000 Outboard Lower Port RCS
  DMG_30 1.000000 Aft RCS
  DMG_31 1.000000 Forward RCS
  DMG_32 1.000000 Bay Doors
  IS_CRASHED 0
  MET_STARTING_MJD 51984.638090
  INTERVAL1_ELAPSED_TIME -1.000000
  INTERVAL2_ELAPSED_TIME -1.000000
  MET_RUNNING 1
  INTERVAL1_RUNNING 0
  INTERVAL2_RUNNING 0
  ACTIVE_MDM 1
  TEMP_SCALE 2
  CUSTOM_AUTOPILOT_MODE 0
  AIRSPEED_HOLD_ENGAGED 0
  SCRAM0DIR 0.000000 0.000000 1.000000
  SCRAM1DIR 0.000000 0.000000 1.000000
  HOVER_BALANCE 0.000000
  MAIN0DIR 0.000000 0.000000 1.000000
  MAIN1DIR 0.000000 0.000000 1.000000
  GIMBAL_BUTTON_STATES 0 0 0 0 0 0
  ATTITUDE_HOLD_DATA 0.000000 0.000000 1 0 0.000000
  DESCENT_HOLD_DATA 0.000000 -3.000000 0
  AIRSPEED_HOLD_DATA 0.000000
  OVERRIDE_INTERLOCKS 0 0
  TERTIARY_HUD_ON 1
  CREW_DISPLAY_INDEX 0
  GEAR 0 0.0000
  RCOVER 1 1.0000
  NOSECONE 1 1.0000
  AIRLOCK 0 0.0000
  IAIRLOCK 0 0.0000
  CHAMBER 0 0.0000
  AIRBRAKE 0 0.0000
  RADIATOR 1 1.0000
  HATCH 0 0.0000
  SCRAM_DOORS 0 0.0000
  HOVER_DOORS 0 0.0000
  BAY_DOORS 0 0.0000
  APU_STATUS 0
  EXTCOOLING_STATUS 0
  TRIM 0.000000
  LIGHTS 0 0 0
  XRUMMU_CREW_DATA_VALID 1
  UMMUCREW XI0-Lee_Nash-39-65-78
  UMMUCREW XI1-Kara_Miller-32-65-58
  UMMUCREW XI2-Sharon_Valerii-26-67-54
  UMMUCREW XI3-Cameron_Mitchell-36-65-77
  UMMUCREW XI4-Samantha_Carter-33-66-53
  UMMUCREW XI5-Daniel_Jackson-35-68-75
  UMMUCREW XI6-Teal_c-31-64-104
  UMMUCREW XI7-Vala_Mal_Doran-30-67-53
  UMMUCREW XI8-Elizabeth_Weir-36-68-56
  UMMUCREW XI9-John_Sheppard-34-64-77
  UMMUCREW XI10-Rodney_McKay-35-72-90
  UMMUCREW XI11-Teyla_Emmagan-27-68-57
  UMMUCREW XI12-Ronon_Dex-32-63-97
  UMMUCREW XI13-Carson_Beckett-38-74-95
  PAYLOAD_SCREENS_DATA 0.2 0 1 0
END
XR2-02_Bay:XRPayloadBay
  STATUS Orbiting Earth
  RPOS -42742181.44 11038173.62 -395877235.02
  RVEL 58.993 -81.903 1188.157
  AROT -0.16 37.32 -88.47
  ATTACHED 0:3,XR2-02
  AFCMODE 7
END
END_SHIPS

BEGIN_VistaBoost
END

BEGIN_ExtMFD
END

EDIT
I had a play with Target Intercept and Tangential Transfer and some other stuff once I got into the SOI from the first scenario above, but none gave me satisfactory results.

 

[Michael_Chr]

What I have figured out is for the TLI to LOI phase I use LTMFD. Its more precise easier to use and you are able to get a fairly (to extremely) accurate prediction of your LAN, Incl as well as the local longitude of your lunar PeA. Lets say you use a low lunar orbit altitude of 126.1 KM (which gives you an orbit periode corresponding to 2 hrs orbir period - with relation to a ground position counting in the moons revolution). So, in the desire to RV with a target at said altitude and with an inclination of 180 deg (Just to make it harder) from a LEO parking orbit I dont concern myself with intercepting my RV tgt directly because for several reasons it will never happen. What I do is that I aim for a TLI that will give me the an inclination and a LAN as close as possible to the desired TGT orbit (since the energy requirements for a plane change are much higher than for an orbit phasing). The target altitude I ususally set as 1221 km which provides two advantages. First the required energy for the plane change is much less at lower orbit velocities and second this altitude corresponds to an exactly double up in orbit period from the employed LLO which aagain corresponds to a short orbit phasing periode (max 4 hrs).
For the orbit phasing I use IMFD tangential transfer which is far superior to the stock sync MFD and for final RV and pre docking I use IMFD "target velocity match" (in orbital submenu) at closest point of approach which is usually within 3 KM of my target but never more than 10 KM. Be advised that tangential transfer do require a coplaner orbit to targets (at least lower than 0.5 deg rel. inc) and it works best you have close to a circular orbit.
I assume yuo are aware of how to use the MFDs. If not please advice and I will provide a more detailed explanation.

To sum up:

• Use LTMFD for TLI, mid course correction and LOI and aim for a high altitude and close to co-planar orbit
• In high lunar orbit use align MFD adjust for co-planar orbit
• Use IMFD - Tangential transfer to phase you orbit and intercept tgt
• Use IMFD - Orbital, Target velocity match at closest point of approach

Best regards
Michael

Ps. The reason for the plane change after LOI and not before is that inclinations in the interval between 172 and 188 degrees (for retrograde lunar orbits) cannot be reached from the Lunar coasting phase prior to LOI. Plane alignment beyond these values are off course done most efficient during the coasting phase once inside moon soi (use IMFD Map).

........................................
OK...just checked your scenario#2 and I can see that your earth orbit plane is 39 deg out of the desired target plane. This equals to an exorbitant mount of energy required for the TLI and LTMFD simply refuse the calculation for reasons that initial orbit is not properly aligned with the moon.
That is not to say that an XR2 cant do that (overpowered as it is :-D). What is interesting is the total DeltaV requirement for this particular TLI is. The lowest DeltaV TLI I have done is around 3150 M/S. This from an lunar aligned LEO to an lunar inclination of 172 deg.
So if TLI from a ISS type orbit is a premium requirement then LTMFD is out of the question.
Btw. I noticed that your trajectory as seen from the enroute scenario isnt hardly affected by the moons gravity. This means that your velocity is quite high. This in turn implies that you have put to much velocity into the TLI - velocity that you have to dissipate in the LOI burn. If you are interested I can provide you with a scenario where the energy requirements are much lower. Its all about finding the lowest DeltaV requirements in my humble opinion.

 

[dgatsoulis]

@Michael
It is a fast lunar transfer (24h), that's why the dV requirement is so high. LTMFD is great, but only for Apollo style transfers to the Moon. (At least according to the manual). Haven't used it myself because IMFD -from the same author- allows for much more flexible planning and the Map program is very accurate in its predictions.
For the Moon specifically, you have no restrictions as to the Time of flight.
You can setup a super-fast 12 hour journey or a low-energy Belbruno-Miller transfer with a flight-time upwards of 2 months.

@Zat
Just got the scenarios, will grab a bite to eat and get back to you in a couple of hours. From a first look, your arrival with less than 2° Rinc. is really good.
The way to move on from the first scenario you posted (half-way) is this:

On the right (Map), set the Moon as reference and target the second XR2. You can also center the moon periapsis if you want.

On the left, switch to Course→Delta Velocity. Give yourself some time to setup the maneuver and adjust the dvf, dvp and dvi until you have:
-An arrival at the same altitude as the target (check from OrbitMFD)
-The periapsis and the node where your plane and the target's plane intercect, must coincide. (Perforated blue line in the Map program).
-As low R.Inc as possible.

It shouldn't take more than 5 m/s total.
Once you perform that burn, you can advance the time until you are inside the Moon's SOI.
There, open the Target Intercept program and target the second XR2.
(If you had enabled the offset option for the initial transfer, remember to disable it).
Adjust the TeJ and Tin values until you have a minimum Total dv.

To check the efficiency, look at the Map program's Circ value. That's the dv you'd need to circularize your trajectory at lunar periapsis. (In other words, that would be the dv requirement for a "perfect" flight, from that starting point of course).
With less than 2° R.Inc, the Total dV of the Target Intercept program should be really close to that number.

-------------
EDIT:
-------------

Just noticed this in the first XR2:

PRPLEVEL 0:0.053440 1:0.938891

What kind of settings are you using? Even with an ISP setting of 40000 (default DG), you don't have enough fuel to make this flight even if you crossfeed the RCS.

Tonight, I decided to fly a rendezvous mission to Earth's Moon, I flew an XR2 from Earth Orbit to the Moon in a 24 hour trajectory, then rendezvoused with an orbiting XR2 I had already placed in lunar orbit. The flight was one of my best, I pulled off a good synchronization of the orbits around the moon, and docked relatively well.

Well... you made the flight, so I guess you either had a higher setting than that or you posted the scenario with the editor and didn't check the fuel?

Anyway, I'll record a flight when I get home and post the vid here. I'll just give the XR2 the correct settings to make it.

---------- Post added at 15:44 ---------- Previous post was at 11:38 ----------

Here is a video of the flight from the half-way scenario. I added annotation to make it more clear about which IMFD programs to use, which variables to adjust and which values to look.

 

[Zatnikitelman]

Thanks a lot for all the information! I too have to go get something to eat now so I'll do a detailed read-through and watch your video later, but for fuel, I just kept topping it off with the scenario editor! This wasn't supposed to be a "real" flight, I just decided "hey I should fly Orbiter again, why not go to the moon? Hrm, well why not rendezvous with something there while I'm at it!?" So it was very much just a test flight where I cared more about learning how to setup the maneuvers rather than how well I did with other parameters such as fuel use.

 

[Zatnikitelman]

Thanks again dgatsoulis! I finally had the time to sit down and fly the mission. I had forgot to turn nonspherical gravity and torque and all that on the first times I flew, but remembered to do so this time for maximum realism. All that really changed was having to do a few more course changed in the dV program. It took me two tries, but I got it. I'll need to practice it a lot more, but so far so good. Thanks again!

 

[dgatsoulis]

Gread job. One thing to keep in mind is that IMFD's Map program works best if you have non-spherical gravity turned on. For all the other functions you just have to make sure that the "Nodal regression" line in the config page is set at "auto". But the map in particular needs non-spherical gravity turned on, in order to provide you with accurate trajectory predictions.

 

[Zatnikitelman]

Is this for version 5.5? I see Nodal Regression in the main configuration page, but it only does Yes and No, and I don't see nonspherical at all in the map's configuration.

 

[dgatsoulis]

I should have clarified:

Orbiter launchpad → Parameters → Nonspherical gravity sources checked.

Config\IMFD5.cfg find the line:

NonSpherical 2          // Use Non spherical gravity on low orbit prediction in Map Program, 0=Disabled, 1=Auto, 2=Always ON

Have it set either on 1 if you occasionaly switch the nonspherical gravity off or 2 if you always fly with nonspherical gravity switched on. I have it set on 2, because I always fly with nonspherical gravity switched on.

For the Nodal regression in the main configuration page of IMFD, you need to have set to "No" if you are not flying with nonspherical gravity or "Yes" if you are.

 

[Zatnikitelman]

Ah ok, I didn't even know those made a difference. It looks like they were set right by default though.