Project TrajectoryOptimizerMFD open for testing

[dgatsoulis]

So could one use this to set a course to fly to moon? I am thinking the New Glenn mk1 and mk2,.....

I just what to see if the mk1 can do it.

Already answered in post #14 of this very thread, with a detailed explanation.

 

[dgatsoulis]

Hi all,

I've attached here a public beta of TrajectoryOptimizer, an MFD that searches for
interplanetary transfer trajectories — departure/arrival dates and the ΔV to
fly them — using Orbiter's own ephemerides. It's a planning tool: it finds the
trajectory, you fly it.

This is a major new version. Highlights:

- Faster, and far more consistent — the same plan returns the same quality
result run to run.
- Any body with at least two orbiting children can be the reference body, so
Sun-centred interplanetary transfers AND moon-to-moon transfers around a
planet both work.
- No more BSP files — body positions come straight from Orbiter's own models.
Nothing to generate, nothing to install.
- Custom solar systems supported out of the box — custom stars, fictional
systems, any scale, zero configuration.

• Export a solved plan straight to TransX or InterplanetaryMFD.
• Deep-space maneuvers (DSMs) supported, for Cassini-style gravity-assist tours.
• Press H on any page for context-sensitive help.
• A work-in-progress manual is included in the download.

Install: unzip into your Orbiter root folder, tick TrajectoryOptimizer in
Launchpad → Modules, then bring up any MFD, press SEL, and choose TrajectoryOptimizer from the list.

Please test and report back here. I'd especially like to hear:

• Any impact on Orbiter's frame rate?
• Any unexpected behaviour?
• Suggestions, comments, or bugs?

Thanks in advance for trying it and for your feedback.

EDIT: zip file reuploaded to fix a dependency issue reported by @Buck Rogers

 

[Buck Rogers]

This looks seriously impressive!

Quick lunchbreak test, O16/24, Win10, default DG

The Doc looks good, sounds like you've tried to cover any possible loopholes/loose ends- very comprehensive.
Installation ok...
BUT I'm not getting past the start!

"Open any MFD, press SHIFT and the MFD's select key, then press T." - This is a little ambiguous?

If I start the MFD I get a CTD, log attached.
If I open the left MFD, press SEL, and left-shift hold + "T" it opens the DG atmo autopilot?
Holding the left-shift and the MFD's select key just cycles through SEL options?

Edit: Tried the above with 2 other vessels, no luck.

Not sure where the error is?

Module TrajectoryOptimizer.dll [Build 260723, API 160828]
TrajectoryOptimizer: version 2.5.0-beta1 (built Jul 23 2026), MFD mode registered on key T.
============================ ERROR: ===========================
Failed loading module Modules\Plugin\TrajectoryOptimizer.dll (code 1114)

 

[dgatsoulis]

This looks seriously impressive!

Quick lunchbreak test, O16/24, Win10, default DG

The Doc looks good, sounds like you've tried to cover any possible loopholes/loose ends- very comprehensive.
Installation ok...
BUT I'm not getting past the start!

"Open any MFD, press SHIFT and the MFD's select key, then press T." - This is a little ambiguous?

If I start the MFD I get a CTD, log attached.
If I open the left MFD, press SEL, and left-shift hold + "T" it opens the DG atmo autopilot?
Holding the left-shift and the MFD's select key just cycles through SEL options?

Edit: Tried the above with 2 other vessels, no luck.

Not sure where the error is?

Module TrajectoryOptimizer.dll [Build 260723, API 160828]
TrajectoryOptimizer: version 2.5.0-beta1 (built Jul 23 2026), MFD mode registered on key T.
============================ ERROR: ===========================
Failed loading module Modules\Plugin\TrajectoryOptimizer.dll (code 1114)

@Buck Rogers — thank you, genuinely.

That log line was the entire diagnosis, and without your lunch-break test this would have gone straight out to everyone unnoticed.
Exactly what a beta is for.

What went wrong: the plugin is built with Visual Studio 2022 and was relying on the machine already having the Microsoft Visual C++ 2015–2022 (x86) runtime.
Yours didn't have a matching one, so Windows aborted the load before the MFD could start — that's the "code 1114" (DLL initialization failed) in your log.
Nothing wrong with your install; my packaging left a dependency out. (And with the module half-loaded, the "T" key fell through to the DeltaGlider — hence the atmo autopilot.)

Two ways forward:
• Right now: You can unzip the attached file directly into your Orbiter root folder (where orbiter.exe lives)

• Properly: I'm bundling the runtime into the download so there's nothing to install at all. The zip file in post #22 has been updated.

Also, my start-up instruction was clumsy — sorry. The simple version: once it loads, bring up any MFD, press SEL, and choose TrajectoryOptimizer from the list.

Thanks again — first report in and it's already made the release better.

 

[misha.physics]

I'd like to try this MFD, but I don't have much experience in interplanetary flights yet (although I'm familiar with Orbiter since the 2006 version). I only know how to fly from Eeath to Moon and back, and it seems like I once flew to Mars. So I'm not sure I can understand how to use this MFD for various flighs. Is the documentation attached with the MFD enough to understand it? Like checklists/examples (I seen the only one - from Earth to Mars). Could you write in the future more basic examples of using this MFD (after release) for flying: Earth <-> Venus, Earth <-> Mars, Venus <->Saturn, Jupiter <-> Europa, etc?

(And with the module half-loaded, the "T" key fell through to the DeltaGlider — hence the atmo autopilot.)

Sorry for my off-topic, but what is the "DG atmo autopilot"? How to use it? I didn't know DG has the default autopilt that can be controled with key buttons.

By the way, does anyone know any autopilot add-ons (MFD) with pitch hold function (using control surfaces)? So you can set, for example, pitch 30 degrees and a vessel holds it. And it allows setting various angles during the flight. And it can use RCS thrusters for flying in the upper layers of the atmosphere.

 

[misha.physics]

Sorry for my off-topic, but what is the "DG atmo autopilot"? How to use it? I didn't know DG has the default autopilt that can be controled with key buttons.

Is it the "Lua MFD" that is displayed as the "Termainal MFD" (I'm familiar with this)?:

 

[Buck Rogers]

That log line was the entire diagnosis, and without your lunch-break test this would have gone straight out to everyone unnoticed.
Exactly what a beta is for.

What went wrong: the plugin is built with Visual Studio 2022 and was relying on the machine already having the Microsoft Visual C++ 2015–2022 (x86) runtime.
Yours didn't have a matching one, so Windows aborted the load before the MFD could start — that's the "code 1114" (DLL initialization failed) in your log.
Nothing wrong with your install; my packaging left a dependency out. (And with the module half-loaded, the "T" key fell through to the DeltaGlider — hence the atmo autopilot.)

Good news! Wasn't sure if I was just "being stupid" (generally No1 on the options list).
What had me a bit stumped was that the MFD was registered and listed under SEL, haven't seen a half-loaded module before!
Glad to be of help.
Will test/confirm that it's working and Earh-Mars, would love to give it a thorough run through but it might be a while before I have time...

By the way, does anyone know any autopilot add-ons (MFD) with pitch hold function (using control surfaces)? So you can set, for example, pitch 30 degrees and a vessel holds it. And it allows setting various angles during the flight. And it can use RCS thrusters for flying in the upper layers of the atmosphere.

Check Orbiter2024/Config/MFD/Attitude.cfg, a lua autopilot that can be activated, might be useful? Otherwise I don't know of a universal AP that does all that.

 

[Buck Rogers]

Sorry. Still getting the same error message! (did also de-activate before re-installing).
Note: Orb24 ships with these files pre-installed (different sizes).
I don't think they are being blocked?

@misha.physics Can you confirm it runs your end? Might be isolated (my system).

P.S. the older version ran fine.

 

[BrianJ]

Hi @dgatsoulis
many thanks for this!
Had a quick test and the MFD works fine for me even without the additional MSVCP140.dll VCRUNTIME140.dll.
I ran the Earth-Mars initial screen and it gave me a selection of solutions
Using default Orbiter2016 and also with D3D9 GC 4.26.
Windows8.1 with Visual Studio2010 Express compiler installed, ancient PC with Intel chip.

 

[misha.physics]

@misha.physics Can you confirm it runs your end? Might be isolated (my system).

It runs on my laptop with Orbiter 2024 and Windows 10 (but I haven't experimented further yet (other functions)):



Also, I didn't copy those two DLL files, since they're already presented in my Orbiter directory.