TransX Can't get to Mars

[blixel]

Why do you reduce the eject date? I always advance the date (clicking +), is that wrong?

BTW, I understand the steps but I don't understand why you reduce the eject date.

Normally I would move the date forward, but in the scenario you sent me, the closest launch date was 2 1/2 months earlier, so I went with that. I simply picked it because it was closer. Since we were on the ground and hadn't gone anywhere yet, it was acceptable to go backwards in time.

If, on the other hand, you are already in space and on the way to your destination, then you always have to plan your maneuver for some point in the future.

 

[Mister Mxyzptlk]

synodic periods

Dutch player, if you want to understand the launch window relationship a little better look up synodic period and understand that launch windows occur at regular fixed intervals for each pair of bodies in a hohmann transfer.

 

[AlfalfaQc]

I have a question here, it's not related to mars in particular but it's about interplanetary travel. I'm really used to TransX, but someone mentioned IMFD. My question is, is one better than the other? What can IMFD do that TransX cannot. I have good results with TransX but if IMFD is better, I might try to learn it.

 

[blixel]

I have a question here, it's not related to mars in particular but it's about interplanetary travel. I'm really used to TransX, but someone mentioned IMFD. My question is, is one better than the other? What can IMFD do that TransX cannot. I have good results with TransX but if IMFD is better, I might try to learn it.

dgatsoulis knows both TransX and IMFD inside and out. The way he explains it is that you can combine the advanced planning capabilities of TransX with IMFD's superior n-body Map program in order to get the best results. In other words, it's not the case that one is "better" than the other. They each have their own strengths and work well together. They are not mutually exclusive.

Bottom line - learn both.

 

[Ripley]

I wrote a Earth->Mars tutorial some time ago (unfortunately for most of you, it's in Italian).
About launch windows, I came up with these:

Image credit: SunAeon


[ame="http://vimeo.com/40831948"]Periodo sinodico Terra Marte on Vimeo[/ame]

Image credit: EOTSS​

 

[C3PO]

:hesaid:

And learning IMFD just to avoid understanding launch windows is a bad move IMHO.

 

[AlfalfaQc]

Yeah, I've heard IMFD is better to target a base to do a direct reentry, I might want to use that in the future. Is there a good IMFD tutorial out there (maybe one by dgatsouli)?

 

[sorindafabico]

Yeah, I've heard IMFD is better to target a base to do a direct reentry, I might want to use that in the future. Is there a good IMFD tutorial out there (maybe one by dgatsouli)?

[ame="http://www.orbithangar.com/searchid.php?ID=4142"]IMFD Full Manual/Playbacks[/ame]

There are a donzen tutorials at O-H, but you'll learn A LOT reading the full manual.

I know IMFD better than TransX, so I don't know the answer about direct reentries, but IMFD's Base Approach tool works fine.