Deorbiting the DGIV

[Kaito]

Sometimes I can do it, and sometimes, I cant.
I do a de-orbit burn around the earth, and get my PeA just below the earths surface. Then I do pro104spec40, and wait. My hull temp goes critical, then I explode. But sometimes, i dont.

Is there a general rule to follow when deorbiting? Like "Your PeA needs to be half the inverse square of the ApA times the eccentricity divided by the square root of the speed", or something crazy like that?

And yes, i did read the manual. Doesn't talk about that

 

[Jarvitä]

As a rule of thumb, you can survive a re-entry from about 300km if your re-entry angle is between 1.00 and 1.20 degrees and you follow proper AoA and bank rate maneuvres (or have the re-entry AP do it for you)

 

[Kaito]

What do you mean "reentry angle 1.00 to 1.2 degrees"?
And i always have the re-entry autopilot on when i try to re-enter...but I keep blowing up

 

[Woo482]

how fast are you going ?

 

[Jarvitä]

What do you mean "reentry angle 1.00 to 1.2 degrees"?
And i always have the re-entry autopilot on when i try to re-enter...but I keep blowing up

Look at the re-entry display, it displays your re-entry angle. (I think it's D2, I don't have an orbiter install anywhere near me at the moment)

 

[astrosammy]

When I reenter with the DG-IV, I first make a burn to a PeA of 40k on the other site of the earth, and after that I use Aerobrake MFD to check if I'm coming in good.

 

[RisingFury]

I always do my de-orbit burns when APA is below 200 km. That'd be the rule you're looking for.

 

[iam_inorbit]

try deorbit playbacks. i want one too.

 

[Rathelm]

Yeah as others have said it's more about your angle of attack more than anything. If you come in too steep than try to level off to not hit the ground you'll over heat your craft. Ideally you want to bleed off the majority of your speed at around 40k to 60k. The atmosphere isn't as thick so heating isn't as much of an issue.

 

[-Pv-]

The Delta Glider IV places manual and automatic re-entry tutorials in the "Tutorial Learn DGIV-What's Cool" folder. The description for the scenarios have very precise instructions. Dare I say it... So does the DGIV Manual.

I did a retro burn until the map mfd orange dot that represents my contact with the ground was near or just beyond KSC. I tuned the radios. I then activated the computer checklist for re-entry and performed all the actions. At 150KM altitude in the Surface MFD, I activated the Automatic re-entry program. When the atmosphere started to lift my trajectory beyond KSC, I activated the speedbreak for a bit. When in range of the nav signals I turned onto them to a perfect landing. Too easy.
-Pv-

 

[vettes]

The Delta Glider IV places manual and automatic re-entry tutorials in the "Tutorial Learn DGIV-What's Cool" folder. The description for the scenarios have very precise instructions. Dare I say it... So does the DGIV Manual.

I did a retro burn until the map mfd orange dot that represents my contact with the ground was near or just beyond KSC. I tuned the radios. I then activated the computer checklist for re-entry and performed all the actions. At 150KM altitude in the Surface MFD, I activated the Automatic re-entry program. When the atmosphere started to lift my trajectory beyond KSC, I activated the speedbreak for a bit. When in range of the nav signals I turned onto them to a perfect landing. Too easy.
-Pv-

I wing it.

 

[Clavius0712]

I just did a reentry in the DGIV using nothing but Aerobrake MFD and it was very instructive. Just like the Space Shuttle, your downrange landing point varies a lot depending on your bank angle. If you reenter with wings level with the horizon you go way too far. Bank to almost 90 degrees and your landing point is much closer as you don't have as much lift and are basically falling through the atmosphere like a meteor rather than flying through it like a plane. By playing around with the bank angle and angle of attack and using the Aerobrake MFD to hold the angles once set, I managed a nice reentry with a max G of about 2 and never once got any temperature warnings.

 

[cr1]

I usually use AerobrakeMFD and BaseSyncMFD. Do deorbit burn on the other side of the Earth, reducing PeA to 60k (that's what I do). Then, activate the automatic reentry AoA autopilot. When you're close to the base, try to tell (by experience; I had to try this many times), activate the manual AoA instead and try to work out a way to your base, (EDIT: without burning your hull too much).