Project Fully Complete IMFD Manual

[markl316]

I was wondering if anybody was interested in doing this project. Basically, a lot of us feel that IMFD is rather lightly documented. So, this manual would be maybe 100 pages and would include explainations of EVERYTHING in EVERY mode, tutorials on how to do EVERYTHING possible with IMFD (Direct flights from Moon to Mars, Earth to Europa, Io to Titan, Mars to Saturn, Direct ascent to the Moon from Earth, Direct Deorbit at the moon (without first going into a low moon orbit) at a paricular base, the list goes on and on). I know IMFD fairly well, but I wouldn´t call myself an IMFD expert. So I´m looking for people who know what EVERYTHING means and can write a small tutorial for any of the above situations or a small tutorial if you think of another situation not listed above. Basically, if you know IMFD really well, I´m looking for a person like you.

 

[Mafuskas]

I've learned TransX first, and am very competent with that tool, and it works just fine for me. But I've tried to also learn IMFD as well several times, but always I find myself unable to comprehend it. (This is not saying anything about the MFD, btw) And while I'm sure that its only my lack of determination to keep trying thats stopping me, I feel that a more complete documentation would be a great help.

I hope this proposal brings something to fruition, and I wish you the best of luck with it.

 

[PhantomCruiser]

I think this would be a usefull document as well. No matter how hard I try to buckle down and learn to use IMFD, I always seem to get frustrated, say @*%!!, and go back to using manual mode. I can get from here to the moon, Mars, Venus, from one Jovian moon to the next, all using Orbit and Transfer MFD's. I know TransX and IMFD could do it with better fuel economy (plus slingshots). A well thought out and concise manual would do me wonders.

 

[Kveldulf]

I've been wanting to crate a series of IMFD tutorial videos, so I would be more then willing to help with this project. I'm pretty versed on the "basics", and would be comfortable explaining many of the steps, from Earth to Moon, to slingshots, and I'm currently developing an LEO to ISS procedure (trying to figure out how to minimzie approach dV). I don't know if my tutorials would be short, as I believe that tutorials should show the basics of what is going on, as well as questioning the reader to see if they are picking up on the concepts.

I also wouldn't classify myself as an "expert", as I am more concerned with helping newer Orbitnauts out of LEO, rather then teaching them more advanced maneuvers.

 

[mjanicki]

I did a series of scenarios for Deepstar 2.0 using IMFD so I'm familiar with at least the basic operations. Like many others, I'm no expert, but I'm fairly familiar with using IMFD to do the things I need. I'd be happy to help out with some tutorials or scenarios to go along with tutorials.

-- Mike

 

[markl316]

Alright, thanks for everyone´s interest.
I already know how to do direct reentry from the moon (see the tutorial i co wrote on orbithangar called home direct), and planet to planet. The next step is more comples manuevers (europa to callisto, moon to mars, earth to io--these are just examples). I know there is a video on one jovian moon to another, so that´s done. If anybody knows how to use a slingshot that would solve many of our problems (moon to mars using a slingshot around earth, and earth to io using a slingshot around jupiter). So if anybody could post a written tutorial or make a playback with in-flight notes that would be great. Also needed is a direct ascent from earth to moon, and a direct landing at Brighton Beach. Btw I´ve made a more complete aerobrake MFD manual (not that it isn´t well documented at all--it is very well documented) and I´ll upload it to OH once i get home.

Once we get all the tutorials, we´ll make example ref, src, and tgt settings for each particular type of mission (ie planet 1 to planet 2 set ref to sun, src to planet 1, and tgt to planet 2, and so on). After that we´ll make a very detailed description of EVERYTHING on EVERY program.

 

[ar81]

I think the problem people may have is about concepts
[ame="http://www.orbithangar.com/searchid.php?ID=3403"]Tutorial: Concepts for Interplanetary MFD 4.2.1[/ame]
IMFD manual shows modes and submodes, but documentation is incomplete.

 

[fost]

here
http://orbiter.mustard-fr.com/tutorials/tutorials.php
everyone can find IMFD 5.3 manual and tutorials, but, unfortunately, in french.
so... if someone is able to translate these documents in english, it would be a great help for the entire Orbinauts community
cheers
fost

 

[mjanicki]

I think ar81 is right in that concepts are more important to a beginner than just being told what buttons to push. ar81's tutorial on concepts for IMFD 4.2 are still applicable since the concepts remain the same. It might just need some updated images and explanations for IMFD 5.3, but still one of the best introductions I've seen for IMFD.

woo482 also recently did the Moon to Mars with IMFD tutorial, but I haven't looked at that one.

Then there is the OP's tutorial which seemed to be a good example of showing a specific flight being conducted. I don't use the XR-2 so haven't gone through that one completely.

Then there are the French tutorials. And the IMFD documentation -- that's what I used to learn IMFD. The list of available tutorials and documentation already in existence goes on and on.

I think with all the information that is already available, what may be needed is a good editor to compile of all that great information into one package, perhaps with updated information for IMFD 5.3, rather than a complete reinventing of the wheel.

Thoughts?

-- Mike

 

[ar81]

More important than text, the key is the images.

 

[markl316]

Yes, woo482 did moon to mars, but it was not the most efficient way possible--he simply burned until out of the moon´s soi, then targeted mars and autoburned away.

ar81, thank you VERY much for your addon. I knew it existed in the back of my mind, but now that you have brought it forth it will be of much help. Thank you.

I guess our next step would be to post on this thread links to every IMFD tutorial in existance so we can have it all in one place.

mjanicki, that is my main goal. I just need all tutorials in existence in this thread; I will edit/compile it all. Then I need descriptions of every page of every program. Once I have all that info in my hands, I will compile it. The goal of this thread was to get all the info in one nice neat little place.

And a French to English translator (an actual person--not a computer program) would be MOST appreciated, since it sounds like there is some sufficient info in French.

Thanks everyone,

Mark

 

[Kveldulf]

Mark, I just got done doing a few slingshots and this is what I've found:

woo482's steps appear to be the basic procedure behind a Moon to Mars with an Earth slingshot. At least that is what IMFD is telling me (it appears that a slingshot and doing an orbit eject in Earth's SOI require the same dV). I don't know TransX, so I can't confirm this.

As of right now, I have not been able to find a way to sling around Jupiter and travel to one of it's moons. All my attempts result in a message of "No Data From Course Program". According to the manual for version 4.2, it says that the way IMFD creates slingshots is to create an exit vector for use in fly-by's and planet escapes. According to the Map display in version 5.1, all of Jupiter's moons are still within its SOI (compared to Earth where the Moon is outside of Earths SOI), so I'm wondering if its impossible to do with Jupiter, as you do not escape the pull of Jupiter. Later on, I'll check to see if its possible to do with the other Outer Planets.

I have had good luck in regular slingshots though, so I'll get to work writing something up for that.

 

[mjanicki]

Yes, woo482 did moon to mars, but it was not the most efficient way possible--he simply burned until out of the moon´s soi, then targeted mars and autoburned away.

Ahh, didn't realize that, Mark. I was taking a look earlier at a slingshot Moon to Mars, but finding a good launch window might be tricky. I'll have a go at a regular Moon to Mars, then try for a slingshot as well. That way I can maybe do a record and take notes during the flight for a tutorial.

As for slingshots off the outer planets, I've done those with Deepstar already so could probably offer at least some insight into those maneuvers as well.

I'd offer to help with the French translation, but my French is at about the level of a 5-year-old.

-- Mike

 

[markl316]

Thanks Kveldulf and Mjanicki. The slingshot is definitely my weak point in IMFD, so that will be great help. I would ask my girlfriend to translate them (she´s in AP French) but that would be kinda embarassing . If you can´t get an Earth slingshot around Jupiter right to Io then that´s not a big deal. I´d just like to get as much as physically possible. Also, I´ve always done off plane. If you two could write up (or better a playback with inflight notes) target plane, source plane, and two plane, that would be superb. Let´s get all the possible combinations of direct flights we can first, then we´ll worry about documenting each program in detail.

Mark

 

[thammond]

Earth to Moon direct ascent

I'm flying the Lunar-1 addon right now which was a direct ascent to the moon. This spaceflight got me thinking about how would one go about planning such a trajectory, launch window, etc. I searched a lot about it and found only one such tutorial for a earth to moon direct ascent, but the link to it is broken (not sure if it was IMFD or not).

I like the idea of a comprehensive manual/tutorial for IMFD.