General starting help

[george7378]

Hi all,

I am very new to orbiter, and I want to get going as soon as possible. Here are my questions:

1. What is a sensible orbit altitude?
2. How do I enter an orbit? (Once I have launched the shuttle, I don't know which direction to turn in next, how to level off into orbit, etc...)
3. How do I maintain an orbit? (Once I have launched the shuttle, and levelled off at about 200KM, I just begin descending again! Also, when do I jettison the main fuel tank? In space, or within the atmosphere?)
4. What are the controls for the rudder (and corresponding lateral thrusters)?

If you can answer any of these questions, or direct me to a tutorial, any help is appreciated.

At the moment, I am flying the Shuttle like a conventional aircraft, i.e - launching, then pitching the nose down as the altitude increases, etc...

Obviously this doesn;t work in space, so any help appreciated!

 

[TSPenguin]

to the forum!

1. Below 200km athmospheric drag is slowing you down. Any orbit should be above that.
2. An orbit is not simply height, it mainly is speed! The point of an orbit is to fall towards the earth, but have enough speed that you miss it.
3. See 2
4. Controls are the same. Depending on the craft you fly you need to activate RCS. Reading the manual is a great way to learn about such things.

First of all, leave the shuttle alone! It is very hard to fly, since it has nearly no margin for error. Start to learn how to do things in the Delta Glider before trying a challanging craft like the shuttle.

The search function would have answered all of your questions, use it! All beginner questions have been asked before, most of them in the beginner forum, which is also where I move this thread now.

This forum has a great tutorial section, linking to many many excellent tutorials. Probably best suited for you is Go Play in Space, it is very simple and explains things like Orbit. Try it out!

Happy Orbiting

 

[Urwumpe]

Also, to destroy a illusion: There are no circular orbits (constant distance to Earth) in the real world - and in Orbiter.

You will always raise and fall a bit, but important is the distance of your closest point to a planet/moon/star (called periapsis) and the furthest point to it (called Apoapsis).

Orbiter displays these values either as x-apsis radius (ApR, PeR) or altitude (ApA, PeA). The difference between these values and the shape of the orbit is described as the number called Eccentricity (ecc). The smaller this number is, the closer you are to a theoretical circular orbit. As long as the eccentricity is smaller than 1, you are in an closed elliptic orbit around the planet. If this number is one or bigger, you will leave the gravity well of this planet and go to the next higher level - for example from Earth into an Orbit around the sun.

An eliptic orbit with a high eccentricity is not less stable than an orbit with a low eccentricity. The more circular an orbit is, though, the easier is the navigation - that is why orbits are circularized, you can use simpler math to calculate your next maneuver, as your distance to Earth and your speed will remain nearly constant.

 

[V8Li]

The best part -as far as I can remember- is learning, ie. reading the manuals and learning new things. Remember, Orbitersim is a simulator.

 

[Tex]

http://www.orbiter-forum.com/tutorials.php

Follow that link to see tutorials.

 

[selwynorren]

Hi There

I am extremly new at this myself, going crazy learning and doing it again and again and again. from one noob to another, TS Penguin said it very well...

This forum has a great tutorial section, linking to many many excellent tutorials. Probably best suited for you is Go Play in Space, it is very simple and explains things like Orbit. Try it out!

To me this tutorial is easy to understand, has "plain English" :speakcool: as well as some interesting technical stuff throw in, really explaining why you have to do what is required of you. So its not just simply a do this and it will work manual.

After three days of trying I have learnt all teh basic manouvers of teh Delta Glider (default version) hovered, and as of writing this post, managed for teh forst time to do a complete orbit of teh moon, and get back to Breighton Base without slaming teh craft into the surface nor overshooting teh base at all - woohooo. Next step "Fly me to teh moon"

So besides all teh spelling mistakes on this post (I do apologise) its the best to start off with, and then progress after that.

Happy orbeting

 

[george7378]

Hi, and thanks!

I have done my first successful Space Shuttle launch and orbit today

It was a little messed up at first, and I tried to activate the prograde thrust a few seconds before APT, but this made no difference, so instead, I pitched up to +10 degrees surface HUD and used full power until the orbit became less eccentric.

Anyway, thanks for your help everyone!

Screens included: