Flight Question Getting to the right orbit from launch-Space Shuttle Atlantis

[dehat42]

Would appreciate any hints or tips in launching the Space Shuttle Atlantis manually and being at or close to the orbital inclination for the ISS or Mir. With the Delta Glider there is so much more fuel and engine power to change the orbital plane, but not so much with the shuttle...and you can't set it to unlimited fuel.

Thank you in advance.

 

[Urwumpe]

Would appreciate any hints or tips in launching the Space Shuttle Atlantis manually and being at or close to the orbital inclination for the ISS or Mir. With the Delta Glider there is so much more fuel and engine power to change the orbital plane, but not so much with the shuttle...and you can't set it to unlimited fuel.

Thank you in advance.

1. Launch at the right time
2. Launch in the right direction

 

[meson800]

1. Launch at the right time
2. Launch in the right direction

Use Launch MFD to launch at the right time and the right direction

 

[Loru]

... and fly right trajectory.

And to be serious you have to launch that way so your orbital plane will align with ISS. LaunchMFD can help you with that. Also I'd recommend "Go Play in space" to understand basic orbital mechanics.

 

[PhantomCruiser]

Also, are you using the "stock" Atlantis?

 

[dehat42]

Hmmm...looks like something I need to locate and download...not on any menus. Thanks y'all!

:tiphat:

---------- Post added at 02:47 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:46 PM ----------

Also, are you using the "stock" Atlantis?

Yes, this is the one that comes with Orbiter 2010. The scenario I am using is the launch into sunrise.

 

[Urwumpe]

Yes, this is the one that comes with Orbiter 2010. The scenario I am using is the launch into sunrise.

Don't take it literally and launch into sunrise with it. :lol:

The correct flight azimuth to the ISS is about 42° from KSC. The launch azimuth does not mean flying in that direction all the time - it is just your initial direction, and then you start curving with Earth and the great circle that the ISS orbit cuts through it.

But Launch MFD will give you many hints there.

The biggest challenge will be the roll maneuver after lift-off, you need to bank by about 180 - 42° = 138° to the right in a relatively short time. Orbiters HUD is sadly no big help there, Launch MFD does that better. But you will usually still need to use yaw for getting on the right track.

 

[Qapla]

I did a tutorial on launching the stock Atlantis to ISS. I made it for my own future reference really so I kept it as simple and short as possible.

Make sure you have annotations switched on to see the instructions.