Flight Question I cannot get Hermes into orbit.

[RobN]

I cannot seem to get Brainstorm's Hermes into orbit from Kourou!

Can someone tell me roughly what flight profile to try? I've tried about ten times now in various ways without success. The craft simply doesn't seem to have the power (in my hands anyway).

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Zatnikitelman]

We need some more info. What vessel are you launching with? What actually have you tried before? What orbit are you aiming for?

 

[RobN]

I'm trying the Hermes CSG scenario. This uses the Ariane 5 launched from Kourou in an attempt to rendevous with the ISS with a 51.6 degree inclination.

---------- Post added at 04:03 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:02 PM ----------

I've tried a low trajectory, a high trajectory, and everything in between.

 

[Zatnikitelman]

Hrm, can't say I'm very familiar with the Ariane 5, but I haven't met an orbital launcher I can't fly into orbit.
Try this:
Once you've launched, roll to the correct heading, and pitch back slightly. Start by aiming for around 80 degrees pitch till around 20km, then aim to be at 50 degrees at 50k altitude. Maintain this attitude until your apoapsis is where you want (150km is a nice number for the initial orbit) then till engine cutoff, maintain the apoapsis at this point by varying your pitch. Just keep this up till either you're in a circular orbit or till you run out of fuel in the launcher.
Again, I'm not too familiar with Ariane 5 and Hermes so I don't know too much about their performance.

 

[RobN]

Woo-hoo! I've finally done it. I started pitching over fairly early, but not too quickly. Perhaps I was pitching too rapidly before.

There does seem to be only a small margin of error with this vehicle and payload.