Iron Hill Project Thread

[Lydia]

I see this is going well, and Yes, I am blonde Tmac

 

[TMac3000]

Okay, Sorindafabico and RickD, I have a suitable delivery profile for you guys.

Since Orbiter won't let you dock after releasing the fuel bowsers, you'll have to dock first.

1) Dock with Odyssey
2) Hit F3 and select "ChronusBay1", hit "-" to set release speed to zero, and repeatedly hit Shift-C to release all the cargos. Repeat the process for "ChronusBay2".
3) Go aboard Odyssey. Give her a little burp of retro, and then repeatedly hit "Use Fuel" until the panel indicates success.
4) That was the hard part Now enter the Mercury course into IMFD, return to Chronus, and take her home:thumbup:

---------- Post added 04-16-12 at 04:31 PM ---------- Previous post was 04-15-12 at 07:46 PM ----------

Just curious: have you guys decided yet who will go aboard Odyssey, or will both of you go?

---------- Post added at 07:32 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:31 PM ----------

Mission moved back to 23:30 UTC. This should ease the fuel requirement

 

[RickD]

Okay, Sorindafabico and RickD, I have a suitable delivery profile for you guys.

Since Orbiter won't let you dock after releasing the fuel bowsers, you'll have to dock first.

1) Dock with Odyssey
2) Hit F3 and select "ChronusBay1", hit "-" to set release speed to zero, and repeatedly hit Shift-C to release all the cargos. Repeat the process for "ChronusBay2".
3) Go aboard Odyssey. Give her a little burp of retro, and then repeatedly hit "Use Fuel" until the panel indicates success.
4) That was the hard part Now enter the Mercury course into IMFD, return to Chronus, and take her home:thumbup:

---------- Post added 04-16-12 at 04:31 PM ---------- Previous post was 04-15-12 at 07:46 PM ----------

Just curious: have you guys decided yet who will go aboard Odyssey, or will both of you go?

Haven't heard anything from Sorindafabico, so I don't know what the plan is. He should surely go aboard Odyssey and I would like to also (I assume this means he moves both suits over. I haven't really adjusted to no real multiplayer). Also, why the bump of retro? (My inexperience is showing :facepalm.

Rick

 

[TMac3000]

Haven't heard anything from Sorindafabico, so I don't know what the plan is. He should surely go aboard Odyssey and I would like to also (I assume this means he moves both suits over. I haven't really adjusted to no real multiplayer)

Got it. You both go:thumbup:

Also, why the bump of retro?

To bring the fuel into range of the cargo ring after you release it.

 

[sorindafabico]

Sorry for posting just today. Job duties.

I haven't free time to fly until 21st 05:00 UTC.

TMac: can you post a scenario file or Odyssey orbital data? I'll try to calculate an affordable launch time. We have a lot of spare fuel under ideal conditions.

---------- Post added at 10:29 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:13 AM ----------

About the retro thing: the fuel boxes will collide with Chronus. (or am I wrong?)

I mean, if you release the cargo while docked and move the full stack retrograde, the boxes won't follow the Odyssey-Chronus speed change.

---------- Post added at 10:33 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:29 AM ----------

Just curious: have you guys decided yet who will go aboard Odyssey, or will both of you go?

I can stay inside Chronus while Rick do Odyssey operations

 

[TMac3000]

TMac: can you post a scenario file or Odyssey orbital data? I'll try to calculate an affordable launch time. We have a lot of spare fuel under ideal conditions.

I'll post it tonight

About the retro thing: the fuel boxes will collide with Chronus.

In theory they would:yes: But IRL the relative speed would be so slow that it wouldn't cause much trouble. And in Orbiter they just go right through Chronus, which is unrealistic, but not cripplingly so. I don't think that should cause a problem. If you find it bothersome, you can translate down and then back.

I mean, if you release the cargo while docked and move the full stack retrograde, the boxes won't follow the Odyssey-Chronus speed change.

That's the idea We leave the cargo floating and have the Odyssey "back over" it

I can stay inside Chronus while Rick do Odyssey operations

So you are going to use Rick's UMMU, or pass the scenario to him?

 

[sorindafabico]

I can post the scenario here right after cargo release.

 

[TMac3000]

Okay:yes:

Here's the latest scenario state. Notice I have been steadily getting the Mercury cargo moved to Chronus's parking area. It's irrelevant for the moment, but it will be important later

Chronus obviously has no crew aboard, but you can just use glass cockpit mode to pull up the MFD's and calculate a suitable window. Also, I'm holding the countdown until we figure something out

 

[sorindafabico]

Launched the scenario and got a CTD.

---------- Post added at 04:53 AM ---------- Previous post was at 04:44 AM ----------

I deleted some vessels I'm missing and it worked

---------- Post added at 04:59 AM ---------- Previous post was at 04:53 AM ----------

Damn! There will be a good launch window exactly when I'll be leaving work (21st 04:00 UTC). LOL

---------- Post added at 06:04 AM ---------- Previous post was at 04:59 AM ----------

Ok. The best launch windows in April 21, 22 and 23 are the following:

Apr 21st - 04:16:00 UTC (I can't before 05:00, spends more fuel)
Apr 22nd - 04:36:00 UTC (my favorite)
Apr 23rd - 03:19:00 UTC (late Sunday for those who are in the U.S.)

From calculations using a simplified formula (with a higher margin of error) and setting a limit of 3 km/s delta-v for plane change (I had twice that in tanks after entering into orbit and aligning in the practice scenario), I found it relatively safe to launch Chronus with up to 20 degrees RInc. This gives us a larger window of five hours (2.5 before, 2.5 after the best time). BUT, if the RInc is too large (enough to be impossible another plane change to KSC), we'll have to land on Wideawake.

If we have problems to synchronize my schedule with RickD's (or not), we can do the mission as follows:
- I launch Chronus, do the entire flight, dock with Odyssey and put the scenario here shortly after docking.
- RickD makes cargo transfer operations when he can, programs IMFD, returns to Chronus and posts the scenario here.
- We undock, change inclination back to 29 degrees and wait until the appropriate time for deorbit and re-entry (~24 hours after launch, I guess).

 

[TMac3000]

Wow, you're good:thumbup:

The April 23rd window works best for me, followed by 24-hour wait between undocking and reentry. That way, I guess you guys will be in space for about a day and a half. That should work nicely

Which vessels did you delete?

 

[sorindafabico]

With April 23rd window I probably can't re-entry at "best time" (I will be back at 05:00 UTC), but this is not a problem if we launch at 03:19, we'll have a lot of delta-v.

Which vessels did you delete?

IHP Quarters 2:UCGO\Cargos\CargoBaseModule
STATUS Landed Earth
POS -80.6521580 28.5895940
HEADING 0.01
AFCMODE 48
CargoUnpacked 0
END
IHP Quarters 4:UCGO\Cargos\CargoBaseModule
STATUS Landed Earth
POS -80.6521580 28.5896140
HEADING 0.01
AFCMODE 48
CargoUnpacked 0
END
IHP Drill:UCGO\Cargos\UCGOCargoSSK_drill
STATUS Landed Earth
POS -80.6521380 28.5895740
HEADING 0.01
AFCMODE 16
CargoUnpacked 0
END
IHP Relay:UCGO\Cargos\UCGOCargoSSK_relay
STATUS Landed Earth
POS -80.6521380 28.5895940
HEADING 0.01
AFCMODE 16
CargoUnpacked 0
END
IHP Seismic:UCGO\Cargos\UCGOCargoSSK_s-meter
STATUS Landed Earth
POS -80.6521180 28.5895740
HEADING 0.01
AFCMODE 16
CargoUnpacked 0
END

---------- Post added at 06:38 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:35 PM ----------

I do not know if it was necessary to delete the first two, but I decided to make sure before get another CTD.

 

[TMac3000]

Looks like you need to d/l Loru's surface science kit from O-H.

I'll gas up the ship Saturday night and post the file Chat meeting starts at 02:30. I suspect Felipi or Mojoey already gave you the info for the chat room, but since I never assume anything on this board, here are the instructions:
Go to webchat.quakenet.org
Under Nickname type your forum name
Under Channel type #Iron_Hill

 

[sorindafabico]

So, will we launch at Apr 23rd - 03:19:00 UTC?

 

[TMac3000]

We will indeed:yes:
Take care of my girl now And be sure to bring her back by curfew:lol:

 

[sorindafabico]

 

[TMac3000]

Here are some proposed assignments for the crew during the Mercury flight. These are not written in stone in any way. If you want a different job, just tell me

TMac3000: Pilot
RickD: Commander/Navigator
Mojoey: Payload Specialist

Felipi1205 and Lydia get to relax (or take backup positions for the above) as those are the only positions we need to run the ship.

Also, do you guys have any other ideas for surface expeditions on Mercury?

 

[mojoey]

Here are some proposed assignments for the crew during the Mercury flight. These are not written in stone in any way. If you want a different job, just tell me

TMac3000: Pilot
RickD: Commander/Navigator
Mojoey: Payload Specialist

Felipi1205 and Lydia get to relax (or take backup positions for the above) as those are the only positions we need to run the ship.

Also, do you guys have any other ideas for surface expeditions on Mercury?

there's a spot about a kilometer south of the bace i'd like to venture down to.

 

[sorindafabico]

About the retro manouvre for grappling cargo: RickD can use AttitudeMFD in Odyssey to track the distance and relative velocity of the boxes. Just select the most distant box, make a "mini-retroburn" (numpad 9) and wait until the selected box enters in grapple range.

Just a sugestion of mine.

 

[TMac3000]

That sounds fine

there's a spot about a kilometer south of the bace i'd like to venture down to.

Soil samples?

---------- Post added at 10:25 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:07 AM ----------

Chronus fueled and loaded for tomorrow nights mission. Also, I reset the MET clock and turned on the running lights, so she will be more visible in the dark.

Here's tomorrow's schedule:
T-45:00 Chat meeting starts. Sorendafabico and RickD board the Azure rover, drive out to runway 33 and board Chronus.
T-10:00 Crew preps the ship for takeoff and taxis to the runway.
T-2:00 APU start and final pre-flight checklist
T-0 Main engine ignition:focus:

Good luck guys!

 

[Felipi1205]

Wow, I don't talked too much, just watching the things going on, and everything is perfect! :thumbup:

---------- Post added at 02:46 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:45 PM ----------

Almost forgot, good luck tomorrow!