Problem ISS Not Visible

[Alt-F4]

Hey guys, I'm new to the forum as well as Orbiter and I've recently encountered a problem.. I took my first shot at docking with the ISS yesterday and after several hours of aligning orbits, I finally got my orbit matched up perfectly. However, the ISS is completely invisible to me. My MFDs are telling me I should practically be on top of it (or very close to it) but I cannot see it at all. On my map we are at the same exact location and everything. I switched camera to the ISS and sure enough it was in the same position as my delta glider over the Earth yet when I am in my Delta Glider, the ISS is not visible, and while I'm in the ISS camera, my Delta Glider is not visible. Essentially, the ISS is not showing up even though it should be right near me. Is there any way to fix this? :facepalm:

 

[sorindafabico]

Can you post the scenario? Just open "current state.scn" or any other file where you saved it in Notepad e paste the content here.

 

[Alt-F4]

Excuse my ignorance..but do you mean just the scenario I am using for my attempted ISS orbit? Or do you mean something like a quicksave file of my scenario? Or am I not even on the right track? Again..sorry for my lack of knowledge here..I appreciate you taking the time to try to help a newbie orbiter.

 

[garyw]

the .scn file, in this case it's probably the (current scenario).scn file

 

[Alt-F4]

Thanks garyw, you called it. Hope this is what you guys needed:

BEGIN_DESC
Contains the latest simulation state.
END_DESC

BEGIN_ENVIRONMENT
  System Sol
  Date MJD 51986.5925252512
END_ENVIRONMENT

BEGIN_FOCUS
  Ship GL-01
END_FOCUS

BEGIN_CAMERA
  TARGET GL-01
  MODE Cockpit
  FOV 90.00
END_CAMERA

BEGIN_HUD
  TYPE Surface
END_HUD

BEGIN_MFD Left
  TYPE Orbit
  PROJ Ship
  FRAME Ecliptic
  ALT
  REF Earth
  TARGET ISS
END_MFD

BEGIN_MFD Right
  TYPE OSync
  TARGET ISS
  MODE Intersect 1
  LISTLEN 10
END_MFD

BEGIN_PANEL
END_PANEL

BEGIN_SHIPS
ISS:ProjectAlpha_ISS
  STATUS Orbiting Earth
  RPOS -6586422.87 -385149.43 1385102.48
  RVEL -834.681 7394.096 -1925.185
  AROT 30.00 0.00 50.00
  AFCMODE 7
  IDS 0:588 100 1:586 100 2:584 100 3:582 100 4:580 100
  NAVFREQ 0 0
  XPDR 466
END
Mir:Mir
  STATUS Orbiting Earth
  RPOS 5220463.16 253271.69 4140657.23
  RVEL -4809.638 369.704 6044.705
  AROT 0.00 -45.00 90.00
  AFCMODE 7
  IDS 0:540 100 1:542 100 2:544 100
  XPDR 482
END
Luna-OB1:Wheel
  STATUS Orbiting Moon
  RPOS 2057865.65 -962123.43 -2748.28
  RVEL 613.825 1326.867 -0.253
  AROT 0.00 -0.00 161.91
  VROT 0.00 0.00 10.00
  AFCMODE 7
  IDS 0:560 100 1:564 100
  XPDR 494
END
GL-01:DeltaGlider
  STATUS Orbiting Earth
  RPOS -6587522.92 -374102.20 1382287.18
  RVEL -822.316 7394.783 -1927.856
  AROT 109.65 -13.59 168.93
  VROT 0.01 0.50 -0.02
  RCSMODE 2
  AFCMODE 7
  PRPLEVEL 0:1.000000 1:1.000000
  NAVFREQ 466 588 586 584
  XPDR 466
  AIRLOCK 1 1.0000
  AAP 0:0 0:0 0:0
END
SH-02:ShuttleA
  STATUS Landed Earth
  BASE Cape Canaveral:5
  POS -80.6745292 28.5197208
  HEADING 100.00
  AFCMODE 7
  PRPLEVEL 0:1.000000 1:1.000000
  NAVFREQ 0 0
  XPDR 0
  PODANGLE 0.0000 0.0000
  DOCKSTATE 0 0.0000
  AIRLOCK 0 0.0000
  GEAR 0 0.0000
  PAYLOAD MASS 0.0 0
END
END_SHIPS

 

[TMac3000]

Try this and see what happens:
1) Pull up another scenario--any scenario--that has the ISS in it
2) Hit F3 and select ISS
3) Hit F1 to go to external view
4) Tell me if you can see it then.

 

[garyw]

It's there, just 11km away but it's very small. I fired up the docking MFD and got this:

Best thing to do is wait until you are in daylight, hit F9 then look 'behind' the DG and you'll just about make out the solar arrays of the ISS.

 

[Alt-F4]

Thanks everyone, I see it now :thumbup: However, now I need to learn how to dock right...my last few attempts were....well..not very good...

 

[PhantomCruiser]

Take a look at Tex's video. http://www.orbiter-forum.com/showthread.php?t=2055

 

[garyw]

Thanks everyone, I see it now :thumbup: However, now I need to learn how to dock right...my last few attempts were....well..not very good...

I don't even think about docking until I'm about 5km away. Before that orbital mechanics get in the way too much. :lol:

Around the 2KM mark I use [ame="http://www.orbithangar.com/searchid.php?ID=3165"]Attitude MFD V3.2[/ame] to null out the relative velocities between myself and the docking target then switch RCS only and close the gap.

at 1KM it's a matter of fine tuning the approach, same at 500m, 250m and then around 100m I'll use attitude MFD again to stop the approach and 'station keep', at this point I'll be checking the alignment to the docking port (or area to station keep under the station for grappling) and then I make my final approach.

 

[Ripley]

After nulling-out RInc during/after ascent, what I usually do is a very frequent cross-check and fine-tuning of DTmin (on Sync Mfd) and of Rendez-vous altitude (on Orbit MFD).

I do it every time I pass on my Peri/Apo (if needed), given a rendez-vous on one of these two points, of course.

Doing so I always end up directly into target with a very low relative speed.
It's as it resolves by itself, like magic!

 

[PhantomCruiser]

:hesaid:

That's pretty much the same as I do, particularly with the Shuttle. I can be a bit more aggressive with a DGIV or the XR fleet.

 

[Alt-F4]

Thanks for the help everyone! I finally managed my first dock at the ISS today! It was messy, but hey, I made it. I essentially just got into orbit first, aligned my orbital plane with that of the ISS, got my RInc to 0, and set my sync orbit MFD to Sh Periapsis, did a pro grade burn at my periapsis to increase my time to orbit so the ISS could catch up, fast forwarded zeroed at my relative velocity and used ROT and LIN thrusters to align with it. Couldn't have done it without you guys! Thanks a bunch, I'm thinking the moon is next :lol: