My Jovian System Tour

[gilly_54]

First post, first thread
The last time I ran Orbiter which was around June, I managed to make it to each planet in the solar system (planet, not moon) with IMFD 4.2.1. However, I wanted to try jumping from Jupiter to Io, I ran into major trouble, I never got it right, so I eventually gave up on Orbiter for a while.

So I recently got back into Orbiter, and found out that IMFD 5.1 was released ages ago, I downloaded it thinking it would make things simpler, in some cases it did but in others it didn't, I had to learn how to use this MFD all over again, that didn't take much time though.
Anyways, now for the details.
Mar 14, 2001: Started at KSC in the DG-S
Oct 30, 2003: Using IMFD, I reached Jupiter
That was a pretty long flight, even with time acceleration, so I worked on the christmas tree while I waited

I got to Jupiter in one piece, now I wanted to jump up one orbit into Io.
It was pretty messy though, I did it as if I was jumping from the Earth to the Moon. Basically, align with the moon , use the Course program in IMFD and Auto Burn, then as I approach the moon's sphere of influence, I use the planet approach program to correct my course and make sure I arrive at the altitude I want etc.
It was pretty messy with Io though, I did quite alot of correction burns with the planet approach program but it worked somehow, I made it there. I also landed thinking I would witness a sweet "Jupiter-Rise" from the ground but I didn't, Io_Base is badly located, no cool views...
P.s. When I set Io as the Ref in the IMFD Map view, the map broke, just lots of grey circles showed up, that probably explains all those correction burns I had to do, I was forced to use Jupiter as a Ref.

Now I wanted to jump from orbit in Io to Europa, this took quite a few tries. First, the Course program wouldn't work, it doesn't calculate a Burn Vector for me to use, even with Target Intercept and Tangential Transfer:
REF: Jupiter
Src: Io
Tgt: Europa
That should work right? But it still doesn't let me do an Auto Burn.
So I thought I'd somehow change the Src to "Self". I did this by enlarging my orbit with Io so I can escape its SOI for sometime, then used Target Intercept with Src as Self. It gave me a Burn Vector and put me on my way to Europa.
I did this and jumped all the way to Callisto, it was an interesting experience, but I'm definitely sure there is an easier/proper/cleaner way to do this with IMFD.

If anyone has done anything similar successfully, by all means share your wisdom

Here's a shot of Jupiter risining while I was in orbit around Io:

 

[Eagle]

I also haven't quite figured out how get IMFD to work for moon to moon or moon to planet. I use TransX for those calculations. There's a lot more manual work to be done, but it works. TransX isn't as convenient as IMFD, but its rock solid and I haven't messed up a burn with it yet (knock on wood).

Oh, and Jupiter and Saturn moon missions are perhaps the most fun missions I've done. If you haven't done the DGIV rescue missions, try them out. The mission delta v is a pittance compared to a LEO or even a lunar mission.

 

[tblaxland]

Now I wanted to jump from orbit in Io to Europa, this took quite a few tries. First, the Course program wouldn't work, it doesn't calculate a Burn Vector for me to use, even with Target Intercept and Tangential Transfer:
REF: Jupiter
Src: Io
Tgt: Europa
That should work right? But it still doesn't let me do an Auto Burn.
So I thought I'd somehow change the Src to "Self". I did this by enlarging my orbit with Io so I can escape its SOI for sometime, then used Target Intercept with Src as Self. It gave me a Burn Vector and put me on my way to Europa.

You want setup the Target Intercept program as you have detailed above, then use the Orbit Eject program in "Course" mode to eject from Io orbit onto the Target Intercept Course that you have made.

 

[unknown_orbiter]

I should probably learn how to use these MFD's soon...

 

[gilly_54]

I also haven't quite figured out how get IMFD to work for moon to moon or moon to planet. I use TransX for those calculations. There's a lot more manual work to be done, but it works. TransX isn't as convenient as IMFD, but its rock solid and I haven't messed up a burn with it yet (knock on wood).

Oh, and Jupiter and Saturn moon missions are perhaps the most fun missions I've done. If you haven't done the DGIV rescue missions, try them out. The mission delta v is a pittance compared to a LEO or even a lunar mission.

I have considered using TransX but the manual aspect of it is discouraging, I recall all that tinkering you have to do to get a perfect launch date. But I guess that's what gives you the stability you want, I should get my head around it and understand how it works sometime.

You want setup the Target Intercept program as you have detailed above, then use the Orbit Eject program in "Course" mode to eject from Io orbit onto the Target Intercept Course that you have made.

Orbit Eject? Well it does give me a burn vector this time, but I leave Io's SOI while I'm still burning and then the orbit eject program changes my major SOI changes to Jupiter. It spins my ship around and burns in the opposite direction I was going. I fixed this by changing Src to Self in the course program and then auto burn from there and it works, I'm right on the way to Europa. The orbit eject program seems to become useless at this point because the trajectory it would put me on sends me crashing into Jupiter.

 

[HiPotOk1978]

That is one thing you gotta remember about IMFD, ya gotta chance the source to self once you leave the SOI your orbiting. As far as cool view on the Moons of Jupiter, your never gonna see a Jupiter rise from the surface. The Galilean moons as they are called are like Earths moon. One part of the surface is always facing towards Jupiter. As far as your questions about usage of IMFD, sounds to me like your using the tool proper... I don't even wanna think about how many times I screwed up by forgetting that 'SRC' button