Re-entry on Atlantis more-or-less manually

[spacermase]

Greetings all,

So, after several days of tinkering, I've decided to finally go ahead and ask for help.

I've been working with Orbiter for a while now, and am currently running the 2006 version. My current project is trying to do a re-entry and landing on the Space Shuttle, more-or-less manually. I usually start with the built-in re-entry 1 scenario for Atlantis that comes with Orbiter, which starts you at 4500km from KSC at an altitute of around 150km, since that way I don't have to bother with the actual de-orbiting. The reason I'm doing this is , to make a long story short, I may have a chance to "fly" a re-entry in one of the actual Shuttle simulators at Marshall SFC this summer, and therefore want to get some practice in beforehand, so to speak.

However, despite having done re-entry with no problems on the DG and even on less forgiving spacecraft (such as the X-20), usually with the assistance of the AeroBraking MFD. However, the Shuttle, being the flying brick that it is, does not respond well to the AeroBrakingMFD.

Thus, having to do it manually, I've read all the tutorials I can find, and have been following the general strategy of pitching up to about 40 degrees, and making steep banking turns to bleed off velocity. However,

1) I still can't seem to shed enough velocity and altitude, invariably overshooting KSC, and
2) Even when I do manage to get into the lower atmosphere, the Shuttle becomes increasingly unstable, and frequently spins out control.

At least one of the tutorials I read mentioned autopitch, which I suspect could help a lot, but I haven't been able to find this feature in either the in-built Space Shuttle Atlantis, or in Shuttle Fleet v. 4.1.5.

I have AutoFCS installed, but would prefer not to use it, if at all possible, since I don't know if the simulator at Marshall are automated to that degree, and, plus, where's the challenge in that?

Any and all advice welcomed!

 

[Hielor]

http://www.orbiterwiki.org/wiki/Intuitive_Atmospheric_Entry

 

[Eagle]

1) I still can't seem to shed enough velocity and altitude, invariably overshooting KSC, and

Do a more energetic deorbit burn and while reentering roll left, pitch up, roll right pitch up, repeat. Just watch the wing loading and other important stats so you don't tear yourself apart on reentry.

 

[eveningsky339]

AutoFCS does not work well with the stock Atlantis because the L/D is so low. Even an autopilot precise as this overshoots KSC at about 50 km.

 

[David413]

I removed the references to the autopitch in the later releases of the shuttle fleet only because AutoFCS flies the entry so much better (and more realistically). If, however, you'd still like to engage the autopitch only and hand-fly an entry, use the "B" key after your deorbit burn and the entry DAP autopitch will engage (a message on the HUD will tell you that it's engaged and the vehicle will manuever to 40 degrees AOA.)

 

[Thomas Loe.]

Its very easy to land the space shuttle in the Orbiter but have not to do in the real one you must going a way with lot of compromise.

First of all use 2 OMS retrograde burns first 10.000 NM i use GPCMFD Infos. down to the PERIGEE altitude of 50.000 then my second burns at 9.000 NM from target bring it down at PERIGEE altitude -80.000 to -120.000 but check on OPS 4 then ITEM 41 select 1 for Edwards 2 for KSC you have load the right landing
airport.

I use the MAP MFD you should have the red box entry points in ORBITER little more then 1 squer of the target Airport.

You can not use the Autopilot in the first part but after the second entry the first entry push you back in to the space at 5.000 to 6.000NM the next entry is the finel entry use the autopilot by pressing B

And play like the real aircraft using the slip technic before you climb and always check the DELAZ max +/-10.

Above 200.000 feet you can use and play with an bank angel of 95° to 80° ore 60° to maintain a stable descend rate.

Find a Bank angel where you not climb nor descend then play with the DRAG to maintain the Profile.

At 50.000 Km i press SHIFT and 5 in real live is this to High to deploy the Air data you see then on the HUD altitude in Feet and Speed in Knots but use also the Mach point you can have Mach 3 and speed on the HUD is 400 knots its not mean you fly 400 Knots you fly Mach 3
use Knots after passing below Mach 1.

And going reversal fly the TEAM like an S but if you going to an lower altitude the Bank angel is less then near zero lift point possible 95° down to 100.000 feet decrease your bank angel then possible near 60° to find the second zero lift bank angel and play with them to maintain the profile at 80.000 feet fly with Mach 2 direct to the HAC.

But dont use in the reversal side the HAC the profile this is not like the real GPC in the Shuttle fly the Speed and AOA of 10° nose down to 15° to maintain the descend with the speed until the GPCMFD give the accurate infos back.

In the reversal side give the GPCMFD wrong infos about descend profile.

In real you have a lot of Telemetry stations and Computers to correcting this errors and give the correct infos to the real shuttle.

I try later then posting a Pix story with some infos to explaining the entry with the space shuttle in ORBITER.

At last DONT USE THE SHIFT and A the AUTO DUMP is BAD BAD BAD its shifting your entry point making Horror able shifting belong the X axis.

Use the Fuel MFD and VENT the Fuel Down to 35% ore 35.6% you need 3% to 4% Fuel for the DAP.

Short tip if you going down the Zero Lift Bank Angle are Decreasing.

And sorry for my bad English.

Feedbacks about this procedures are welcome.

a good pilot is always in training.
Thomas

 

[ex-orbinaut]

Something I use;

On the Surface MFD is the acceleration indicator (not the vertical one, BTW). It is one of the most useful instruments for figuring out what distance you are going to need to slow down, and help you determine your reentry profile. A few other posts on the forum cover the forumlae that allow you to calculate it.

 

[Poscik]

I have AutoFCS installed, but would prefer not to use it, if at all possible, since I don't know if the simulator at Marshall are automated to that degree, and, plus, where's the challenge in that?

Any and all advice welcomed!

Space Shuttle flying fully automatically until approximately 1 mach. Then re-entry autopilot is disengaged and CDR and PLT flying shuttle manually.

 

[Thomas Loe.]

The AutoFCS cost me a lot of fuel what i dont have this is one of the reason WY i dont use it.

I fly the Shuttle Simulator SSM2007 Space Shuttle with real Manual and based real Missions Checklist

http://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/news/flightdatafiles/foia_archive.html

The real Ascent basic Checklist
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/pdf/345916main_ASC_400_F_1.pdf

The real Entry basic Checklist
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/pdf/345917main_ENT_400_F_1.pdf


And you should be able to fly Manuel.

a good pilot is always in training
Thomas

 

[Poscik]

AutoFCS and lot of fuel? Interesting...