Finally! Success!
Ok, I finally figured this out. I've spent a lot of hours trying different methods of achieving a trip to other planets while parked in an off-plane orbit, and I found one that works beautifully. Between dealing with work-arounds for Transx bugs and CTD's for various other reasons, this took more time than expected. I've learned that "CTRL-S" is my friend.
Here is the method that seems most accurate and least time consuming:
- Circularize the orbit. I can't stress how important that is to achieving success with this method.
- Create an Escape plan then forward
- Target Mars in stage 2
- Go back to stage 1 and plan the entire trip from there. Here are the steps.
1) Turn maneuver mode on in stage 1
2) Add prograde to get the proposed orbit to extend out to Mars orbit.
3) Next, advance the date, but note the date is very sensitive and does odd things to the proposed orbit based on the time of day you plan to eject. You will have to fine tune this in hyper mode in order to get the orbit correct. For example, if you'll play with the date, you'll see what I mean. The planned orbit will swing around and increase or decrease in size as it does. Certain times of the day will require MUCH more prograde velocity than other times of the day. The best time to leave will be the time that requires the least amount of prograde, and it's easiest to eyeball this as you swing the date around in Hyper mode.
4) Once you have the date set, you will not want to adjust it further. Even at Hyper, it is VERY sensitive. Instead, use combinations of the other three parameters to narrow the distance at Per once at Mars
5) I've found it's best to set the plane change velocity next
6) Then the outward velocity
7) Tweak all the parameters for a close approach and jump over to the target view.
8) Time warp, center the X, and burn.
This method is VERY accurate. I've tried it dozens of times and each time I only need an additional Dv of less than 50 for my mid-course correction. After that correction, which I do about 2/3 of the way there, no further mid-course corrections are needed, unless I screw up, which is always a possibility for me.
Another method I used was very similar to Flytandem's video. I would do the plan in stage 2, input the Dv in maneuver mode in stage one, guesstimate on the overlay with the plan in that stage, and then tweak. The problem with doing this is the axis for the plan in stage 2 is different than in stage 1 due to the off-plane aspect of my orbit. Therefore, I found myself eyeballing the overlay in 3 dimensions instead of two, since I was eyeballing it in the ecliptic view. I tried other views, but those seemed much less accurate due to the off-plane aspect.
One final method I tried which works well involves aligning the plane of the orbit with the plan. Then, the plans overlap exactly as Flytandem explains in his video. However, that defeats the original purpose of my goal, which was to eject without first performing a plane change. But, here goes:
- Set up the plan in stage 2 as Flytandem explains in his videos
- Use the eject orientation function and rotate it until the indicated relative inclination with respect to your current orbit is at its lowest possible value (the alignment burn will require less fuel).
- Note the inclination and the LAN of the plan (not your current orbit) and bring up the Align MFD.
- Click ELS and enter those two numbers.
- Burn anti or normal depending on the node until the relative inclination is 0.
- Go back to stage 1 of the Transx plan and note that the relative inclination between your plan and your orbit should now be 0.
- Then, just as in Flytandem's videos, set up the manuever plan in stage 1 and it will now overlay the stage 2 plan beautifully, just as described in Flytandem's videos.
Now, I'm on to figuring out how to plan a trip to Mars and arrive there in an equatorial orbit without a plane change once I get there. So far, the best I could do was arrive there at a 15 degree inclination. Can anyone tell me the best way to do that?
