Where to Start?

[Tubbiolo]

Hi All:

I just downloaded Orbital Spaceflight Simulator. I already know orbital mechanics and the depressing limitations of rocket science. I'd like to use Orbital Spaceflight Simulator to simulate some launch vehicle concepts I'd like to explore. I was wonder where to start. I want to be able to import my designs and run sims on ascents to orbit and eventual orbit transfers. I see there are a lot of turorials but it's hard to go through them all. I'd like to import my cad designs into the simulator. If I can't do that, are there any tutorials about how to develop custom craft and run sims?

So, where to start? Any people have any ideas?

Andrew

 

[tblaxland]

I see there are a lot of turorials but it's hard to go through them all.

There is a lot to learn but maybe we can prune that list down a little and make it a bit more targeted for you:

See the section "Tutorials for Addon Developers" here: http://www.orbiter-forum.com/tutorials.php. Of particular interest to you may be the two on "How to use spacecraft.dll". This also might be of interest: [ame="http://www.orbithangar.com/searchid.php?ID=4013"]How to make a multistage2 vessel[/ame]


If your programming skills are more advanced, you may wish to write your own custom dll. These may be of interest then:
[ame="http://www.orbithangar.com/searchid.php?ID=2210"]ShipDLLWriter[/ame]

http://www.orbiterwiki.org/wiki/Free_Compiler_Setup
http://www.orbiterwiki.org/wiki/Vessel_Tutorial_1

I'd like to import my cad designs into the simulator.

There are a number tools but that is not my forte. You may get better advice from others if you can mention what modelling tools/file formats you are presently using.

I already know orbital mechanics and the depressing limitations of rocket science.

That just means more fun challenges!


to Orbiter-Forum.

 

[Tubbiolo]

Thanks!

Wow:

Thank you for the fast reply. I see this is a active user base. I hope I can contribute. Time for some reading.

Andrew

---------- Post added at 10:13 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:11 PM ----------

Oh, forgot to answer your question. I use Alibre but can output to dwg, dxp and other formats as well.

 

[willy88]

Oh, and FYI, it's Orbiter Space Flight Simulator, not Orbital. Sorry for the nitpickery.

 

[tblaxland]

I see this is a active user base.

Yes, very. For example, the main mod repository, Orbit Hangar, has averaged approximately 10 new/updated works per week over the last two months. Perhaps Tex can get some updated forum stats, but the last published ones were from a year ago and it hasn't gotten any quiter in my estimation:

In October 2008, one year after ORBITER-FORUM was founded, we had more than 5 million hits, over 1 million pages were opened, and 25,000+ unique visitors were encountered in a single month.

Oh, forgot to answer your question. I use Alibre but can output to dwg, dxp and other formats as well.

A forum search turned up this: http://www.orbiter-forum.com/showthread.php?t=727&highlight=Alibre

BTW, the forum has pretty good search tools and (now for some self promotion...) you can get Orbit Hangar and Orbiter-Forum search plugins (only tested with Firefox).

 

[Killer Toilet]

If you want to start flying, the first thing you should do is read the Orbiter PDF and at least remember enough to make Low Earth Orbit. It sounds scary, but if you remember everything about it, you SHOULD have the basic feel about controls. That's what I did anyway.