Incredible job (as always) Kosmo-not! Just a quick clarification question about your table: Are the white distances for prograde burns and the grey ones for retrograde? I wanted to make sure I was reading that correctly.
Also, have you tackled the problems with intercepting a target 'behind' you in orbit? I found myself in that situation earlier today with the target\'s orbit at 100km and mine at 80km. It wasn\'t very difficult adjusting my orbits to arrange an intercept, but because it was all guess-work I doubt my method was as efficient as it could have been. Just raised Ap to 120km for a couple orbits, then raised Pe to 98km for a couple more once the target got relatively close. Once I was less than 10km from the target, I matched orbit velocity but from there my rendezvous was a mess. Overshot, then undershot... eventually I got there, though.
Any tips for figuring out which direction to thrust in when closer than 10km but still too far to see whether the target is moving toward or away from you?
1) White numbers are distances within visual range, Grey numbers are distances out side of visual range. You can\'t see targets greater than 100km. Numbers to the left of 0.0 are retrograde burns, numbers to the right of 0.0 prograde burns.
2) I don\'t quite understand why you are burning to reach 120km orbit when your starting orbit is 80km and your target orbit is 100km. Easiest way to do this is to start in a circular orbit so that when you burn the PE will be where ever you started the burn. Burn until AP is at your target orbit and if you timed your burn according to the table you should get pretty close to your target vehicle once you\'ve reach the AP. Once you\'ve meet up with your target craft, burn prograde again to increase your PE to the target orbit and now both you and your target should be at the same place in the same orbit.
3) The few times I\'ve tried this, 10km is still a bit far to use station keeping burns. If the target is ahead and you are falling behind, I would burn retrograde a bit with RCS so I\'d catch up. If the target is behind and you are moving away, burn prograde a bit with RCS so you\'ll be at a higher orbit and slow down. Once you are within 5km or so you can start using RCS and burn toward the target. Just slight taps and keep monitoring your distances and you should be able to get there.
P.S. Thanks Kosmo-Not, I managed to 'dock' on my 2nd try using your table. I was also wondering if you have any suggestions for trying to rendezvous when the difference between starting orbit and target orbit is greater than 40km? (meaning starting your burn at beyond visual range).
[Tutorial] Orbital Rendezvous Made Easy
in KSP1 Tutorials
Posted
1) White numbers are distances within visual range, Grey numbers are distances out side of visual range. You can\'t see targets greater than 100km. Numbers to the left of 0.0 are retrograde burns, numbers to the right of 0.0 prograde burns.
2) I don\'t quite understand why you are burning to reach 120km orbit when your starting orbit is 80km and your target orbit is 100km. Easiest way to do this is to start in a circular orbit so that when you burn the PE will be where ever you started the burn. Burn until AP is at your target orbit and if you timed your burn according to the table you should get pretty close to your target vehicle once you\'ve reach the AP. Once you\'ve meet up with your target craft, burn prograde again to increase your PE to the target orbit and now both you and your target should be at the same place in the same orbit.
3) The few times I\'ve tried this, 10km is still a bit far to use station keeping burns. If the target is ahead and you are falling behind, I would burn retrograde a bit with RCS so I\'d catch up. If the target is behind and you are moving away, burn prograde a bit with RCS so you\'ll be at a higher orbit and slow down. Once you are within 5km or so you can start using RCS and burn toward the target. Just slight taps and keep monitoring your distances and you should be able to get there.
P.S. Thanks Kosmo-Not, I managed to 'dock' on my 2nd try using your table. I was also wondering if you have any suggestions for trying to rendezvous when the difference between starting orbit and target orbit is greater than 40km? (meaning starting your burn at beyond visual range).