How to properly land Space Planes at runaway?

[nfpinto]

Hi guys, im having issues. any tips related how to land spaceplanes at the runaway will be much appreciated. thanks

Edited May 18, 2015 by nfpinto

[goldenpsp]

Details? Are you having trouble knowing where to re-enter to get to the runway or what? Best thing I can suggest is find a few youtube vids of people landing their spaceplanes. Make note of where they burn to re-enter etc. Keep in mind a plane will travel much further on re-entry than a capsule so you need to burn further west of the KSC than you would for a rocket.

[moogoob]

When working on my latest shuttle (rocket ascent, gliding landing) back in the 0.90.0 what I did was try to go for the runway, and if I didn't feel confident I just turned and took my time with a gentle field landing (to the west or south of KSC). Four or so of those behind my belt and I made a a successful orbit-to-runway landing. The next one was good too. So was the one after that. Then 1.0/1.02 came out and my first flight landed at the runway, first try.

So what I'm saying is: practice. Practice and airbrakes. One of my new favourite parts.

EDIT: If you want more technique, when I do a gliding landing I generally just choose a glide path after slowing down from re-entry. Turn on SAS, point nose at runway, make sure that prograde marker is slightly downwards (so I am gliding as opposed to stalling ) and glide on in. As I approach, I use my roll and yaw controls to keep centred, adjusting so as to hit the runway straight on rather than at an angle. Then as you get close (depending on design) you either hit your airbrakes, drogues or flaps (or all three, you rebel) until you're under 70m/s and from there just try to let your wheels hit gently before you either run out of velocity and stall or out of runway and splash. Apply brakes and taxi over to the hangar for a photo op.

EDIT AGAIN: If you overshoot KSC, just wait until your speed is sane and pull a 180 so you're heading back west and land that way. No biggie.

Edited May 16, 2015 by moogoob
Adding details and spelling.

[ajburges]

You really need to elaborate on which part you have difficulty with: re-entry, approach, or landing.

Re-entry is composed of two parts: deorbit burn and shock layer. The location and strength of your burn is a characteristic of your ship. Until trajectories is updated for nuStock, you just need to determine it by experimentation. I recommend reckoning it by burning opposite of KSC at a fixed circular orbit and noting either where the orbital trajectory terminates or the height of pe. Once you hit the atmo, you need to manage your re-entry or you will burn up! Air brakes are a really simple solution, but they also reduce the cross range you get. Deployed control surfaces can keep you at a high AoA which give you lift and enough drag to slow you down while you coast up high. This will give you incredible cross range ability, but you will be slow to stop. Having both gives you more options.

Once you get to 1 Km/s you should be free of incineration worries. If you planned re-entry correctly, you should be passing the mountains West of KSC at high mach around 16 Km high. If you are below/behind this, you will likely need jets. If you are ahead/above but have not passed KSC, you can either brake and dive (for maneuverable airframes) or go around, regardless you will be able to glide in. If you pass KSC you need to come around. You may be able to glide it, but you will likely need engines.

Final approach is three things: line up to the runway, touchdown at the start of the runway, and stop before the end. I highly recommend planting a flag or other targetable marker right before the start of the runway (also at the end). With the ability to target the runway start, you can line up to the runway by targeting it and aligning the prograde and target markers on 90 degrees heading. Also you can control your descent by aligning the target and prograde markers on each other (make sure the nav ball stays in surface mode and does not switch to target mode!). If get alignment and descent properly done, your wheels should touch down in the first quarter of the runway. A well designed plane just needs to slam the brakes and keep it on the tarmac. Almost every plane I make only needs a quarter runway to stop.

[Xannari Ferrows]

Try gliding around until your velocity is below 80 m/s. That's usually the safe threshold. After that, come in steadily, and try to keep the prograde marker as parallel to the ground as possible. This will minimize your vertical velocity, and make for a soft landing.

[nfpinto]

thank you everyone, i could explain more about my problems but i guess you guys gave me a ton of information already.