How the heck do you play Orbiter?

[Spaceception]

Since I can't get KSP yet, how the heck do you play Orbiter?

Pls help, my spaceplane somehow got into space, and spun out of control, and I have no idea how it did that.

[Frybert]

As an orbinaught, the best thing I can tell you is to go to their forum and ask there. Aside from that I would ask if you read any of the documents/tutorials that go along with it? As far as spinning out of control I have to wonder if you activated RCS?

[Spaceception]

6 minutes ago, Frybert said:

As an orbinaught, the best thing I can tell you is to go to their forum and ask there. Aside from that I would ask if you read any of the documents/tutorials that go along with it? As far as spinning out of control I have to wonder if you activated RCS?

I have no clue.

[cubinator]

Try SCE to Aux?

[hypervelocity]

24 minutes ago, cubinator said:

Try SCE to Aux?

steely-eyed missile man!!!

[NorthernDevo]

5 hours ago, Spaceception said:

Since I can't get KSP yet, how the heck do you play Orbiter?

Pls help, my spaceplane somehow got into space, and spun out of control, and I have no idea how it did that.

By 'Spaceplane', I assume you're starting with the Deltaglider; an excellent choice to begin with - it's much easier than other options. Be warned that easy as it is, Orbiter has a very steep learning curve, but it flattens out quite quickly. If you can achieve orbit over Kerbin, you can do it from Earth quite comfortably.

The stock DG is easy but a little twitchy - you're likely spinning out of control because you're overcompensating for the actions of the trace atmosphere in low Earth orbit; it extends far enough out to catch the unwary.

First, check your control switches (Right side in the 2D cockpit, left in the 3D) and insure both switches are 'on'. Takeoff from KSC and aim for an orbit of around 150kms. If you start spinning out of control, use 5 on the keypad to null your rates and use very small input amounts in space. I can't really help more than that without seeing what you're doing, but after a little confusion you'll find yourself orbiting Earth in no time. For first-timers, the best tutorial/manual available is "Go Play In Space" ( http://www.orbiterwiki.org/wiki/Go_Play_In_Space ) - a superb resource to lead you through your introduction to Orbiter.

Most important is keep trying and have fun - Orbiter is a blast!

[Guest]

Step 1: Hail Probe:

Sorry.  

I personally also want to get started with orbiter, but I'm on a Mac.  The above advice looks great, though!

[NorthernDevo]

12 hours ago, CliftonM said:

Step 1: Hail Probe:

We praise His glorious antennas!

Whoops...

[kerbiloid]

When I played Orbiter, the ship started an unstoppable spinning when I used the time warp.
I don't play Orbiter anymore, as KSP doesn't have this problem.

[KAL 9000]

18 hours ago, NorthernDevo said:

By 'Spaceplane', I assume you're starting with the Deltaglider; an excellent choice to begin with - it's much easier than other options. Be warned that easy as it is, Orbiter has a very steep learning curve, but it flattens out quite quickly. If you can achieve orbit over Kerbin, you can do it from Earth quite comfortably.

The stock DG is easy but a little twitchy - you're likely spinning out of control because you're overcompensating for the actions of the trace atmosphere in low Earth orbit; it extends far enough out to catch the unwary.

First, check your control switches (Right side in the 2D cockpit, left in the 3D) and insure both switches are 'on'. Takeoff from KSC and aim for an orbit of around 150kms. If you start spinning out of control, use 5 on the keypad to null your rates and use very small input amounts in space. I can't really help more than that without seeing what you're doing, but after a little confusion you'll find yourself orbiting Earth in no time. For first-timers, the best tutorial/manual available is "Go Play In Space" ( http://www.orbiterwiki.org/wiki/Go_Play_In_Space ) - a superb resource to lead you through your introduction to Orbiter.

Most important is keep trying and have fun - Orbiter is a blast!

Don't you mean "If you can achieve orbit over Earth, you can do it from Kerbin quite comfortably."? Considering Earth is 10 times bigger than Kerbin.

[cubinator]

4 minutes ago, KAL 9000 said:

Don't you mean "If you can achieve orbit over Earth, you can do it from Kerbin quite comfortably."? Considering Earth is 10 times bigger than Kerbin.

I've actually found it simpler to reach orbit of Earth in Realism Overhaul than Kerbin, because Earth's atmosphere is so much 'shorter' relative to the surface. On Kerbin, I can never achieve a perfect, circular orbit in less than two burns. I can often do much better with Earth because it's atmosphere is so tight to the surface relative to Kerbin. Of course, that's with a little prior knowledge on gravity turns, which was learned on Kerbin. It would be interesting to have two friends, neither of which play KSP, each try to get to orbit, one on Kerbin and another on Earth, and see which one does better.

Edited April 21, 2016 by cubinator

[Nuke]

you got to be more careful with time warp, if you have any thrusters or engines running when you enter it, say bye to your fuel and enjoy your spin. get in the habbit of turning off rcs and shutting down your engines before warping.

Edited April 21, 2016 by Nuke

[kerbiloid]

9 hours ago, cubinator said:

On Kerbin, I can never achieve a perfect, circular orbit in less than two burns. I can often do much better with Earth because it's atmosphere is so tight to the surface relative to Kerbin.

Both atmospheres are similar, by the way: height ~60 km, height scale ~8 km, same density at the sea level. Atmosphere isn't guilty here. Orbital speed is.

To orbit the Earth you must collect 8000 m/s (without taxes), to orbit Kerbin - just 2600.
As both atmospheres are almost similar, gravity accelerations are exactly similar (9.81 m/s²) when you approach the atmosphere ceiling you already have 2000 m/s, and your speed is almost vertical.
So on Earth you need 6000 more and you just continue your smooth ascent without intermediate stops. You finish accelerating at ~100 km with 8000 m/s. All are happy.
On Kerbin you need either rotate 90 degrees and make a horizontal burn (which looks bizarre), or shutdown your engine and cosplay a GEO transition orbit, making an apocenter burn.
 

Edited April 22, 2016 by kerbiloid

[NorthernDevo]

15 hours ago, KAL 9000 said:

Don't you mean "If you can achieve orbit over Earth, you can do it from Kerbin quite comfortably."? Considering Earth is 10 times bigger than Kerbin.

Kerbiloid gave a great explanation, but I was referring to the fact that Orbiter is the 'new' space-sim while KSP Demo is the more familiar one in Spaceception's case.