Can I change an object's position but not its orbit?

[Tassyr]

So, long story short, I'm attempting to get a set of satellites around the Mun and Minmus- partially for the sake of saying "I can." Catch is, I can't space them right. they all either end up lumped on one end of the orbit. Is there a way to change something's position in its orbit without changing the actual orbit? I know physics seems to say no way, but I sort of refuse to believe that. XD

End result would be four sats at 90 degree angles... on each body, at about a 300KM orbit.

[Kosmo-not]

Is there a way to change something's position in its orbit without changing the actual orbit?

Yes, of course. You just wait.

[AncientAstronaut]

Warp. Orbits at different altitudes have different velocities, so they will eventually scatter in terms of alignment with each other... You know the planets of the solar system aren't all aligned like the pictures show, right?

[togfox]

If they are on the same orbit youll have to lengthen/shorten one orbit, warp, then return to the original orbit when your spacing is correct.

[Tassyr]

Any way to do this more precisely than just waiting, and such? Is there some trick to it? I'm trying to get specific points- just relative to each other.

[togfox]

You mean like ... Teleportation or something?

[Tassyr]

Honestly, at this point? Considering I've created a Kessler nightmare out there- I'd be willing to give it a shot. I was just wondering if there's some trick I'm totally missing. I've seen people online who have these perfectly spaced orbits but no matter what I do I can't get it.

Edited September 16, 2012 by Tassyr

[togfox]

I see now. Those perfect networks were timed precisely by launch a satellite on the same ascent path at perfectly timed intervals. Im not sure what the interval is but ppl have posted it on this forum. If you dont want to start again then see my post #4.

[maltesh]

If you have a spacecraft that can do it, it's actually a lot easier to launch all the satellites on one spacecraft.

Say you want four satellites spread at 90 degree angles around a single circular orbit.

Calculate the period of that orbit.

Calculate the semimajor axis of an orbit that is 5/4 as long as that period.

Calculate the altitude of the apoapsis the longer orbit would have, if its periapsis was on the circular orbit.

Ascend to the circular orbit. Circularize. Deploy the first sat.

Burn to raise your apoapsis to the longer orbit altitude.

When you get back to the circular orbit's altitude, circularize again. You're now 90 degrees behind the first satellite.

Deploy the second satellite.

Repeat for the third and fourth satellites, then return to Kerbin.

[maltesh]

If you have a spacecraft that can do it, it's actually a lot easier to launch all the satellites on one spacecraft.

Say you want four satellites spread at 90 degree angles around a single circular orbit.

Calculate the period of that orbit.

Calculate the semimajor axis of an orbit that is 5/4 as long as that period.

Calculate the altitude of the apoapsis the longer orbit would have, if its periapsis was on the circular orbit.

Ascend to the circular orbit. Circularize. Deploy the first sat.

Burn to raise your apoapsis to the longer orbit altitude.

When you get back to the circular orbit's altitude, circularize again. You're now 90 degrees behind the first satellite.

Deploy the second satellite.

Repeat for the third and fourth satellites, then return to Kerbin.

Edit: Rereading the thread, I now realize that this is basically what togfox suggested in post #4.

[VincentLaw]

Yes, of course. You just wait.

This is definitely the easiest solution. The fact is that without cheating in your orbits, there is no way that they are going to have exactly the same orbital periods. Even if you did space them at perfect 90 degree intervals, they will eventually drift from those positions too. One test you can do is decouple two pieces of junk from an orbiting ship at the same time, then max out the timestep. Eventually the two pieces of junk will be on opposite sides of the mun from each other, and then at some point in the future the same side of the mun again. If you have enough things in space on approximately the same orbit, they will on average be evenly spaced around the mun as you desire. Another trick you could use is to have one go retrograde. Then they would only be at the same longitude twice per orbit.

As others have already also suggested, if for some reason you really do want to adjust your position along an orbit relative to another orbiting object, to catch up with that object you need to decrease your altitude at an apsis, and to go slower than that object you need to increase your altitude at an apsis. Once you are at the correct angle relative to that object, do another burn to synch up the orbits. This requires fuel of course, and is not permanent for the reason I described above. This technique is very useful for rendezvous though.

Edited September 16, 2012 by VincentLaw

[nikkri]

You mean like ... Teleportation or something?

i realy wana get to Dona but i am newer maegin i and hwen i get close i just get slinged out how do i teleport to duna plez help me i just wana get ther so i can use a special teleport mod so i can teleport my things ther but i nead a teleporteson divise to get ther firs so i can teleport

how can i do this comfig files and stuf