The History of my Space Stations (Plus a question about changing planes)

[Evenger14]

The first Space Station launched successfully into Kerbin orbit:

This was just a 3 man capsule with 4 airplane bodies and 4 solar panels strapped onto it.

The second Space Station launched successfully into Kerbin orbit:

This was also just a 3 man capsule with a platform slapped onto it. Was suggested for an Orbital Bombardment Platform.

The third and latest Space Station launched successfully into Kerbin orbit:

Photo taken by Jeb

This is the first real "Space Station", as it has the ability to hold more than three people. It has a total of 6 crew pods, along with a 3 man command pod on top. It's equipped with 16 solar panels that will continually attempt to follow the sun. The structure that supports the crew pods contains 1,600L of RCS thruster fuel, though during launch the station started spinning uncontrollably, and it took 3 out of 4 tanks of thruster fuel to actually stabilize it.

Thanks to dodrian for the link to the mods for this station!

Okay, now I'm launching a ship to rendezvous with the space station, but instead of going onto the 31.944degree plane the station is on (remember the part about uncontrolled spinning?) it went onto a 31.944 plane opposite to the station:

Where along my orbit do I need to burn in order to correct my plane?

Thanks!

[(An Original Name)]

You need to burn north or south at either point where the different orbit inclinations meet.

[Bioman222]

When you get to the crossing node (See below), burn at 180 or 0 to raise or lower your orbit.

Edit 1: Dang it! Ninja'd!

[Evenger14]

Ohh this is not gonna go down well..

[Astronomer]

When you get to the crossing node (See below), burn at 180 or 0 to raise or lower your orbit.

Edit 1: Dang it! Ninja'd!

Or you can burn perpendicular to either of your vertices (I might be wrong).

[Evenger14]

Already got on the same plane, and I'm going to attempt to dock..

[Evenger14]

Failed to dock.. Seems until they get docking implemented I won't try again, though I did transfer 2 crewmen over. Only 16 more to do to have the station fully staffed. lol

[Whatshtisthis]

Well, instead of space stations, I got 2 space colonies up in orbit.

The first one could hold 60 kerbals and couldn't move, the second had an ion engine and could hold 50 kerbals. I'm too lazy to bring kerbals into the colonies so I won't be expecting any residents on them. I'll most probably bring at least 1 colony to each planet and have a free moving colony that I use for fun.

[azazel1024]

Just don't forget, to speed up to your space station, deccelerate away from it. This lowers your orbit and actually makes you go faster. It'll take a little while to catch up, but once you do, accelerate then to slow your orbit and match velocity. Once you are within about a km, you can just use your RCS system to directly jet over (more or less).

Not the easiest of things to do and I am in need of a lot of practice.

My only space station so far is this puppy. Not even any solar panels yet and only a single resident.

I am working on the Olympus II which should have some solar panels as well as a command pod as an escape vessel. The Olympus I currently orbits at around 180km.

I am thinking I might send the Olympus II to Eve orbit. I have a tiny colony on the Mun and on Duna going. The Mun has a very small outpost/base that is not habitable as well as a rover and a 3 Kerbals from 2 missions (don't ask about the 4th Kerbal, RIP little buddy). Duna has two Kerbals and a rover on it (two missions) and one lander with some fuel left, but not enough for an orbit. The second lander crashed releasing the rover, fortunately with a Kerbal safe inside.

I don't plan on trying to land on Eve any time soon, but I'd like to visit it and map it. I figure this is a good way. Plus it'll give my Kerbals a safe place if I decide to land later and I am able to get a lander with sufficient delta V to get it at least back up to orbit.

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Edited October 10, 2012 by azazel1024