On Orbital Missiles(don't judge)

[firerider521]

I have been testing out space-space missiles(don't judge, the Kermunist space center is too much of a threat), and I'm wondering: If you're in an orbit slightly different from your target's, i.e. you have a different orbital velocity, will dummy-fire missiles miss when you aim them directly towards the target? I'm not sure if a guided missile should be necessary.

[magnemoe]

If you think of the navbal towards target I will go in the right direction, however you will likely miss unless at very close range.

Try it with an probe with good twr, aim at target activate asas and give max trust. Even if you guide it all the way its hard if the speed is high as in over 100m/s.

[Scialytic]

Apart from abusing quicksave/load, I have not found a good way to aim precisely enough at non-trivial distances. E.g., if you are 10 km away, 1 degree of aiming error means you'll miss the target point by about 175 meters -- and that's assuming the missiles fly perfectly straight.

[sal_vager]

You'd need some kind of targeting assist for this, that'd know what your missile was capable of and could give you a reticle, you might get lucky if you set a manoeuvre node that gives you a 0.0 separation and use the blur crosshair to aim, and if your target is large enough.

Really though I think any space based missile would need it's own thrusters and guidance, as otherwise what you are trying to do is more like a submarine torpedo and a firing solution than an Apache with unguided rockets

[Nightdragon]

thats why you need to correct your aim constantly over a distance. Thats also why most missiles have an on-board computer to correct constantly. to make sure they hit the target or very very near it so the damage is still done. the way around this would be a "self destruct" at nearest point sort of thing Like what is used for Anti Air missiles. so the shrapnel still does its damage

Edited May 13, 2013 by Nightdragon

[Nibb31]

The principle is the same as for a rendez-vous really. Only you are blind. You would need to calculate the delta-v of your missile (assuming it's some kind of SRB) and put your ship in an orbit and an orientation where the extra delta-v will make your rocket rendez-vous the target.

I would actually make it more of a drone. Separate the missile, switch focus, calculate a rendez-vous trajectory with a manoeuver node, and burn towards it. Instead of matching target velocity and docking, just correct your trajectory so that the predicted approach distance is zero and ram the target.

Also, you have to imply that your target is actually cooperating and wants to be hit. Firing a missile on orbit might take several minutes to reach the target, which is plenty of time to perform an evasive manoeuver. Simply firing its RCS thrusters will put the target several kilometers out of range of your missile by the time you get there. Space-space missiles make no sense for this reason: It's effectively impossible to rendez-vous with a target that is actively trying to avoid the rendez-vous.

[Nightdragon]

The principle is the same as for a rendez-vous really. Only you are blind. You would need to calculate the delta-v of your missile (assuming it's some kind of SRB) and put your ship in an orbit and an orientation where the extra delta-v will make your rocket rendez-vous the target.

I would actually make it more of a drone. Separate the missile, switch focus, calculate a rendez-vous trajectory with a manoeuver node, and burn towards it. Instead of matching target velocity and docking, just correct your trajectory so that the predicted approach distance is zero and ram the target.

Also, you have to imply that your target is actually cooperating and wants to be hit. Firing a missile on orbit might take several minutes to reach the target, which is plenty of time to perform an evasive manoeuver. Simply firing its RCS thrusters will put the target several kilometers out of range of your missile by the time you get there. Space-space missiles make no sense for this reason: It's effectively impossible to rendez-vous with a target that is actively trying to avoid the rendez-vous.

no "missiles" work. "Guided missiles" would be the only way to do it. The funny part is in a strange twist, even the fact that it would be a bobing an weaving battle could end up being an edurance test for the object being hit. Fuel levels wouldn't be too much an issue (unless for bad/good timing) but could end up setting up an oscillation or causing fatigue of parts to set up and end up doing a decent amount of damage anyway without hitting. Also as I said in the above post (edited) that you would go for a burst when near the target like anti-aircraft missile do. So they will be pretty much guided fragmentation missile. Cause even if you don't get a direct hit, you can still damage protective coverings, solar power, or any number of things.

funny thing just thought of it. really Swarm Missle brages would be the most effective thinking about it. Not only would it be harder to dodge out of the way, but it also incresses the chance of it hitting with a direct hit.

Edited May 13, 2013 by Nightdragon

[kahlzun]

youd want to detonate the missile a little while ahead of the target, especially if its loaded with buckshot or something, kinetic kill, mini-impactors, hard to dodge.

[Nibb31]

The other slight problem is that the shrapnel might actually kill you two hours or twenty years later.

[firerider521]

Ah, I see now.

So it is almost impossible to use dumbfire missiles w/out guidance at longer ranges. I'll try to use guided missiles then.