The Educational value of Kerbal Space Program

[nyrath]

Today, a Russian cargo rocket was launched on course to the international space station.

There was a tweet:

https://twitter.com/ISS101/status/361227567094702080

T+7:00: Progress M-20M

Target Orbit: 193km (+7/-15) by 245km (+/-42km)

Inclination: 51.66° (+/-0.06°)

Period: 88.59min (+/-0.37)

Much to my surprise, that made perfect sense to me. I suddenly realized how much I had learned just by playing KSP.

[DaRocketCat]

I was surprised by the large margin of error for the target orbit.

[HeadHunter67]

I was surprised by the large margin of error for the target orbit.

I'm assuming they intend to rendezvous with the station - that doesn't happen by matching orbits.

[SkyHook]

Yes this makes perfect sense to me..and I TOO was surprised by the gargantuan margin of error for the target orbit, but assuming rendevous, that ALSO makes sense. Gotta reach them somehow.