Satellite facing

[Maldrak]

I am wondering how you make a satellite always face a certain direction. I have one in geosync orbit with a nice big dish on it that I want to always face Kerbin, but as it orbits it rotates (or doesn't rotate in 3D space of course, faces the same way). Is there any command to do this, or is it not in game yet?

Thanks

[Johnno]

I am wondering how you make a satellite always face a certain direction. I have one in geosync orbit with a nice big dish on it that I want to always face Kerbin, but as it orbits it rotates (or doesn't rotate in 3D space of course, faces the same way). Is there any command to do this, or is it not in game yet?

It's not in the game and likely won't be since as soon as you switch to another ship your previous is put on rails in its orbit (or trajectory).

[Superfluous J]

Coudln't you have a part that says "always keep my current orientation in relation to X" where the player - in flight - can set X. Then modify the ship while loading it to - if it has that part - turn the ship's orientation to the way it was in relation to X. It'd have to be a 0-power part or at least work on load even if the ship would have no power.

[Bioman222]

Back in .16 or .17's development, I remember someone mentioning this and Harv replying to that as a good idea. I think its going to make its way into the game at somepoint.

Oh, and welcome to the forums!

[stringyquark]

I just make omni directional satellites, put 4 dishes and 4 antenna, then at least one is always facing where I would like.

[Mr Shifty]

Can't be done in KSP. In real life, satellites can use the torque generated by the gravitational field gradient along their axis to maintain orientation. This is not modeled in KSP (though if you really want to do it, it is modeled in Orbiter.)