Achieving orbit / transfers using only flight readouts?

[TheCrimsonCorndog]

By flight readouts, I mean the information provided by mods like MechJeb, Engineer, and (more specifically) RasterPropMonitor.

Basically, I want to reach orbit without using maneuver nodes or Map View.

Any advice?

[Taki117]

I highly advise getting http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/57603-0-23-RasterPropMonitor-make-your-IVA-a-glass-cockpit-%28v0-12%29-25-Dec so that you have multiple small screens that can give you a plethora of information including orbit info and time to AP and Pe.

[LtKraftKrackers]

I dont have any experience with Mechjeb, nor the prop monitor. but the flight computer from Kerbal Engineer is fairly easy to use.

really, just keep your eyes on your TWR readouts, the Apoapsis and just do your usual orbit procedure.

[Aphobius]

Procedure for getting into orbit using only kerbal engineer (considering you have a proper designed rocket, with a TWR of 2.2 or at least higher):

-launch

-at 10km, pitch to 45 degrees

-when Ap gets to 50km (you see it on kerbal engineer), pitch to 5 degrees

-when Ap gets to 75km you stop the engines

-when Time to Ap gets to 30 seconds you start burning prograde, if Ap gets higher you pitch towards the ground, if Ap gets lower you pitch towards the sky

-stop engines when Ap = Pe

[capi3101]

I use KER a good deal. My procedure for getting to orbit is much like Aphobius's, though I tend to follow the prograde vector as long as my time to Apoapsis is between 35-55 seconds. I burn along the horizon once the Ap is above a minute and keep burning until the Ap is where I want it in order to account for what I'll lose to atmospheric drag based on alititude (+10k for 50,000, +30k for 40,000). Might have to try out his method my own self to see if it saves fuel.

Usually an orbital insertion burn after a good gravity-turn ascent takes 4-5 seconds, and maybe 50-100 m/s of delta-V, at best.

Getting to another planet on that data is another matter. KER is generally helpful for making orbital plane changes; I'll admit that I don't understand the rest of the rendezvous data it provides. I rely on other mods (KAC, Protractor) to make interplanetary burns as a rule.