Perfect Equatorial Orbits with STOCK KSP

[Camaron]

What is the best and most accurate way to get a perfectly equatorial orbit around a celestial body without referencing another object besides what you're orbiting? I would like to place equatorial orbits around things like Dres but don't have a good point of reference.

One other question - how do I enter a "Thread Prefix"? I would have loved to place this in the Questions forum where it belongs.

[Dkmdlb]

It's not possible without referencing another object.

Why are you trying to get a perfect equatorial orbit around Dres?

[Guest]

One other question - how do I enter a "Thread Prefix"? I would have loved to place this in the Questions forum where it belongs.

When you post in the questions forum, where this belongs, you get the option to use a pre-defined thread prefix.

Regarding your question, it's pretty much impossible with stock KSP. Around Kerbin you can reference the Mun... You might even be able to reference Kerbin around another body because it has no inclination of eccentricity but other than that it's not really worth bothering since you'll have to make an inclination change for rendezvous on entering a new SOI anyway. I assume that's why you want a "perfect" equatorial orbit?

Edited April 24, 2014 by regex

[Vanamonde]

Camaron, I moved your post for you. To add a prefix, click to edit the first post in the thread, and then "go advanced" in the editor. You'll see a little menu box for prefixes there.

[Camaron]

I like equatorial orbits, because from the ground, I can easily reference equatorial takeoffs with the Gimbal, So I was hoping there would be an easy way for carrier ships to be parked more accurately for the exit rendezvous. Problem is if you take off from somewhere away from the equator, that gets bent out of whack as well. Also, I pretty much never match orbit planes before jumping into planets' SOI's so I come in at all kinds of whacked out angles. Without a reference, leveling them out can be really geusswork-ish.

As for the Quick/Advanced thing. Might I suggest that whoever runs this forum noted that in the error alert? Something like "If you're in Quick Reply mode, switch to Advanced". If they can, anyway.

Just a note, I knew the Mun trick. My Kerbin looks like Saturn right now because all 7 million orbits are flawlessly equatorial. The challenge is equator-ing an orbit around something which doesn't have an even reference. (Pretty much everywhere else)

Is there any simple mod I could try on? Not looking for mechjeb, really just something that can help me see orbit alignment.

[Claw]

If you're adverse to using MechJeb but don't mind mods, you can also check out Kerbal Engineer Redux. It will give orbital information among a lot of other useful stuff. (It doesn't include the autopilot like MechJeb.) You'll have to add a part to your craft.

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/18230-0-23-Kerbal-Engineer-Redux-v0-6-2-3

[Amaroq]

I highly recommend Kerbal Engineer Redux as well - it gives you accurate readings, including orbital inclination, without adding any kind of "changes" to the game play.

If you look through that thread, there's a Module Manager configuration for simply adding KER to each command module, rather than having to install a part for it.

[cantab]

VOID is another mod that can do it. I've not used it but it looks pretty good, puts the info in a nice display around the altimeter.

As for a purely stock way, check the orbital parameters for your ship in the quicksave or persistence file. The inclination and longitude of the ascending node are easily seen, though to actually get a specific inclination this way will require trial and error or complicated maths.

http://wiki.kerbalspaceprogram.com/wiki/Orbit#Orbits_in_the_save_file