Kerbal Dynamics: Synchronicity

[ihtoit]

OK, on the face of it, this is a fairly simple challenge: launch SIX probes into equidistant Kerbosynchronous or Kerbostationary orbit.

DEFINITIONS:

Kerbosynchronous: Orbital period=6h, completion of each orbit is above the same spot on Kerbin's surface. Achieved with a semimajor axis of 3468.75km.

Kerbostationary: Orbital period=6h, orbit is circular, probe does not move relative to the surface. Achieved at an altitude of 2868.75km above the equator.

Six: one more than five, one less than seven.

RULES:

- You may use exactly ONE launcher.

- Any structural mod acceptable.

- No cheat or exploits or anything else that violates the laws of physics.

- Your launcher may comprise a mission payload or it may comprise a crewed capsule.

- Your probes must be placed sixty degrees apart and maintain their orbital positions without further interaction.

- Each probe must be able to communicate with its neighbours and down to the ground (ie, you must make power allowances for an antenna capable of transmitting at least 3Mm).

SCORING:

10 points for each satellite placed into stable synchronous orbit.

10 points for using the launcher core as a payload.

5 points for using a crewed capsule in the launcher core instead of a mission payload.

5 points for returning your crewed capsule safely to the KSC Peninsula (no score for landing anywhere else on Kerbin).

(Challengers Note: I've done this to death, out of necessity because I use the Remote Tech mod. You'll see my constellation in pretty much all of my space-based challenge entries. One launcher. )

Edited May 4, 2014 by ihtoit

[SirJodelstein]

Just out of curiosity: Is there a plugin that lets you measure on-screen angles between different crafts on the same orbit? When i built my GPS constellation i used an external Java tool (OnScreenProtractor), but an ingame tool for this might be really helpful. Anyway, this is not an entry, as my constellation has 9 probes on each of the three orbital planes, the altitude is different, and i launched the probes in packs of five. Still looks really nice, it is setup like the European Gallileo GNSS constellation

[Fengist]

Erm, I think you mean Remote Tech

Scary stuff, I tried that mod when I first started playing. Wow... it's rough.

[ihtoit]

yep, that one. (correction applied). Nice constellation there... the way I do it is to set my apoapse to synchronous altitude and fine tune my periapse until my orbital period is 5h0m, then release one satellite per orbit and burn at apoapse to circularise. Coming in from above is also fairly simple, it just deploys your satellites in reverse order: set your periapse to sync altitude then fine tune your apoapse to 7h0m, release 1 bird per orbit and burn retrograde at periapse to 6h0m. Either way, if you do it right you'll have precisely 60 degrees separation.

[ihtoit]

For three birds at 120 degrees, just set your orbit to 2/3 sync (ie, 4h orbit), release 1 bird per orbit and insert to synchronous orbit. Time it right, perfect 120-degree separation.

To answer the other question, if you use MechJeb you can add target separation angle info to any window. Any preplanning is just math.

Edited May 4, 2014 by ihtoit