Accurately Placing Satellite Constellation

[Apollo13]

For this example, I would like to place four satellites in orbit. All satellites are to be in the same circular orbit (altitude, velocity, inclination). However, I want them to be equally spaced in orbit That is, assume one is at 0 degrees, the next are at 90, 180, and 270.

How do you accomplish this? My plan was to place the first. Then, set a rendezvous node for it. However, I would then slide the node 90 degrees along the orbit path and launch to "rendezvous" with this ghost spot. I would then repeat the process for the remaining two satellites.

Quite frankly, that plan just doesn't sound accurate enough. There's got to be a better way.

How have you accomplished this? If you know a YouTube video or tutorial webpage, I would greatly appreciate that info.

Edited June 2, 2014 by Apollo13

[Claw]

Many people set up a resonant orbit with a mother ship that drops probes.

So you setup a mothership that is in an orbit that is 3/4 of the period of the orbit that you want, you can drop a probe each time you reach apoapsis. Then burn with the probe to circularize the orbit.

For example, if the orbit you want to be in has a period of 4 hours, set up the mother ship in an elliptical orbit with a period of 3 hours. Each time the mother ship reaches apoapsis, release a probe and circularize it. Each probe will be 1 hour in front of the previous probe.

Good luck,

-Claw

Edited June 2, 2014 by Claw

[Apollo13]

Claw, thanks for that answer. I just sent a rep to your profile as well.

[Claw]

Claw, thanks for that answer. I just sent a rep to your profile as well.

You are very welcome, and thank you kindly.

Another note I should have mentioned is that things WILL drift in KSP. So when you are placing your satellites in orbit, you want to get the periods as close to each other as possible. I mean within seconds, if not within a second of each other. The closer the periods are to each other, the less often you'll have to visit the constellation to make corrections. (Unless you don't care if they drift.) Period is much more important (precise/easier) than trying to get AP/PEs matching.

Many people will use RCS or ION engines to do the last bit of perfecting the orbital timing. With an ION, you can even tweak the thrust way down so that you can really control the orbital period. If you burn slowly so that it just ticks over to your desired time, you can get your periods within a fraction of a second from each other.

[Hodo]

Many people set up a resonant orbit with a mother ship that drops probes.

So you setup a mothership that is in an orbit that is 3/4 of the period of the orbit that you want, you can drop a probe each time you reach apoapsis. Then burn with the probe to circularize the orbit.

For example, if the orbit you want to be in has a period of 4 hours, set up the mother ship in an elliptical orbit with a period of 3 hours. Each time the mother ship reaches apoapsis, release a probe and circularize it. Each probe will be 1 hour in front of the previous probe.

Good luck,

-Claw

LOL that is far easier than my method. I launch the ship to the orbit I want the satellite at, then deploy the satellite then reduce the orbit, wait till the probe is where I want it, then raise back up then deploy the next satellite.

+1 from me also.