Has anyone made an automatic aerobraking calculator mod?

[Arron Rift]

I know nothing about modding, but I think I found something no one has made and wanted to point it out.

Found a website that does the aerobraking math here:http://alterbaron.github.io/ksp_aerocalc/

If someone could make a plugin that grabs the proper data from the game while you're in-bound for a planet's atmosphere and automatically calculates your apoapsis after you exit, or maybe even a full blown in-game orbital path similar to during SOI changes, it'd probably become one of those staple mods that we can't live without!

Try to remember who got you started when you're big and famous modders!

[Drew Kerman]

wow that's a cool page. It doesn't mention though whether it takes FAR into account. There's the Ascent Komputron which can handle aerobraking calculations but that doesn't support FAR

[John FX]

FAR is a bit tricksy with aerobraking as how much braking you get depends on the angle of your craft as you go through the `air`. I have just done a couple of Eve aerocaptures with a pair of craft that were identical and one just sailed through the atmosphere like a dart and needed a good burn to capture (I was careful due to DRE) and the other I tried to go through at a large AoA and got a LOT more braking.

That variability is hard to calculate.

EDIT : If you are not using FAR then Mechjeb has an aerobraking calculator in game in the landing module.

EDIT 2 : it also optionally shows your resulting orbit in the ingame map

Edited September 1, 2014 by John FX

[Lucid Hills]

How about if it assumed you were going to enter the atmosphere tail end first maybe with an option to change this assumed entry angle in a GUI??

[John FX]

Myself I use similar heights in FAR and stock but I allow a margin of error and I have a little extra fuel in case the aerobrake is not enough. MJ just does not calculate with FAR. You would have to contact sarbian or write a plugin yourself (which would be very popular with FAR people IMHO) for that ingame

[Smorfty]

If you're not using FAR, MechJeb's landing guidance can predict landing spots and aerobraking in and around bodies with an atmosphere.

[Arron Rift]

If you're not using FAR, MechJeb's landing guidance can predict landing spots and aerobraking in and around bodies with an atmosphere.

Meh, I'm scared of Mechjeb, honestly. I think I'd quickly use it for EVERYTHING

[Wanderfound]

How about if it assumed you were going to enter the atmosphere tail end first maybe with an option to change this assumed entry angle in a GUI??

I'd default it the other way around. If it goes wrong, you want to be facing forwards, not back.

[Lucid Hills]

I'd default it the other way around. If it goes wrong, you want to be facing forwards, not back.

That's why it'd need an option to change it. People have different ways of doing things.

People who use Deadly Re-entry like myself will probably be using a heat shield or using their engine as one, hence tail first.

[Wanderfound]

That's why it'd need an option to change it. People have different ways of doing things.

People who use Deadly Re-entry like myself will probably be using a heat shield or using their engine as one, hence tail first.

Not disagreeing with you, each to their own, but:

I use Deadly Reentry as well. Unshielded spaceplanes can handle Mach 6 at ~20,000m and a single-pass descent from that just fine if you build and fly 'em right, and it isn't too hard to get your speed down to low hypersonic on a normal reentry. If you're going for a direct-from-interplanetary aerobrake, then it should take multiple cautious passes at higher altitude, IMO.