How accurate does my orbit need to be?

[Arthree]

edit: this appears to be an issue with either FMRS, Contract Configurator, or Coherent Contracts. The game recognizes the orbit without them running.

I got a contract to put a satellite in Minmus orbit. The only parameter I'm missing is matching the orbit and remaining stable for 10 seconds. Here's the target orbit and my orbit from the save file:

PARAM
{
	name = SpecificOrbitParameter
	state = Incomplete
	disableOnStateChange = False
	values = 0,0,0,0,0
	targetBody = 3
	deviationWindow = 3
	difficultyFactor = 0.800000011920929
	orbitType = 6
	inclination = 29.4959648202019
	eccentricity = 0.336474122040093
	sma = 1018486.611352
	lan = 330.015462362215
	argumentOfPeriapsis = 90.9152758315248
	meanAnomalyAtEpoch = 1.00085459935079
	epoch = 0
}

ORBIT
{
	SMA = 1018146.09885518
	ECC = 0.336405005069997
	INC = 29.4995900848707
	LPE = 90.9649353361005
	LAN = 330.016247052645
	MNA = 5.43750381028034
	EPH = 7551762.04827297
	REF = 3
}

It seems like this should be sufficiently close to the target.

Edited January 4, 2015 by Arthree

[sal_vager]

Your orbit can be spot on, but if you forgot a required part or are re-purposing an existing satellite you are out of luck, if you showed us the contract and your ascending/descending nodes we'd be able to see what you've missed

[Arthree]

The only parameter I'm missing is matching the orbit and remaining stable for 10 seconds.

The contract requirements and my orbital parameters are both in the OP.

[DelayedReaction]

did you build a new satellite? or did you just change the orbit of an existing satellite? the satellite contracts require that a BRAND NEW satellite be built and launched to the required Orbit.

Also, the OP does not show your Ascending and Descending nodes, take a screenshot from your map view with the orbit and contracts showing so that people can look at the problem in a manner that they're accustomed to

[Arthree]

I wish you guys would stop repeating that nonsense. The contract conditions are independent, and you do not need to build a new craft to satisfy the orbit requirement. This is a technical question about the accuracy of orbits, not an "I didn't read the contract, halp pls" question. All of the contract's orbital parameters as well as my sat's orbit are in the OP. If you don't know how to read them and don't even know how the contract system works, please don't bother answering.

In any case, I tested this in a clean save and the orbit was recognized without issue. This appears to be an issue with either FMRS, Coherent Contracts, or Contract Configurator. When I reloaded my career without those addons, it recognized the orbit as expected.

Here we can see that you can complete the orbit/stability requirements without a valid ship:

Edited January 4, 2015 by Arthree

[Tokay Gris]

How accurate does my orbit need to be?

Had the same problem two days ago.

My impression is that around Kerbin and even Mun, the orbit is ok if it's roughly in the ballpark.

But around Minmus, you need to be almost letter-perfect.

Two days ago, my error was a measly 200 metres at periapsi. Nothing that can be seen by eye.

The tip I was given and am now giving you: Set the thrust limiter to the lowest possible setting and try to hit the orbit as perfect as possible.

If you use MechJeb, typ in all those boring decimals.

But, as Colin Campbell (and others) once said: Mind your decimals.

;-)

[Arthree]

Had the same problem two days ago.

My impression is that around Kerbin and even Mun, the orbit is ok if it's roughly in the ballpark.

But around Minmus, you need to be almost letter-perfect.

Two days ago, my error was a measly 200 metres at periapsi. Nothing that can be seen by eye.

The tip I was given and am now giving you: Set the thrust limiter to the lowest possible setting and try to hit the orbit as perfect as possible.

If you use MechJeb, typ in all those boring decimals.

But, as Colin Campbell (and others) once said: Mind your decimals.

;-)

Yeah, I was within 170m on each apsis and 0.004 degrees on inclination. After I disabled FMRS, Coherent Contracts, and Contract Configurator, it recognized the orbit.