Orbiter 2016 - Direct Landing challenge #5
I really pushed the edge of the envelope on this one! When the horizontal or vertical component is high, be sure to add 2 or 3 km for a buffer :) Here is the method I have been using:
I find this method very consistent for approaches with less than about 70 degrees of pitch during the burn. Any approach with 70 to 80 degrees or more of pitch, just use the distance BurnTime calculates based on velocity.
Pull up GPS/VTOL...
If the horizontal speed is greater than the vertical speed ( just before time to burn), I use horizontal distance to the base.
If the vertical speed is greater than the horizontal speed, I use altitude.
Get right down to and match closely the distance that BurnTime calculator computes based on velocity
Slow and Pause the simulation
write that distance down
Un-pause simulation
input vertical or horizontal(whichever is less) speed into BurnTime calculator
Pause the simulation
divide that distance by 2
subtract that number from the distance that was based on velocity
add 2 or 3 km for a buffer (better to arrive too high than too low)
For this flight:
BurnTime Orbital velocity braking distance 295,114km
BurnTime Vertical speed braking distance 108,631 km... divide that by 2 = 54,315km
subtract that from 295,114km - 54,315km is 240,799km. add 2 or 3 km for cushion.
Burn at 243km
Dimitri's Direct landing challenge script for Orbiter 2016. Thank you Dimitri for another great challenge add-on ;)
