And is there a specific sequence that you should use to match Ap, Pe, inclination and LAN to the required parameters, without screwing up the others when altering one parameter? Getting pretty frustrated...
Posted Oct 20, 2014, 3:32 PM UTC
These missions are supposed to add waypoint orbits to your map screen that you can then match as you would normally, but I recently had a mission like this where there was no waypoint and I think that is a bug.
It's just like any other plane change maneuver. Preferably launch into the correct plane though.
Burn normal or antinormal when the plane of your orbit crosses the plane of the orbit you're trying to get into. Just like matching inclination, but without the AN/DN markers.
Still getting familiar with Fine Print myself, so I'm not sure specifically what you're referring to. But it sounds like you just need to set up an orbit at a specific Ap, Pe, inclination, and LAN.
First of all, do you have KER or MechJeb installed? Because otherwise I don't see how you'd know you have the right LAN. Unless Fine Print provides some assistance there?
Here's what I would do:
Launch into a low, circular, non-inclined, equatorial orbit.
Set a maneuver at the desired LAN with enough delta-v such that you achieve the desired inclination. Now the LAN and inclination should both be correct.
(Edit: Now wait until you work your way through the argument of periapsis, which is just an angle measured from the LAN. If the argument of periapsis is 180 degrees, then your next maneuver will be 180 degrees from the AN- at the DN.) Then you simply burn prograde until you have the desired apoapsis (Edit: making your current position the periapsis), and when you reach apoapsis burn prograde until you have the desired periapsis. These maneuvers should not affect your inclination or LAN.
Two notes on step 3:
Assuming Fine Print doesn't give you a specific argument of periapsis, it doesn't matter when you perform that first burn. Do it as soon as you like after completing step 2. Or combine it with step 2: pull the maneuver node normal until you have the right inclination and then prograde until you have the right apoapsis. That's a bit more complicated though, so it's probably easier to separate those.Edit: Per MC_Warhammer's comment below, it sounds like you are given a specific argument of periapsis.Depending on the orbit you start with and how much inclination you need, some of those "prograde" burns might end up being "retrograde" instead.
Fine print does give you a specific argument of periapsis.
Thanks! Edited my post.
You don't need Mechjeb. The tolerances in FinePrint are quite generous. If you adjust your orbit so that it appears to overlap the plotted path by eyeball it generally awards you the contract (but make sure you're orbiting in the right direction!)
But how do you know where the LAN and periapsis should be? Does it mark waypoints on your map or something? I should probably just wait until I can play enough to get one of these contracts and see for myself I suppose. :)
The Ap and pe are marked on the map. Just get your markers as close to the markers on the map as you can by hand. It's actually not too tricky.
I have both KER and Mechjeb, and have (confession) been using Mechjeb's maneuver planner to get the right LAN, but it always tells me changing the LAN on a non-inclined orbit leads to inaccuracies. I think your explanation will help a lot, though, thanks.
The other thing about fine prinr vs Mechjeb that makes me a little nutty, is the fact the Fine print gives coordinates in decimal format, and MechJeb uses Degrees/Minutes/Seconds, so you have to convert every time...