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For an introductory flight for a novice orbiter user, a good start is the Delta Glider docked to the ISS. This way, you can explore orbital mechanics, use of RCS thrusters, and docking with the most user-friendly standard craft in orbiter in a forgiving space environment.
 
For an introductory flight for a novice orbiter user, a good start is the Delta Glider docked to the ISS. This way, you can explore orbital mechanics, use of RCS thrusters, and docking with the most user-friendly standard craft in orbiter in a forgiving space environment.
  
= Task 1: Undocking =
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== Task 1: undocking ==
 
To undock, you need follow  steps:
 
To undock, you need follow  steps:
  
=== Make sure your RCS thrusters are set to translation/linear mode. ===
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1. Make sure your RCS thrusters are set to translation/linear mode.  
Look towards the bottom of your HUD (alt+down), where it says either RCS:LIN or RCS:ROT.<br>
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    >look towards the bottom of your HUD, where it says either RCS:LIN or RCS:ROT
If it says RCS:LIN, do nothing. If it says RCS:ROT, press the numpad "/" key.<br>
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    >If it says RCS:LIN, do nothing. If it says RCS:ROT, press the numpad "/" key
  
=== Separate yourself From the ISS ===
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2. Separate yourself From the ISS
Press Ctrl+D to undock.<br>
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    >Press Ctrl+D to undock
Press the numpad "9" key to thrust your ship away from the ISS.<br>
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    >Press numpad 6 to thrust your ship away from the ISS
'''WARNING''': Only press 9 for a moment. If you use too much thrust, you will degrade your orbit and reenter the atmosphere.<br>
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    '''WARNING: ONLY PRESS 6 FOR A MOMENT. IF YOU USE TOO MUCH THRUST, YOU WILL WRECK YOUR ORBIT'''
<br>
 
Congratulations! You have successfully undocked from the ISS!
 
  
= Task 2: Making a larger orbit =
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Congrats! you have successfully undocked from the ISS!
You may want to look at our beautiful home-world from a greater distance (i.e. higher orbit.) There are three main steps to this.
 
  
=== Set your MFD ===
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== Task 2: making a larger orbit ==
On your  MFDs (the screens on your instrument panel) make sure one is set to Orbit. if neither are set to orbit, choose one MFD and press the SEL button on the bottom. Press the button next to Orbit.<br>
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You may want to look at our beautiful home-world from a greater distance (i.e. higher orbit.) There are two main steps to this.
Press the REF button next to the display. Use the arrow keys to navigate to earth on the menu.<br>
 
Press the DIST button until you see that two of the readings read ApA and PeA. These should each have some number from 200k to 300k<br>
 
  
=== Raise your Apoapsis altitude ===
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1. Set your MFD
Note: your apoapsis (aka apogee) is the highest point on your orbit. your periapsis (aka perigee) is the lowest point on your orbit.<br>
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a. On your MFDs (the screens on your instrument panel) make sure one is set to Orbit. if neither are set to orbit, choose one MFD and press the SEL button on the bottom. Press the button next to Orbit.  
Look at your PeT (time until periapsis) reading on the orbit MFD. this reads in seconds, with metric prefix abbreviations. For example, PeT=1.287k means 1287 seconds until you are at your periapsis.<br>
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b. Press the REF button next to the display. use the arrow keys to navigate to earth on the menu.  
When your display shows PeT=60, press the "PRO GRADE" button next to your HUD. (Look back up at your HUD with alt+up.) It should light up, and your ship should start rotating towards your direction of motion (represented by a circle with a "+" in it; you may have to press "HUD" on the Orbit MFD or "OBT" on the HUD for this to appear).<br>
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  c. press the DIST button until you see that two of the readings read ApA and PeA. these should each have some number from 200k to 300k
'''Note''': You may use time acceleration to get to PeT=60 by pressing "T"Stop time acceleration with "R". Be careful not to overshoot your target.<br>
 
When your display shows PeT=0, fire your main engine by holding "+" until your ApA (apoapsis altitude) reading is ~500k, then stop.
 
  
=== Raise your Periapsis altitude ===
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2. Raise your Apoapsis altitude
Look at your ApT (Time until apoapsis). When your display shows ApT=60, make sure you are facing prograde.<br>
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note: your apoapsis (aka apogee) is the highest point on your orbit. your periapsis (aka perigee) is the lowest point on your orbit
'''WARNING''': The prograde button activates an autopilot. AUTOPILOTS CANNOT HANDLE TIME ACCELERATION ABOVE 10x. Turn off prograde autopilot by pressing PROGRD again before using time acceleration, then press PROGRD a third time to orient yourself at ApT=60.<br>
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a. look at your PeT (time until periapsis) reading on the orbit MFD. this reads in seconds, with metric prefix abbreviations. for example, PeT=1.287k means 1287 seconds until you are at your Periapsis
When your display shows ApT=0, fire your main engine until your PeA (periapsis altitude) reads ~450k, then kill thrust.<br>
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b. when PeT=60 on your display, press the PROGRD button next to your HUD. it should light up, and your ship should start rotating towards your direction of motion (represented by a circle with a "+" in it)
<br>
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note: you may use time acceleration to get to PeT=60 by pressing "T". just be careful not to overshoot.
Congratulations! You have performed your first orbital maneuver! Now you can take a well-earned break.
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c. when PeT=0, fire your main engine until your ApA (apoapsis altitude) reading is ~500k. then stop.
  
{{HasPrecis}}
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3. Raise your Periapsis altitude
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a. Look at your ApT (Time until apoapsis). when ApT=60, make sure you are facing prograde
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'''WARNING: THE PROGRADE BUTTON ACTIVATES AN AUTOPILOT. AUTOPILOTS CANNOT HANDLE TIME ACCELERATION ABOVE 10x. TURN OFF PROGRADE BY PRESSING PROGRD AGAIN BEFORE USING TIME ACCELERATION, THEN PRESS PROGRD A THIRD TIME TO ORIENT YOURSELF AT ApT=60.''
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b. when ApT=0, fire your main engine until your PeA (periapsis altitude) reads ~450k. then kill thrust.
  
[[Category: Articles]]
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Congratulations! you have performed your first orbital maneuver! Now you can take a well-earned break.
[[Category:Tutorials]]
 

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