Manual for TransX V3.

0 MFD
Author: Duncan Sharpe Date: June 2003 Copyright Duncan Sharpe 2003

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Table of Contents
1 Overview........................................................................................................................................... 2 2 Disclai er ! "icense........................................................................................................................ 2 3 #nstallation......................................................................................................................................... 3 3.1 "aunching the $%D................................................................................................................... 3 & 'asic Concepts.................................................................................................................................. 3 &.1 Stages......................................................................................................................................... 3 &.2 (iews......................................................................................................................................... 3 &.3 Plans...........................................................................................................................................3 &.& (aria)les.................................................................................................................................... & &.* +he re aining control ,eys....................................................................................................... & &.- +rans./s colour co0ing sche e................................................................................................. & * 'asic setup 1or a 1light.......................................................................................................................& *.1 +he +arget (aria)le................................................................................................................... & *.2 Creating a new stage.................................................................................................................. * - +a,ing o11 to $ars............................................................................................................................. * -.1 23ect plan varia)les....................................................................................................................* -.2 4sing the targeting echanis ................................................................................................. -.3 2scape plan varia)les.................................................................................................................-.& Other varia)les........................................................................................................................... 5 -.* +a,ing o11 an0 leaving 2arth )ehin0......................................................................................... 5 5 $anoevre o0e6 an0 course corrections........................................................................................... 7 7 Arriving at the planet......................................................................................................................... 8 8 Slingshots...........................................................................................................................................8 8.1 (aria)les 1or /Sling Direct/ plan. ...............................................................................................8 8.2 +he slingshot plan.................................................................................................................... 10 10+he views........................................................................................................................................10 10.12scape plan view.................................................................................................................... 10 10.2 23ect plan view...................................................................................................................... 11 10.3 2ncounter plan view.............................................................................................................. 11 10.& Slingshot plan view................................................................................................................12 10.* Sling Direct plan view........................................................................................................... 12 11 %A9............................................................................................................................................... 13 12 :e1erence....................................................................................................................................... 1& 12.1 (iew 2 varia)les.................................................................................................................... 1& 12.2 2rrata......................................................................................................................................1&

1 Overview
+he +rans. $%D is an a0vance0 navigation tool 1or $artin Schweiger/s Or)iter space 1light si ulator. #ts purpose is to ena)le you to plan an0 1ly co ple; trips across the solar syste . +he $%D is still un0er active 0evelop ent6 an0 new versions are release0 every 1ew onths. <ou can 1in0 these new versions an0 the anuals 1or the at http:==www.or)iter ars.co.u,=

2 Disclaimer & icense

+his $%D is 1ree so1tware. #ts operation is not guarantee0 to )e continuous or error 1ree. #t is 1or Page 2

recreational use only6 as an a00on to $artin Schweiger/s Or)iter. #t ay crash your co puter6 cause 0ata loss6 or cause other errors to occur. <O4 4S2 +>#S SO%+?A:2 2.C"4S#(2"< A+ <O4: O?@ :#SA. <ou ay not charge 1or this so1tware. <ou ay re0istri)ute it6 )ut you ay not charge any 1ee other than to cover 0istri)ution costs. Source co0e 1or the $%D is also availa)le at y we) site a)ove6 which is covere0 )y the license containe0 in it.

3 !nstallation
+o install this $%D6 copy the trans;.0ll 1ile into the installation. o0ules=plugins 0irectory o1 your Or)iter o0ule6 +o activate the $%D6 go to the / o0ules/ ta) on the Or)iter launchpa0. Select the +rans. an0 activate it.

3.1 aunc"in# t"e MFD

2ither select +rans. 1ro the Or)iter $%D enu6 or use Shi1tBJ to open it.

$ %asic Conce&ts
$.1 'ta#es
+he +rans. $%D 0ivi0es your 3ourney plan into a nu )er o1 stages. #nitially6 the $%D starts with only one stage6 which shows a graph o1 the )o0y you/re currently or)iting6 or are lan0e0 on. 'ut as you create your 1light plan6 you will create ore stages. A 1light 1ro 2arth to $ars6 1or e;a ple6 woul0 have three stages C one centre0 on 2arth6 a secon0 one centre0 on the Sun6 an0 a thir0 one centre0 on $ars. 2ach stage can )e a03uste0 al ost in0epen0ently o1 the others. >owever6 so e o1 the planning tools DplansE pass in1or ation )ac, an0 1orwar0 )etween stages C ostly )ecause that is what you/ll nee0. +he nu )er o1 stages6 an0 the nu )er o1 the stage you/re currently viewing is shown in the top right corner o1 the $%D. #nitially6 it will )e /1:1/ 6 as at 1irst you/re viewing the 1irst an0 only stage. <ou switch )etween stages6 Dan0 create a new stage where that/s allowe0E )y using the %?D an0 'CA )uttons DShi1tB%6 Shi1tB: on the ,ey)oar0E. 2ach stage has its own plan C on which ore later.

$.2 Views
2ach stage has three views. +he 1irst view isn/t o1ten use0 C the ain views are 2 an0 3. (iew 2 is a generic view o1 the stage6 whilst view 3 ay give 0i11erent in1or ation 0e1ine0 )y the currently selecte0 plan. D#1 there is no plan6 view 3 is unavaila)leE 2ach view o1 each stage has its own in0epen0ent set o1 varia)les which you can a03ust. <ou can switch )etween views using the (? )utton Dshi1tB?E.

$.3 (lans
2ach stage ay have a plan. +he $%D will nor ally auto atically select the correct plan 1or the situation you/re in. >owever6 it is possi)le to select a plan yoursel1 i1 necessary. 2ach plan has its own set o1 varia)les that allow you to a03ust it.+hese varia)les are always accesse0 1ro view 3 1or that stage. So e plans reFuire in1or ation 1ro the stage i e0iately )e1ore or a1ter the current stage6 an0 0o

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not actually co e into operation until that in1or ation is availa)le.

$.$ Variables
2ach view o1 each stage has its own set o1 varia)les. <ou can ove up an0 0own through the list using the (A: an0 B(: )uttons DShi1tBG an0 HE. <ou can change the value o1 a varia)le using the II an0 C )uttons Dshi1t J an0 BE. Depen0ing on the type o1 varia)le6 you can also a03ust the sensitivity o1 the II an0 BB ,eys using the ADJ an0 AJB )uttons DshBK an0 shBLE. #t is )y a03usting these varia)les that you/ll set up your 1light plan with +rans.. So e varia)les are hi00en at 1irst. +rans. will auto atically a03ust so e o1 these hi00en varia)les in or0er to a,e stan0ar0 1light plans easier to use. #t is always possi)le to turn this auto ation o11 i1 you nee0 to.

$.) T"e remainin# control *e+s

+here are two ore ,eys that # haven/t entione0. +he S? Dshi1tB.E ,ey switches the $%D into a o0e where the %?D6 'CA an0 (? ,eys only operate to select 0i11erent varia)le lists6 )ut the graph re ains unchange0. +his allows you to a03ust the varia)les 1ro one stage whilst viewing the graph 1ro a 0i11erent stage. <ou 0on/t nee0 to use this ,ey 1or ost things6 an0 it is pro)a)ly )est to ignore it until you/re 1airly 1a iliar with the $%D.. +he 1inal ,ey is >"P Dshi1tB>E which )rings up a s all a ount o1 help on the current varia)le an0 the current plan.

$., TransX-s colour co.in# sc"eme

+rans. uses 1our 0i11erent line styles on its graphs. Soli0 green is use0 1or two things. #n the 1irst stage6 +rans. uses soli0 green to 0enote your cra1t/s path. #n su)seFuent stages6 soli0 green stan0s 1or the tra3ectory passe0 on 1ro the previous stage. +his green or)it is ,nown as the %ocus or)it. "ight green is use0 1or the or)its o1 planets. <ellow is use0 1or any plan or anoevre that you are setting up in the current stage. Mrey is use0 1or the circle 0epicting the sur1ace o1 a planet6 or 1or a line 0epicting the place in which two or)ital planes intersect.

) %asic setu& for a fli#"t

).1 T"e Tar#et Variable
+he 1irst varia)le in view 2 is always /Select +arget/. +he target varia)le allows you to select your 0estination. (ery o1ten6 this will not )e your 1inal 0estination6 )ut 3ust the ne;t step in your 3ourney. #1 you have set a target6 you/ll then )e a)le to use the %?D ,ey to create a new stage6 which will show a graph o1 your onwar0 3ourney 1ro that o)3ect/s point o1 view. One option is to choose /2scape/. +his tells +rans. that you wish to leave the sphere o1 in1luence o1 the current central )o0y altogether. +he new stage will there1ore loo, at the )ig picture surroun0ing your current planet. #1 you escape 1ro 2arth6 the ne;t stage will have the Sun as the central )o0y. #1 you escape 1ro the $oon6 the ne;t stage will have 2arth as the central )o0y. +he central )o0y in these cases is always the )ig o)3ect that your current planet= oon is or)iting. +he other option is to choose a target o)3ect 1ro the list. +he list gives every planet = oon that or)its the current central )o0y. So6 i1 your current central )o0y is 2arth6 the $oon will )e the only Page &

option o1 this type. #1 you/re or)iting the Sun6 you/ll have a list o1 planets Dalong with any asteroi0s you ay have a00e0E. +he o)3ects are all in or0er o1 ass C heaviest 1irst. oons6 +rans. wor,s per1ectly with a00on solar syste s C i1 you install a00itional planets or +rans. will inclu0e the in its lists.

).2 Creatin# a new sta#e

Once you have set the +arget varia)le to 2scape or a +arget6 press the %?D Dshi1tB%E ,ey6 an0 +rans. will create a new stage with the new )o0y at its centre. %or ost trips6 you will want to create several stages. +o go 1ro 3 stages. Stage 1 C 2arth at centre. +arget is 2scape. Stage 2 C Sun at centre. +arget is $ars. Stage 3 C $ars at centre. +his will show you your or)it as you approach. 2arth to $ars6 you/ll nor ally use

, Ta*in# off to Mars

#n this section6 we/ll )e creating a typical 1light plan to $ars6 to illustrate how to use +rans. 1or 1lights li,e this one. <ou can use the 0e1ault /Cape Canaverel/ scenario to 0o this. Once you/ve rea0 through this section6 you shoul0 )e rea0y to un0erstan0 what the $%D is 0oing6 an0 to use it 1or si pler interplanetary trips. +he 1irst step is to set up the stages that you nee0. +o set up the 1irst part o1 the 1light6 you only nee0 two stages. +he 1irst stage you nee0 is one that is centre0 on 2arth. +rans. will create this 1or you auto atically when you start up the $%D in a ship near the 2arth. +he secon0 stage you nee0 is a SunBcentre0 one. +o create this.
C C C

Set the target varia)le to /2scape/ to tell +rans. that you wish to escape 1ro Press %?D DshB%E. +rans. will create a new stage with the Sun at the centre. #n this secon0 stage6 set the target varia)le to /$ars/.

2arth/s gravity.

At the sa e ti e6 i1 you have Autoplan selecte06 +rans. will also create the plans that you nee0 1or this type o1 anoevre. +he plan 1or the 2arthBcentre0 stage is set to /2scape/ whilst that 1or the SunB centre0 stage is set to /23ect/. +hese plans are 0esigne0 to wor, together with each other.

,.1 /0ect &lan variables

+he secon0 stage plan is the )est place to start. Select the secon0 stage6 an0 the thir0 view6 to )ring up the varia)les that you nee0 to a03ust. #n this view6 2arth is ,nown as the $inor )o0y C it is shown )y the la)el /$#@:/ in the +rans. win0ow. +here are & varia)les in this plan that allow you to a03ust how you plan to leave 2arth )ehin0.
C

Progra0e vel. +his a03usts your planne0 spee0 away 1ro 2arth in the 0irection o1 2arth/s current ove ent. +his varia)le is the ost e11icient way o1 increasing Dor 0ecreasingE the siNe o1 your or)it. Positive values raise your planne0 or)it towar0s the outer planets6 whilst negative values lower it towar0s the inner planets. 23ect Date. +his is the 0ay Dan0 the ti eE when you plan to leave 2arth. D+o )e precise6 it/s the ti e when you plan to cross the periapsis o1 your hyper)olic escape or)it 1ro 2arthE. +rips to Page *

other planets are uch easier to achieve at so e ti es than at others. +he easier ti es are calle0 /launch win0ows/. A03usting this 0ate will allow you to 1in0 a launch win0ow6 an0 re1ine it.
C

Outwar0 vel. +his a03usts the co ponent o1 your velocity that/s generally outwar0 Daway 1ro the central )o0yE. +he ain use o1 this vector is to a03ust your ta,eo11 within a launch win0ow. %or $ars6 a00itional outwar0 velocity allows a later ta,eo116 whilst inwar0 velocity allows an0 earlier one. D%or inner planets6 this is reverse0E +his vector is at 80/ to the progra0e vector6 an0 is also in the or)ital plane o1 the inor )o0y. #1 you want the ost e11icient path6 you can nor ally 3ust use the e3ect 0ate6 an0 leave this varia)le alone. Ch. plane vel. DChange plane velocityE. +his allows you to a03ust the out o1 plane portion o1 your velocity. Di11erent planets or)it in slightly 0i11erent planes6 so you can use this to )uil0 an or)ital plane a03ust ent into your 1light plan.

,.2 1sin# t"e tar#etin# mec"anism

+his aspect o1 the $%D hasn/t change0 1ro the previous version. +he ,ey para eter to watch is OCl. AppP which is closest approach. +his is 0escri)e0 in etres. A is ,ilo etres6 $ is $ega etres Dthousan0s o1 ,ilo etresE M is Miga etres D illions o1 Ailo etresE an0 + is +era etres D)illions o1 ,ilo etresE. At this stage6 a goo0 approach to $ars will )e 1 illion ,ilo etres or less D1M or lessE <ou can see roughly what you nee0 to 0o 1ro the targeting lines. +here are three straight yellow lines an0 one grey line which are controlle0 )y the targeting syste . One line shows the position o1 the $inor )o0y when you leave it. +he other two yellow lines show the closest approach )etween your pro3ecte0 path an0 that o1 the target. +he grey line shows where the pro3ecte0 or)ital plane o1 your cra1t will cross that o1 the planet. ?hen you are on target6 all three lines will coinci0e. +he )est process o1 achieving this is as 1ollows.
C

#ncrease Dor 0ecrease i1 reF0E progra0e velocity until your planne0 or)it 3ust crosses that o1 the target. 4se the e3ect 0ate to ove the ta,eo11 ti e until the two yellow lines coinci0e. 4se the Ch. Plane vel to a03ust the grey inclincation line.

C C

+hen use all the varia)les to re0uce the closest approach 0istance until you/re happy. ?hen you/re 1inishe06 +rans. shoul0 loo, so ething li,e this.

,.3 /sca&e &lan variables

A1ter you have 1inishe0 this6 you can go )ac, to the 1irst stage D'CA6 shB:E an0 a03ust the varia)les o1 the escape plan in view 3. <ou will see6 straight away6 a yellow hypothetical or)it which +rans. has calculate0 using the 0e1ault values6 an0 a grey line showing the intersection o1 your current or)it with the calculate0 one. D#1 you/re lan0e06 this 0oesn/t have an i e0iate useQE +his or)it is the trac, you plan to 1ollow to escape 1ro 2arth in the 0irection you set in stage 2. #t has three varia)les Page -

Periapsis 0istance. #1 you/re ta,ing o116 the )est place to put this is right a)ove the sur1ace. "ower it slightly6 so that it/s clear o1 the at osphere6 )ut a little lower than )e1ore. 23 Orientation. +his varia)le allows you to rotate your planne0 or)it aroun0 the e3ect vector that you planne0 in stage 2. 2Fuatorial view. +his varia)le allows you to choose to view the or)it 1ro the eFuatorial plane o1 the current central planet. At present6 this view only wor,s i1 the central planet is also the current sur1ace re1erence Das 0eci0e0 )y Or)iterE. #t always wor,s in low or)it6 or whilst lan0e0. +his view can )e help1ul in ai0ing you to ta,e o11 at the right ti e.

2very hypothetical or)it set up using these varia)les will sen0 you o11 in the right 0irection 1or $ars.

,.$ Ot"er variables

+here are also varia)les in view 2. +hese are ostly use0 1or controlling the stage as a whole. +his is not an e;haustive list C see re aing varia)les in section 10.
C

+arget C <ou/ve seen this one alrea0y. <ou use this to set your target6 an0 the way in which you/ll leave this stage 1or the ne;t one. Autoplan C +his is on )y 0e1ault6 an0 shoul0 )e le1t that way until you/ve a0e a 1ew 1lights. ?hen autoplan is on6 +rans. will auto atically select a suita)le plan 1or the stage6 )ase0 on the target an0 any previous stages. Plans ay have their own varia)les6 an0 their own graphs an0 te;t6 an0 these can )e seen in view 3 o1 any stage. $anoevre o0e C +his is a tool to allow you to 0e1ine a course correction larger anoevre on occasionE. %or now6 leave this switche0 o11. anoevre Dor even a

#ntercept with C +his controls which or)it interacts with the targeting syste 6 an0 also which or)it is /passe0 on/ to the ne;t stage. Auto wor,s ost o1 the ti e6 )ut you can anually set it to either the 1ocus or)it Dyour cra1t6 or the or)it passe0 1ro the previous stageE6 the or)it in anoevre o0e6 or the plan/s or)it. Mraph pro3ection C +his allows you to change the position 1ro which you see the graphs. Scale to view C Set to +arget i1 your view o1 the target or)it is too s all. A0vance0 C +his gives 1ull access to all +rans. varia)les. "eave o11 1or now to avoi0 con1usion.

C C C

,.) Ta*in# off an. leavin# /art" be"in..

+he escape plan/s view 3 contains a 1ew things to help you with ta,ing o11 at the right ti e an0 in the right 0irection. +he grey line shows where your planne0 or)it/s plane crosses your current /or)it/. ?hen this line is close to your actual position6 it/s a goo0 ti e to ta,e o11. ?hen you/re on the groun06 view 3 also shows the hea0ing on which to ta,e o11. $a,e a note o1 it. Once you ta,e o116 +rans. instea0 shows the relative inclination )etween your cra1t an0 your planne0 or)it. <ou shoul0 use these gui0elines to ta,e o11 0irectly into al ost the correct or)ital plane. ?hen you reach a circular par,ing or)it in the sa e plane as your planne0 or)it6 shut 0own the engines. <ou ay wish to clean up the align ent co pletely once you reach or)it. <ou then nee0 to a,e a 1urther progra0e )urn later to ta,e you 0irectly into the hyper)olic or)it that you/ve planne0. +rans. provi0es so e angles an0 ti ings to a,e this tas, easier6 )ut 0oes not co pute it 0irectly6 as the e;act ti e to )urn 0epen0s on the type o1 ship you are using. +here are a nu )er o1 options. Page 5

1. %igure out how long it will ta,e to a,e the whole )urn6 an0 0ivi0e this nu )er )y 3. +his gives a rough esti ate o1 how any secon0s )e1ore periapsis you shoul0 open the throttle. 2. %or a ore accurate etho06 save the ga e at a point sa1ely )e1ore the point the )urn shoul0 )e a0e. +hen open the throttle a given nu )er o1 0egrees )e1ore periapsis. A1ter the )urn is co plete6 you will )e a)le to see the relative 0i11erence )etween the se iB a3or a;es o1 your actual tra3ectory6 an0 that you originally planne0. Mo )ac, to your save0 ga e6 an0 use this ,nowle0ge to open the throttle that either earlier or later )y that any 0egrees. <ou shoul0 hit the reFuire0 tra3ectory e;actly. 3. <ou can always use the /'uc, :ogers/ techniFue o1 3ust guessingQ :e e )er you can always save your ga e )e1ore you a,e this )urn. +he Delta( line will help you gauge when to shut o11 the engines C it will count 0own to Nero as you ove to the reFuire0 or)it. Alternatively you can watch the graph 1or stage 2. 2ither way6 shut 0own the engines when you/re happy with the )urn. %or planet to planet trans1ers6 the ti ing o1 your e;it is not too critical C i1 you/re within a 0ay o1 your planne0 ti e6 things will )e OA. D+his ay )e less true in other6 ore cra pe0 situations6 such as Jupiter/s oonsE. Coast away 1ro 2arth 1or a while. <ou will pass )eyon0 the or)it o1 the oon C 1urther an0 1urther 1ro 2arth. 2ventually6 +rans. will react to your increasing 0istance 1ro 2arth )y 0eclaring stage 1 o1 your 3ourney co plete06 an0 will auto atically 0elete it. +here will now )e only a single stage again C this ti e aroun0 the Sun.

2 Manoevre mo.e3 an. course corrections

#1 you/re anything li,e e6 your 1lying isn/t per1ect6 an0 course corrections are so eti es reFuire0 )ecause o1 that. +rans. also 0oes not ta,e into account the in1luence o1 every single )o0y in the solar syste 6 so the su)tle in1luences o1 0istant planets will also change your course Dan0 that o1 your target planetE over ti e. So6 every now an0 then6 there/s a nee0 to correct your tra3ectory. %or s all corrections6 it/s pretty easy 3ust to use anoevreing thrusters6 an0 )y trial an0 error6 1in0 the course correction you want. >owever6 1or larger corrections6 this )eco es waste1ul. +his is where the $anoevre Switch anoevre o0e co es in use1ul. anoevre o0e varia)le. o0e on using the

<ou then have 1our varia)les DProgra0e vel6 Outwar0 vel6 Ch plane vel an0 $an. 0ateE to use to correct your course. +hese wor, in a si ilar way to the varia)les in the 23ect o0e6 only they are )ase0 on your current or)it rather than on the or)it o1 a planet. <ou can then use the as a gui0e. anoevre to re1ine your tra3ectory towar0s the target6 using the Cl. App. line

D#t is also possi)le to create 1urther stages6 an0 view the 6 whilst a03usting the varia)les 1or this anoevre. +o 0o this6 select the stage you want to view6 then press S?DshB.E. +he view will then re ain static6 whilst you are still a)le to select varia)les. +his can )e use1ul i1 you are in0irectly a03usting so ething li,e a slingshot tra3ectory.E Once you/re happy with the anoevre6 change the view to view 16 which is a special view 1or the anoevre o0e. <ou will see a target an0 so e crosshairs. $ove the crosshairs to the centre o1 the target6 an0 your ship will )e pointing in the right 0irection 1or the anoevre. %ire the engines progra0e until the re aining velocity is near Nero. #t is also possi)le to use the anoevre o0e to create large changes to your or)it. +his is also use1ul Page 7

in certain situations. #n particular6 it is the stan0ar0 way o1 creating a trans1er or)it 1ro low 2arth or)it to the oon. @ote that 1or large anoevres in tight or)its6 such as low 2arth or)it6 using view 1 ay not wor, as well as 3ust eye)alling the )urn using view 2. <ou can o1 course 0o either6 as you wish.

4 5rrivin# at t"e &lanet

+o tune your arrival tra3ectory at the target planet6 the )est way is to create a new stage at the target. Since the target is alrea0y set as $ars6 si ply ove %?D to create the a00itional stage. +he graph accounts6 )y 0e1ault6 1or the gravity o1 )oth the central o)3ect an0 the o)3ect it or)its aroun0. #t is 3ust as accurate as the 2ncounter $%D. Switch to view 3 1or 1urther in1or ation a)out your 2ncounter6 which is availa)le on the autoB selecte0 2ncounter view. +here you can see any sur1ace )ase that you/ve selecte0 using the $ap $%D6 an0 get in1or ation on how close your current tra3ectory co es to it. D@ote that planetary spin is not currently ta,en into account6 as Or)iter lac,s any 1unction to return this in1or ation.E <ou can tune your tra3ectory whilst viewing this graph to ena)le you to ai planet 1or a speci1ic altitu0e an0 inclination. your pass over the

6 'lin#s"ots
Please note that slingshot tra3ectories are ore 0i11icult to 1ly than stan0ar0 planet to planet trans1ers. <our 1irst interplanetary trip shoul0 pro)a)ly consist o1 a si ple 2arth to $ars or 2arth to (enus scenario. >owever6 i1 you/re loo,ing 1or a new Or)iter challenge6 a gravity assist ay )e 3ust what you/re loo,ing 1or. +o set up a slingshot Dgravity assistE tra3ectory past a planet such as Jupiter6 procee0 as 1ollows.
C C

Set Jupiter as a target. $ove %?D to create the stage. #n the new stage6 set /2scape/ as the target. $ove %?D to create the stage.

+his process creates the reFuire0 stages. #1 autoplan is on6 it also creates two new plans C /Slingshot/ in Jupiter/s stage6 an0 /Sling Direct/ in the 1ollowing stage. Switch to view 3 in the 1inal stage to see the 1irst set o1 varia)les.

6.1 Variables for -'lin# Direct- &lan.

+he process o1 ai ing a slingshot is conceptually si ilar to that o1 e3ecting 1ro a planet in the 1irst place. +he ain 0i11erence is that6 )ecause it/s a slingshot6 you ay not want to change your velocity as you pass the planet. +he ai ing process is there1ore 0one using polar coor0inates. +he 0e1ault is that the slingshot is ai e0 in a purely progra0e 0irection. #n any cases6 a planne0 slingshot can/t )e 0one in practice )ecause the planet you/re passing isn/t )ig enough to turn your or)it as reFuire0. 'ecause o1 this6 the ratio o1 your reFuire0 closest approacho1 the or)it nee0e0 against the planet/s ra0ius is shown in view 3 o1 this graph. #1 this 1igure is less than 16 your propose0 slingshot isn/t actually possi)le in practice )ecause the planet you/re passing isn/t an enough to turn your tra3ectory as uch as you/re as,ing it to. +he varia)les 1or the sling 0irect plan are as 1ollows.
C

Outwar0 angle. As this is increase06 it 0irects the 0irection o1 the slingshot outwar06 rather than along the progra0e vector as it 0oes at 0. Setting this to 170/ points the slingshot in a retrogra0e 0irection.@egative values o1 the angle correspon0 to an inwar0 0irection. #nc. angle. +his is the angle out o1 the or)ital plane that you wish to 0epart the target planet. Page 8

#nherit vel. Selects whether velocity is to )e inherite0 1ro varia)le. De1ault is that it shoul0 )e inherite0.

the previous stage6 or set using a

(elocity. Set the 0eparture velocity 1ro the planet. #1 you set a 0eparture velocity6 +rans. will assu e that you inten0 to a00 e;tra velocity where it/s ost e11icient to 0o so C at the periapsis o1 your pass o1 the slingshot planet. the planet is not currently a03usta)le6 an0 is the ti e at which

+he ti e at which you 0epart 1ro you reach closest approach.

A03ust these varia)les until you/re happy with the result.

6.2 T"e slin#s"ot &lan

@early everything a)out a slingshot is 0e1ine0 )y the stages on either si0e o1 it. As a conseFuence6 there is only one varia)le in this plan6 an0 this a03usts how you view the or)it. #1 the e;it spee0 o1 the slingshot is 0i11erent 1ro the entry spee06 +rans. assu es that you a,e the alteration at Periapsis6 where it is ost e11icient to 0o it6 )y either progra0e or retrogra0e thrust. +he only varia)le allows you to select whether you view the calculate0 graph 1or the inwar0 or the outwar0 planne0 path. (iew 3 is DunusuallyE Fuite 0i11erent 1ro view 2. #t shows two lines C the yellow line is the location o1 the periapsis o1 your planne0 path6 whilst the green line is the periapsis o1 the 1ocus or)itDyour cra1t6 or whatever you passe0 on 1ro the previous stageE. Align the two lines to set up the approach to the slingshot accurately. +he )est ti e to set up a slingshot is when you are still a long way 1ro the planet. As you get closer to the planet6 the esti ate0 slingshot wan0ers less an0 less6 )ut large a03ust ents ta,e ore an0 ore 1uel. +he i0eal etho0 is there1ore a succession o1 a03ust ent anoevres as you get closer to the planet. %or Jupiter in particular6 a slingshot can )e aligne0 even when you/re several A4 1ro the planet. 'y the ti e you enter Jupiter/s sphere o1 in1luence6 it is generally too late to a03ust uch o1 anything without enor ous wasteage.

10T"e views
10.1/sca&e &lan view
+his view shows in1or ation 0esigne0 to help you get into space6 an0 on your way. +he )rown or)it is the hyper)olic or)it you nee0 to 1ollow in or0er to escape 1ro 2arth in the planne0 0irection. $ost para eters 0e1ining this or)it are set in the 1ollowing stage. $a36 :a06 B +his is the ra0ius o1 the a3or )o0y. +he a3or )o0y is the sa e thing as the central )o0y. #n the graph opposite6 this is the 2arth. %ocus PeD an0 %ocus ApD. +hese are the periapsis an0 apoapsis o1 the 1ocus or)it. #n nearly all cases6 this will actually )e the or)it o1 your cra1t. ?hilst ta,ing o116 PeD will gra0ually rise 1ro 0eep insi0e the planet. Once PeD is greater than the $a3or Page 10

:a0ius Dan0 perhaps a )it

ore to allow 1or the at osphereE then you are in or)it.

Pe $JD is the ti e when you will ne;t reach the periapsis o1 your current or)it Dnot o1 the planE. +his isn/t use1ul 1or ost escapes6 )ut it can )e use1ul i1 you/re trying to target a trip to the central )o0y. :.#nc. +his is the 0i11erence in relative inclination )etween your planne0 escape or)it an0 your 1ocus or)it. Delta ( +his is the re aining velocity you nee0 to gain in or0er to escape at the velocity reFuire0. D@ote that this is purely an energy calculation C it 0oes not chec, that your energy is in the reFuire0 0irectionQE + to Pe: +he nu )er o1 secon0s until your closest approach to the plan/s P2. +his ay help you to 3u0ge when to apply power C typically aroun0 1=3r0 o1 the total )urn ti e reFuire0 shoul0 )e )e1ore Pe. Ang. +o Pe: +he angle )etween your current position an0 the plan/s periapsis.

10.2 /0ect &lan view

+his plan is typically use0 1or setting up a 0eparture 1ro a starting planet. +his starting planet is shown on the graph as the $inor planet D$#@E. +he other 1igures on the graph are Cl. App C Closest approach. +his is a rough esti ate o1 the closest approach that your planne0 tra3ectory will a,e to the target. +his 1igure 0oes not ta,e account o1 the target/s gravity6 which typically will pull the cra1t in6 an0 a,e the actual approach closer than this. #n or0er 1or the chain o1 tra3ectories 1ro one stage to the ne;t to )e co plete6 you shoul0 ai to get your tra3ectory insi0e the sphere o1 in1luence o1 the target planet or oon. +he siNe o1 this varies 0ra atically 0epen0ing on the situation6 )ut 1or ost planets is at least 700$6 an0 1or the outer planets is uch ore. A03ust your tra3ectory to lower this 0istance to get a )etter Fuality approach. 'ut 1or accurate 1igures o1 how your tra3ectory loo,s at the target6 ove into the ne;t stage. 2nc (: +his is the velocity 0i11erence )etween the target an0 the cra1t at closest approach. +his 1igure again 0oesn/t ta,e the target/s gravity into account C which can a,e a )ig 0i11erence. +ypically this 2nc $JD: +his is the ti e o1 intercept. +his also 0oesn/t ta,e the target/s gravity into account6 )ut is usually pretty close to the truth +he targeting syste creates the two yellow lines an0 the grey line. +he two yellow lines show the closest approach C these shoul0 )e a03uste0 so that they are on top o1 each other. +he grey line shows where the or)ital planes cross. %or a per1ect intercept6 all the lines shoul0 coinci0e.

10.3 /ncounter &lan view

+his view gives a )it o1 a00itional in1or ation on your or)it as you approach a planet.

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+he yellow line shows the location o1 any sur1ace )ase you/ve selecte0 using the $ap $%D. $in Alt: gives the sur1ace. ini u altitu0e a)ove the planet/s

Pe (el: gives the velocity at periapsis. Capture Delta gives the a ount o1 velocity 0ecrease nee0e0 to turn the or)it into an ellipse. O11plane 0ist: +his is the 0istance that the sur1ace )ase is away 1ro the or)ital plane. #nclination an0 "A@ C these are stan0ar0 or)ital para eters6 as given as #nc an0 "A@ on the Or)it $%D. #1 the or)it actually intercepts the planet6 the ini u altitu0e 1igure is replace0 with O".site to 'aseP an esti ate o1 the 0istance )etween the lan0ing site an0 the )ase. +his esti ate is )ase0 on your current or)it.

10.$ 'lin#s"ot &lan view

+he slingshot view is 0esigne0 to help you line up a slingshot past a planet. +his one shows a slingshot # set up past Jupiter. <ou line up a slingshot using a course correction C usually whilst still in the in1luence o1 the stage )e1ore. As you can see6 this one is the secon0 stage out o1 1our6 an0 at this ti e the cra1t is still several A4 1ro the planet. +o line up a slingshot6 you nee0 to align the green an0 )rown lines Dhere they are very closeE. +he two lines are the periapsis o1 your actual DgreenE an0 reFuire0 D)rownE or)its. :. #nc shows the relative inclination o1 the two or)its. Pe :atio is the ratio o1 the lengths o1 the two periapsis lines. +o set up a slingshot6 :. #nc shoul0 )e near to 06 an0 Pe :atio shoul0 )e close to 1. +i e to Pe gives the ti e in secon0s until you are 0ue to arrive at Periapsis.

10.) 'lin# Direct &lan view

+his plan is auto atically starte0 1ollowing a slingshot anoevre. #n this case6 there is a slingshot planne0 at Jupiter in stage 26 an0 this plan gives the onwar0 leg to Saturn.

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+here are two signi1icant 0i11erences C one is that ra0ial coor0inates are use0 to 0e1ine the path on 1ro the planet. +he other is an e;tra line C Pe=Pl :a0: +his gives the ratio )etween your Pe at your slingshot planet.an0 the ra0ius o1 that planet. #1 this nu )er is less than 16 then the slingshot is too tight B the planet is too s all to )e a)le to turn your tra3ectory that 1ar. +he tra3ectory Dan0 velocityE set in this plan will )e re1lecte0 in the previous slingshot stage.

11 F57
Q: How do I use TransX to go to the moon? A: +he )est etho0 at the o ent is to ta,e o11 into a coplanar low earth or)it using stan0ar0 or)iter instru ents. +hen use the anoevre tool to create a long ellipse out to the oon6 )y using a progra0e )urn at the right ti e. +he ti e is (2:< sensitive with this a03usting the ti e o1 the )urn. #/0 reco en0 not using view 1 1or the $%D to help you eye)all the )urn. Q: How do I get to the inner planets? A: Set a negative progra0e velocity in the 23ect plan in the secon0 stage. Q: How do I get back from the moon? A: +hat 0epen0s on your situation. #1 you/re in a stan0ar0 cra1t sitting on the sur1ace6 si ply set a target o1 2scape6 an0 use the 23ect an0 2scape planning tools to set up a return or)it to 2arth. Set no target in stage 2. #1 you/re in Apollo6 use the anoevre tool to set up a )urn 1ro the co an0 o0ule/s or)it in stage 1 rather than using the e3ect plan in stage 2. +urn ti e sensitivity 0own6 an0 care1ully change the ti e o1 the )urn an0 the siNe o1 it until you have a suita)le 2arth return or)it. +arget in stage 1 shoul0 )e /2scape/. Q: How do I set up a whole set of complex slingshots like the Voyager mission? A: +i ing is everything. Arrive at a planet at the wrong ti e6 an0 there coul0 )e nowhere you can use1ully get to with a slingshot Q +here1ore plan these things )e1ore you even ta,e o11. A (oyager scenario can )e planne0 )e1ore you ta,e o11 C even though it consists o1 Fuite a 1ew stages Q Q: I want to set up some complex slingshots in the inner solar system but it!s too hard" #hy? A: #t is genuinely very 0i11icult to 0o this6 an0 this version o1 +rans. 0oesn/t have a 1ull set o1 tools 1or this 3o). $ost real tra3ectories in the inner solar syste involve repeate0 encounters with the sa e planet6 interesting 0eep space propulsive anoevres6 an0 resonant or)its with planets involving 1ractional resonances Deg & target or)its to 3 spacecra1t or)itsE. <ou ay )e a)le to 0o a PioneerBstyle slingshot past (enus to $ercury6 though. anoevre. +urn the sensitivity up to at least /Super/ )e1ore anoevre in this case. #nstea06 use so ething li,e the or)it

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12 8eference
12.1 View 2 variables
>ere are the re aining varia)les 1or view 2 not covere0 elsewhere.
C

Plan type. +his varia)le is only availa)le in a0vance0 o0e. #t allows you to choose the type o1 plan you wish to put in place. @or ally this is auto atically selecte0. +his varia)le allows you to select it yoursel1. Plan. +he options here 0epen0 on the plan type. All the possi)le plans are 23ect6 Sling Direct6 2scape6 2ncounter an0 Slingshot. %urther plans will )e 0evelope0 over ti e. <ou will see so e plan options i1 autoplan is switche0 o11. +o put a new plan into action6 si ply change the view o0e to 36 an0 +rans. will create the new plan. Select inor. +his allows you to select the o0e only. inor )o0y. @or ally this is autoselecte0. A0vance0

12.2 /rrata
#1 you change the target o1 a stage when there are alrea0y stages 1ollowing it6 any atte pt to go 1orwar0 into those stages will 0elete the . One new stage with the correct target will then )e create0. A a;i u o1 88 stages are per itte0 at any one ti e.

Copyright Duncan Sharpe 2003

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