0 CAMERA SET Ground:GL-01:30.00:Earth -80.68282 28.59708 1.64 -0.65 -0.01
0 NOTECOL 1 0.6 0.2
0 NOTESIZE 1.1
0 NOTEPOS 0.02 0.1 0.4 0.9
1 NOTE Fly me to the Moon! This flight recreates a complete lunar transfer with the Delta-glider from takeoff at the Kennedy Space Center to touchdown at Landing pad 1 of Brighton Beach Spaceport on the Moon.
15 CAMERA SET Track:GL-01:30.00:RELATIVE 27.134 -0.002 -0.214
15 NOTE The entire flight is replayed for you and doesn't require manual control, but the various manouvers will be explained along the way, together with the operation of the essential flight instruments.
30 CAMERA SET Track:GL-01:30.00:RELATIVE 921.563 -0.002 -1.597
30 NOTE Total flight time will be 3 days, 9 hours and 42 minutes. If you haven't got that much time, you can accelerate the simulation speed during the cruising phases of the flight.
45 CAMERA SET Track:GL-01:10.00:RELATIVE 522.499 0.613 -0.034
45 NOTE Or simply make sure that the "Play at recording speed" option is enabled in the recorder dialog (Ctrl-F5). At recording speed, this tutorial will take about one hour.
60 CAMERA SET Cockpit:GL-01:50.00
60 NOTEPOS 0.02 0.2 0.4 0.9
60 NOTE The MFD instruments will play an important role during all phases of the flight. The camera is therefore set to "glass cockpit" view with the two onscreen MFDs projected onto the head-up display. If you prefer the panel or virtual cockpit views, you can select them by pressing F8.
85 NOTE The glider is fully fuelled and ready for takeoff at KSC SLF Runway 33, waiting for its launch window.
95 NOTEPOS 0.65 0.2 0.96 0.9
95 NOTE We want to launch into the orbital plane of the Moon to minimise the need for expensive plane changes later on.
105 NOTE Look at the map on the right MFD display. The green cross over Florida labelled 'GL-01' represents your current position. The green curve represents the projection of your orbital plane onto the surface, the yellow curve that of the Moon.
120 NOTE The Moon's plane of orbit slowly moves across the map display because the Earth is rotating under it. As soon as it approaches your current location, you will take off.
135 NOTE Because the northern latitude of your location is slightly higher than the inclination of the Moon's orbit, the optimal launch time is the instant when the northernmost point of the Moon's orbit plane is just south of Florida (launching due east).
150 NOTE For launch sites closer to the equator, it is best to launch when the Moon's orbit plane crosses the site. Launch heading is then North-east or South-east, to match the orbital plane.
165 NOTEPOS 0.02 0.2 0.4 0.9
165 NOTE Fast-forwarding to launch window...
165 TACC 500.000000 1.000000
5000 NOTEPOS 0.65 0.2 0.96 0.9
5000 NOTE Earth is rotating east with respect to the Moon's orbital plane and the two orbit lines are moving towards alignment in the map display. The 'RInc' indicator in the left MFD display is counting down ...
14415 TACC 1.000000 1.000000
14635 NOTE The Moon's orbital plane has now reached its optimum alignment with your position, and the relative inclination is at minimum (the 'Rate' readout in the left MFD display shows zero). Now is the time to launch.
14650 NOTEPOS 0.02 0.2 0.4 0.9
14650 NOTE Ready for takeoff - main engines powering up to maximum thrust.
14655 CAMERA SET Ground:GL-01:30.00:Earth -80.69235 28.61085 6.51
14663 NOTE Rotate.
14670 NOTE Gear up.
14683 CAMERA SET Track:GL-01:40.00:GLOBAL 11.092 -2.831 1.355
14683 NOTE Turning east for ascent to orbit, matching the Moon's orbit inclination.
14698 CAMERA SET Cockpit:GL-01:50.00
14698 NOTE The plane alignment MFD provides a rough guide for the correct ascent heading. Try to keep the relative inclination between your and the Moon's orbit at a minimum (indicated by the 'RInc' readout).
14713 NOTE Initial climb rate is 30° to leave the denser part of the atmosphere quickly. You can use the trim control to adjust the pitch angle.
14728 NOTE By a happy coincidence, you get a glimpse of your final destination - the Moon - directly ahead in the centre of the screen.
14738 CAMERA SET Track:GL-01:10.00:RELATIVE 76.158 0.044 -0.021
14748 CAMERA SET Cockpit:GL-01:50.00
14748 NOTE During ascent, the pitch angle can be adjusted with trim or manual elevator controls. From the initial 30°, it should slowly turn towards the horizontal.
14763 NOTE We are aiming to reach orbital velocity and a horizontal flight path vector at an initial altitude of about 60km.
14778 NOTE As you leave the denser parts of the atmosphere behind, the spaceplane no longer generates enough lift to maintain the initial pitch angle. The flight path marker (the circle with a cross) will start to move down, indicating that the ascent slope is decreasing.
14793 NOTEPOS 0.65 0.2 0.96 0.9
14793 NOTE Now is a good time to switch to Orbit MFD mode to see how the orbital ascent is progressing.
14808 NOTE On the right MFD, click 'SEL', 'Orbit'. Then click 'PRJ' to select your current orbit as the projection plane, and 'DST' to switch to altitude readout mode.
14828 NOTE You have reached orbit when the green ellipse (representing your orbital trajectory) rises above the grey circle (representing the surface of the Earth), and the periapsis altitude readout (PeA, the lowest point of the orbit) is positive and sufficiently high above the denser part of the atmosphere.
14848 NOTEPOS 0.02 0.2 0.4 0.9
14848 NOTE Fast-forwarding to orbit insertion ...
14848 TACC 10.000000 1.000000
15200 NOTEPOS 0.65 0.2 0.96 0.9
15200 NOTE (By the way, the bright object left of centre on your screen is Saturn. You can display labels for celestial objects by pressing F9).
15300 TACC 1.000000 1.000000
15309 NOTEPOS 0.02 0.2 0.4 0.9
15309 NOTE Main engine cut-off (MECO).
15325 NOTE Because we have left the denser layers of the atmosphere behind us, attitude control is switched from the now ineffective aerodynamic control surfaces to the reaction control system.
15340 NOTEPOS 0.65 0.2 0.96 0.9
15340 NOTE The current orbit has a very low perigee altitude (PeA). To stabilise it, we will have to perform a circularisation burn at the next apogee passage.
15355 NOTEPOS 0.02 0.2 0.4 0.9
15355 NOTE The first manoever will however be a plane alignment with the Moon's orbital plane. This will be performed at the next node passage.
15370 NOTEPOS 0.65 0.2 0.96 0.9
15370 NOTE You should now switch the HUD display from 'Surface' to 'Orbit' mode. Orbit mode is more useful for orbital and interplanetary operations. It displays a pitch ladder and direction tape relative to the orbital plane, while the Surface HUD indicators are relative to the local horizon.
15390 NOTE The easiest way to select the Orbit HUD is by clicking the 'HUD' button on the Orbit MFD. Using this method also copies the orbit reference body (Earth in this case) to the HUD.
15405 NOTEPOS 0.02 0.2 0.4 0.9
15405 NOTE Fast-forwarding to node passage ...
15405 TACC 30.000000 1.000000
15965 TACC 1.000000 1.000000
15985 NOTE You are now approaching the intersection (node) with the Moon's orbital plane ('DN' marker in the Align Plane MFD display).
16000 NOTE This is the point where the plane alignment maneuver takes place to match your orbital plane with that of the Moon.
16015 NOTE This burn adds a velocity difference ('Delta-V') perpendicular to your orbital plane, so we need to rotate the spacecraft.
16030 NOTE Activating the 'Normal+' attitude program.
16050 NOTE Remember - for a plane alignment burn (with main engines), turn 'NML+' at descending note (DN), and 'NML-' at ascending node (AN).
16070 NOTE Main engines engaged.
16085 NOTE Note how the RInc readout is counting down.
16104 NOTE Main engine cut-off.
16114 NOTE The relative inclination ('RInc') with the Moon's orbital plane is now down to 0.02°. That's good enough!
16125 NOTE In preparation for the next maneuver, we are turning into the flight path (by activating the 'Prograde' attitude mode).
16165 NOTE Fast-forwarding to orbit circularisation burn ...
16165 TACC 30.000000 1.000000
16870 TACC 1.000000 1.000000
16890 NOTEPOS 0.65 0.2 0.96 0.9
16890 NOTE You are now approaching apogee - the highest point of the orbit.
16900 NOTE This is location for the orbit circularisation burn, required to raise the perigee (lowest point of the orbit) for a stable orbit configuration.
16915 NOTEPOS 0.02 0.2 0.4 0.9
16915 NOTE This will be a short prograde burn, adding a velocity component in the direction of the flight path.
16938 NOTE Re-aligning attitude with flight path vector.
16965 NOTE Main engines engaged.
16976 NOTE Main engine cut-off (this was a low Delta-V burn).
16990 NOTEPOS 0.65 0.2 0.96 0.9
16990 NOTE The perigee altitude has now increased to about 250km, and the orbit eccentricty value of 0.0007 indicates a nearly circular orbit.
17005 NOTEPOS 0.02 0.2 0.4 0.9
17005 NOTE You now have to prepare for the next maneuver - the insertion into the trans-lunar orbit (TLI), which will bring you all the way to the moon.
17020 NOTE Bring up the Transfer MFD mode on the left display: Press 'SEL' and 'Transfer'.
17035 NOTE First, you need to select the target body. Press 'TGT', <Enter>, type 'moon', <Enter>.
17055 NOTE To plan your transfer orbit, press 'HTO' (hypothetical transfer orbit).
17065 NOTE Next, you need to add a Delta-V impulse at your orbit ejection point. Press, and hold down, 'DV+', until the 'Dv' readout shows 3.121k (meaning 3.121km/s). If you overshoot, press 'DV-' to reduce the ejection velocity.
17125 NOTE Your planned transfer orbit should now be displayed as a dashed green ellipse. The leading intersection with the Moon's orbit (the yellow circle) is shown as a grey line.
17145 NOTE The predicted position of the Moon at the time when you cross the Moon's orbit, is shown as a dashed yellow line.
17160 NOTE You now have to try and match the grey and the dashed yellow lines, so that both you and the Moon reach the intersection point simultaneously.
17175 NOTE This is done by adjusting the time of the ejection burn, using the 'EJ-' and 'EJ+' buttons.
17190 NOTE Press 'EJ-' and 'EJ+' until the lines match. The 'TLe' readout should read approximately 11°.
17220 NOTE The dashed green line now indicates the position of the orbit ejection burn. As soon as your current position (solid green line) matches it, the ejection burn will be performed.
17235 NOTE Fast-forwarding to ejection burn ...
17235 TACC 100.000000 1.000000
18300 NOTE Sunrise over Australia ...
19250 TACC 1.000000 1.000000
19305 NOTE Main engines engaged for orbit ejection burn.
19320 NOTE The Dv readout is counting down as the actual orbit velocity approaches that of the planned transfer orbit.
19335 NOTE As soon as Dv reaches zero, translunar orbit insertion will be complete, and the engines will be cut.
19350 NOTEOFF
19350 CAMERA SET Track:GL-01:50.00:GLOBAL 4.480 3.002 0.507
19360 CAMERA SET Track:GL-01:30.00:GLOBAL 8.843 -1.205 -1.897
19369.5 TACC 0.100000
19369.5 CAMERA SET Ground:GL-01:10.00:Earth -168.94070 9.72267 259778.18
19373 TACC 1.000000
19373 CAMERA SET Track:GL-01:10.00:GLOBAL 30.761 1.809 1.242
19383 CAMERA SET Cockpit:GL-01:50.00
19383 NOTE This is a long burn, so I am fast-forwarding to the end ...
19383 TACC 10.000000 1.000000
19465 TACC 1.000000 1.000000
19470 NOTE Towards the end of the burn the orbit (solid green ellipse) starts growing rapidly, so you may want to reduce thrust to avoid overshooting.
19490 NOTE Main engine cut-off.
19500 NOTE Your orbit should now match the planned transfer orbit in the Transfer MFD display.
19515 NOTE You can press 'HTO' again to turn off the hypothetical orbit. This will update the data readouts to refer to your actual orbit.
19530 NOTE We are now en-route to the moon. This will be a long (and hopefully uneventful) coasting phase, so I am fast-forwarding to the mid-course correction maneuver.
19545 NOTE Fast forwarding ...
19545 TACC 5000.000000 10.000000
19957.8 CAMERA SET Track:GL-01:50.00:GLOBAL 5.620 -2.096 0.020
100000 CAMERA SET Cockpit:GL-01:50.00
281090 TACC 1.000000 1.000000
283259 TACC 1.000000
283259 NOTE Dropping out of time warp for a mid-course correction.
283274 NOTEPOS 0.65 0.2 0.96 0.9
283274 NOTE We have now left the sphere of influence (SOI) of Earth's gravitational field (check the 'G' value at the bottom of the Orbit MFD indicating the fractional contribution of Earth to the present gravitational field).
283289 NOTE Therefore you should now switch to the Moon as orbit reference for your instruments. On the Orbit MFD, click 'AR' (auto reference) to select the strongest gravitational source, which is now the Moon. Then click 'HUD' to copy the new reference to the HUD.
283309 NOTEPOS 0.02 0.2 0.4 0.9
283309 NOTE Because we want to land directly at Brighton Beach base, we need to rotate the plane of our lunar orbit so that it passes over the base. This plane change requires less Delta-V (and thus less fuel) while we are still far from the moon, so let's do it now.
283324 NOTE Switch the left MFD to Map mode: Click 'SEL', 'Map', click 'REF', and select 'Earth' > 'Moon'.
283344 NOTE The white square on the map is Brighton Beach. To mark it as a target, click 'TGT', and select 'Spaceports'->'Brighton Beach'. This will show the base location, distance and bearing at the bottom of the display.
283364 NOTE The green line is the projection of the current orbital plane onto the moon's surface. We want to rotate the plane so that it crosses over the target base. 
283379 NOTE To line up the glider for the alignment burn, we activate the 'Normal+' navigation mode.
283394 NOTE (Why NML+? We are orbiting the Moon retrograde. The flight path vector points west. This also means that the NML+ direction points south. By adding Delta-V in this direction, we will bend the western part of the orbit south, the eastern part north.)
283414 NOTE Engaging 'Normal+' attitude mode to prepare for a plane-change burn.
283454 NOTE As the main engines fire, the orbit bends out of the moon's equatorial plane, until it intersects the target base.
283480 NOTE Done. Note that the the alignment will not remain perfect, because the Moon (and the base with it) slowly rotates below our orbit. But this can easily be fixed later with a correction burn.
283495 NOTEPOS 0.65 0.2 0.96 0.9
283495 NOTE With the orbital plane aligned, the next step is to adjust the periapsis (or in this case, the perilune) distance, that is, the point of closest approach to the Moon.
283510 NOTE Currently, the orbit is intersecting the Moon's surface, so we need to raise the periapsis altitude (PeA) above zero.
283525 NOTE This is an in-plane burn. Since we are not at periapsis, I am using a wild guess for a reasonable burn direction - 50° off the flight path.
283595 NOTE Engaging main engines.
283603 NOTE Engines cut-off. Perilune altitude is now approximately 150km.
283618 NOTE Note that the orbit parameter readouts are not very reliable yet, because of strong field perturbations from the Sun and Earth. You will notice that the PeA readout is decreasing as we approach the Moon.
283630 NOTE This completes the midcourse correction. Turning prograde for a good view as we approach the Moon.
283650 NOTE Fast forwarding to perilune ...
283650 TACC 500.000000 1.000000
304155 TACC 1.000000 1.000000
304370 TACC 1.000000
304370 NOTE The next maneuver is the lunar orbit insertion. This will be a retrograde burn at perilune, to close the orbit and lower the apoapsis distance.
304390 NOTE Turning retrograde.
304440 NOTE Engaging main engines for lunar orbit insertion.
304494 NOTE Engine cut-off. The orbit is now approximately circular, with an altitude of 120km.
304528 NOTE The base is on the opposite side of the Moon. I am turning prograde again while we prepare for the last part of the trip.
304580 NOTE Fast-forwarding to base approach ...
304580 TACC 50.000000 1.000000
305136 NOTE Passing the terminator into the lunar day.
305378 CAMERA SET Track:GL-01:50.00:GLOBAL 5.620 -2.199 0.498
306000 NOTEOFF
306554 CAMERA SET Track:GL-01:30.00:GLOBAL 15.585 2.727 -0.537
307380 CAMERA SET Cockpit:GL-01:50.00
307380 TACC 1.000000 1.000000
307400 TACC 1.000000
307400 NOTEPOS 0.02 0.2 0.4 0.9
307400 NOTE Dropping out of warp for the final part of the journey.
307410 NOTE You are now about 1000km from your landing site. Time for a few preparations.
307425 NOTE Click 'ZM+' on the Map MFD to increase the magnification, keeping both your location and the base in view. Keep zooming as you approach the base, to monitor your approach path.
307445 NOTEPOS 0.65 0.2 0.96 0.9
307445 NOTE Set the right MFD display to VTOL (vertical takeoff and landing) mode: Press 'SEL', 'VOR/VTOL'.
307465 NOTE The NAV receiver frequency should be pre-set to 116.3MHz (The frequency of the radio beacon at Brighton Beach). We are still too far away to receive a signal, but will soon get into range.
307485 NOTEPOS 0.02 0.2 0.4 0.9
307485 NOTE To land at the base, you need to drop out of orbit soon. This will require a retrograde burn.
307500 NOTE Turning retrograde.
307580 TACC 10.000000 1.000000
307656 TACC 1.000000 1.000000
307660 NOTE Press 'H' to set the HUD to surface mode.
307674 NOTE Engaging 'Horizon level' mode to align attitude with the local horizon.
307696 NOTE Engaging main thrusters for orbit departure.
307715 NOTE When timing the deorbit burn, be careful not to be late (to avoid overshooting). If you deorbit too early, you will waste fuel on hovering above the surface.
307730 NOTE To estimate the minimum safe distance from base for the deorbit burn with main engines, try a little mental arithmetic:
307740 NOTE With the current fuel load, the main engines can produce an acceleration of about a = 20m/s². Orbital speed is about 1600m/s.
307760 NOTE This means that it will take t = v/a = 80s to kill the ground speed at full main thrust. In that time we will cover a distance of x = vt - ½at² = 64km. We must start the deceleration burn before getting closer than that to the base (or correspondingly earlier if you want to use the less powerful retros for braking).
307785 NOTEPOS 0.65 0.2 0.96 0.9
307785 NOTE By now you are within range of the Brighton Beach NAV beacon. The circular display in the VTOL MFD represents a top-down view with your position in the centre, and forward direction at 12 o'clock.
307800 NOTE The direction of the base is indicated by the green line (it's behind you). Your velocity vector is the yellow arrow.
307810 NOTE The flight path is not perfectly aligned, so we perform an adjustment burn.
307820 NOTE We turn the craft so that applying main thrust will push the flight path vector towards the base direction.
307830 NOTE Engaging main engines for flight path correction.
307860 NOTE Done, rotating back to retrograde.
307900 NOTEPOS 0.02 0.2 0.4 0.9
307900 NOTE The horizontal situation is covered with the VTOL display, so you can switch the left MFD to Surface mode: Click 'SEL', 'Surface'.
307930 NOTE Distance to base 300km, altitude 100km. Performing another deceleration burn.
307955 CAMERA SET Track:GL-01:40.00:GLOBAL 2.542 -2.901 -0.565
307955 NOTE Opening the retro engine covers to prepare for retro deceleration burns.
307971 NOTEOFF
307971 CAMERA SET Track:GL-01:20.00:GLOBAL 34.450 1.367 -0.273
308000 CAMERA SET Ground:GL-01:10.00:Moon -27.55505 46.37422 93535.07
308077 CAMERA SET Track:GL-01:10.00:RELATIVE 34.450 2.973 -0.396
308101 CAMERA SET Track:GL-01:50.00:RELATIVE 21.894 0.860 -0.544
308127 CAMERA SET Track:GL-01:40.00:RELATIVE 5.018 0.263 -0.409
308130 NOTE Distance to base 100km, altitude 56km. Another deceleration burn.
308162 CAMERA SET Track:GL-01:40.00:RELATIVE 5.018 1.815 0.016
308165 NOTE Adding hover thrust to reduce sink rate.
308187 CAMERA SET Track:GL-01:30.00:GLOBAL 17.455 1.158 -0.815
308190 NOTE Finally we are turning towards the base for final approach.
308204 CAMERA SET Cockpit:GL-01:50.00
308241 CAMERA SET Track:GL-01:10.00:RELATIVE 54.213 -0.015 -0.675
308259 CAMERA SET Cockpit:GL-01:50.00
308262 NOTE In the last phase of the base approach, you need to balance your horizontal and vertical velocity components. The flight path marker helps with this. Keep it above the base for correct approach slope.
308277 NOTE If it drops too low, increase hover thrust.
308294 NOTEOFF
308308 CAMERA SET Track:GL-01:10.00:GLOBAL 119.848 1.906 0.423
308333 CAMERA SET Track:GL-01:10.00:GLOBAL 15.585 1.068 -0.788
308346 CAMERA SET Track:GL-01:10.00:RELATIVE 17.455 3.128 -0.163
308358 CAMERA SET Cockpit:GL-01:50.00
308370 NOTEPOS 0.65 0.2 0.96 0.9
308370 NOTE On the VTOL MFD, click 'NAV' to switch to Nav receiver 2. This is preset to the pad 1 transmitter frequency, your designated landing pad.
308390 CAMERA SET Track:GL-01:10.00:RELATIVE 38.587 0.318 -1.348
308419 CAMERA SET Track:GL-01:10.00:GLOBAL 21.895 1.087 -0.712
308434 CAMERA SET Cockpit:GL-01:50.00
308436 NOTE Distance 1.2km from base, altitude 10km.
308474 NOTE Use the RCS in linear mode to fine-tune your position above the pad.
308485 CAMERA SET Ground:GL-01:10.00:Moon -33.43819 41.12364 5.84
308493 CAMERA SET Track:GL-01:10.00:RELATIVE 21.895 -0.048 -1.572
308543 CAMERA SET Track:GL-01:30.00:RELATIVE 5.620 -2.712 -0.015
308548 NOTE Gear down.
308557 CAMERA SET Ground:GL-01:20.00:Moon -33.43894 41.12415 1.00 -0.29 1.38
308570 CAMERA SET Cockpit:GL-01:50.00
308579 NOTE Altitude 1000m, horizontal displacement from pad 40m.
308594 NOTE Use the hover thrusters to adjust your vertical speed for a soft touch down.
308605 CAMERA SET Track:GL-01:30.00:GLOBAL 8.843 1.086 -0.504
308620 NOTE You are now exactly centered above the pad.
308630 CAMERA SET Ground:GL-01:20.00:Moon -33.43556 41.12612 1.00 -1.68 0.95
308638 NOTE 400m above the surface.
308650 CAMERA SET Track:GL-01:40.00:RELATIVE 8.843 -2.230 -1.241
308652 NOTE 300m to go, vertical speed 6.5m/s.
308664 CAMERA SET Cockpit:GL-01:50.00
308668 NOTE 200m above pad, vertical speed 5.5m/s. Make sure you keep centered above the pad.
308677 CAMERA SET Ground:GL-01:30.00:Moon -33.43392 41.12722 6.00 -1.97 0.23
308690 NOTE 100m, sinking at 2.5m/s.
308698 CAMERA SET Ground:GL-01:30.00:Moon -33.43680 41.11541 6.00
308717 CAMERA SET Cockpit:GL-01:50.00
308718 NOTE 50m, 2.0m/s.
308726 CAMERA SET Ground:GL-01:30.00:Moon -33.43680 41.11541 6.00
308748 CAMERA SET Ground:GL-01:30.00:Moon -33.43624 41.11719 2.08 2.26 0.09
308758 NOTE 10m above pad, vertical speed 0.5m/s, preparing for soft contact.
308770 NOTE Touchdown!
308780 NOTE This completes the mission. After refuelling, you can now take over the controls. Try getting back to Earth, or even continue the tour with a flight to Mars!
308792 CAMERA SET Cockpit:GL-01:50.00
