Space Shuttle Atlantis launch - an Orbiter mini-film

This was not a very good launch. I should have controlled my pitch a lot better to prevent my apogee from being so far out. (Huge mistake.)

Orbiter is a free space simulator by Martin Schweiger that can be downloaded at:

http://orbit.medphys.ucl.ac.uk

Be sure to visit the Orbiter online community:

http://www.Orbiter-Forum.com

Recommended viewing to whet your appetite:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROgKCxozau4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lz0CPyH86_o

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• delta-glider
• delta glider
• orbiter
• orbiter 2010
• orbiter 2010P1
• orbiter 2010 p1
• space shuttle
• Atlantis
• space simulator
• space flight simulator

[forteleaerieneromane]

how have you learned all these things about this simulator? from the tutorials inside?

[DavidWCourtney]

@forteleaerieneromane I started out just using the Delta-glider vessel. It's a lot easier to learn the basics of orbital mechanics with that. I watched the different tutorials that come with Orbiter, I read the documentation, I created an account on the orbiter-forum website and asked questions there, and I spent a lot of time just playing around. I've been playing with Orbiter for about 18 months, and I'm still learning new stuff all the time.

[kurtjmac]

Ohhhh. So THIS is how you do it. :\ Any idea what that "thing" was that floated by at 9:28?

[DavidWCourtney]

@kurtjmac That was the External Tank. After you jettison the External Tank, it follows the same orbital path as the shuttle. (Which makes sense since you brought it with you.) However, the External Tank is not attached to the shuttle when you make the Orbit Insertion burn, so the External Tank will not have a stable orbit. It will go around the earth and burn up upon re-entry somewhere over the Pacific Ocean. (As would you if you failed to make the Orbit Insertion burn!)

[CUGS2009]

Wonderful.

[SR71U2ube]

I usually begin my pitch very early in the launch,by the time im at 60,000 feet im at about a 45 angle. My Apogee's are very very gradual and by the time i Jettison the main tank Im still at 400,000+ feet and Mach 25, Then I level off. So technically im "Flying" the last leg until the Mach meter says zero. I just kick back and wait until i get near my apogee bubble to make the final burn with the shuttle engeine. Its sort of like getting a running start for orbit rather than going up then out.

[ThumbsUpGuy16]

I downloaded this and it was good but i deleted it because it was by frame by frame by frame by frame and your's is amazing how did you download your's

and what computer/laptop are you using please WB thanks



[Jacnas]

Your flight was just fine until 4:20 into the video. That's when your ApT (time to apoapsis) started to increase dramatically. When you see this happening, pitch down slightly to keep it just in front of you, like 20-30 s, and keep it close to these values for as long as possible. The closer you are to reaching orbital velocity, the harder it is to control ApT by pitching up/down and during the last seconds it is almost impossible but by then it doesn't matter.