Nice new tool to play with.

[Simonpro_2]

Hello,
I just uploaded the new tool i've been working on to orbithangar, it's called "Orbital Utilities" and will (hopefully ) let
you compute a few useful things like MJD's, DeltaV's and Hohmann transfers quickly and without needing to mess
around for hours trying to figure out what everything is.

It is based upon a piece of software i am developing for other uses and is simply a scaled down version. This orbiter
build only includes level II hohmann calculations and does not take into account third order perturbations such as non
spherical gravitational potentials, fourth bodies and other disturbances. This means that it is not as accurate as
orbiter itself (which includes, erm, one of the above ) but should be able to give you ballpark estimates.

And for the guy out there (you know who you are) who says all my calculations are wrong in everything i do: No they
are not, at least not in this program :p. The calculations have been checked for accuracy against both hand
calculated, orbiter calculated, and real-life data and the accuracy is good.

One final thing, guys, at the moment the DeltaV calculator only has four ships in its list, i have not had time to add
more. If any of you wish to contribute by emailing m data on any other shpis then i would be extremely greatful.
All i need is the Specific Impulse, Empty Mass, fuel mass (maximum, not including the mass of the ship) and name of
the craft.
I'll then add it to the database before i release an updated version in a couple of weeks time.

Thanks guys, i hope you enjoy this program.
As always i am happy (and interested) to hear your comments and questions, if you have any then just send me an
email.
Cheers,
Simon
simonproud@hotmail.com

[Shirson]

Hmmm.... URL?

[Simonpro_2]

Its on orbithangar
http://www.orbithangar.com/searchresults.cfm?Catagory=default&OrbVer=default&Submit=Get%
2BResults&search=Orbital%20Utilities

I forgot you could link straight to orbithangar, never used it before as a hosting tool

[Simonpro_2]

Nice to see everyone being so interested, i was at least expecting a sarcastic comment from freespace

[DocHoliday]

(Hm.. I just wrote something but the text dissappeared before I was able to post.)

Must be the holidays. I just tested it a few minutes ago. I assume the tools may be installed anywhere, even though
I didn't see you specifically say that.

Anyway, I'll make a shorter version now. Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe there is a problem if the local PC is
using a different set of Regional Settings that the UK/US do. Namely, the deciamal symbol and the digit grouping
symbol are reversed for Slovenian language and I suspect possibly for some other European countries too. As a
result you get a

"XXXXXX is not a valid float point value" where XXXX is the Mass of source/target planet or the value being used in
the azimuth calculation, so appart from thurst/mass and MJD calcs nothing else works.

Will try to change my Regional settings to UK style and let you know if it then works.

NOTE: UK uses "." for decimals and "," for digital grouping, while SI (for example) uses "," for decimals and "." for dig
grouping. Now if you could somehow bypass or check this, before executing calculation, you'd make it international

Very useful set of tools though! Tnx!

Cheers,

[DocHoliday]

Yup, switching to UK settings did the trick!

VERY NICE indeed! You could expand it so it would make up a whole flight itinerary

Suggestion: It would be nice if launch windows were somehow implemented into this. So that the HTO data would relate to the MJD.... tought one eh?

Suggestion: Add a cancel button to the sub dialog boxes in case you make a mistake and don't really want to enter
the data for the orbits. ALT-F4 is rather unconvenient

Cheers,



Post Edited ( 08-03-04 12:57 )

[freespace2dotcom]

Simonpro_2 wrote:
Nice to see everyone being so interested, i was at least expecting a sarcastic comment from freespace

You just didn't give me enough time to respond. But yeah.. I guess it's cool.. um..

<thinking of something to say.>


If I was to need something like that, I'd try it out, but I'm lazy... you know how it is....

[Simonpro_2]

Bah, still no sarcasm, ill have to come up with some of my own soon. Oh well :p

doc: Had no idea about the language thing, ill switch my PC to russian for a bit
I'll add a cancel button too
As for the launch windows: This is already in the 'other' version of the program, but the data i am using there isnt
publically available - but i can try to hacksaw my way into the orbiter data i suppose :p
(That might be more useful considering the code is for orbiter, huh?!)
Anyways, ill have a think about the language thing, cant see what the problem is off the top of my head, but the
nearest copy of the code is about 130 miles away, so i cant do anything until this evening :/
Cheers,
Simbo

[DocHoliday]

Earning money on Orbiter eh? I assume it's top secret but if not, could you elaborate a bit? It's not CVE?

Not sure if Russian uses a different decimal hehe.

[Simonpro_2]

Nah, not earning money on orbiter, Doc Martin (:p) would not be happy...
Doing a spot of summer work for a company creating a computer program to calculate hohmann transfers between
various planets. God knows why they want it, something to do with tech demonstrations as far as i know. Anyway, it
pays me and it means i can learn a little programming (and make a rather nifty orbiter app as a sideline :p).
No, its not CVE either, thats Davers and its in C++, i am not very god at c++ coding.
Anyway, ill try russian as its the only other language on my PC, if ont then ill dig out the windows CD and do some
installing.
Cheers,
Simon

ps: check your email :p

[DocHoliday]

Well, you could just manually change the decimal sign to comma.

Neat tool tho. My coding abilities don't stretch passed modules in VBA I don't think I ever created a stand alone
program of any kind. Always as part of an environment.

Now with all the fuss there is to install VB or C# and all that, being new at it as I am, I don't even dare contemplating
it...

[Simonpro_2]

Bah, manually change the sign..
Ill try that and see what happens

[Simonpro_2]

OK, i think i have fixed the bug with ,'s and .'s a new version has been uploaded to orbithangar, same place as the
last.
Hope it fixes your problems

Oh, and you can install it anywhere you like :D

[DocHoliday]

Yup, it works beautifully now

One small wish though... since you obviously have data on planet's radius it would be supremely convenient if we
were to simply enter the altitude instead of the distance from planet centre. Putting down all those zeros reminds me
of the times when we used to have superinflation back here

Hopefully I can collect some data about the vessels and send it over.

Cheers,

[Simonpro_2]

Lol, yeah ok ill change it to that

[DocHoliday]

No more requests from me. promise

[freespace2dotcom]

DocHoliday wrote:
No more requests from me. promise

That's right. From now on, he'll send them to me to forward to you.

[DocHoliday]

*Doc whispers to freespace* Tell him.. option... use.. im..erial....units.. instea.. ..dumb....metr.... I mean.. he's.. brit..
he..shou...apprecia... them

[freespace2dotcom]

<yell>Stop saying "imperial!"</yell>

That's an inappropriate word.

It gives a very negative connotation.

One might as well call me an imperialist if that were it's true name. Do I believe in imperialism?

No.

It's the Traditional system, silly!

Unfortunately, asking for that utility to have pounds, miles, etc, would be pointless unless orbiter had it too.

Once I learn enough about coding, I will attempt to convert orbiter to the traditional system for those who want it so
once and for all. It shouldn't be too hard....

(famous last words)

[DanSteph]

freespace2dotcom wrote:
It's the Traditional system, silly!

Oh yes traditionnal.... but wich one ? the roman  ? the greek ?
the egyptian ?  

Dan

[freespace2dotcom]

Dan.. oh, dan...

<freespace waves his finger at dan>

America uses it and has used it. therefore, it's a part of american tradition.

And though I can't speak for britain, because I don't know what the exact deal is there... I'm told it's at least partially
used...

Regardless, it's a legacy passed down.  


On that note. I am curious. What type(s) of measurement did europe use before metric's innovation?

[Shirson]

I have idea!
Dan, how about  Roman numerals on HUD, MFD, computers and life support?
DeltaGlider IV A.C. Edition.

[DanSteph]

freespace2dotcom wrote:
On that note. I am curious. What type(s) of measurement did europe use before metric's innovation?

Some of them: (weight, distances, money)

Toises, pieds, pouce, coudée, Pinte, pot, anée, livre, once , denier, ecu, florin, liard , blanc.

It depended also of the country each one had is hown...
fortunately we switched on a coherent and modern system since ages

Dan

[freespace2dotcom]

hehe..

And maybe we should switch to a global electronic currency where we don't have to convert between countries'
money.

After all, it would be modern. *ptooie*

Or maybe we can just use what we have, respect those who prefer that which they do use.

We all just need to mind our own business.
(that does apply to americans, too. )

countries had their own systems because there was no need to commerce greatly with other nations like what is
done today. but then the politicians came and wanted everybody to hold hands and sing happy songs.

I see nothing wrong with just being isolated from everything else. It's best to be independent. It's the nature of
humankind. (we do grow up and become independent of our parents, don't we? )

We don't want to go against our nature, do we?

[Atom]

But isolationism can start wars. Personally I think that Britain should be included in the Euro but the government
seems to want to be a state of the US more than it wants to be a country of Europe. I think we should go with
Europe. No offence to any americans meant, except stupid, capitalist, power hungry politicians.