Mission to Machholz Comet 2004-Q2

[SimFan]

Mission to Machholz Comet 2004-Q2

Hi to all

Mission to Machholz Comet 2004-Q2

This fine comet begins to be visible with even small binoculars :



A lot of scientific data is available here.

Sorry, this thread is french written, but links and pictures are english written.

http://orbiter.dansteph.com/forum/index.php?topic=852.msg10653#msg10653

Starting from NightHawk's Halley addon, first install it, then replace Halley name by Machholz where applicable
(Halley.dds,  Halley.msh, inside Sol.cfg) and replace Halley.cfg by this following Machholz.cfg written by NightHawk :

; === Configuration file for comet C/2004 Q2 Machholz ===
Name = Machholz
EllipticOrbit = TRUE
HasElements = TRUE

; === Planetary Mean Orbits ===
;***cfgDataCalculator
Epoch =  2004.93997861054
SemiMajorAxis =  324715021840516
Eccentricity =  .999444829164407
Inclination =  .67351085954142
LongAscNode =  1.63405230410538
LongPerihelion =  1.97447121256527
MeanLongitude =  8.25764868051135

; === Physical Parameters ===
; === Based on Comet Halley parameters ===
Mass = 1e14
Size = 5.5e3

; === Rotation Elements ===
; === Based on Comet Halley parameters ===
SidRotPeriod = 187200
SidRotOffset = 0
Obliquity = 0         ; ?(don't know)
LAN = 0            ; ?(don't know)

; === Visualisation Parameters ===
MaxPatchResolution = 0      ; use explicit mesh

If you want a base, add to above :


; === Surface Bases ===
NumBases = 1
Base1 = MacBase  -6.45 -0.8

And create MacBase.cfg :


; === Surface Base ===
Name = MacBase
Size = 500

BEGIN_NAVBEACON
VOR OSRB -6.45 -0.8 114.20 500
END_NAVBEACON

; === List of visuals ===
BEGIN_OBJECTLIST

LPAD1
   POS 0 0 0
   ROT 0
   TEX Lpad01
      NAV 129.70
END
END_OBJECTLIST

Using these changes, the French Orbinaut JLuc successfully did a mission to orbiting the comet, using a Dan's DG-III,
departure from KSC on Dec 12nd 2004, arrival on Feb 7th 2005, burning 38.4 % of his fuel tank.

This is a screenshot of his arrival quicksave :




A full report of JLuc's mission is available here :

http://jeanpaj.free.fr/Machholz/machholz0od.pdf

Sorry, it's french written, but all numerous illustrations are genuine Orbiter ones.

Who'll do better? Shortest trip, less used fuel?

The challenge is open !



Hi

A Starry Night scenario is available here :

http://jeanpaj.free.fr/Machholz/Machholz_D1.snf

Departure on Christmas : Dec 24th, 23:00 UTC.

Very easy to implement in Orbiter :

From KSC, aim to the 346° heading. When climbing, Cor Caroli will set up. Then aim a point around 2.5° (5 Moon diameters) due South from Cor Caroli, in Canes Venatici.

Strong acceleration until reaching the right speed,check using Orbit MFD, slightly accelerate again when the comet is passing you


Here is the travel animation :

As RM, 1.2MB http://jeanpaj.free.fr/Machholz/MacD1V.rmvb
Better legibility, even lighter. Mysteries of encoding!

As WMv, 1.9MB  http://jeanpaj.free.fr/Machholz/MacD1V.wmv

Note :  Displayed time is UTC+1


[USER_SIG]



Post Edited ( 12-17-04 16:12 )