This group covers deep space navigation, stellar cartography and vessel helm operations. It's for anyone interested in how we get where we need to go and how we get around once we're there.
Another really useful update has been made to the impulse maneuver panel, allowing selection of the number of maneuvering cycles that a held bearing lasts for. Once that number of cycles is done, the hold is automatically released.
The video accompanying the Martian Star evolution has been updated to reflect recent changes to gimbal limits, etc in the sim. It also includes the new Impulse Flight panel.
Submitted by Chief_Sonya on March 31, 2021 - 17:19
Anyone who's tried to navigate a course with more than a few coursepoints will probably remember having to juggle a tablet with the course points on it. Not anymore! A new panel has been added to the helm to make impulse navigation much easier.
The helm has been updated with latest data from engine simulations, with some significant changes to vessel handling.
It turns out the helm was significantly under-reporting EM output from helm maneuvers in cruise mode. The changes mean that achieving the maximum bearing for a given speed will require100% thrust - and 100% EM output. So to reduce EM output during a helm maneuver in cruise mode, best to select a smaller bearing (for example a bearing that is 60% of the maximum available bearing will only require 60% thrust to achieve).
Here's an interesting article: a guide to executing held bearing meaneuvers, such as the radial traversal (partial planetary "orbit") seen in the recently post evolution video.
Submitted by Chief_Sonya on February 12, 2020 - 10:38
Impulse deceleration charts have been posted here. These provide a useful guide for when you have to stop at a particular spot.
You should always bear in mind that there's no such thing as pinpoint accuracy with impulse nav, so these charts aren't accurate to the GU. For starters, your actual deceleration distance will depend on when in the maneuvering cycle you push the engage button. But they should be good for +/-50GU.
Submitted by Chief_Sonya on January 9, 2019 - 22:43
Our first navigation evolution (training and evaluation exercise) was recently posted. It's still pretty bare-bones at the moment but it gives a great idea of what's required to pilot a ship like Endeavour around.
Another really useful update has been made to the impulse maneuver panel, allowing selection of the number of maneuvering cycles that a held bearing lasts for. Once that number of cycles is done, the hold is automatically released.
Anyone who's tried to navigate a course with more than a few coursepoints will probably remember having to juggle a tablet with the course points on it. Not anymore! A new panel has been added to the helm to make impulse navigation much easier.
