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.

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Chief_Sonya's picture

Super useful helm update!

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.

mattm's picture

Martian Star Video Update

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.

Chief_Sonya's picture

New Impulse Flight Panel

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.

mattm's picture

Compass Update

The compass has had a minor update, removing the gold indicator circle.

Chief_Sonya's picture

Updates to Cruise Mode

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).

Chief_Sonya's picture

Held Bearing Execution

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.

Chief_Sonya's picture

Deceleration Charts

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.

Chief_Sonya's picture

Helm Update

Some great new improvements have been included in the latest update to the helm, including a couple we’ve been asking after for a while.

Chief_Sonya's picture

Think you can fly this course?

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.

Chief_Sonya's picture

Civilians getting close to our nav tech?

Interesting article on "x-ray navigation" that sounds similar to our deep-space nav systems:

https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2018/nasa-team-first-to-demonstrate-x-ray-navigation-in-space

 

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