Bay 12 Games Forum

I figured that was the case with the radiator.  In fact, I went and read through the pre-re-entry check in the XR5 computer and it mentions the radiator there.  Good, it makes sense, but I wasn't sure because of the enormous amount of heat that is built up in re-entry.

I used the base sync to some success.  With really being sure of what to do, I figured out how to decrease the relative inclination and close the distance.  I also sort of figured out the DeOrbit screen.  When the time came, I attempted my retrograde burn and everything looked perfect: the orbit was passing down to the surface and it looked approximately right in the map MDF.  Then I turned pro-grade to wait for re-entry, in the mean time activating the attitude hold AP.  For some reason, after that, my descent went way off course and I think it may be because of the AP, but I am not sure.  In trying to correct the descent I turned retrograde, burned and tried set it up again, but ran out of fluid instead, main and RCS.  Still facing retrograde, my ship hurtled into the atmosphere and, well, burned up.

I am curious about this nose down = lift strategy and hopefully soon I can get a ship in position to try it.  Sluissa, by 35 degrees you mean on the surface HUD ribbon?  That would be nose up... right?

Just had a quick look at the tutorial.  Looks like something I will have to revisit when I am a little more confident and ambitious.

I just had a go with one of the DGIV deorbiting missions and I had no clue what to do.  In an effort to get back into the atmosphere, I just popped down, but waaay undershot KCS and ended up flying from the Gulf of Mexico all the way over to Cape Canaveral and with nary 10% fuel left, I landed too hard and blew out my gear.  Ugh.  It was good fun though and will give it another go soon.  Nextly, though, I need to learn how to align orbits so that I can do something with all those orbiting gliders I have quicksaved--read, dock with the ISS.

For de-orbiting, do you just estimate based on the map and your orbit position?  Can you burn at any point for re-entry?  It's good to know that the burn doesn't need much fuel, that will give me some leeway.

I see.  For some reason I was waiting till 20km or so before I even thought about SCRAM and then I was confused why the thrust was so weak. 

I went for another Orbital insertion, this time with the XR5 Vanguard.  I loaded some cargo and took off, made it about halfway then ran out of fuel on a ballistic trajectory.  Next time will be different.

Thanks for the info, Robsoie.

I wonder when the XR2 ravenstar mkII comes out, it will have a nice 3d cockpit.

A 3D cockpit would be wonderful in the DGIV and if the XR2 it is as sweet as you've all been saying, it would probably be way nice too.  What I like most about the DGIV is all of the stuff you can mess with; it's so immersive.  Being able to look around and adjust switches in a 3D environment would make it much more so.  It will be interesting to see how the programers/designers will fit all of that stuff in a 3D cockpit.  I think I am going to go try the XR2 right now...

An aside:  Has anyone messed with the Orbiter Visualization Project yet?  To what result? 

Just tried the DGIV.  Wow.

Also, thanks for the suggestions Robsoie, when I get a little more comfortable, I'll consider installing the height maps and stuff.

Edit:  How the hell does that freighter take off from Earth?  It's enormous!

Edit Edit: From the description: In reality ships like the Arrow would be designed only for deep solar system exploration and never for Earth flight.  As it was assembled in orbit the construction is very light there is no control surface, and the lift is mainly done by the hull.

I wish that I didn't have to go to work right now so that I could give all this a shot.  Thank you both for the lessons.

I am giving it a shot and I like it so far.