[WEBAPPS] MrFlibble's KSP Calculators

[MrFlibble1978]

While playing with some basic comm relays in KSP using RemoteTech2. I came across a common problem. Equally spacing satellites on a target orbit.

I did some research, head scratching, crying and physical abuse to multiple calculators. So to save other people's sanity I made this little calculator. It's an early version but works as expected but only for orbits around Kerbin at the moment. I'll be adding a nice GUI and more features soon.

{BAĞLANTI SİLİNDİ}Satellite Distribution Calculator

Top half of the calculator will calculate the Semi Major Axis and the Orbital Period of an orbit of a given Apoapse & Periapse.

Bottom half is the Satellite Distribution Calculator. This is for equally spacing satellites lifted as one payload. Simply enter your target orbit then the fraction then click the "Set your Periapse at" button. For example the setup below:

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=226460598

4 equally spaced satellites lifted as 1 payload at circular orbit** of 500,000m

1. Enter you "Target orbit" as 500 (Calulator uses KM)

2. Enter your fraction as "7/8"

3. Click the "Set your Periapse at" and you should get an answer of "312.618KM"

Then in KSP launch into an orbit with the Apoapse of 500KM and Periapse of 312.618KM. At Apoapse release your first satellite. Switch to your satellite and circularize your orbit to 500KM. Switch to your launch stage. Do 2 orbits and when you reach the Apoapse on the 2nd orbit release your 2nd satellite and circularize your orbit. Repeat for 3rd and 4th satellites.

**Don't be concerned about your 4 orbits being exactly circular aim for each orbit having the same Orbital Period. You can find the period by using the top half of the calculator.

1. Enter "Apoapse" as 500

2. Enter "Periapse" as 500

3. Orbital Period is "1hr4mins17s"

As long as you slightly elliptical orbits have that period you should get little drift.

Sorry for the wall of text.

I hope someone finds this useful. Any questions or suggestions feel free to leave them here. I'm "mathlexic" so anything too mathmatical and I'll be no help. I've tested it a few times with orbits I already know all the information for but if you do find any bugs (Keep them to yourself and we'll pretend it works) you can post them here.

Thanks

[MrFlibble1978]

Made another calculator that someone may find useful. Currently only works for Kerbin will update for all the other planets & moons soon.

This will tell you what the "Periapse" should be when you know the "Apoapse" & "Orbital Period" of an orbit.

{BAĞLANTI SİLİNDİ}Another Online Calculator

It'll also tell you the what the circular orbit will be for a given orbital period by clicking the circle between the apoapse & periapse text boxes. Be sure to click the "Total Seconds" button before the "Calculate" button otherwise you'll get no answer.

Hope it helps.

[MrFlibble1978]

Don't know if anyone has used any of these so I'll just post the last here and leave it at that.

This is my in progress {BAĞLANTI SİLİNDİ}KSP multi calculator.

Currently 1 option available will give you information about your orbit around any of the bodies in the Kerbol System apart from Kerbol at the moment.

Going to be updating it frequently to add new calculations & options.

[GodricSeer]

I've been hunting for a tool to check the relative drift on my RemoteTech satellites, and your multi-calculator is by far the best I could find for it. One question though (assuming you are still even thinking about these things) when I put in an apoapsis that has decimals (such as 700.3 km) it shows a red box around the entry box, but the calculations appear to be adjusting properly. Is there a purpose for this highlight?