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Space Shuttle Tutorial: From Ground to Orbit

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Space Shuttle Tutorial: From Ground to Orbit

Postby GinGin » Sun Sep 03, 2017 12:31 am

Good evening,

It will be a topic, kind of tutorial, that will take you for 9 min before SSME ignition up to Post insertion Procedure ( fully ready to spend your holidays in space)
I used some real checklists, condensed and highlighted with colors for better understanding. You can of course follow checklist that are available in game, content are almost the same.
I just find nice, for an educationnal purpose to have a look also to real stuff at least once.

All the originals Checklists lied here : https://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/news/flightdatafiles/

I strongly recommend the reading of Thorsten Shuttle Manual : http://www.science-and-fiction.org/bookstore.html

Here my condensed one : Ascent CL https://drive.google.com/open?id=0ByWr8dBBzTv3NDlCNktMX2tTa0E
Post insertion CL https://drive.google.com/open?id=0ByWr8dBBzTv3OEt1RzFfcFV4NFk

A small note for Post insertion CL, it differs a bit from other one. Indeed, in this one, Commander , Pilot and Mission Specialist are supposed to do differents things in the cockpit, so the checks can be a bit weird to read at first glance.
Here some hints:


On the left, there is the timeline of the mission, in Mission Elapsed Time since lift off
Also, C P or MS is used to define who will do the actions ( Captain, Pilot, Specialist). Obviously here, it's gonna be us


Image


You see for example at Star Tracker activation, there is a rectangle with a number ( 12) and a page number 1-6
It's gonna be where you have to look to have the full procedure, we are page 1-7 so we have to go back on page before to have the procedure

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Also, you will see a lot a times a kind of square root near an item, it means you have to check that the system is in the correct position, no actions required normally.


If it's too much for you, no worries, in game Checklists are by far enough to perform everything.
I added a lot of non critical steps that are done in reality.







I)Prelaunch procedure



Let's start our journey, Astronauts have already been seated in the Shuttle for almost two hours, preliminaries checks are done. Configuration of computers, check of the pressurisation, and many other tests.
We start on the pad, holding the timer at 9 mn before lift off.

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Back Up Flight System (BFS) can be activated for those who use dev version of the Shuttle, it allows you to have the CRT 3 displaying the BFS, an independant fifth computer that can track errors and take control of the Shuttle in case of severe malfunctions of the primaries computers.

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We set up the timer at T-9 mn to start the final countdown and start the timer

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T-8 mn, Essential Bus are connected to their Fuel Cells, it's a triple redundancy Bus for the most critical systems.

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T-6:15 mn, APU are prestarted, Power and N2 supply for Boiler that will cool oil and hydraulics later in ascent, Controllers and Fuel tank valves opened for APU, ready to operate

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T-5:00 APU are started, and Hydraulics pumps are bringed to nominal Speed, it is a critical phase, a straight NO GO if something happens there

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HYD pressure rising to 3000 PSI

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The heaters for Water feedline supplying the Flash Evaporator ( FES) are turned off

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Cross check with in game CL, everythings look good

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T-7 seconds, we press shift I to turn on the power to the SSME

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T 0 We have a liftoff


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II) Ascent and MECO



Ascent is a phase fully automatic, which can perfectly be done in manual when you will feel more comfortable.
As Flight Gear is a simulation with realistic Flight dynamics, it's important to well monitor the parameters to avoid Over G's or speed, and react accordingly.


First step, the Mach Barrier. Shortly after Lift Off, dynamical pressure will be the highest approaching Mach one.


Approaching Mach 0.7, Thrust is reduced by 30 percent

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Then Throttle up again leaving Mach 1.2, dynamical pressure will then decrease ( Higher altitude and lesser density)

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Around 3 mn into the flight, we have to check the Evap Out temperature, which will confirm the good behavior of FES that cool Freon. FES is activated by the GPC after SRB separation.
It must be below 60° ideally, but around 70° is fine

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Take the time to appreciate the cockpit view and outside view with the sun rising above horizon.

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Almost in Orbit, Main Engine Cut Off (MECO)
Inertial speed around 26000 fps, in OPS 104 OMS 1 config.
However, our obit is 92 Nm by 71 Nm, it's a direct insertion and the apogee is in 40 mn
We are safely on orbit, no need to raise the perigee, we will not re enter the atmosphere in half an orbit, OMS 1 burn will be skipped


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We turn off the ARM/Pess switch for OMS engines and check that the External tank is well separated.
Normally, you can do a visual inspection of it by moving the orbiter, but ET disappeared for me, no joy.

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III) Orbital re configuration and OMS 2 burn



One of the first things to do after ET separation is the propellant dump (Liquid Oxygen and hydrogen that weight 3 tons in SSME and feedlines)
Normally it should start automatically, but we gonna configure it manually.
Helium lying in the SSME will be used for that, feedlines fill and drains will be opened and connected to manifold/SSME lines and helium tanks

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A nice visual of the dump, LOX going out directly through the main nozzles

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Dump finished, the Thrust Vector Control valves allowing SSME gimbals are closed

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Flights control off and Digital Auto Pilot( DAP) set in Auto

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Time now to shutdown APU and HYD
It's gonna be a reversed step compared to before, and we will let the HYD PRESS on Normal settings (not LOW)

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We can see that the HYD pressure stays at 2600 PSI. It will be kept like that in Orbit by recirculations pumps to allow the liquid to circulate in the orbiter to avoid freezing and pumps cavitation when APU will be start again

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Then, a bit of thermal management.
FES feedlines heaters are turned on to avoid water freezing, and FES Primary A is switched to ON ( however, in the sim, it's better to let it in GPC ie. up position, ON seems bugged and freon will not be cooled)
Effects will be quasi similar, to cool the Freon around 39°F

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Then we will turn on H2 and O2 heaters for Cryo Tank 1 and 2. When the Cryo tanks quantities ( LH2 and LO2) which feed the Fuel Cells and Pressu system decrease, pressure decreases. Heaters will slightly warm up the tanks to increase the pressure again to its nominal value ( I spare you the numbers)
It seems to be dummies switches

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On rear Panels, we will turn on the heaters for APU Fuel tank and lines, and for H2O boiler systems. ( A lot of heaters are turned on in orbit, many systems will freeze during long and cold exposure of the space)

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R2 Pilot panel now, AC Bus sensor switches will be put back to Auto trip. In case of AC trouble, it will deconnect automatically the faulty AC Bus to avoid shortage.
It was turned off in ascent to avoid automatic AC bus disconnection in case of trouble, which would have led to engine controllers problems( Loss of two AC busses means loss of one engine.).
Instead, Cautions were still available, and MCC and pilots could assess the gravity of the failure.

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Phew, finally time to change the Operationnal sequence ( OPS) to OPS 105, OMS 2 MNVR

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Now, some computers manipulations to prepare the burn.
First, we gonna enter some trim angle for the OMS engine, in yaw and pitch. Items 6 to 8
Then, we have to decide in item 10 the time of the burn. We gonna do it at next apogee, 20 mn from now. So MET time will be :00 days 00hours 54 mn 00sec
Then, how much thrust will we add, I want to raise the orbit to a new apogee of 150 Nm ( Heads up: 2ft/sec equal in a raise of 1Nm of the orbit height)
So I want to raise the orbit by 75 Nm, which corresponds to 150 ft/sec to add in a prograde burn
150 ft/s is then added in item 19, next to DVX ( burn in the velocity vector to change just the height of the orbit, and not the inclination or position of Apogee/perigee)

Forecasted Apogee (TGT HA) is 159 nm, fair enough. You can see that the new Perigee ( TGT HP) is equal to our current apogee. Indeed, we are raising our orbit height, so our burning point ( Old Apogee) will be lower than the new apogee, hence becoming the new perigee.

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Still 20 mn before the burn, and plenty of things to finish before.
We will close the Helium valves and AC power from Main Propulsion System ( MPS)


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Then, Umbilical doors will be closed and latched to avoid problems during entry.

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Final preparations for the burn, overhead check that all the correct valves for fuel and oxydizer OMS feedings are in correct position:

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We switch to inertial frame on the adi attitude and press item 27 to manoeuver the shuttle to the correct ignition position

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Correct position and sun disappears

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OMS Arm/Press switches are turned on again, and 15 sec before burn, we press EXE on the keypad to confirm

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Good visual on the burn, and monitoring of the parameters, 1 mn and 30 sec to go

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Burn is over, let's see the results, New apogee ( CUR) 158 Nm and perigee 91 Nm, almost as planned, perfect so. We can circularize the orbit at next apogee in 45 mn

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RCS and OMS reconfigurations after the burn, almost everything is OK, we just close the 4 He Press/VAP valves of the OMS to avoid bad surprise before next burn ( don't forget to open it again)

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Time to move to OPS 106 and to Post Insertion Actions

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IV) Post Insertion



We are on our new orbit, waiting for next apogee to circularize the orbit, or not ( at your convenience if you want to try again some OMS burn)
Many important steps will come.


First, we will switch to OPS 2, which corresponds to load Orbit program into the computers.
GPC are not emulated, so no need to go through the long checklist, GPC will be automatically reprogram at OPS 2 transition.
GPC 1 and 2 will contain OPS 2 Guidance, Navigation and Control software (GNC)
GPC 3 will be put in Halt mode ( sleep). He will be freeze dried, which means that before going to sleep, a copy of the OPS 2 software will be loaded into the GPC in case of major failure of the others. Very deep level of redundancy here.
GPC 4 will receive the System Management ( SM) OPS 2 software and will be switch in Terminate mode ( he will not communicate on Flight Critical buses anymore unlike GPC 1 and 2).
GPC 5 that contains BFS software will be put in Halt mode, as no orbit software is contained in Back Up Software and Computer.

So, lets press OPS 2 PRO to load the software, we can see on the right CRT Spec 6 displaying the new configuration of the GPC.

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Then again, some Aft Station reconfiguration concerning differents heaters ( RCS and OMS related)

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CRT4 on the aft station will be turned on and SM function selected to monitor the Shuttle Systems.
You can see on it the Propellant thermal management( SPEC 89) , all OMS and RCS parts around 60° due to the heaters we just turned on.

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Then BFS is secured, which means BFS displays is turned off and CRT 3 ( middle) screen is turned off for power saving

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Time to config the payload bay for opening, Lights will be switched on, it takes some time to warm up

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Let's manoeuver the orbiter in payload opening attitude.
We want to have the bay (-Z body axes) looking to the Earth and the rear of the shuttle ( -X body axes) to be in the velocity vector.
We will use the Universal Pointing software ( OPS 201 in GNC major function)

Item 8 and tgt 2 to specify center of earth as a target, and item 14 and body vector 3 to select - Z body axes as the body point vector
Then item 19 track and DAP auto to move automatically the Shuttle in the correct attitude

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We can see that the bay is pointing towards the Earth, and the left wing towards the velocity vector ( instead of the tail as it should be), small unexpected rotation around the -Z axis, but no biggie.

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Then we will activate the radiator, that will replace the FES to cool the Freon Loop in space. FES will be eventually used in Orbit Operations if radiators are not cooling enough the Freon, but it's very unlikely.

Flash Evap Primary B is turned on to assist radiator cooling at the beginning.
Loop 1 and 2 controllers are switched On, and Radiator Bypass valves are switched to Radiator Flow
Some Freon is now going into the Radiator to be cooled down before going back to hot Freon and average the temperature.
Normally, in real, mode is auto, and it takes 90 sec before Freon goes to radiator at start up. But we do it manually in the sim, so Bypass valves on Rad Flow.

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And finally time for Bay doors opening, quite easy in Auto mode, just a couple of switches to play with.
You can access and follow bay openings on SM Major Function, OPS 202
Almost all items of the checks are preceding by square root ( remember, it's just a " check that " item, so monitoring on GPC display)
You have to monitor that all the latches on Starboard ( and then Port) side are well opened ( OP) before the door can be opened on the concerned side.

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Monitoring

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And securing the systems after opening ( reversed process we did before)

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And results, nice

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Then Ku antenna deployement, some breakers to close to activate power and heating ( I forgot the yellow breaker for signal processing right to the two red Pyro switches)

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And Antenna deployment by using the switch on the rear panel

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Now that the door is opened, we can finalize the radiator configuration by turning off the High Load evap and the FES,

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We can monitor on Spec 88 that the Rad out and evap out are below 60 °, thermal management is working well so far.

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Almost there, time for Star Tracker activation, it will allow us later to align the IMU in respect of Stars whose the inertial position is known by GPC.
Also, ST are used to track an object in orbit ( Satellite, ISS, etc) and allow the shuttle to do some rendez vous and proximity operations ( coupled with very powerful software)


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A quick look to the GNC Spec 22, we can have a sum up of the star tracker status, item 3 and 4 allow tracking of " Star of Opportunity" ( Stars that are present in their field of view)
Everything is working well

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A few steps remaining, activation of water boilers steam vents heaters.
Recirculations Pumps are also turned on for Hydraulic management in Orbit.

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We can check on Spec 87 Hyd thermal that the pumps are working, they are going to keep the pressure of HYD liquid at 2600 psi in each APU, HYD circuit 1 is being repressurized:

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Last step, Turning off Radar Altimeters, MLS and Tacan, no need in Orbit, and power consuming


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Here we are, fully ready for Orbit Operations.
Another part will come later, concerning Fuell cell purge, IMU alignement, RMS, etc


I hope you enjoyed, it took me quite some time to do that, always hard to find the right quantity to put.
As I told you in the introduction, many items are not critical. All the critical items are provided in the " In Game Checklist".


To finish, two screens that sum up the differents short cut for GPC SM or GNC pages, very handy.


Image

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Don't hesitate if you have questions, suggestions, or constructive critics ;)
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Re: Space Shuttle Tutorial: From Ground to Orbit

Postby Johan G » Sun Sep 03, 2017 5:36 pm

This would be excellent material for a wiki article. :D

I do recommend registering to the wiki and strongly do recommend having a look at the page Help:Contents for a starter.

Tip if tight on time: I have tried to write Help:Your first article in a manner that will let impatient new wiki users get the most of the wiki with the smallest amount of reading effort. :wink:
Low-level flying — It's all fun and games till someone looses an engine. (Paraphrased from a YouTube video)
Improving the Dassault Mirage F1 (Wiki, Forum, GitLab. Work in slow progress)
Some YouTube videos
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Re: Space Shuttle Tutorial: From Ground to Orbit

Postby Thorsten » Sun Sep 03, 2017 6:08 pm

Actually this could replace the obsolete launch tutorial in the wiki

http://wiki.flightgear.org/Flying_the_S ... h_tutorial
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Re: Space Shuttle Tutorial: From Ground to Orbit

Postby GinGin » Sun Sep 03, 2017 7:30 pm

Thanks Johan.

Yep, I registered and I began to read the basics :)
I am wondering, is it possible to put link to a hoster for pictures ( I am using Image Shack) or every images have to go through the wikia upload data base?
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Re: Space Shuttle Tutorial: From Ground to Orbit

Postby bugman » Sun Sep 03, 2017 8:55 pm

You must upload all images, but you can upload all at once. Having the images on the wiki is a massive advantage, in that they will be permanently there. There are many, many old threads here on the forum that demonstrate the problem of not having the images on the wiki, for example see these posts:

Fortunately this dead image link problem can never happen on the wiki :)

Regards,
Edward
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Re: Space Shuttle Tutorial: From Ground to Orbit

Postby bugman » Sun Sep 03, 2017 9:10 pm

@GinGin: By the way, in the future maybe you could look at the C172P checklists and see how all the non-essential items are implemented there. Maybe it would be a great addition to the dev version of the Space Shuttle to expand the lists to include these, just like the C172P, so that the in-sim checklists are close to those from NASA?

Regards,
Edward
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Re: Space Shuttle Tutorial: From Ground to Orbit

Postby GinGin » Sun Sep 03, 2017 9:48 pm

Good point with volatility of hosting pics.
I will dive into wiki tutorial so :)

Why not for the checks, with a different color line to indicate that those actions are not mandatory but part of the real stuff.
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Re: Space Shuttle Tutorial: From Ground to Orbit

Postby Thorsten » Mon Sep 04, 2017 6:08 am

Maybe it would be a great addition to the dev version of the Space Shuttle to expand the lists to include these, just like the C172P, so that the in-sim checklists are close to those from NASA?


Actually the design is intentional - you need a chance to learn the Shuttle, and that isn't accomplished by going though pages and pages of switches (which you have to find first) - out of which many are not really necessary for a nominal mission.

So the in-sim checklists are to make sure you have the essentials covered to safely operate the vehicle, the Flight Manual is supposed to give you some background how it ties together and why you do certain things and as you advance you can gradually transit to NASA material.

Once you go off-nominal, checklists only are quickly of limited value because you need the situational awareness as well - you need to understand what the problem is, what response to expect etc. (and @bugman - I don't think you really have a mental picture of just how much material there is...)
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Re: Space Shuttle Tutorial: From Ground to Orbit

Postby GinGin » Mon Sep 04, 2017 7:24 am

Yep.

What I find really nice with the present checks is that every criticals steps are there, and it's not too complicated with additional optional steps that would confuse beginners.


To put every actions like in NASA stuff would be too dense I think. It can be like a barrier .
On the checks, I think there is no need for all secondaries actions, just essential and critical steps ( like in real aviation)
Then it's up to the user when he is more comfy and with a better knowledge to use some condensed real checks etc.



I am starting to understand a bit more the wiki, I thought to add a chapter at the end of the Space Shuttle page with my stuff, or is it better to create a new page ( I have to figure how first ahah) and put some links in official Shuttle page?
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Re: Space Shuttle Tutorial: From Ground to Orbit

Postby Thorsten » Mon Sep 04, 2017 8:15 am

I think you can just replace the old tutorials for the mission phases (or, if you don't feel comfy, add yours below) - I sort of like the concept of having things gathered by mission phase.

So I wouldn't create a new page at this point.
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Re: Space Shuttle Tutorial: From Ground to Orbit

Postby GinGin » Mon Sep 04, 2017 8:22 am

Ok, cool.
Easier for me, less code to put, just edit work :)
Anything to rework in the screens or is it clear enough?
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Re: Space Shuttle Tutorial: From Ground to Orbit

Postby bugman » Mon Sep 04, 2017 12:58 pm

If you need a testing page before editing the real one, i.e. a sandbox, try user subpages such as:

Regards,
Edward
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Re: Space Shuttle Tutorial: From Ground to Orbit

Postby GinGin » Mon Sep 04, 2017 6:30 pm

Perfect, Gonna test that.
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Re: Space Shuttle Tutorial: From Ground to Orbit

Postby sp-lcz » Mon Sep 04, 2017 7:12 pm

It is a great job! Thank you!
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Re: Space Shuttle Tutorial: From Ground to Orbit

Postby GinGin » Tue Sep 05, 2017 9:39 am

Thanks Sp, hope you will enjoy the space adventure :)


I am progressing with Wiki.
To keep your structure Thorsten is a very nice idea, would it be possible to add other part and subpart to the mission phases directory, like:

*Flying the Suttle- Intact aborts ( with RTLS, TAL etc subparts)
**TAL
***RTLS etc

Flying the Suttle-Contigency aborts
**EO green
***EO blue etc

Flying the Suttle-Off nominal situations
**situation 1
***situation 2 etc

I still have to understand a bit (lot) better how to create those pages that are linked with the [[ ]] shortcut

Anyway, I am seeing clearer in it.


However, I saw uploads where limited to 2mb , almost all my images are a bit heavier.
Do you know a software that allows quick resize of plenty images in once?
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