This checklist will proceed on the assumption that you have a joystick. If you don't, here are
the equivalent keyboard commands:
pitch up - num pad 2
pitch down - num pad 8
roll left - num pad 4
roll right - num pad 6
yaw left - num pad 1
yaw right - num pad 3
Huh?
Pre-Launch Briefing:
Things will move pretty quickly now compared to that boring drive to the runway.
Should things go wrong, don't hesitate to slow down time ('r' on keyboard) or pause ('control +
p' on keyboard) to get your wits about you.
In a crisis it is often advisable (time permitting) to try to fix one thing at a time. We don't
naturally belong suspended in air or space and we can get disoriented and overwhelmed
quickly.
You've got plenty of time and unlimited fuel so don't be in a rush. Make slow small
adjustments with the stick and controls.
Here we go!
28 - Ensure that you are in cockpit view. Double check that your heading is 330, that time
acceleration is set to normal and that the sim is not paused.
29 - Engage main engines.
Hit 'control' + 'num pad +' on keyboard
Monitor the upper left of your screen. You will see the green bar expand to the right for the
'main' engines. Once the green bar reaches all the way to the right you can release the
'control' & 'num pad +' keyboard keys. Engines are now at full.
31 - Keep her on the Runway!
Use rudder pedals
or
'Num Pad 1' & 'Num Pad 3' on keyboard
32 - At 200 m/s pull back slightly on the stick.
Don't pull too much. When she's ready, she'll pitch up and fly. Don't rush it!
33 - After take off, retract gear. 'g' on keyboard.
34 - Pull back slightly and slowly on stick until the Velocity Vector rises to just over 10
degrees. Huh?
35 - Slowly move the joystick to the right to roll the ship approx 45 degrees.
36 - Pull back very slightly on the stick. Watch the compass ribbon at the top of the HUD. It
should start moving slowly from right to left. You are now making a slow right hand turn.
While executing this turn, you must also ensure that the Velocity Vector does not dip below 10
degrees. Use small calm adjustments to the stick.
38 - When the compass ribbon reads 09 (90 degrees or East) center the stick. Make stick
adjustments until the Pitch Ladder is exactly vertical.
Until now the DG has been performing as a standard aircraft. We will now take it into the
vertical and power for space! You may want to pause and pre-read steps 39 thru 41.
39 - Slowly pull back on the stick. Keep pulling back slowly until the Velocity Vector is 60
degrees on the Pitch Ladder. You may need to apply a slight amount of back stick to keep
the Velocity Vector stationary at this location. As you ascend, the Velocity Vector will try to
drop. Counter this by pitching up but don't let your Directional Indicator rise above 80
degrees. If your Directional Indicator is at 80 and the Velocity Vector is still dropping, let it go.
Try to keep the Pitch Ladder vertical for the duration of your ascent.
40 - Monitor your altitude.
At approx 60 km pitch down until your Direction Indicator is at 10 degrees on the Pitch Ladder.
We have sufficient upward velocity for now but must increase our horizontal velocity. You
can now let go of the stick and fly the ship with the num pad keyboard keys. Scroll to the top
of this checklist to reference the keyboard commands for ship rotation.
41 - You will notice the Velocity Vector slowly coming down the Pitch Ladder. It is important
that it not go below '00'. As it crosses 10 degrees (where your Direction Indicator is) power
the Hover Engines to full using the '0' (zero) key on the keyboard num pad.
42 - Reference the column of numbers on your left MFD. Search for your current ApA. This
number reflects the highest projected altitude of your current flight path. You will notice that
this number is changing. That is because you are nose up and powered. This drives your
ApA higher.
43 - Keep an eye on your ApA readout. Try to anticipate when it will reach 240.0. When it
does, use 'num pad .' (period key) to reduce hover thrust to zero. Hit the '[' key board key to
put your craft into a prograde attitude. The automated attitude system will rotate your craft
and point it directly at your Velocity Vector. This involves rolling to the left. Do not interfere!
Huh?
44 - Monitor your ApT. It is important that this number not fall below zero!
45 - Monitor your Ecc. Anticipate when it will reach 0 (zero). When it does, hit the 'num pad *'
(asereisk) keyboard key to kill forward thrust. Don't worry if you were a bit early or late.
Huh?
Note: If your Ecc is going up, your readout skipped past zero! Hit 'num pad *' (asterisk) to kill
the main engines.
46 - Check your left MFD. You should have a green circle completely encompassing an inner
blue circle.
47 - Ensure all engines are disengaged:
num pad 5 - hit once to kill all craft rotation
num pad . (period) - hold down for about 2-3 seconds to ensure hover thrusters are powered
down
'control' + 'num pad -' (minus) - Hold down for about 2-3 seconds
Sometimes the thrusters or engines get bumped accidentally. The readout shows they are off
but in truth there is a tiny amount of thrust being emitted. We want all engines to be totally
powered down.
48 - Congratulations, Cadet! You are in orbit and officially an Orbinaut!
This sim isn't just wrangling a control panel, ya know! Hit 'F1' on the keyboard and enjoy the
view!
These keys will affect the camera view. Experiment and have fun. You've got lots of time now
that you are in a stable orbit!
Page Up - Zoom out
Page Down - Zoom in
Control + Arrow keys - rotation
X - increase field of view
Z - decrease field of view
49 - When you've seen all you want to, return to the cockpit 'F1' on keyboard and SAVE your
mission.
the equivalent keyboard commands:
pitch up - num pad 2
pitch down - num pad 8
roll left - num pad 4
roll right - num pad 6
yaw left - num pad 1
yaw right - num pad 3
Huh?
Pre-Launch Briefing:
Things will move pretty quickly now compared to that boring drive to the runway.
Should things go wrong, don't hesitate to slow down time ('r' on keyboard) or pause ('control +
p' on keyboard) to get your wits about you.
In a crisis it is often advisable (time permitting) to try to fix one thing at a time. We don't
naturally belong suspended in air or space and we can get disoriented and overwhelmed
quickly.
You've got plenty of time and unlimited fuel so don't be in a rush. Make slow small
adjustments with the stick and controls.
Here we go!
28 - Ensure that you are in cockpit view. Double check that your heading is 330, that time
acceleration is set to normal and that the sim is not paused.
29 - Engage main engines.
Hit 'control' + 'num pad +' on keyboard
Monitor the upper left of your screen. You will see the green bar expand to the right for the
'main' engines. Once the green bar reaches all the way to the right you can release the
'control' & 'num pad +' keyboard keys. Engines are now at full.
31 - Keep her on the Runway!
Use rudder pedals
or
'Num Pad 1' & 'Num Pad 3' on keyboard
32 - At 200 m/s pull back slightly on the stick.
Don't pull too much. When she's ready, she'll pitch up and fly. Don't rush it!
33 - After take off, retract gear. 'g' on keyboard.
34 - Pull back slightly and slowly on stick until the Velocity Vector rises to just over 10
degrees. Huh?
35 - Slowly move the joystick to the right to roll the ship approx 45 degrees.
36 - Pull back very slightly on the stick. Watch the compass ribbon at the top of the HUD. It
should start moving slowly from right to left. You are now making a slow right hand turn.
While executing this turn, you must also ensure that the Velocity Vector does not dip below 10
degrees. Use small calm adjustments to the stick.
38 - When the compass ribbon reads 09 (90 degrees or East) center the stick. Make stick
adjustments until the Pitch Ladder is exactly vertical.
Until now the DG has been performing as a standard aircraft. We will now take it into the
vertical and power for space! You may want to pause and pre-read steps 39 thru 41.
39 - Slowly pull back on the stick. Keep pulling back slowly until the Velocity Vector is 60
degrees on the Pitch Ladder. You may need to apply a slight amount of back stick to keep
the Velocity Vector stationary at this location. As you ascend, the Velocity Vector will try to
drop. Counter this by pitching up but don't let your Directional Indicator rise above 80
degrees. If your Directional Indicator is at 80 and the Velocity Vector is still dropping, let it go.
Try to keep the Pitch Ladder vertical for the duration of your ascent.
40 - Monitor your altitude.
At approx 60 km pitch down until your Direction Indicator is at 10 degrees on the Pitch Ladder.
We have sufficient upward velocity for now but must increase our horizontal velocity. You
can now let go of the stick and fly the ship with the num pad keyboard keys. Scroll to the top
of this checklist to reference the keyboard commands for ship rotation.
41 - You will notice the Velocity Vector slowly coming down the Pitch Ladder. It is important
that it not go below '00'. As it crosses 10 degrees (where your Direction Indicator is) power
the Hover Engines to full using the '0' (zero) key on the keyboard num pad.
42 - Reference the column of numbers on your left MFD. Search for your current ApA. This
number reflects the highest projected altitude of your current flight path. You will notice that
this number is changing. That is because you are nose up and powered. This drives your
ApA higher.
43 - Keep an eye on your ApA readout. Try to anticipate when it will reach 240.0. When it
does, use 'num pad .' (period key) to reduce hover thrust to zero. Hit the '[' key board key to
put your craft into a prograde attitude. The automated attitude system will rotate your craft
and point it directly at your Velocity Vector. This involves rolling to the left. Do not interfere!
Huh?
44 - Monitor your ApT. It is important that this number not fall below zero!
45 - Monitor your Ecc. Anticipate when it will reach 0 (zero). When it does, hit the 'num pad *'
(asereisk) keyboard key to kill forward thrust. Don't worry if you were a bit early or late.
Huh?
Note: If your Ecc is going up, your readout skipped past zero! Hit 'num pad *' (asterisk) to kill
the main engines.
46 - Check your left MFD. You should have a green circle completely encompassing an inner
blue circle.
47 - Ensure all engines are disengaged:
num pad 5 - hit once to kill all craft rotation
num pad . (period) - hold down for about 2-3 seconds to ensure hover thrusters are powered
down
'control' + 'num pad -' (minus) - Hold down for about 2-3 seconds
Sometimes the thrusters or engines get bumped accidentally. The readout shows they are off
but in truth there is a tiny amount of thrust being emitted. We want all engines to be totally
powered down.
48 - Congratulations, Cadet! You are in orbit and officially an Orbinaut!
This sim isn't just wrangling a control panel, ya know! Hit 'F1' on the keyboard and enjoy the
view!
These keys will affect the camera view. Experiment and have fun. You've got lots of time now
that you are in a stable orbit!
Page Up - Zoom out
Page Down - Zoom in
Control + Arrow keys - rotation
X - increase field of view
Z - decrease field of view
49 - When you've seen all you want to, return to the cockpit 'F1' on keyboard and SAVE your
mission.
| LAUNCH, ASCENT & ORBIT |
