SOFTDOCS FOR SPACE SHUTTLE FILE VERSION KRAKED BY THE DISK JOCKEY. COMMAND KEYS AS FOLLOWS: ------------------------ ESC = EXIT THIS PROGRAM CTRL P = PRINT LISTING CTRL L = VIEW/PRINT IN LOWER CASE >>ANY OTHER KEY TO START DOCUMENTATION<< COMMAND KEYS DURING LISTING: ---------------------------- ESC = EXIT LISTING ARROW KEYS CONTROL LISTING SPEED PRINTER IN WHICH SLOT? (1-7,ESC) Space Shuttle Documentation by the Disk Jockey. ----------------------------------------------- Special Control Features: ------------------------- Ctrl R: Aborts flight and returns to demo screen. Ctrl S: Turns sound on and off. Ctrl X: Reverses X axis control direction of Joystick. Ctrl Y: Reverses Y axis control direction of Joystick. Ctrl J: Changes control from keyboard to joystick. Ctrl K: Changes control from Joystick to keyboard. Effect Effect Effect Before/ Key When TRN is on When ROT is on After Orbit Stage -------------------------------------------------------------------- <-- (Z) Altitude decrease OMS Burn = button & joystick forw --> (Z) Altitude increase OMS Burn = button & joystick back I Speed increase Pitch down = joystick pushed forw J Y Axis to left Yaw Left = joystick to left K Y Axis to right Yaw Right = joystick to right M Speed decrease Pitch up = joystick pulled back Once a key is pressed, action will continue until you press the SPACEBAR to disengage. Mission Profile. ---------------- You are in control of the space shuttle, Discovery, on the 101st shuttle mission of the Space Transportation System. Your target is an orbiting satellite approximately 210 nautical miles above the Earth. Your mission: To launch, rendezvous and dock with the satellite as many times as you can, using a minimum amount of fuel, then return safely to Earth. A word of caution: Each time you successfully dock, the satellite's orbit becomes more erratic. Equipment Check. ---------------- Flight mode selection: Press Spacebar, 1, 2, 3 to cycle through flight mode options. Press RETURN once selection has been made. Primary Engine/Countdown Key: Press "E" to start primary engine and initiate countdown clock. Press "E" again when orbit altitude is reached. Cargo Door Key: Press "C" to open/close cargo bay doors when orbit altitude is reached. Landing Gear Key: Press "G" to lower landing gear just prior to touchdown. Joystick Controller: A realistic directional hand controller forward and back moves shuttle forward or back (x-axis). Left and right controls left/right movement (y-axis). With the fire button depressed, forward or back stick movement moves shuttle up or down (z-axis). Also the fire button has other uses in Launch, Orbit, and Reentry phases as described in those sections. Status Check: Press SPACEBAR to cycle through readouts of this important information: Position, axes and pitch, mission elapsed time (MET), and remaining fuel (flight #3). Flight Selection. ----------------- There are 3 different flight modes. Spend time with training flights #1 and #2 before taking on all the challenge of a real, unassisted shuttle mission (flight #3). Flights can only be selected before countdown begins. Flight #1 Autosimulator: This is a combination demonstration flight and autosimulator. The shuttle flies an abbreviated mission. You do not use any of the console controls. In this flight mode, most aborts are ignored. Whenever you touch the joystick, you can take control from that point until rendezvous. Then you can only use the joystick controller to correct your Y axis and land. Flight 2 Simulator: Astronauts spend 1000's of hours practicing in ground-based simulators before flying an actual shuttle mission. In this mode, experience the challenge and demands of a real mission - with a couple of important exceptions. You don't use any fuel units, so you have all the time you need to complete the mission. Also, onboard computers will assist you during flight by compensating for less than perfect piloting skills. Most aborts are overridden, but your flight indicator display will alert you when you've erred. Flight #3 STS 101: A full-fledged shuttle flight. All aborts are operative and flight conditions are quite realistic. Good luck! Flight Evaluation. ------------------ Abort Indicator: If critical problems occur at any time during a flight, you may receive a "Launch Scrub" or "Mission Abort" signal. If this happens, your flight has ended. Check and look up C/W number to find out what went wrong. Ranking: If you safely land the shuttle at Edwards Air Force Base in flight #3, you performance will be computer evaluated. Your ranking will be determined by the number of successful dockings and the number of fuel units remaining at the end of the flight. Ranking Description docking fuel -------------------------------------------------------------------- Commander. Responsible for overall crew safety and 6 or 7500 flight execution. greater Pilot. Second in command, assists in all flight 4.5 4500 functions. Mission Qualified to coordinate mission scientific 2.3 3500 Specialist. objectives. Payload Qualified to operate specific payload and 1.0 1 Specialist. coordinate shuttle housekeeping. Launch. ------- Objective: Launch your shuttle and attempt to arrive as close to the satellite's orbit as possible. Follow a roller coaster path, and continually match engine thrust with the computer indicator. Stay on the course shown on the trajectory display, and correct your plane as indicated in the small box. Each area is critical. Incorrect trajectory burns up extra fuel and may abort your flight. If you plane is far out of alignment at MECO (main engine shut off), it will be much more difficult to dock with the target. Launch Checklist. ----------------- Launch Phases: As you fire your main engines and lift off from the pad, you'll be going through 3 separate phases. The numbers 1, 2, 3 on your computer screen refer to points along the track where (1) SRB's (solid rocket booster) are fired, (2) the shuttle reaches maximum acceleration, (3) engine shutdown approaches. The X indicates MECO (main engine cut off). Thrust: Notice the two long horizontal bars on the control panel. "T" means thrust, "C" for computer. The "C" arrow represents a signal from the onboard computer indicating the proper thrust needed during each phase of lift-off. You control thrust with the joystick button. Keep both "T" and "C" arrows aligned. If you don't, you will be alerted by an alarm which indicates you are wasting fuel. Immediately press the joystick button to increase or decrease thrust. Hold Down Bolts: Though your engines are firing, you won't leave the launch pad until MET + 3. The Hold Down Bolts will keep your shuttle on the ground until your engines develop enough thrust to overcome the force of gravity. Trajectory/Plane: In addition to regulating thrust, you also need to follow the correct trajectory (joystick forward/back) and adjust your plane (joystick left/right). Line Horn: If you stray from the indicated launch trajectory, you will waste fuel. To alert you that this is happening, a warning horn will sound. This alarm can help you avoid an abort situation. Separation: A yellow flash at about 26 nautical miles will indicate Solid Rocket Booster Separation (SRBSEP). Another flash shortly after MECO will alert you that the Main External Tank has fallen away into the Indian Ocean (ETSEP). Launch Sequence: ---------------- 1) Select flight mode by pressing the SPACEBAR and keys 1, 2, or 3. Then press RETURN once selection has been made. 2) Wait approximately 5 seconds for all systems to become operational. 3) When digital countdown clock appears, press "E" to activate Main Engine and initiate countdown. 4) At MET-004, press the fire button to ignite main engines, then use this button to keep "T" and "C" arrows aligned until you reach orbit. 5) Watch Trajectory Tracking Screen and use the joystick to maintain correct ascension track and left-right alignment (horn sounds to warn you reached orbit). 5) Watch Trajectory Tracking Screen and use the joystick to maintain correct ascension track and left-right alignment (horn sounds to warn you of trajectory varance). - Move joystick forward or backwards to maintain correct trajectory course. Try to stay on or just below the plotted line. - Move joystick left or right to keep dot centered in small "plane indicator" box. 6) At about 205 nautical miles, press "E" to shut off the main engine. The closer you come to the 210 mile altitude, the nearer you'll be to the target satillete's orbit. WARNING: If you shut off the main engine at less than 195 miles, the shuttle will fall to Earth! Stablizing Orbit. ----------------- Objective: Establish a stable by opening Cargo Bay Doors for heat release and adjusting shuttle position to achieve visual contact with Earth. Cargo Bay Doors: Your first task is to open the bay doors. This is vital and must be done during the first orbit. Radiators that shed excess heat generated during the launch are on the inner surfaces of these doors. If the doors remain closed, heat builds up inside the shuttle and the warning horn sounds. You then have just 15 seconds to open the doors. If you don't, the mission will be aborted. Nose Down Maneuver: When the shuttle first achieves orbit, the nose of the craft is pointed up, out of the line of sight of the satellite. In order to dock, you must see the satellite. Adjust the pitch, as explained below to bring the shuttle's nose down. When you do this, you'll be able to see the blue Earth through the window. Cargo bay door opening and pitch adjustment must be performed on the first orbit before any further operations should be attempted. Sequence to Stablize Orbit: 1) Press "C" to open cargo bay doors. 2) Press "R" to activate OMS Rotational Engines. 3) Move joystick forward or back to set pitch to -28. Stable Orbit Summary: Cargo bay door opening and pitch adjustment must be performed on the first orbit before any further operations should be attempted.