Texas X Files
X 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9


the program
splash
overview
in/outputs
free download
source code

help files
introduction
starting off
the method
calculations
initial state
the plots
constants
print outs
Earth escape
Mars capture



















Mars Help - starting off



The most important thing you should know is that there will be no output in any of the Plot or Data forms until you do a calculation!

It's easiest to begin with no thrusts specified and no options selected. That will generate a plot that is close to the nominal trajectory. However, when you look at the plots, you'll see that it never reaches Mars! It just follows Mars around the bend until the output is truncated. To get to Mars, I suggest a mid course thrust of 1.0 km/sec to begin with. This will generate a complete trajectory report and plots.

Now you can experiment. For example, keep the mid course thrust constant, and see if it helps reduce the total thrust by selecting some of the mission parameters. Study the plots to see how they differ, and determine if it's worth while to design a mission with these features.

Once you become familiar with the parameters, you can try a course correction at Earth. As described elsewhere in the Help, this changes the entire trajectory! You can see the changes in the rotated heliocentric plots, by comparison with the yellow Hohmann Transfer, which is always plotted out. However, when you apply an initial thrust, the modified Hohmann with no mission parameters selected is the "nominal trajectory."

© 2003 by will h. clark ii
_____________________________________
banner advertising below this line