Alain Capt

TECHNICAL INFORMATION

You can disable inhabited vessels vulnerability feature by adding, at the end of the scenario parameters list for these vessels, the parameter "INVULNERABLE 1". If you add this parameter, the vessel(s) will remain invulnerable during all the rest of the mission, even if you exit and restart the simulation. When this parameter is specified in the Apollo vessel, it will be automatically transmitted to the LM vessel. The contrary is not true, so you can set the LM to invulnerable, while keeping the Apollo vessel vulnerable. In the same way, the parameter "PROBABILITY" allow you to change the default probability of 0.05 %, for the damage & failure engine, for both Apollo & LM vessels, in the valid range from 0.001 to 1.00 %. This parameter is specified in Apollo vessel ONLY and is automatically passed to LM vessel, as soon as it exist. This should allow you to tune events probability to your taste. You can also disable the LM landing dust effect with the "NODUST 1" parameter specified in either Apollo or LM vessel. If specified into Apollo vessel, it will be automatically transmitted to LM vessel as soon as the vessel exist.

The AMSO Saturn V autopilot supports a launch azimuth correction. A correction angle, in degrees-decimal, can be specified in the launch scenario file, with parameter "AZIMUTCOR". This azimuth correction is applied to the natural launch azimuth, which is the ground heading minus 180 degrees (Apollo fly on the back during ascent). Autopilot executes this correction by rotating Saturn V in the very beginning of the flight. For example "AZIMUTCOR -18" will aim a launch azimuth of 72 degrees. According to NASA specifications, "AZIMUTCOR" is limited in the range -20 to +20 degrees, which correspond to an azimuth range of 70 to 110 degrees. Values out of range are trimmed automatically to appropriate limit.
You can also specify several other parameters which allow internal autopilot programs to refine their navigation. These parameters are also passed externally, via the IPC feature. So external applications, like an external instrument “plug in”, can use them too.
MJDLOI: MJD time of the LOI (Lunar Orbit Moon). If this parameter is specified the AMSO Saturn V autopilot, it will steer the yaw axis in order to intercept the Moon plane at the time of LOI during the ascent to Earth parking orbit. The result is an Earth parking orbit very precise for the subsequent TLI burn. IMFD5 uses this parameter to preset the arrival time of the program “Intercept Target”.
MJDLDG: MJD time of the Moon landing. This parameter is not used yet in AMSO. IMFD5 uses it with the landing base location to compute the angular offset with landing base, displayed into the “Map” program.
MJDPEC/ALTPEC: MJD time and altitude in km of the pericynthion (NASA term for lunar perigee) of the free return TLI orbit. These parameters are not used yet.
MJDSPL/SPLLON/SPLLAT: MJD time and coordinates in degrees decimal of the final mission splashdown. These parameters are not used yet in AMSO. IMFD5 uses them to preset “Base Approach” program.
None of these parameters have any validity check. So it is the responsibility of the user to specify correct data. With incorrect or impossible data, the behavior of internal or external applications using them will be totally unpredictable.
Because I wasn't actually able to figure out how to implement docking with the IDS mode, docking is actually restricted to Orbiter visual docking mode only.
A very great effort has been made to make AMSO fully transparent with save and restore states. This is something that is sometimes VERY COMPLEX TO DO, but normally you should be able to save a flight - AT ANY TIME - and when you will restore the saved scenario, you should recover EXACTLY the state you had when you saved. You can even save during any autopilot phases.
Throttle level will be restored ignoring the joystick setting at the loading time, so you get the real throttle setting you had when you saved.
ATTENTION!!! To work properly, this feature requires, of course, a good joystick, which has perfectly stable data, when you do not move the command. Depending on the joystick, it might be necessary to set the throttle command to minimum or maximum to get stable data.
AMSO supports missions "AS-503" (Apollo 8) to "AS-512" (Apollo 17). AMSO also allows flying two fictitious missions; the "AS-513" will use the Moon landing base "Marius Hills" and "AS-514" uses the "Copernicus" base. In fact, AMSO is able to fly any "AS-XXX" missions. Missions under "AS-503" will simply be configured like "AS-503" and over "AS-514", like "AS-514". "AS-999" is reserved (used for the Tribute to LazyD). If you want to create a fictitious mission launch scenario for a specific landing base or flight configuration which is inside AMSO mission range, you must simply use the same mission designation and set the launch date and time as you wish. Any scenario you might create yourself MUST use a valid designation. This is "AS", followed by a minus sign, then a three digits number. For example "AS-000" is a valid designation, "AS-01" not. This will be the name of the main Apollo vessel. All other vessels names will be prefixed with this name, followed by an underscore character and then, the vessel name itself, like for example "AM-512_LM_vessel".
The third stage, when you extract the LM, assumes you are flying a correct TLI path and you extracted the LM at the scheduled time (about 4 hours 10 minutes after lift off). Eight minutes after extraction, the 3rd stage will turn retrograde and just slow down a bit. The 3rd stage should normally enter in the sphere of the Moon’s influence and if it is the case, it will check if the path collides with Moon. If not, it will perform another retrograde thrust to obtain this collision path. During all these maneuvers, time acceleration will be limited to 10x. If these maneuvers fail for any reason, like not enough fuel, or a bad TLI path, or LM extraction at very inaccurate time, the 3^rd stage will be probably lost in the space. This maneuver is done only since Apollo 13. For earlier missions, the 3rd stage will simply orient prograde, and burn all the remaining fuel and get a solar orbit.
AMSO is built from the following real data found on:

http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/saturnv.htm

Specifications of Saturn V
LEO Payload: 118,000 kg to: 185 km Orbit at: 28.0 degrees.

Payload: 47,000 kg. to a: Translunar trajectory

Liftoff Thrust: 3,440,310 kgf.

Total Mass: 3,038,500 kg

Core Diameter: 10.1 m.

Total Length: 102.0 m.

Development Cost $: 7,439.60 million. in 1966 average dollars

Launch Price $: 431.00 million. in 1967 price dollars

Stage 1 module:

Gross Mass: 2,286,217 kg.

Empty Mass: 135,218 kg.

Thrust (vac): 3,946,624 kgf.

Isp: 304 sec.

Burn time: 161 sec.

Isp(sl): 265 sec.
Stage 2 module:

Gross Mass: 490,778 kg.

Empty Mass: 39,048 kg.

Thrust (vac): 526,764 kgf.

Isp: 421 sec.

Burn time: 390 sec.

Isp(sl): 200 sec.
Stage 3 module:

Gross Mass: 119,900 kg.

Empty Mass: 13,300 kg.

Thrust (vac): 105,200 kgf.

Isp: 421 sec.

Burn time: 475 sec.

Isp(sl): 200 sec.
Specifications of Apollo vessel
Total Length: 11.0 m.

Maximum Diameter: 3.9 m.

Total Habitable Volume: 6.17 m3.

Total Mass: 30,329 kg.

Total Propellants: 18,488 kg.

Total RCS Impulse: 384,860.00 kgf-sec.

Primary Engine Thrust: 9,979 kgf.

Main Engine Propellants: N2O4/UDMH.

Main Engine Isp: 314 sec.

Total spacecraft delta v: 2,804 m/s.

Electric system: 6.30 total average kW.

Electric System: 690.00 total kWh.

Electrical System: Fuel Cells.
Command Module:

Length: 3.5 m.

Basic Diameter: 3.9 m.

Max Diameter: 3.9 m.

Habitable Volume: 6.17 m3.

Overall Mass: 5,806 kg.

Structure Mass: 1,567 kg.

Heat Shield Mass: 848 kg.

Reaction Control System: 400 kg.

Recovery Equipment: 245 kg.

Navigation Equipment: 505 kg.

Telemetry Equipment: 200 kg.

Electrical Equipment: 700 kg.

Communications Systems: 100 kg.

Crew Seats and Provisions: 550 kg.

Crew mass: 216 kg.

Miscellaneous Contingency: 200 kg.

Environmental Control System: 200 kg.

Propellants: 75 kg

RCS Coarse No x Thrust: 12 x 42 kgf.

RCS Propellants: N2O4/UDMH.

RCS Isp: 290 sec.

RCS Total Impulse: 26,178.00 kgf-sec.

L/D Hypersonic: 0.3.

Maneuver System Propellants: n/a.

Electric System: 20.0 kWh.

Electric system type:

Batteries. Battery: 1,000.0 Ah.

Service Module:

Length: 7.6 m.

Basic Diameter: 3.9 m.

Max Diameter: 3.9 m.

Overall Mass: 24,523 kg.

Structure Mass: 1,910 kg.

Electrical Equipment: 1,200 kg.

Maneuvering System: 3,000 kg.

Propellants: 18413 kg

RCS Coarse No x Thrust: 16 x 45 kgf.

RCS Propellants: N2O4/UDMH.

RCS Isp: 290 sec.

RCS Total Impulse: 358,682.12 kgf-sec.

Maneuver System Thrust: 9,979 kgf.

Maneuver System Propellants: N2O4/UDMH.

Maneuver System Isp: 314 sec.

Maneuver system delta v: 2,804 m/s.

Electric system: 6.30 average kW.

Electric System: 670.0 kWh.

Electric system type: Fuel Cells.

Specifications of Apollo LM vessel
Total Length: 6.4 m.

Maximum Diameter: 4.3 m.

Total Habitable Volume: 6.65 m3.

Total Mass: 14,696 kg.

Total Propellants: 10,523 kg.

Primary Engine Thrust: 4,491 kgf.

Main Engine Propellants: N2O4/UDMH.

Main Engine Isp: 311 sec.

Total spacecraft delta v: 4,700 m/s.

Electric System: 50.00 total kWh.

Electrical System: Batteries.
Ascent Stage Module:

Length: 3.5 m.

Basic Diameter: 4.3 m.

Max Diameter: 4.3 m.

Habitable Volume: 6.65 m3.

Overall Mass: 4,547 kg.

Crew mass: 144 kg.

Propellants: 2358 kg

RCS Coarse No x Thrust: 16 X 45 kgf.

RCS Propellants: N2O4/UDMH.

RCS Isp: 290 sec.

Maneuver System Thrust: 1,588 kgf.

Maneuver System Propellants: N2O4/UDMH.

Maneuver System Isp: 311 sec.

Maneuver system delta v: 2,220 m/s.

Electric System: 17.0 kWh.

Electric system type: Batteries. Battery: 800.0 Ah.
Descent Stage Module:

Length: 2.8 m.

Basic Diameter: 4.2 m.

Max Diameter: 9.4 m.

Overall Mass: 10,149 kg.

Propellants: 8165 kg

Maneuver System Thrust: 4,491 kgf.

Maneuver System Propellants: N2O4/UDMH.

Maneuver System Isp: 311 sec.

Maneuver system delta v: 2,470 m/s.

Electric System: 33.0 kWh.

Electric system type: Batteries. Battery: 1,600.0 Ah.

Specifications of earth parking orbit insertion
AMSO tries to fully respect the following Earth orbit insertion parameters taken from several NASA documents:
Orbit altitude: 187.7 km (101.4 nm)

Orbit type: circular

1st stage:

Overall burn time: 161 seconds

5th engine burn time: 136 seconds
1st stage separation:

altitude: 67.2

retro-burst of 1st stage: 0.75 second

Ullage ring burn time: 4 seconds

2nd stage burn start after separation: 1.6 second

Ullage ring separation: 28 seconds after 2nd stage burn start

Escape tower separation: 5.7 seconds after ullage ring separation
2nd stage:

Overall burn time: 390 seconds

5th engine burn time: 296 seconds
2nd stage separation:

altitude: 187.7

retro-burst of 2st stage: 1.50 second

Ullage rocket burn time: 4 seconds

3nd stage burn start after separation: 3.1 seconds
3rd stage first burn to get orbit:

Overall burn time: 145 seconds

KNOWN PROBLEMS

- Unfortunately, OrbiterSound does not allow controlling its internal mp3 player. In the "Angel to Paradise" sequence, the "Tribute to LazyD" ceremony and finally, the "welcome back" ceremony, they are mp3 pieces of music played. So, if you are using OrbiterSound mp3 player, while playing with AMSO, you may hear two pieces of music in the same time. AMSO version previous to 1.21, implemented an half solution to this problem. But this has been removed for technical reasons.

- The LM autopilot "rendezvous" program: the closer you are to the CSM, the more difficult it is to achieve a successful rendezvous. So avoid a re-launch rendezvous, if you are close to the CSM.
- When Orbiter is minimized: when you return to it, you may find a very strange situation. For example, if you minimize during an approach, you won't probably find your LM landed as expected (Not re-tested with Orbiter 2010).
- When you toggle from one ship to the other, unfortunately some parameters of some Orbiter instruments are not restored back. It is only the case if both vessels are set to the same value (for example, the same landing base).
- Orbiter "ground friction" parameter unfortunately seems to wildly depend on the frame rate. Therefore, behaviors which rely on this parameter may be very different, depending on the frame rate you get. This concern mostly Astronauts "Moon Walk" and lunar rover behaviors. Normally, if you don't disable Orbiter vertical synch video parameter, you shouldn't have any problems, because the frame rate will be limited to your screen refresh frequency.
- Laboratory objects, when released by the astronauts, sometimes miss their "Lunar landing". This seems to happen if you just performed a salto jump previously.
- While walking, Astronauts may sometimes start to slide on the ground. Most of the time, he will stop soon after, but in the case he don't, change the focus with the "M" key. This action should normally stop the sliding.
- Don't even touch the mouse wheel inside any Virtual Cockpit, before to have changed almost once, the default camera direction (mouse move while keeping mouse right button pressed), or you will have an immediate CTD !!! This is an Orbiter bug I was unable to overturn. In fact, simply never use mouse wheel in VC as it simply do nothing, except crashing to desktop !!!

CREDITS

- I would like to thanks first and from the depth of my heart, "LazyD", and Luis Teixeira to have offered to me, their marvelous work. For "LazyD" the implementation in AMSO of his great autopilot code for the LM and the CSM. For Luis, all the stunting 3d work he made to enhance many AMSO meshes, creates the incredible launch tower, the Pad-39A and all the 3d landing sites, both virtual cockpits, etc... It was great and very efficient collaborations. Luis is now an essential member of the AMSO development team, like was also “LazyD”. Rest in peace my dear “LazyD” !!!

- Many thanks to Thomas Ruth for his so beautiful Saturn V stack meshes, which I have used to rebuild all AMSO meshes involving Saturn V rocket.
- Many thanks to Geoffrey de Kergariou to have remarked and corrected the decoration texture error (black stripes), of the Saturn V 2^nd and 3^rd inter-stage section. Incredible ! Nobody remarked that before 2011, including me !!!
- Many thanks to Rodion Herrera, for the astronauts and the Lunar Rover meshes, same to John Graves for the Lab items. Without their nice work, EVA activities implementation wouldn't have been possible.
- Many thanks to Max Grueter, a Swiss compatriot and very talented 3d artist, for his authorization to use his beautiful Astronaut mesh. This allowed Luis to spare a lot of time for the rework of all Astronauts in AMSO.
- Many thanks to Jean-Christophe Lemay for his beautiful remix of the music "La Marche Funèbre" of Frederic Chopin, which fit exactly to the mystical Angel sequence. Please consult the Internet site of this musician: http://mp3.deepsound.net/index.php, for more information’s and in particular, about usage license and copyrights.
- Many thanks to Kev Rolling alias "Kev33" for the nice meshes & textures of the "USS Hornet" carrier and the helicopter "SH3 SeaKing", who made possible the creation of the astronauts recovery sequence. Thanks also to him, for the launch tower mesh and the Pad 39a mesh, same to Brian Jones, for the spot light texture. This material was the starting point for the realization of the new Launch scenery.
- Many thanks to "Jim" from Moonport, which allowed me to use his nice Surveyor III mesh, to build the static mesh of this probe, used into the Procellarum landing site.
- Many thanks to "BigDAS" for his support and various precious help, like beta testing, seeking some required material on Internet, doing some exhaust textures.
- Many thanks to Matteo Virdis, for his great intuition of a fine bloodhound, in the hunting of the last bugs and CTD's remaining. A very precious talent he devoted to AMSO during very long hours of tests !
- Many thanks to Jarmo Nikkanen for the precious LunarTransfertMFD and InterplanetaryMFD. These instruments gives to Orbiter simulator a new dimension, by allowing maneuvers into space, which where impossible to do before.
- Many thanks to Daniel Polli, for the fabulous "OrbiterSound" add-on, which made possible almost any sound customizations you may imagine.
- Many thanks to Axel Danz, for the beautiful Earth atmospheric enhancement.
- Many thanks to Sean Kilpatrick for this documentation revision.
- And finally, many thanks to Dr Schweiger who made all this possible.

COPYRIGHTS

THIS PACKAGE IS FREEWARE AND NO MONEY SHOULD EVER BE MADE WITH IT!!!

WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE AUTHOR(S) IS NEEDED TO COPY THIS PACKAGE OR PART(S) OF IT, ON EVERY FORM OF MEDIA, LIKE CD-ROM, DVD, DISKETTE, BBS, INTERNET SITES, ETC…, IN THE CASE USERS MUST PAY TO ACCESS IT OR TO GET IT.
NOBODY HAS THE RIGHT, WITHOUT PRIOR AUTHOR(S) WRITTEN PERMISSION, TO USE ANY PARTS OF THIS PRODUCTION, IN ORIGINAL STATE, OR MODIFIED WITH ANY SOFTWARES, INTO ANY OTHER APPLICATIONS INTENDED TO BE PUBLISHED, EVEN IF THIS PUBLICATION WILL BE A FREEWARE. THIS RESTRICTION INCLUDES THE CASE OF USING MESHES AND/OR TEXTURES FROM WITHIN AMSO INSTALLATION.
PLEASE, REFER TO CREDIT CHAPTER FOR AUTHORS OF PARTS WHICH DO NOT BELONG EXCLUSIVELY TO AMSO.
Alain Capt

ACSoft Productions

[e-mail]

http://www.acsoft.ch/amso/amso.html

ACS / 12 November 2011