Nicks Shuttle Challenge Adventures
REFERENCE INFORMATION
Each Flight From My Original Package and the New Adventure Package Is Listed Below
NOTE:
For detailed instructions on how to fly the Space Shuttle, see the README
in the package NSC.zip
REMEMBER: For proper runway acquisition and glidescope approach you must make it to an airport runway and be lined up at 10,000ft approximately 6-8 nautical miles from the beginning of the runway and fly a minus 17 to 22 degree glidescope approach in order to land the shuttle properly!! A water ditch or an attempt to belly land requires the same method of approach but it also requires a very good nose flair maneuver and tail drag to successfully accomplish without completely crashing.
Flying/Landing Tips:
You can change the HUD brightness
using the shift-2, -3, -4, and shift-5 keyboard commands
At 83,000 (or so) feet the simulation begins. Un-Pause the simulation. The
shuttle should be fairly stable but be ready to establish control. DO NOT make
any control surface changes other than + or - pitch. After a short burst of
thrust (designed to bring the orbiter up to the correct forward
velocity/momentum in Flight Simulator) the airspeed starts to drop. You can
ascend a bit if you like during the 8-15 second boost but DO NOT ascend past
98,000ft or you will be susceptible to the dreaded Flight Simulator errors at
the 100,000ft limit.
As airspeed starts drop from Mach 3, you can hold level wing for a period of
time but as speed drops you will need to set your angle of attack to
approximately minus 10-12 degrees. Do not attempt to level off or pull up (less
than minus 8-10 degree angle of attack) before 55-60,000 feet or a critical
stall can occur while the orbiter rapidly decelerates and rams the heavier air
in the upper atmosphere. DO NOT make control surface moves other than + and -
pitch during this phase of re-entry.
At 58-55,000 feet level off or stabilize a 5-8 degree angle of attack and get
your bearings as to the location and direction to runway acquisition. Use the
GPS or other utility you may have to locate the runways. Set your course and
decent angle to accommodate your position relative to where you will need to
acquire the correct altitude and angle of attack for the runway approach.
Because of the static pitch, the nose of the shuttle is pointed properly at approx .86 statute miles before the runway @ 10,000ft and 6.9 nautical miles distance when the HUD’s (approx) -8 degree pitch line indication is matched to the beginning of the runway and you are descending at a minus 17-22 degree angle of attack. If you are not obtaining this position (or close) on the HUD, you started your decent either too soon or too late. Being too late is better than being too soon. A steeper angle of attack is more acceptable and workable than a shallow angle of less than 15 degrees.
Set the speed brake so the orbiter
maintains around 300knots (+-10 knots) Higher is better if you are not use to
landing the orbiter. Line up the runway maintaining the HUD at approximate -8
degree line at the
beginning of the runway. At approximately 3000ft, release the speed brake
completely but continue the angle of attack.
At 1850-1750ft gently pull up and stabilize to a +1.5 degree runway alignment fight
path. How fast you pull up here is determined by your distance from the runway.
You will have to make that call based on your flight experience. Drop the
landing gear, which will NOT deploy above 320knots, (blowout is @ 340kts) and
will take about 12 seconds to down and lock.
Final line up for the runway… This will happen very FAST so be ready! Carefully
monitor your airspeed as it will begin to rapidly drop due to the airframe
design and weight of the orbiter. Stall speed is 160knots however keep in mind
this aircraft does not “glide” for very long and its mass will cause it to slow
quickly. Keep airspeed at around 235-215 as you start to drop into the runway.
The final flair will do the rest.
When the orbiter is positioned correctly for touchdown, flair up to +8 to10
degrees. You will not be able to see the runway at this point. The goal is to
touch down at around or just over a 9-18fpm drop rate. Use the speed brake to
slow you down and drop.
Textbook touchdown should be between 184-196knots however with the correct angle
of attack, proper runway alignment and different +/- flair maneuvers you can
successfully land between 165 and 225knots. The tires may blow out at 235kts.
The speed brake scale at 100% (on the ground) is set to simulate the proper drag
chute resistance and at the same time provide a close to accurate flight drag
during its use. Keep the nose gear off the ground till the orbiter ground speed
is under 150kts, then gently drop the nose to the ground.
The above tips should provide you with all the information necessary to land the
shuttle safely. The rest is flight skill
DO NOT USE THE AUTO PILOT FOR LANDING
THE TYPICAL AIRPORT GLIDESCOPE WILL NOT WORK
FOR THE SPACE SHUTTLE AND YOU WILL CRASH
ADVENTURE LIST:
(Scroll down for a briefing about each
adventure flight)
The Original Flights:
Nick's Edwards AFB Shuttle Challenge
Maintain a heading 080 degrees. Just before airport OCL6, turn to course 045 degrees and Edwards AFB should be in front of you. Please verify your location with the GPS as you go along. You are looking for the airport listed as: KEDW.
Nick's KSC Shuttle Challenge:
Maintain a heading of 175 degrees. Once over the intercoastal waterway, look for airport X50 ahead. Fly approximately 2-5 miles past X50, then turn to course 154 degrees and the KSC Shuttle Landing Facility should be in front of you. Please verify your location with the GPS as you go along. You are looking for the airport listed as: X68.
Nick's Edwards AFB Practice Shuttle Landing:
This is a practice landing scenario. You will start at the correct altitude, position and pitch for your approach to Edwards AFB. The speed brake will already be set for the 17-22 degree glidescope you will be flying. This adventure was designed to help get you acquainted with the correct shuttle approach and shorten the time to touchdown for practice landing the "flying brick".
The New Adventure Flights
All flights were designed with the following re-entry scenario:
During the de-orbit re-entry burn there was malfunction. The orbiter started to skip across the atmosphere during re-entry and at one point the spacecraft started to nose toward deep space. You managed to get control of the spacecraft and stabilize the re-entry flight path. Although your crew is shaken up from the near fatal skip off of the earths atmosphere, in the process of gaining control the shuttle has re-entered earths atmosphere so far off course it will be impossible to follow standard procedures and land at the programmed site. Since the shuttle is a glider and you have no way to correct the re-entry position you will now have to deal with landing the shuttle at a location that is not designed for the purpose. There may be weather and air traffic problems which you have to navigate and overcome.
NASA, your crew and the entire world is counting on you to get the shuttle down on the ground safely. NASA wants the shuttle back in one piece if possible.
CAN YOU DO IT???
1. Nick's Antarctica Shuttle Challenge:
You are in a heap of trouble. The re-entry malfunction has left you over Antarctica. What is worse, it is still Winter and although the weather is clear, the wings can ice up quickly and the amount of daylight is very limited on the ground. The only landing strip available is Mcmurdo Station which is surrounded by water and is an ice runway. Even if you manage to get the shuttle on the runway, can you stop it in time??? Would water ditching be a better choice??? It's very cold!
Tip: After completing the final phase of re-entry and leveling off at 50,000ft, turn to course 300 and watch the GPS for Mcmurdo Ice Station. The approach will NOT be shown on the GPS. Your on your own, total VFR.
2. Nick's Aussie Shuttle Challenge:
Flight Director: Columbia, do you read?, over - (electronic beep)
Columbia: Go ahead - (beep)
Flight Director: What are guys doing down under?, over - (beep)
Columbia: Didn't you order Shrimps-on-the-Barbie??, We are picking up your order, over - (electronic beep)
Flight Director: Have them put the sauce on the side, do you read? - ( beep)
Columbia: Copy that, sauce on the side...
Gooday mate! The weather is great but the re-entry malfunction has left you over an area of Australia that has no optimal airfield for shuttle landing within range. Stanthrope (SPA) is one location but the runway is only 5612ft long and based on its relative position to the shuttle, it may not be a good choice for a landing attempt. Glen Inns (YOGI) is even smaller and about the same distance as Stanthrope. NASA would prefer you use your piloting skills to try and reach a landing field or put down on a clearing however Flight Control also knows this situation is not good and has approved a water ditch, if necessary, in one of the two lakes on your present course. You can try and reach an airfield or put down on a highway, clearing or road however your number one responsibility is to get your crew back in one piece. The decision is yours.
3. Nick's EURO-England Shuttle Challenge:
OH Jolly Bad Show 'ol Boy. The re-entry malfunction has left you over the English Channel and heading just SE of London. England is beautiful and wonderful place to visit but it also has FOG and right now it is SOCKED IN pretty good. Heathrow (EGLL), Gatwick (EGKK) and Manston (EGMH) are all possible landing sites and their runways can handle the shuttle assuming you touchdown fairly close to the beginning of the runway. One advantage to Manston (EGMH) is that it is close to the water and at the last moment you do not think you can make the runway, the water is there to ditch into. NASA would prefer you not water ditch since the spacecraft would be useless for future flights due to the structural stress of landing the spacecraft in that manor. Air Traffic could be a hazard since no one knows you are coming!
Tip: After completing the final phase of re-entry and leveling off at 50,000ft, the APPROXIMATE locations of the airports are: Gatwick @ course 273, Manston @ course 070 and Heathrow @ course 300. Use the GPS for exact position as you approach.
4. Nick's EURO-France Shuttle Challenge:
VIA LE FRANCE!! The re-entry malfunction has left you over the English Channel and heading into France. The weather is not bad but there is light RAIN and moisture in the air. NASA normally aborts re-entries when there is ANY precipitation in the landing area, not only because of wind shear or other potential problems but because the added weight and resistance that rain, or other precipitation, can cause the shuttle to not handle well and become harder to land. The hypersonic wing design does allow for a great deal of efficiency and any added environmental factors can seriously effect the shuttles glide ability at lower altitudes and on nose flair at landing. Charles-De-Gaulle (LFPG), Orly (LFPO), and Creil (LFPC) are all possible landing sites. The river is also there if you feel it would be a better choice!
Tip: After completing the final phase of re-entry and leveling off at 50,000ft, the APPROXIMATE locations of the airports are between courses 120 and 150. The river can also lead you to close to them as well.
5. Nick's EURO-Italy Shuttle Challenge:
Ahhhhhhhhhh Venice! Unfortunately your nowhere near Venice. The re-entry malfunction has left you over the Alps and heading toward Northern Italy. Malpensa (LIMC) would probably be the best choice for landing since there is a river near by in case things did not go so well. Problem is, it is snowing in the mountains and could be raining at lower altitudes. To make Malpensa you will have to turn sharply once you stabilize at 50,000ft. When the shuttle is turned in such a way it can loose altitude quickly at altitudes below 20,000ft so make your decision quickly!
Tip: After completing the final phase of re-entry and leveling off at 50,000ft, the APPROXIMATE locations of Malpensa (LIMC) is between course 155 and 170. Use the GPS for exact position as you approach.
6. & 7. Nick's Overshoot Edwards & Kennedy Shuttle Challenges:
Boy are you lucky! In both cases you managed to recover from the re-entry malfunction quickly which means you simply overshot the airfields, but not by much. The weather is great, visibility good and no sign of trouble other than your location. You will have to locate the airfields on the GPS, circle around and position yourself for the approach. This maneuver is not an uncommon practice for the real shuttle. Edwards AFB is: KEDW and The Kennedy Shuttle Landing Facility is: X68. No tips needed for these flights. The airfields are almost directly below you.
8. Nick's MYSTERY Shuttle Challenge:
This flight is a complete mystery. You will have to determine your location, situation and where you might be able to land. The tower view can be deceiving, don't trust it to lead you to a runway.
Those are the challenges
If I think up some more I will post an addition to my Adventure Package!
ENJOY!!!
Nick Needham