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orbitersim / orbiter

Open-source repository of Orbiter Space Flight Simulator
MIT License
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Add proper exterior lights and an LVLH hold AP to default ISS #433

Open daves-ssu opened 9 months ago

daves-ssu commented 9 months ago

To make Rendevous, Proximity Operations and Docking (RPOD) easier with the default Project Alpha ISS, I propose that accurate exterior lighting be added to it along with an LVLH hold AP. ISS spends 98% of its time in a 0,0,0 attitude with the USOS at the front and wings level. It also has four external lights mounted on the S1 and P1 trusses as part of the External Television Camera Groups (ETVCGs) there. These ETVCGs are mounted on the zenith/nadir faces of these two trusses at the outboard end on so called Video Support Stanchion Assemblies (VSSAs) which are about 1.8 m long. This document has a diagram over where the ETVCGs are located on ISS: https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20140009959/downloads/20140009959.pdf

maxq519 commented 9 months ago

What about just replacing it with my Better ISS addon? Orbiter's default ISS mesh isn't that detailed and is certainly not accurate. On the other hand, mine is pretty high poly, and I used a few meshes by others (with permission) so we'd have to get their ok. I have confirmed it works on OO x86 without issue.

daves-ssu commented 9 months ago

Are you talking about the Project Alpha ISS or the less detailed ISS vessel? I don't see any reason in not replacing both with something better if the permission from the original author is there.

maxq519 commented 9 months ago

I wasn't aware that the less detailed one still even existed in Orbiter 2016 I guess. I'd say replace both with Better ISS. Someone ported my ISS to linux as well at one point, so it's future proof