'rotate orbit' mechanic for radial nodes

[gabevenberg]

both maneuver node evolved and precise node offer an 'intuitive maneuver handle' type mode, where, for example, if you drag the normal or aninormal handles, it simply adjusts the inclination. precise maneuver offers the rotate orbit option, but i also find the functionality quite useful in the radial directions as well. (for high speed interplanetary transfers and other high DV manuvers) would something like this be possible?

[radistmorse]

What exactly do you ask? "Rotate orbit" tool allows you to change inclination while keeping the AP and PE the same. You can't keep AP and PE if you change the radial component, it's mathematically impossible.

[gabevenberg]

if you simply grab the radial node and drag to, say 2k dv, you will get vastly different results than if you set SAS to radial and burn. This is because, as you burn along what started out as radial, you move the prograde vector towards you. This is the same problem you have with normal and antinormal. The radial nodes are quite useful when tweaking high DV interplanetary trajectories, something I use quite a lot. if you want to see the behavior I am talking about, look at Manuver Node Evolved As with the existing functionality for radial vectors, it creates a trajectory so that the result is the same as if you had followed the marker all the way through the burn, instead of keeping the same heading (which was only your radial/normal node at the very beginning of the burn.) This makes planning such burns easier, and can result is some DV savings.

[radistmorse]

Do you just want to rotate the velocity vector without changing its magnitude? It's not that hard to implement, but the GUI is heavily packed. I'll note this feature for the future, in case I'll see a place for it.

[gabevenberg]

yup. maybye just a tickbox that makes the gizmo do it?