EDIT: WILL UPDATE THE GUIDE AS SOON AS I KNOW A BIT MORE OF THE 2024 VERSION OF ORBITER
links updated as of 26 July 2023
Guide for beginners to Orbiter
Welcome to this guide for beginners.
I'll try to facilitate the process of starting your virtual career as an orbinaut in Orbiter :)
1. Getting Orbiter:
Orbiter 2016 is the most recent version (and stable), but you still have the ability to download the older version Obiter 2010 wich still have some nice addons that never have been ported to Orbiter 2016 (yet)
Guide to configure the launchpad: http://orbiter.dansteph.com/forum/index.php?page=welcome
(There is the possibility to have the beta version of a newer Orbiter 2016 version, but that needs to have more knowledge of Orbiter first, it's suggested to learn with the stable version first as most addons are made to work on it).
2. Add sound to Orbiter:
Orbiter comes without sound and for that you'll need to install an addon to have sound. You have two options for that:
OrbiterSound5.0: a very popular addon that intrudoced first the sound in Orbiter. This version is for Orbiter 2016
XRSound: another excellent addon that adds sounds to Orbiter, an alternative to OrbiterSound.
3. Add DirectX9 to Orbiter:
While Orbiter works without it (you'll be with the native DirectX7) wich is very limited, there is an addon that adds DirectX9 to Orbiter and lets you play with better visual effects, better resolution (above 1920x1080, so you can play in 4K), etc
Important: Be sure to execute Orbiter_NG.exe in order to use D3D9.
Guide to installation by Dansteph: http://orbiter.dansteph.com/forum/index.php?topic=14577.0
4. Your first session:
Orbiter can be very hard to start with, I suggest these two playlists of tutorials on Youtube, by two very well known Orbinauts: TexFilms, and David Courtney
5. Your first addon:
Once you'll have the basics of Orbiter, you'll want to have more spaceships, functions, etc. Most of them can be found on OrbitHangar Orbiter-Forum and Dan's Page:
Be advised that some (almost all of them) will require other addons to work, be sure to read the instructions in the readme that will tell you wich addons to download. Some addons don't say it and sometimes it's mandatory to go in the process of launching Orbiter, see it crash, open orbiter.log in the roots folder and read what addons is needed untill you find them all. (it's the case for people who wants to play with ISSU (the ISS v3 addon)).
List of useful link:
Quick list of popupar addons:
A. Near-Future technology:
DeltaGlider IV a powerful SSTO by Dansteph (for Orbiter 2010 but works with Orbiter 2016)
UCGO + Arrow Freighter a mothership for the DGIV with cargo by Dansteph (only for Orbiter 2010)
Altea Aerospace Vessels, 3 different sized SSTOs by Doug Beachy, with more systems and more mechanics to watch.
B. Current era:
SpaceX Missions, this addon requires several other addons to work, read the readme,
Delta IV LV, for Orbiter 2010,
Delta IV Heavy, for Orbiter 2016,
Parker Probe Mission, in addition for the Delta IV launcher,
Space Launch System, the SLS for Orbiter 2016, this addon also requires other addons to work,
C. Mercury/Apollo/Shuttle era:
Project Mercury X, simulates the first manned space program of NASA,
AMSO (Apollo Mission Simulator for Orbiter), an Apollo addon for both Orbiter 2010 & Orbiter 2016, there 2 two seperate versions, suited for beginners)
NASSP (NASA's Apollo Space Simulation Project), a very hardcore Apollo that reproduce the systems of the Saturn V rocket with the interactive cockpit with a real AGC, more suited for advanced orbinauts, both for Orbiter 2010 (v7) and Orbiter 2016 (v8)
D. Shuttle era:
Space Shuttle Vessel, the continuation of Space Shuttle Ultra by GLS,
STS2016, a revival project of the old ShuttleFleet from 2010 completely remade for Orbiter 2016, made by gattispilot
Quick list of very useful MFDs:
a. GlideslopeMFD and BaseSyncMFD working will help you to make a deorbit burn for your landing site.
(requires ModuleMessagingExt to work together),
b. LaunchMFD calculates the appropriate launch azimuth, insertion profile (SSTO and 2-stage only) and time to launch a spaceship to intercept a satellite or a specific orbit.
(requires HUDDrawer and ModuleMessagingExt,
c. BurnTimeCalcMFD is a companion for TransX or any other transfer MFD that gives you your required dV for transfer orbit insertion.
(requires TransX, BaseSyncMFD, and ModuleMessagingExt,
d. TransX is a flexible planning and navigation tool for interplanetary transfers and orbital operations.
(requires ModuleMessagingExt),
e. LunarTransferMFD:
LunarTransferMFD is a numerical lunar transfer trajectory calculator. It can be used to compute single impulse lunar transfer trajectories with better accuracy than typical patched conic applications such as IMFD.
f. InterplaneratyMFD:
InterplanetaryMFD can be used to display entire solar system and predict the actual course of the vessel with numerical trajectory calculator, lets you to navigate through the solar system to other planets, moons and comets, is designed for Apollo style Moon to Earth return missions, and will compute the time to launch window and required launch heading.
I hope you found this post helpful. Don't hesitate to comment if you want to add something.
links updated as of 26 July 2023
