Unlike the futuristic spacecraft designs, Atlantis provides only a small margin of error for achieving orbit. Try some of the other ships before attempting to launch the Shuttle. Limited fuel must be selected, otherwise Atlantis is too heavy to reach orbit!
10.6 International Space Station (ISS) The International Space Station is a multinational scientific orbital platform currently under construction (although its fate is now somewhat in doubt after the Columbia disaster). Orbiter contains the ISS in its completed state. The ISS is a good docking target for Shuttle and other spacecraft missions. 3D model and textures: Project Alpha by Andrew Farnaby
In Orbiter, the ISS can be tracked with its transponder (XPDR) signal, which by default is set to frequency 131.30. The ISS contains 5 docking ports. In Orbiter, each is equipped with an IDS (Instrument Docking System) transmitter. The default IDS frequencies are: Port 1 Port 2 Port 3 Port 4 Port 5
137.40 137.30 137.20 137.10 137.00
For docking procedures see Section 17.7.
10.7 Space Station MIR In Orbiter, the Russian MIR station is still in orbit around Earth and can be used for docking approaches. Furthermore, unlike its real-life counterpart, Orbiterâ€&#x;s MIR is orbiting in the plane of the ecliptic, which makes it an ideal platform to launch lunar and interplanetary missions.
ORBITER User Manual (c) 2000-2010 Martin Schweiger
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