kOS/lib/launch_rocket.ks

runoncepath("lib/throttle").
runoncepath("lib/navigation").
runoncepath("lib/node").

function Launch {
  parameter APOAPSIS_TARGET is 80000.
  parameter ATMO_TWR is 1.6.
  parameter GRAVITY_TURN_START is 8000.
  parameter GRAVITY_PITCH is 75.
  parameter INITIAL_PITCH is 85.
  parameter MINIMUM_PITCH is 5.

  // Configure subsystems.
  RCS off.
  SAS off.

  // Countdowns are cute.
  print "Initiating automated launch sequence.".
  from { local x is 5. } until x = 0 step { set x to x - 1. } do {
    print "..." + x.
    wait 0.5.
  }

  // Hold throttle to maintain 1.5 TWR.
  // We do *not* use a PID Loop here because we can
  // calculate the correct value discretely.
  lock THROTTLE to ThrottleToTWR(ATMO_TWR).
  print "Throttling to maintain a TWR  of " + ATMO_TWR.

  // Main ascent control.
  lock STEERING to heading(90,90,270).
  stage.
  wait until SHIP:ALTITUDE > 200.

  print "Vectoring away from launchpad.".
  lock STEERING to heading(90, INITIAL_PITCH, 270).
  wait until SHIP:ALTITUDE > GRAVITY_TURN_START.

  print "Pitching for gravity turn.".
  // Pitch over...
  lock STEERING to heading(90, GRAVITY_PITCH, 270).
  // Wait until we have rotated to (approximately) that pitch...
  wait until vectorangle(
    SHIP:FACING:FOREVECTOR,
    STEERINGMANAGER:TARGET:FOREVECTOR)
    < 0.5.

  // then wait until Prograde catches up (or passes us).
  local targetPitch is GetPitch(STEERINGMANAGER:TARGET:FOREVECTOR).
  wait until GetPitch(SHIP:SRFPROGRADE:FOREVECTOR) <= targetPitch.

  print "Locking to prograde, letting gravity do the hard work.".
  lock STEERING to GetAscentVector(MINIMUM_PITCH).
  wait until SHIP:ALTITUDE > 32000. // todo: if we have a pressure sensor we can use it to decide when to kick the throttle up instead, neat solution for e.g. Duna and Eve.

  lock THROTTLE to 1.0.
  wait until SHIP:ORBIT:APOAPSIS > APOAPSIS_TARGET.

  lock THROTTLE to 0.0.
  set SHIP:CONTROL:PILOTMAINTHROTTLE to 0.
  wait 0.001. // make sure these control updates get applied

  print "Target apoapsis acquired. Creating maneuver node.".
  add CreateCircularizationNode().
  ExecNode().
  print "Orbit acquired. Releasing controls. Good luck, Kerman.".
  unlock THROTTLE.
  unlock STEERING.
  SAS on.
}