Fix staging and burn angle.

lib/launch_rocket.ks

@@ -92,8 +92,8 @@ function Launch {
   lock THROTTLE to 0.0.
   set SHIP:CONTROL:PILOTMAINTHROTTLE to 0.
   wait 0.001. // make sure these control updates get applied
-  add CreateCircularizationNode().
-  ExecNode().
+
+  insertionBurn(apoapsisTarget).
 
   print "Ascent Complete.".
   set SHIP:CONTROL:PILOTMAINTHROTTLE to 0.
@@ -101,3 +101,54 @@ function Launch {
   unlock STEERING.
   SAS on.
 }
+
+// Calculate and perform the insertion burn for orbit.
+// The reason to prefer this over CreateCircularizationNode() and ExecNode() is that the amount of RCS needed
+// to vector into position during launch adjusts our orbit significantly. This gives us a "wait until" that
+// serves the specific needs of launch.
+// It also makes automated launches possible before maneuver nodes are unlocked.
+//
+// TODO: Refactor code reuse between this function and ExecNode().
+//
+// prerequisites:
+//   * Vessel is still behind the Apoapsis
+//   * Apoapsis is at the target height
+function insertionBurn {
+  parameter apoapsisTarget.
+
+  // vector is prograde but only on the horizonal plane
+  print "Adjusting heading.".
+  local lock horizon is Vxcl(SHIP:UP:FOREVECTOR, SHIP:PROGRADE:FOREVECTOR).
+  lock STEERING to LookDirUp(horizon, SHIP:FACING:TOPVECTOR).
+
+  // calculate the deltaV to get us to the target velocity, for calculating burn start time.
+  local t is TIME + SHIP:ORBIT:ETA:APOAPSIS.
+  local Vc is sqrt(SHIP:BODY:MU/(PositionAt(SHIP, t) - SHIP:BODY:POSITION):MAG).
+  local dV is Vc - VelocityAt(SHIP, t):ORBIT:MAG.
+
+  if WillStage(dV) {
+    when FlameOut() then {
+      print "Flameout detected. Staging.".
+      stage.
+    }
+  }
+  
+  // calculate the total burn time (Tb) and the burn start time (Ts)
+  local Tb is BurnTime(dV).
+  local Ts is TIME + SHIP:OBT:ETA:APOAPSIS - BurnTime(dV / 2).
+
+  // warp to the burn point
+  print "Waiting for burn window.".
+  wait until (VAng(SHIP:FACING:FOREVECTOR, STEERINGMANAGER:TARGET:FOREVECTOR) <= 0.5) OR (TIME > Ts).
+  if TIME < Ts - 2 {
+    KUNIVERSE:TIMEWARP:WarpTo(Ts:SECONDS - 2).
+  }
+  wait until SHIP:UNPACKED.
+  wait until TIME > Ts.
+
+  // burn until periapsis is clear
+  print "Circularizing orbit.".
+  lock THROTTLE to 1.0.
+  wait until SHIP:OBT:PERIAPSIS > apoapsisTarget.
+  lock THROTTLE to 0.0.
+}

lib/navigation.ks

@@ -102,6 +102,9 @@ function BurnTime {
   local lastStage is false.
   // We allow a small tolerance to deal with potential floating point errors.
   until totaldV <= 0.001 {
+    if s < 0 {
+      print "Ran out of fuel with " + totaldV + " dV remaining".
+    }
     local F is stageThrust(s).
     local Isp is stageISP(s).
     local m is stageMass(s).

prog/launchpad.ks

@@ -3,14 +3,20 @@
 // stages, spools up the engines, and then "releases control"
 // to the main ship computer.
 //
+// *** CONSTRUCTION NOTES ***
+// If using this script, put the annabuncheskOS-launchpad.cfg file from the patches/ directory into your GameData/
+//   directory. This will ensure the launchpad has a high enough fuel flow rate for the spool-up sequence.
+// If your lower stage uses engine plates, be sure to attach the launch pad to one of the *engine* bottom nodes,
+//   not the Engine Plate's bottom node. Otherwise fuel delivery won't work.
+//
 // *** TAGGING REQUIREMENTS ***
 // The launchpad object should have the "launchpad" tag.
 // The ship's main CPU (the one with launch functionality" should be tagged "shipcpu".
 // Fuel tanks with the "nofuel" tag will have *all* resources temporarily disabled during the pre-launch
-// sequence. The main ship computer must re-enable them after staging. NoFuelResources() in lib/systems is ideal
-// for this.
+//   sequence. The main ship computer must re-enable them after staging. NoFuelResources() in lib/systems is ideal
+//   for this.
 // Similarly, any crossfeed-capable decouplers tagged "prelaunch" will have crossfeed ENABLED during pre-launch.
-// MainCPU should, again, disable these once it stages. PreLaunchCrossfeed() in lib/systems is your friend.
+//   MainCPU should, again, disable these once it stages. PreLaunchCrossfeed() in lib/systems is your friend.
 
 RunOncePath("/lib/systems").
 RunOncePath("/lib/ui").

prog/rocket.ks

@@ -122,7 +122,9 @@ MakeMenu(
   MakeButton(rows[2], "Node"),
   List(
     List("Node dV", "RO", "0"),
-    List("Node Burn Time", "RO", "0")
+    List("Node Burn Time", "RO", "0"),
+    List("Node Lead Time", "RO", "0"),
+    List("Burn Start ETA", "RO", "0")
   ),
   "Execute",
   {
@@ -132,11 +134,18 @@ MakeMenu(
   {
     parameter options.
     if HASNODE {
+      local burnTime is BurnTime(NEXTNODE:DELTAV:MAG).
+      local leadTime is BurnTime(NEXTNODE:DELTAV:MAG / 2).
+
       set options["Node dV"]:TEXT to NEXTNODE:DELTAV:MAG:ToString.
-      set options["Node Burn Time"]:TEXT to BurnTime(NEXTNODE:DELTAV:MAG):ToString.
+      set options["Node Burn Time"]:TEXT to burnTime:ToString.
+      set options["Node Lead Time"]:TEXT to leadTime:ToString.
+      set options["Burn Start ETA"]:TEXT to (NEXTNODE:ETA - leadTime):ToString.
     } else {
       set options["Node dV"]:TEXT to "No Node".
       set options["Node Burn Time"]:TEXT to "No Node".
+      set options["Node Lead Time"]:TEXT to "No Node".
+      set options["Burn Start ETA"]:TEXT to "No Node".
     }
   }
 ).