ExoMars TGO on Boson M rocket - with interplanetary launch window calculator
The ExoMars TGO (Trace Gas Orbiter) is a real spacecraft launched in 2016 on board of a Proton-M/Briz-M rocket from Baikonur to Mars.
One of its primary goals was to search for traces of methane in the martian atmosphere, after other missions reported its presence.
Methane could be a possible evidence of biological activity, and wuold not be persistent in the martian atmosphere because of its radiation, so if confirmed, there should be a source renewing it.
As of 2025 it is still in operation, doing science and serving as a communication relay satellite for martian rovers.
I built a fictional rocket, the Boson M, and put on top of it the real orbiter.
The orbiter (and the rocket) is not finished yet, mainly missing the RCS thrusters and some other details.
The Schiaparelli lander is just a placeholder, still in early construction, although now has a more realistic external geometry.
Controls
Launch
I suggest to launch close to the equator, like from Guiana Space Center.
Target Mars and the press the AG1 to calculate the optimal launch window, then enter your selection for timewarp.
The rocket has more then enough delta v to lift the space tug with its payload to a low Earth orbit, but it requires some manual flying skills because I reduced its previous way over powered delta v.
Here is my suggestion:
during flight pay attention to the height of the
apoapsis, periapsis, the vertical speed.
Once it is above the atmosphere (suggested apoapsis > 140km, but less then 200km) and close the apoapsis while accelerating at full power keep adjusting the pitch so that the vertical speed remains close to 0m/s, within a recommended range of ±10m/s, (slightly positive vertical speed may be better, so that you can be confident that the rocket will raise its periapsis above the atmosphere, before sinking into it) until the periapsis raises above the atmospere (>140km recommended).
The Exit Earth SOI manouvers have to be setted manually.
Space tug
When manuevering with the space tug, keep an eye on the hemisphere fuel tank (right on top of the engine) level, when the percentage (or mass) of fuel starts to drop it is time to drop the external toroidal fuel tank by pressing the stage button, I think it drains out of fuel when the whole stage indicates about 20% of fuel remaing.
TGO
Slider 2 to control solar panel pointing (rotation).
Slider 3 to rotate the high gain antenna.
Slider 4 to control the zoom of CaSSIS camera.
Better not to touch the slider 1, used to deploy the solar panels and the high gain antenna (deploy them by triggering the appropriate AGs, solar panels first and then the high gain antenna).
Credits
This craft has an interplanetary transfer window calculator I downloaded from @GoldenShadowGS
https://www.simplerockets.com/c/N2S0SV/Interplanetary-Transfer-Window-Calculator-Version-2
Changelog
Improved the rocket, the space tug and minor details of TGO
Added a bunch of cameras, improved space tug and rocket fairing
Improved space tug, TGO orbiter, Schiaparelli lander
Added a transfer window calculator program https://www.simplerockets.com/c/N2S0SV/Interplanetary-Transfer-Window-Calculator-Version-2
Improved the space tug, now is similar to the Briz M. It has a jettisonable toroidal external fuel tank
Real Solar System - RSS friendly and capable to deliver the orbiter to Mars from Earth
GENERAL INFO
- Created On: Android
- Game Version: 1.3.205.0
- Price: $112,137k
- Number of Parts: 824
- Dimensions: 58 m x 9 m x 8 m
PERFORMANCE
- Total Delta V: 21.3km/s
- Total Thrust: 7.8MN
- Engines: 26
- Wet Mass: 4.43E+5kg
- Dry Mass: 59,237kg
STAGES
| Stage | Engines | Delta V | Thrust | Burn | Mass |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12 | 3.5km/s | 5.3MN | 4.8m | 4.43E+5kg |
| 2 | 4 | 12m/s | 379kN | 3s | 1.04E+5kg |
| 3 | 4 | 5.3km/s | 1.3MN | 3.7m | 1.04E+5kg |
| 5 | 4 | 4.3km/s | 808kN | 2.6m | 52,751kg |
| 6 | 1 | 6.9km/s | 24kN | 47.2m | 22,872kg |
| 8 | 1 | 1.3km/s | 424N | 3.39hours | 5,330kg |