Orbit MFD

Orbit is an MFD mode which is included in the Orbiter Space Flight Simulator. This mode displays a graphic representing a central body, the orbit of the pilot's ship, and the orbit of a target body, and also includes orbital parameters and elements of those orbits. The pilot can select Orbit from the MFD mode selection page.

Orbit MFD displays the osculating orbits at the current epoch (its 2-body orbit) with respect to a celestial body. The orbital parameters may change over time due to perturbations from other gravity sources, nonspherical gravity, atmospheric drag, and thruster action, etc. Any celestial body in the current session can be selected as the reference body.

Orbital elements and graphic display is displayed in one of two frames of reference, Ecliptic (ECL) or Equatorial (EQU) by selecting the FRM button or Shift+F. The current frame is displayed on the top line of the MFD display near the right corner.

Any celestial body may be selected as the reference body by selecting the REF button or Shift+R, displaying a pop-up window where the pilot may select the reference body. Selecting the NT button or Shift+A will autoselect the reference body having the highest gravitational influence on the ship.

The display may project a plane to be projected onto the MFD display by selecting PRJ or Shift+P. Four planes may be selected: Ecliptic (ECL), Equatorial (EQU), the focus ship (SHP), or target ship or celestial body (TGT).

Distance from the focus body may be displayed from the center of the body, indicated by Rad, ApR, PeR, or from the altitude of the mean radius of the body, indicated by Alt, ApA, PeA, by selecting the DTS button or Shift+D.

The orbit of a target ship or body orbiting the same body as the pilot's ship may be selected with the TGT button or Shift+T. The NT button or Shift+N turns off the target orbit and data.

Selecting the HUD button or Shift+H will set the HUD to Orbit MFD mode and copy the orbit reference object.

MFD button	Keypress	Description
AR	Shift+A	Autoselect the reference body.
DST	Shift+D	Toggle planetocentric distance or altitude above mean radius
FRM	Shift+F	Toggle frame of reference (ecliptic or reference object equator)
HUD	Shift+H	Set HUD to Orbit mode and copy the current MFD orbit reference object
MOD	Shift+M	Toggle display mode (reference frame, ship's orbital plane, target orbital frame) will show central body with ship's orbit and target orbit if selected; orbital data; both
NT	Shift+N	No target orbit
PRJ	Shift+P	Toggle projection mode of orbit (reference frame, ship's orbital plane, target orbital plane
REF	Shift+R	Select new reference object (celestial object) or orbital data
TGT	Shift+T	Open popup menu to select a target