Morning PDT,

The DGP MT Starship Operator's Manual (SOM) Vol. I Game Rules For Starship Operations in addition to the formula that Edward Swatscheck identified as assuming travel from between two points also provides information on calculating the time needed to reach low, high, and geosynchronous orbits. I've completed cobbling together a rough spreadsheet and here are the answers that I hope are correct based on the information given.

On the Normal Space flowchart "Step 3 Determine distance (D) to world orbit" has the Orbit table that lists a Size 8 (12,000 km - 13,599 km) world's Low Orbit at 160 km and High Orbit is 800 km

"Step 4  Effect of Atmosphere simulates the need to restrict speed while traveling through an atmosphere to avoid dangerous heat build up on the hull" on worlds with atmosphere UWP 2+ the orbital distance is multiplied by the UWP atmosphere digit (minimum of 1). A size 8 world with an atmosphere digit 6 adjusts the low orbit to 960 km and the high orbit to 4,800 km. The example for this step is for a World Size 8 with an Atmosphere UWP of 6.

Step 12 estimates the travel time for a 1G ship to make low orbit as about 10.3 minutes and high orbit in about 23.1 minutes. I think the numbers are correct since I was able to replicate the results from the information provided in the example.

The procedure has an explanation block the provides details for low, high, and geosynchronous orbits. "To achieve a geosynchronous orbit, first fly to low orbit. Then fly the additional distance to get to the geosync orbit."

The formula used for geosynchronous orbit is 5,078 x (World mass in earths x (rotation period in hours)^2)^.33 - (World Diameter in km / 2).

If I've got my ducks in a row a geosync orbit is at 34,945 km. The distance to geosync orbit from low orbit to is 34,945 - 960 = 33,985 km which takes about 61.5 minutes.

The SOM procedures also modifies the basic travel time formula for traveling between satellite to satellite, planetary to planetary orbits and world orbit to jump point with additional adjustments for the performance of the navigator to plot the course, the engineer to optimize MD performance, and the pilot's ability to fly the ship.The final part of the procedure has the navigator generating the jump vector and engaging the jump drive after the engineer charges the JD. There are performance checks for the navigator and engineer when making a jump.

Hopefully what I have done so far is following the directions and getting the right answers. I'll try finishing the procedure and get back here with the information, but that may take a while.

Tom Rux