How to get SOI insertion with a desired orbit.

[Loren Pechtel]

MechJeb is wonderful at getting you to a world and you can see very roughly what the passage through it's SOI is but I really wish there was some way to do a better job of this.  It can refine your point of closest approach but it has nothing to select your desired orbital parameters when you get there.  Having just entered the Mun's SOI about as badly as possible compared to my target I really wish there was a better answer.

[numerobis]

The maneuver node editor lets you tweak the next node carefully. Combine that with looking at your conic patch near the target body (using conic patch display mode 0), and you can get quite precise.

[Loren Pechtel]

4 minutes ago, numerobis said:

The maneuver node editor lets you tweak the next node carefully. Combine that with looking at your conic patch near the target body (using conic patch display mode 0), and you can get quite precise.

I don't see how you get a good look at how it's going through the next SOI.

[FullMetalMachinist]

54 minutes ago, Loren Pechtel said:

I don't see how you get a good look at how it's going through the next SOI.

Once you have an encounter, left click on the target body (the Mun in your case) and select "focus view".  That will show you what your orbit will look like when you enter it's SOI. 

[bewing]

And then you can do tiny thrusts in whatever direction, and watch in realtime how that will affect your trajectory through the SOI that you have focused.

[FancyMouse]

Or if you find occasionally (double/triple-)clicking planet/moon doesn't help - use tab key to cycle focus object.

[juanml82]

I use the mod Precise Node. You can really fine tune the nodes - just be sure to zoom in to the target body to check how your orbit will be. And, once you're firing your engines and you only have a few dV left in your burn, you can kill your engines and use RCS to maneuver.

 

Also remember you won't be able to get into an equatorial orbit unless you set the maneuver to happen at the AN or DN with the target

[N_Danger]

 Mech Jeb has a Maneuver Node editor. Use it in conjunction with the focus view (click on the targeted planet/moon or the orbit of the targeted planet/moon to bring that up). You should be able to fine tune the burn before you get into the SOI.