We Close With Good Night, Good Luck...

[Bitmap]

Set my orbit, hammered out my eccentricity (I hope). Let's see if this overnight orbit runtime challenge pays off. Will post results when I wake up.

Good Night to all you Kerbins. All you Kerbins on the good Kearth...

[DoctorEvo]

Orbits don't decay in KSP.

[Bitmap]

Good to know

but it's always good to test.

Perhaps next time with an extreme low orbit skirting the atmosphere? Where is the extreme edge of low orbit?

[Bitmap]

Interesting sidenote, parts from my second stage had a full hour of hangtime.

[NuttyTecc]

I have done this kinda challenge before I was registered on the forums, so I don't have any pictures, but i have data .

I went to orbit with 2 full tanks of fuel and the standard liquid fuel engine. My apogee was @ 72km with the speed of around 2300m/s. Because my liquid was unable to turn off I had to eject it, I proceeded to go to sleep and told my crew GL & HF.

I woke up and my apogee had risen to 106.5km perigee was 63km with the average speed of 2250m/s. It was on stable orbit for a while before I got bored.

[DoctorEvo]

Perhaps next time with an extreme low orbit skirting the atmosphere? Where is the extreme edge of low orbit?

Currently, 34,500m.

[rdfox]

...well, realistically, 34,501m, since at 34,500, you'd hit that wall...

[DoctorEvo]

...well, realistically, 34,501m, since at 34,500, you'd hit that wall...

Well, only HALF of your ship would hit the wall... ;P

[Saaur]

Remember, altitude is measured from CoM of the capsule. So you could be ina perfectly stable orbit at 34505, but if you rotate a little and the engine dips to 34500...

[rdfox]

...so, to simplify, factoring in the inevitable imprecision of your orbit's circularity and making sure that nothing starts dragging below the capsule's CG as you orbit, a 'safe' bottom-edge of LKO would be about 35km, unless you know exactly how long your ship is to the capsule's CG.

[DoctorEvo]

...so, to simplify, factoring in the inevitable imprecision of your orbit's circularity and making sure that nothing starts dragging below the capsule's CG as you orbit, a 'safe' bottom-edge of LKO would be about 35km, unless you know exactly how long your ship is to the capsule's CG.

Well I think I can safely assume my rocket's upper stage is less than 500m long...

[rdfox]

Point taken. I think my longest booster to ever fly was only about 180m long on the pad, and that's six stages...