How low can I make an orbit around Kerbol?

[99TheCreator]

Im trying to put a probe into an extremely low orbit around kerbol. What is the lowest i can go before my probe gets destroyed?

[lajoswinkler]

It's less than 5km, might be around 1500m, but good luck circularizing. You'll need a lot of fuel.

[nhnifong]

It's about 5000 kilometers. I think you need about 30 km/s to get there, straight from kerbin, or around 25 km/s to slingshot down with Jool.

[SRV Ron]

It's about 5000 kilometers. I think you need about 30 km/s to get there, straight from kerbin, or around 25 km/s to slingshot down with Jool.

Below 1,500 meters you will blow up.

[RuBisCO]

Yeah I had solar probes always blow up around 1200 meters, which is crazy silly considering the temperature parts should be at that close to a star! You don't really need much delta-V for a parabolic orbit from kerbin to kerbol system, likes 6 km/s.

Edited October 11, 2013 by RuBisCO

[lajoswinkler]

The value was not always the same, but yeah, you can go below 1500m. For some reason the orbit gets unstable and your periapsis can get lower during the mission. I'd recommend 2 km just to be on the safe side.

[99TheCreator]

Awesome, I got my probe in an orbit, now too circularize it. They must have some extreme heat shields on this thing.

[Blaster]

How about landing on Kerbol?