A Delta-V Map for simple flight paths

[mhoram]

While there are good Delta-V (ΔV) Maps available, they all rely on departure burns in Low Kerbin Orbit (LKO) and an understanding of Phase and Ejection Angles.

Beginners that do not yet feel comfortable with these concepts might try to reach other planets without these advanced maneuvers and ask themself if their ship has enough fuel/ΔV to accomplish the task. While Stock KSP does not display the ships ΔV, Plugins like Kerbal Engineer Redux can help with that.

So I put together a ΔV map for the most simple flight path to other planets:

 

1. Get from the launchpad into a 75km LKO
2. Escape Kerbin's Sphere of Influence
3. Change the inclination to match the one of the target planet
4. Perform the first Hohmann-Transfer burn
5. Fine adjust the trajectory to a low orbit around the target planet
6. Perform a circularization-burn in the low orbit around the target planet

 

 

Pre V1.0 Version:

Spoiler

 

The ΔV-Values are just a bit larger than the minimal amount needed, so build your rocket with spare fuel.

Since most planets are on an eccentric orbit around Kerbol, I gathered data for the minimal and maximal ΔV needed in the columns "Intercept / first Hohmann Burn" and "Circularization @ altitude".

I did not include Moons, because the ΔV needed to reach them is smaller than the ΔV needed for the circularization burn at the Low Orbit.

Efficiency

Here is a comparison with the values of this ΔV-Map for a flight from the launchpad to a low orbit around the target planet.

Planet	Advanced flightpath	Simple flightpath
Moho	10040	10550
Eve	6280	6950
Duna	5100	6150
Dres	7260	8800
Jool	8570	10400
Eeloo	8190	9150

 

 

 

 

 

So the method described here is a lot less efficient, but at least more easy to accomplish.

Reduction of needed ΔV

There are several kinds of maneuvers available to lower the amount of needed ΔV.

• Departure Burn in LKO to utilize the Oberth Effect
• Aerobraking to reduce the circularization burn to nearly zero m/s at planets with an atmosphere
• Gravity Assists

 

Version 5, License:

The best part for me about putting this map together was, that for the first time I laid my eyes on Jool and it's moons. :-)

Edited August 16, 2016 by mhoram
fixed table format

[Biff Space]

Thanks, this is very helpful. I added KER but didn't know what dv values I'd need.

Good work!

[Specialist290]

Ooh, this looks like it could come in handy

[mhoram]

I updated the chart for V1.0.4

- Adjusted Kerbin Launch to LKO

- Adjusted atmosphere altitudes for Eve, Duna and Jool

- Retested Jool values (they still fit)

- Changed comparison table to WAC's ÃŽâ€V-map

Edited July 18, 2015 by mhoram