How exact do you gotta be...

[HappyAngryCatfish]

Trying to complete a certain orbit around the Min for a contract I'm practically dead on the specifications but it won't complete. How exact do you have to be?!

[Godot]

Maybe the satellite orbits in the wrong direction

[klesh]

Screenshot please.

Open the contract window on the toolbar and look at what the objectives are and which are checked off as satisfied. Did you bring everything you were supposed to on the craft?

[HappyAngryCatfish]

Screenshot in a second I've completed everything except the 'orbit within a marginal range of the wanted one'

- - - Updated - - -

I believe I discovered the issue. I'm orbiting the wrong direction. Is there a way to salavage a backwards orbits or not?

[klesh]

I believe I discovered the issue. I'm orbiting the wrong direction. Is there a way to salavage a backwards orbits or not?

Haha, yup, that one gets alot of folks. Lucky for you, you can still salvage the probe, if you have enough deltaV. At your PE, burn prograde to raise your AP very very high. When you get to the AP, you will be going super slow (the further out, the slower). This is the point to burn retrograde; you will halt your small orbital speed, and then flip it back in the other direction. Do so to the point that your PE is where you need it. Travel to PE, and burn retograde to drop your AP to where you need it.

Thats the most cost-effective way to salvage the probe. If you dont have enough deltaV, you'll have to send another.

[capi3101]

I believe I discovered the issue. I'm orbiting the wrong direction. Is there a way to salavage a backwards orbits or not?

You can do it if you've got sufficient delta-V remaining. Basically, you need to look at your current orbital velocity and plan a retrograde burn of double that amount at the next apsis. Obviously, the slower your orbital velocity, the easier this will be to pull off (which is why klesh is telling you to raise your Ap - generally the higher your Ap, the lower your orbital velocity is).

[Kryxal]

Side note, you're not going to be able to easily plan that burn ... just plan a burn at AP to bring your PE to nothing (as in center of the body you're orbiting, not just the surface) and double it. Use the node for alignment and a ROUGH idea of how much burn you have left to do, but just burn to match the orbit then tidy up your inclination.

[klesh]

Side note, you're not going to be able to easily plan that burn ...

Indeed. For me, I would be firing in Map mode, and using the Mk I Eyeball to watch the PE.

[Taki117]

Indeed. For me, I would be firing in Map mode, and using the Mk I Eyeball to watch the PE.

I think you mean the MK-I ball, but yes, buring so your AP is very high (Depending on how much dV you have between Mun and Minmus should be fine) then burn retrograde (but don't use the autopilot tools, just point and hold steady) then put your PE where you want it then circularize at PE.

[Wemb]

I think you mean the MK-I ball, but yes, buring so your AP is very high (Depending on how much dV you have between Mun and Minmus should be fine) then burn retrograde (but don't use the autopilot tools, just point and hold steady) then put your PE where you want it then circularize at PE.

Be glad it's only a satellite - I got into this situation trying to bring a class-C asteroid into Minumus orbit and ended up having the rock orbit Kerbin in the opposite direction to Minmus. Had to send another four asteroid wrangler ships out there to turn the bugger around...

Wemb

Wemb

[Sharpy]

You can use PreciseNode to create neat turn-in-place nodes. Just click the "-" on prograde enough times

Also, see how much delta-V you have. Bringing your AP very high sure saves delta-V but definitely not time - at the edge of Minmus SOI the maneuver can take two weeks (and some 40m/s.) You can easily shorten the time by choosing a lower AP. The absolute worst scenario is some 400m/s, but with a day long orbit this can be reduced to something of order of 80.

As for "planning the burn" at AP: Don't bother with a node. Just direct your ship retrograde, burn and watch your orbit. When the PE is roughly on your target orbit cut off. It's really one of the few maneuvers where nodes are really not all that helpful. (they can help you estimate the delta-V required, but the burn results are immediately apparent and the orbit near AP is so slow that an hour one way or another doesn't matter.

Edited July 24, 2015 by Sharpy

[Nich]

Depends on your altitude actually. In most cases you want to lower your PE first, then extend your AP (for oberith) then full burn to change direction. Most contracts are pretty high up and you have to eat up speed anyways might as well do more of it lower for more oberith.

Edited July 24, 2015 by Nich