Getting from the pole to an equatorial orbit

[ineon]

My situation: I am currently at Minmus north pole (landed) getting science and my orbiter is in a equatorial orbit. What is the most efficient way of meeting back up to dock?

I don't think that doing a polar orbit and doing a plane change seems efficient. Going straight south (suborbital) and then attempting to match orbit gets me a giant apoapse. Or do I just accept that it will take some significant dv?

Edited November 9, 2015 by ineon

[FancyMouse]

How much dV do you have? Minmus often requires less fuel than you thought and sometimes it's just enough to do it directly.

[T-Bouw]

Aditionally, perform the maneuver with the craft that has the fuel to spare. If that would be the one in an equatorial orbit, give that the polar orbit.

Or vice versa.

[Alshain]

Given the low gravity, simply landing near the equator and taking off again may be an easier way. I'm not sure whether it would cost less to land or to put your Ap very high and do it far from the planet (which is more efficient than close to the planet).

[ineon]

How much dV do you have?

Plenty. I can easily get back, I was just interested in doing it efficiently.

dv that I don't use now is dv for later missions.

[Mastikator]

Plenty. I can easily get back, I was just interested in doing it efficiently.

dv that I don't use now is dv for later missions.

Do a short burst that gets your apo over the equator and at the height you desire, then do a circulation and correctional burst simultaneously. That ought to be the most efficient way of doing it.

[Streetwind]

^--- This. Always try to combine plane changes with other burns.

But put your apoapsis a little higher than you need. Not only does that reduce your speed at apoapsis (and thus makes your plane change require less dV), but you'll also lose some altitude while turning your orbit 90 degrees sideways. And after you have turned your orbit, having a higher apoapsis than your target will let you phase to a rendezvous.