Highest Apoapsis achieved?

[sirrus]

Trying to figure out whether or not solar escape is possible, I built the following rocket.

(Supposed to be 'Bigger\'un', v2 of a rocket called 'The Big\'un'.)

181.23 gigameters. Not bad, not bad. About 40Gm farther than one AU, the distance from the earth to the sun. What\'s the highest apoapsis you\'ve achieved?

[VincentMcConnell]

Of course Solar Escape is possible... I\'ve done it several times.

[sirrus]

Well then I know what I\'m doing with the rest of my night.

[maltesh]

The difference between an apoapsis of 1.8 GM and solar escape from Kerbin orbit is pretty small in velocity. I\'d estimate another 500 m/s would have put you on solar escape.

Basically, get your spacecraft into an eastward low Kerbin orbit, wait until you cross the midnight line, and run it up to about 5 km/s. That will typically get you solar escape on exit of the Kerbin SOI.

[VincentMcConnell]

Well than I know what I\'m doing with the rest of my night.

Why? There\'s nothing to see out there. Just blank space.

[sirrus]

The difference between an apoapsis of 1.8 GM and solar escape from Kerbin orbit is pretty small in velocity. I\'d estimate another 500 m/s would have put you on solar escape.

Basically, get your spacecraft into an eastward low Kerbin orbit, wait until you cross the midnight line, and run it up to about 5 km/s. That will typically get you solar escape on exit of the Kerbin SOI.

Oh, man, I was just waiting until midnight on the pad and then trying to muscle my way out. I didn\'t even enter orbit around Kerbin, I\'ll give that a try.

Why? There\'s nothing to see out there. Just blank space.

Just the fun of trying to see how far out into space I can get.

[UmbralRaptor]

If you\'re doing a straight up flight for Kerbol escape, the best time to launch is dawn. Though going into a 70 km parking orbit and burning prograde at midnight to >5km/s might be more fuel efficient.