dv expense question.

[putnamto]

say i want a 0 inclination orbit and circularized at an orbit higher than my current orbit.

is it smarter to raise orbit, circularize, then change inclination?
change inclination, raise orbit, circularize?
circularize, change inclination, raise orbit?

etc. what is the most dv effective way of going about this?

[Serenity]

For me its simple:

High inclination change: best way to do it is while launching the rocket.

Low inclination change: dont bother with raising apoapsis, wont be much of a gain, just do it with the height your vessel needs to be.

If you are already circularized  and you cant spare the delta v to brute force the change then you might consider using other planets/moons.

Check this for some answers :

 

Edited April 30, 2018 by Boyster

[putnamto]

thanks

[foamyesque]

If this is a relatively small inclination change, and you're going from a circular orbit to a circular orbit, your best bet is to raise your apoapsis to your desired circular orbital distance, and to execute your burn to do so when you're crossing the equator in your current orbit. This will mean that the apoapsis of your transfer orbit is also on the equator. You can then execute a combined inclination change and circularization burn at it, and since you're going as slow as is possible for the inclination change, it will use the least amount of dV to shift things, without increasing the dV required for the orbit raising & circularization.