Quickest way to get to the Mun ?

[Mountainjk]

I'm always having trouble getting to the Mun(every planet in general too), I can land fine, Just its the part after orbit and before landing on target that I cant get.

Anyone have any tips to help?

[bewing]

For planets, it gets tricky because you have to figure out the proper transfer window (about once a year). You can't just go any old time you feel like it.

For the Mun, it should be pretty easy. You look where the Mun is, in its orbit around Kerbin. You aim 90 degrees ahead of that point. You burn prograde on the opposite side of Kerbin from your aim point.

For Minmus, you aim 60 degrees ahead, instead.

[Mountainjk]

11 minutes ago, bewing said:

For planets, it gets tricky because you have to figure out the proper transfer window (about once a year). You can't just go any old time you feel like it.

For the Mun, it should be pretty easy. You look where the Mun is, in its orbit around Kerbin. You aim 90 degrees ahead of that point. You burn prograde on the opposite side of Kerbin from your aim point.

For Minmus, you aim 60 degrees ahead, instead.

Ok, Thanks! I'll try that.

[Kryxal]

I'd call it more like 75 degrees to start for Mun, but in any case, it's easy with maneuver nodes.  Drop the node, get the apoapsis you'll need, and slide the node around for a good intercept.

[Vanamonde]

My guide has not been updated for a while, but might still be helpful. 

 

[Gogi]

On 2/12/2019 at 7:32 PM, bewing said:

For planets, it gets tricky because you have to figure out the proper transfer window (about once a year). You can't just go any old time you feel like it.

For the Mun, it should be pretty easy. You look where the Mun is, in its orbit around Kerbin. You aim 90 degrees ahead of that point. You burn prograde on the opposite side of Kerbin from your aim point.

For Minmus, you aim 60 degrees ahead, instead.

Actually you can go at any time. It just won't be efficient.

[bewing]

2 hours ago, Gogi said:

Actually you can go at any time. It just won't be efficient.

Heh. Well, just try to get to Jool when it's on the wrong side of the Sun. It'll take at least 25 km/s of deltaV. Which is a bit more than just "inefficient".

[GoatRider]

34 minutes ago, bewing said:

Heh. Well, just try to get to Jool when it's on the wrong side of the Sun. It'll take at least 25 km/s of deltaV. Which is a bit more than just "inefficient".

Not as bad as some old science fiction novels would have you do it- burn at 1G until you're halfway there, and then turn around and burn at 1G until you get there. My calculus is too rusty to calculate how much DeltaV that would take.

[bewing]

34 minutes ago, GoatRider said:

Not as bad as some old science fiction novels would have you do it- burn at 1G until you're halfway there, and then turn around and burn at 1G until you get there. My calculus is too rusty to calculate how much DeltaV that would take.

10m/s for each second of the journey. Time = 2 * sqrt(distance in meters / 10).

But at least you can be sure there will be no physical low-G degradation.

 

Edited February 26, 2019 by bewing

[Espatie]

The maneuver node for a Mun transfer from LKO is at roughly the point at which the Mun appears to rise over Kerbin.

[GoatRider]

1 hour ago, bewing said:

10m/s for each second of the journey. Time = 2 * sqrt(distance in meters / 10).

21,900 dV for the Mun. It's not quite as bad as I thought.

[miletran168]

21.900 dV cho Mun it so long.

[bewing]

5 hours ago, miletran168 said:

21.900 dV cho Mun it so long.

Welcome to the forums. That number is for a constant 1G trip -- which is impossible in the game without cheating.

[Gogi]

On 2/26/2019 at 2:51 PM, bewing said:

Heh. Well, just try to get to Jool when it's on the wrong side of the Sun. It'll take at least 25 km/s of deltaV. Which is a bit more than just "inefficient".

But it is possible

[klesh]

Another way to think of it which might make sense to you is to imagine things like positions on a clock.

 

In map mode, look at your orbit and Kerbin from above.   Rotate the view until the Mun is at 3 o'clock. Place your maneuver node at 6 o'clock.   Pull the prograde marker, simulating a "forward" burn ().  You will intercept the Mun at 12 o'clock each and everytime.