Hyperbolic reentry

[mcwaffles2003]

I figure while we are all waiting for re-entry heating to be enabled, why not take advantage of its absence?

Basically the challenge is to re-enter kerbin, and get as close to the ground as possible while still escaping back into space using no thrust during re-entry.

[Tony Duhon]

imagine a periapsis of 5 meters

[mcwaffles2003]

22 minutes ago, Tony Duhon said:

imagine a periapsis of 5 meters

Im aiming for something like that but even hitting the atmosphere with a peri of 5000m while hitting the atmosphere at 15000m/s I still lose all my velocity

[mattihase]

I'd imagine anything below maybe 23k would require kraken drive like speeds

[Superfluous J]

Back in the soup-o-sphere days I'd frequently come in from Jool straight down. Never hit the ground at anything over terminal velocity.

Those were the days.