The Flying Kerbal Posted October 8 Share Posted October 8 Hi Guys! I haven't played Kerbal in ages, but watching a few videos on YouTube suddenly got me interested again. On one of my new missions, I built a small probe and just blasted it out of the Kerbin system, until its fuel ran out. As luck would have it - and it really was luck - it arrived perfectly at Duna, just as the planet was at its descending node. OK, not a big deal I agree, but still an interesting little fluke nonetheless. This got me thinking, would it be possible to arrive at other planets which have a more costly inclination to correct, in the same way. Moho for example, if the transfer was timed right, arriving when it was at a node, could save a tanker load of fuel. I know Eve can be used to sort out that inclination, but I'm not particularly good at working our gravity assists and much prefer the more direct method. So, is there any way to figure out when to make a transfer burn to another planet, so the space craft reaches it when it's at one of the two nodes? Thanks everyone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vanamonde Posted October 8 Share Posted October 8 It can be done but it's pretty tricky. I usually just get an intercept of any kind and then make a mid-course correction to fine-tune my arrival. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Emigrant Posted October 9 Share Posted October 9 Hi @The Flying Kerbal don't you have to cancel the excess speed when you get to a planet like Moho? Pay me now or pay me later? ME Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Flying Kerbal Posted October 10 Author Share Posted October 10 8 hours ago, Martian Emigrant said: Hi @The Flying Kerbal don't you have to cancel the excess speed when you get to a planet like Moho? Pay me now or pay me later? ME No, that isn't the issue, I'm only thinking about a flyby so no need to slow down. All I'm trying to do is to figure out a way of avoiding the fuel required for the course correction - the change of inclination - by arriving at Moho (for example) when it's at one of the nodes. Sorry my cheque's on hold. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Emigrant Posted October 10 Share Posted October 10 Gotcha By "Pay me now or pay me later" I meant to spend the delta-v one way or another. ME Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Flying Kerbal Posted October 10 Author Share Posted October 10 7 hours ago, Martian Emigrant said: Gotcha By "Pay me now or pay me later" I meant to spend the delta-v one way or another. ME LOL... oops sorry, I thought you were making a witty comment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pandaman Posted October 11 Share Posted October 11 Mid course corrections can use very little Dv if your initial course is 'somewhere near'. Quite possibly a lot less than trying to get your original trajectory spot on, as well as being easier to adjust for accuracy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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