Nub question about planetary transfers

[Conarr]

I think the phase angles for a given planet are recognized as the optimum time to try and rendezvous with the planets, right?. However, my question is can you leave for a planet anytime you want if you have enough fuel? Or given some mathematical formula I don't know, you can't hit another planet, Jool for instance at the 96.58 deg phase angle from Kerbin, regardless of how much fuel you expend?

[Pursuedtank]

With enough fuel and plenty of time you could leave at any time and still get into orbit. However you would have to expend a lot of fuel and possibly do a few orbits before you could get an encounter. This is what I did on my first interplanetary mission before I learned about the phase angles.

[Mubzat]

Yes it is completely possible to get an encounter without waiting for the target planet to allign. It will most likely be less fuel efficient and your kerbals may have to spend a few years in space. But yes, totally possible.

[Conarr]

Okay. On my trip to Duna I followed the phase angle advice, but I wanted to see if it was possible if I developed ADHD or grew impatient and just burned for it. My little probe has tons of fuel, but I should probably just wait an launch when the stars align.

Thanks guys

How the Doofenshmirtz do you change the thread thingy from unanswered to answered?

Edited May 30, 2013 by Conarr

[Matticus88]

You should be able to edit your first post to change its tag.

And you could burn in the oposite direction to a planets orbit direction, of course you'd have an awful lot of speed to kill when you reach the planet... unless you've built an impacter lol

[dr_jt]

Pachycephalosaurus

Edited June 6, 2013 by dr_jt

[PaleoGamer]

Good question. I don't see an option when doing an edit so my answered question goes unanswered.

Edit the first post in the thread and select "Go Advanced". There will be a dropdown that will let you change the prefix.

[dr_jt]

Pachycephalosaurus

Edited June 6, 2013 by dr_jt