What is the altitude, inclination and Delta-V for a Heliosynchronous Orbit?

[Eskandare]

Hi everyone,

I was curious if anyone knew the Altitude, Inclination, and Delta-V for maintaining a Heliosynchronous orbit in Kerbin SOI? In other words, orbiting a satellite or station so it stays in Kerbol's (the sun's) light. This would be most helpful. Also, all other planets SOI would be useful too. Thank you.

Edited July 17, 2013 by Eskandare
Answered, Thank you

[strongest_2hu]

Can't be done.

[minuseven]

It kind of can. If you put your ship into a polar orbit, it will be in 24/7 sunlight for approximately half a year per year, split into quarter years. So following an Earth year, it would be in direct sunlight for 3 months at a time, for 6 months per year total.

[Cashen]

I don't believe sun-synchronous orbits are possible in KSP because in real life they depend on orbital precession to keep the orbital plane perpendicular to the direction to the sun (so the satellite is always orbiting over the night/day terminator). This is not possible in KSP, and even if you launch into a polar orbit over the terminator, as Kerbin moves around the sun eventually your orbit will be taking you behind Kerbin's night side.

The closest you can do is a polar or highly inclined orbit at a very high altitude to minimize the time you spend "behind" Kerbin.

Edited July 17, 2013 by Cashen

[Eskandare]

I don't believe sun-synchronous orbits are possible in KSP because in real life they depend on orbital precession to keep the orbital plane perpendicular to the direction to the sun (so the satellite is always orbiting over the night/day terminator). This is not possible in KSP, and even if you launch into a polar orbit over the terminator, as Kerbin moves around the sun eventually your orbit will be taking you behind Kerbin's night side.

The closest you can do is a polar or highly inclined orbit at a very high altitude to minimize the time you spend "behind" Kerbin.

Thank you, that explains why I thought my math was off. I guess that will certainly have to be the substitute. Thanks once again.

[Cashen]

Just to clarify on the why it's not possible part. The orbital precession that sun-synchronous orbits depend on is caused by the fact that Earth is an oblate spheroid (its equatorial radius is bigger than its polar radius; it bulges due to the centripetal force of its own rotation). This means that a craft in a circular polar orbit experiences a slightly higher gravitational force when it passes the equator, and at the right inclination this can cause the orbit to 'rotate' about the planet. Kerbin is more or less a perfect sphere with a uniform gravity well, so these orbits are not possible. Venus, in real life, has a similar issue, because its rotation is so slow it's nearly a perfect sphere.