To Mun with MechJeb

[KvickFlygarn87]

I have a rocket that can get to a perfectly circular orbit with plenty of fuel left. Now how do I get to Mun with the auto pilot (MechJeb 2.0.9)?

I'm sorry for being a giant frickin' nub.

EDIT: I have used a Hohmann transfer to crash there, not a succesful landing

Edited July 30, 2013 by KvickFlygarn87

[togfox]

enter stable kerbin orbit

go to map view, right click Mun, select 'target'

return to game, do hohmann transfer to mun, allow for warp and auto burn, watch map for kicks

when burn is finished, time warp till in Mun SOI, use MJ smart ass to turn RAD +

burn gently until periapsis is above the surface - or skip if PE is already above surface (aim for about 30km PE but doesn't matter)

use MJ to circularise when you reach the PE. It will autowarp and burn for you.

You should now have stable orbit around the mun at 30km

Now using the landing guidance window. Enter co-ords or simply click a spot on the map. Avoid rocky terrain and dark spots.

Click "land at target"

go make a coffee.

Plant flag.

(use f5 a lot)

[KvickFlygarn87]

Okay, what is RAD +?

[Tw1]

Is that a Kerbin orbit?

If so, crashing is probably due to not having a periapsis above the Muns surface.

Using the maneuver node manually isn't too hard. You've just got to place it on your orbit, drag one of the green handles until it touches the Mun's orbit.

Move the maneuver node around untill you get a Mun encounter.

Make sure you see a "Mun periapsis" in your planed orbit, at least 7Km or so. You can

Mechjeb can execute the node for you.

Using the transfer to target feature, I'm pretty sure you can set what you want your final periapsis to be, so make sure it's higher than zero.

Next, you must capture into orbit around the Mun. Either use mechjeb's ability to circularise your orbit when your ship gets to the periapsis, or plot and execute a node manually.

Next, landing. Mechjeb has a landing autopilot you can engage, it's fairly efficient, and very precise most of the time.. . Either pick a target to land at, (one under your orbital path will require lest fuel,) or just click land now (or whatever its called, I tend not to use that.)

The only problem is it may try to land you on the side of a crater.

I recommend choosing the site, and carefully.

Edited July 30, 2013 by Tw1

[Tw1]

Okay, what is RAD +?

This is one of the buttons in the smart ASS, it points your ship in the "outwards" or upwards direction from your current orbit.

RAD- is the opposit.

If you set up your transfer to have a good periapsis, and execute it well, you don't need to make a correction like that.

Edited July 30, 2013 by Tw1

[KvickFlygarn87]

Okay thanks

[Tw1]

Good luck!

Mechjeb can show you what to, some use it to learn how to fly manually, once they've seen how it's done.

Mechjeb's not the best pilot, but it works. Most of the time.

[KvickFlygarn87]

It's a way better pilot than me, my attempts at perfect orbit tend to end up looking like an american football :-/

[JakeGrey]

There's a second method that will give similar results to togfox's suggestion but involves a bit less clicking. After setting up the Hohmann transfer, look for the Manouevre Planner setting called "fine-tune closest approach to target". Pick a suitable final periapsis -the default 100km is usually fine- and let it execute automatically. Warp until you enter the Mun's sphere of influence, then bring up the Manouevre Planner again and pick "circularise" and choose whatever altitude you want.

[Flixxbeatz]

It's a way better pilot than me, my attempts at perfect orbit tend to end up looking like an american football :-/

Don't worry, everyone went through there first. You'll get better as you play and play

[KvickFlygarn87]

Don't worry, everyone went through there first. You'll get better as you play and play

Doubt it. Doubt it a lot.