Stable orbits for all planets and moons

[Zerro]

Greetings,

I was curious if there was a list somewhere or if someone could tell me what the stable orbit distances are for all the planets and moons so the planetary bodies' gravity doesn't suck the ship back down into the atmosphere (ie: Kerbin 100km)

Thanks

[Rhomphaia]

If you are in orbit, then gravity will not "suck the ship back down"

So as long as you are out of the atmosphere you are fine.

Rounding up to nearest KM

Kerbin 70Km

Duna 42KM

Eve 97KM

Jool 139KM

Laythe 56KM

Keep your periapsis higher than that and you will be fine

Edited August 21, 2013 by Rhomphaia

[Tex_NL]

Any orbit that does not dip into the atmosphere or surface is considered stable. It does not have to be circular. For Kerbin this means any orbit with a Pe above ~70 km.

All info on the height of a bodies atmosphere can be found on the wiki.

Edit: Darn, got ninja'd once again. Took too long checking the wiki.

[Platofan2]

Look On The Wiki

[SRV Ron]

For planets and moons with no atmosphere, any orbit with a paragee above the highest land mass on that body will be stable.

[ZenithRising]

For planets and moons with no atmosphere, any orbit with a paragee above the highest land mass on that body will be stable.

Actually, a chart with the highest landmass for bodies in a vacuum would be handy. Learned 5000m wasn't high enough above Mun the hard way.

[SRV Ron]

Actually, a chart with the highest landmass for bodies in a vacuum would be handy. Learned 5000m wasn't high enough above Mun the hard way.

Interestingly enough, you can get as low as 1,500 meters on the Kerbal Sun before your ship is melted by the heat. This shot is higher to show a change made for 0.2101

[astropapi1]

Interestingly enough, you can get as low as 1,500 meters on the Kerbal Sun before your ship is

Eh... I don't think so. Look at that "K".

You're actually at 1404000 meters over the sun's surface.

[SRV Ron]

Eh... I don't think so. Look at that "K".

You're actually at 1404000 meters over the sun's surface.

I know. I didn't upload the picture where the probe went poof below 1500 meters, not kilometers.

Here is the proof or Poof!

[thereaverofdarkness]

Stable orbit is less about distance and more about velocity. You have to reach about 2300 m/s to get into low Kerbin orbit, higher orbits will have a lower speed while oval orbits will have a higher speed at periapsis.

[Fyzzi]

Exactly as thereaverofdarkness said... it's not altitude that makes you orbit the body... it's actually speed (velocity) with which you counter gravity of that body... so by going fast enough, the body's gravity is not strong enough to pull you to the ground... just not to let you fly away... when you go too slow, the gravity is gonna pull you back to the ground and if you go too fast, you will eventually fly away from that body...

It's absolutely not about the altitude... for example, you could achieve Münar orbit (if you wouldn't crash to any mountain) at 10 m altitude... you'd just have to travel fast enough (500-600 m/s I guess)... watch some youtube tutorials they'll help you a lot... you obviously need to learn some orbital mechanics...

[njd80]

If you are in orbit, then gravity will not "suck the ship back down"

So as long as you are out of the atmosphere you are fine.

Rounding up to nearest KM

Kerbin 70Km

Duna 42KM

Eve 86KM

Jool 139KM

Laythe 56KM

Keep your periapsis higher than that and you will be fine

The wiki has Eve atmosphere at 96km - has it changed in 0.21?

[Rhomphaia]

The wiki has Eve atmosphere at 96km - has it changed in 0.21?

Doubt it, just a typo from me