KSP Planetary Transfer Quick Reference Chart: >>> Now Combined! <<<

[Landge]

I came up with this idea of a quick reference chart that I can place on the desk beside my PC since I'm constantly having to minimize KSP to view this handy online guide Olex's Interactive Interplanetary Guide and Calculator for KSP. Since I haven't used Alarm Clock, MechJeb, SmartA.S.S. Not that I have anything against using them. I just prefer not to at this point in time. I wondered how it would look to have every planet's transfer angle on one chart. Here is my first draft that I thought I'd share:

Notice that this chart is for outbound traffic leaving Kerbin. Inbound traffic to Kerbin may have to be on different charts to avoid clutter. I will consider any reasonable comments or suggestions.

Edited August 23, 2013 by Landge

[bsalis]

Neat.

Though I think listing the actual degree numbers somewhere would help.

[Landge]

I thought about listing the degrees too, maybe under each name. But was going for a "Chronograph" look by showing clock headings, instead of angle of degrees. Much like is done in aircraft. "He's on your 6" or "Target at 12 o'clock. Light em up!" style of reference, not as a protractor. Maybe as a table listing over on the side. I'll play around with it some more when I get a chance.

Edited August 22, 2013 by Landge

[TriggerAu]

Love it. This is a great visualization.

[Landge]

Thanks!

Here's a few quick tweaks. I added ejection arcs for each of the planets based on an altitude range of 100km (default setting on Olex's page) to 500km orbit above Kerbin. I didn't go any higher due to the arcs overlapping for Dress, Jool and Eeloo.

I'm leaving out the wall of text list of angle's in degrees for now. It just looks too cluttered and kind of detracts from the "quick reference chart" I'm trying to achieve.

Edited August 23, 2013 by Landge
Cleaned up a few leftover construction lines.

[Tw1]

It looks awesome. I can imagine something like that hanging up in mission control.

[Landge]

Thanks. Next up, without further ado I present the KSP Return to Kerbin Planetary Transfer Quick Reference Chart:

Not that they ever return but just in case.

[Landge]

I have taken the previous 2 charts and combined them into one chart to rule them all:

Enjoy!

Edited August 24, 2013 by Landge

[JHarvey]

Very cool, thanks for sharing.

Ima test it out!

[Landge]

REVISION: I cleaned up the chart a bit. Moved some text around. Fixed some text that was clipped. It didn't show was clipped on the printed copy I made. Plus I doubled the resolution (3840 x 2160 pixels) so it should be easier to read.

Just click on the last chart above for the latest version.

[Specialist290]

Nicely done! Now if only I had some of those transparency sheets like they used to have for the old-fashioned projectors...

[Fulbert]

That is positively amazing! I'm going to print it and keep it at hand for reference. Now if this sheet had a legend of some sort... And possibly an mononchrome version...

UPD: Oh carp, there IS a legend! I'm sorry, I'm scatter-brained like that sometimes.

Edited August 24, 2013 by Fulbert
Oh carp!

[Superfluous J]

Very very cool. Almost poster-worthy. You may want to look into that.

Thought: Could you add "from KSP straight-up launch" to this somehow? Or even "From the equator straight-up launch from all planets"?

Or is there a way to get that from this chart? I'm just learning that technique myself, having mastered it for Mun and Minmus just the other day.

Edited August 24, 2013 by 5thHorseman

[Landge]

I appreciate the feedback!

That is positively amazing! I'm going to print it and keep it at hand for reference. Now if this sheet had a legend of some sort... And possibly an mononchrome version...

UPD: Oh carp, there IS a legend! I'm sorry, I'm scatter-brained like that sometimes.

I'll give it a shot. I'll try to get a monochrome version uploaded later. I'm just concerned about overlapping arcs.

Very very cool. Almost poster-worthy. You may want to look into that.

Thought: Could you add "from KSP straight-up launch" to this somehow? Or even "From the equator straight-up launch from all planets"?

Or is there a way to get that from this chart? I'm just learning that technique myself, having mastered it for Mun and Minmus just the other day.

I didn't see to add straight-up to launch. There could be occasions where you could waiting in orbit to be re-fueled or you could be coming from one of the planet's moons. That is if I understand you correctly.

I know 500km is limiting the orbital arcs but I didn't want them to overlap each other. Monochrome might be harder to read that way. I figure you could mentally project from where the arc stopped to predict what angle you need. Just like any true Kerbal would do.

All orbits are based off an equatorial orbit with a bearing of 90° East. I think that should be added as a note on the chart somewhere.

[Landge]

Quick Reference Chart Update (Just a bit more clean up work):

Now in MONOCHROME! er um... I mean GRAY SCALE!

Edited August 24, 2013 by Landge

[Fulbert]

I'll give it a shot. I'll try to get a monochrome version uploaded later. I'm just concerned about overlapping arcs.

You might want to try using some sort of patterns to represent different colours.

UPD: Oh, too late;-) Yeah, that works, too.

[Superfluous J]

I didn't see to add straight-up to launch. There could be occasions where you could waiting in orbit to be re-fueled or you could be coming from one of the planet's moons. That is if I understand you correctly.

I sadly don't know the details. I have just heard (and it makes sense) that there is a specific best time to launch straight up from KSP where you can bypass all this getting-into-Kerbin-orbit stuff and end up with a Solar orbit that will bring you into the SOI of your target planet. I *think* it's the same launch window, but you burn straight prograde or retrograde. I don't know that for a fact though.

It's possible it's not needed, and all you have to do is conduct your burn right at dawn or dusk, but I don't *know* that

[Fulbert]

You'd have to launch at a pretty precise time and have a pretty precise ascent path, but other than that, that shouldn't be much different from trying to achieve a stable orbit first. Might save you some fuel, though.

[Landge]

Nicely done! Now if only I had some of those transparency sheets like they used to have for the old-fashioned projectors...

Now there's an idea! I'll have to look into that next time I'm at a Office Depot or Staples.