Sundive transfers (how the **** do I do them?!)

[Captain Sierra]

So, I know there are at least two ways to intercept a planet. You can do an efficient Hohmann transfer, or you can do what I have heard called a sundive transfer. What is it and how do I do it?

I can get an orbiter to Eeloo (at least theoretically, I have yet to actually do it as Jool got in the way last time) so dV is not a limiting factor. I can make it there with more than enough fuel to spare. Can someone give me a crash course in the so called sundive transfer?

Edited October 7, 2013 by Captain Sierra

[Sirine]

sundive transfer? never heard of it.

Perhaps like....going straight? With Hyperwarp?

http://www.startrek.com/boards-topic/33341495/warp-speed-or-hyperspeed-_1272183623_33341495

http://www.startrek.com/boards-topic/33157705/Warp-Drive-or-Hyper-Drive_1080870141_33157705

So, technically, just put lots of thrust (like mainsail) to a small probe? And go straight to the target?

[Captain Sierra]

Based on what little I know about it, it basically involves coming form a high orbit, down to low solar orbit and thrusting once there to launch yourself out to the target planet. The only time I ever saw someone do it was from Moho to Duna.

Problem is, I don't know the gritty details on lining it up and actually getting the intercept.

[arq]

I don't know what a 'sundive' transfer is, but it sounds like a bi-elliptic transfer.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bi-elliptic_transfer

In certain cases, they can be more efficient than Hohmann transfers. Specifically, if you are changing your semi-major axis by more than a factor of 12 (SMA = (apoapsis+periapsis)/2 + radius of parent body). In interplanetary space, this only applies to transfers between Moho and Jool/Eeloo, but can also be useful for moving around between low and high planetary orbits. It also is very useful for doing Kerbol escapes.

Basically, it means using the Oberth effect of whatever body you're currently orbiting to move from one orbit to another. The idea is that you overshoot your initial target orbit, then make your adjustments at extreme (very low or very high) points in an elliptical orbit where it is more dV-effective in order to (possibly) save dV on the transfer.

[Captain Sierra]

The difference I see with this is that transfer windows really don't factor in the same way. The thing I had heard about was basically this in reverse. Thanks!

EDIT: My plan knowing that is basically drop down below moho orbit (minus the dV eating inclination change) and then boost back out to Joolian orbit. much less efficient but I can get the probes there without waiting for a transfer window.