Kerbal X departs to, orbits and returns from Jool system by multiple gravity assists

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Ingredient: Kerbal X

This time my Kerbal X successfully arrived Jool system and orbited around it. After staying in Jool system for awhile, the crews returned to Kerbin safely. Totally, four planetary flybys were performed to save fuel.

Starting from LKO (with 2200m/s of delta V left in Kerbal X), the delta V required to finish whole trip was around 1500m/s, which means there was around 700m/s left when the spacecraft back to Kerbin. The major burn of this mission was the burn to Eve, as it cost around 1200m/s of delta V. The rest of it were due to correction burns and human mistakes. A lot of delta V was saved because of several gravity assists used around Eve, Kerbin and Laythe.

Trip summary:

Step 1: launch Kerbal X into LKO.

Step 2: A close flyby around Eve to gain some momentum, and swing the spacecraft back to Kerbin.

Step 3: Perform a close flyby around Kerbin to gain some momentum again.

Step 4: Perform a second flyby around Kerbin. This time we have gained enough momentum to Jool system.

Step 5: Aerocapture by using Jool’s atmosphere and achieve a highly elliptical orbit (good to be equatorial).

Step 6: Stay in Jool system for awhile for observation.

Step 8: Perform a close flyby around Laythe to swing the spacecraft back to Kerbin.

Step 9: Aerobraking at Kerbin and landing.

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[Alfondoo]

Incredible. Great mission planning and piloting!