How to match orbit with Kerbol while orbiting Eve?

[canuckster]

As the title suggests, I'm currently orbiting Eve looking to get home to Kerbin, I'm using mechjeb (don't judge me! ) and it says I should be on an inclined orbit of about 10 degrees so as to match Eve's orbit with Kerbol, is there a point of reference I can use here?

Edited December 2, 2013 by canuckster

[FenrirWolf]

Kerbin is aligned with the sun's equator so just use that as your reference.

[FenrirWolf]

Or if you mean Eve's orbit relative to the sun, just put yourself on an equatorial orbit so that when you eject into interplanetary space you are still on Eve's orbital plane.

[canuckster]

Use Kerbin as my reference? I'm not sure what you mean.

It says Recommend starting interplanetary transfers from Eve from an orbit in the same plane as Eve's orbit around Kerbol, starting orbit around Eve is inclined 11.3' with respect to Eve's orbit around Kerbol.

[Smidge204]

Yes, but Eve's equator is aligned with its orbital plane (pretty sure, anyway... I'm not aware of any planets where this is not the case?) - so if you leave Eve SOI from an Eve equatorial orbit, you'll be in Eve's orbital plane.

From there you can adjust your orbital plane and/or extend your Apoapsis to meet up with Kerbin's orbit for an encounter, provided you timed it right.

=Smidge=

[boomerdog2000]

Yes, but Eve's equator is aligned with its orbital plane (pretty sure, anyway... I'm not aware of any planets where this is not the case?) - so if you leave Eve SOI from an Eve equatorial orbit, you'll be in Eve's orbital plane.

From there you can adjust your orbital plane and/or extend your Apoapsis to meet up with Kerbin's orbit for an encounter, provided you timed it right.

=Smidge=

I was under the impression that it was the opposite. That all planets equators are aligned with the same plane as Kerbol's equator, since the game couldn't deal with planets on a tilted axis. Regardless, wouldn't it be more efficient to do the inclination change in interplanetary space anyway? As long as it's not too extreme.

[FenrirWolf]

Ah right, I guess axes aren't tilted in this game. Forgot that bit. Anyway I wouldn't worry about trying to match orbits with Eve exactly. Launch at the appropriate time then make a correction burn on the way back to Kerbin.

[canuckster]

Yeah that's exactly the problem since Eve itself isn't tilted to it's orbit, ah well, I'll guess I'll just wing it as you say Fenrir, thanks.

[Smidge204]

I certainly could be wrong, never bothered to investigate it.

Now that I actually load up the game and try it, though, it doesn't really matter - you really can't escape Eve SOI and end up in a notable different inclination about the sun. Even if you escape on a polar orbit you're not likely to change your inclination with respect to Kerbin by more than half a degree unless you really overdo your escape burn.

=Smidge=