Geostationary orbits?

[Xaelath]

I want to have my space station in orbit above Kerbin and Laythe. So when the planet rotates on it's axis the space station stays directly above KSC/where I want it to be.

But how do I do it? Can you guys help?

Edited April 17, 2014 by Xaelath

[Grumman]

Establishing geostationary orbit is actually quite simple. What you want is a circular orbit (apoapsis = periapsis) that has zero inclination from the equator, at a height where your orbital speed makes you orbit 360 degrees in one day.

For Kerbin, this means that you want your apoapsis and periapsis to be 2,868.75 km. For Laythe, you want an apoapsis and periapsis of 4,686.32 km.

Once you've established this orbit, you should create a maneuver node and use the two blue buttons to push it forwards and backwards one orbit. If you're in the right place, doing so will change the time to the node by exactly one day.

[Xaelath]

Is it doable with Mechjeb or HyperEdit? I forgot my space station doesn't have any rockets and it's already in a 250 km orbit above Laythe.

[Taki117]

Is it doable with Mechjeb or HyperEdit? I forgot my space station doesn't have any rockets and it's already in a 250 km orbit above Laythe.

Totally doable with Mechjeb. Just slap some rockets on it Refer to the Wiki Page and have at it.

Word of warning, you are not going to get a True Synchronous Orbit around Lathe (Since the required altitude lies outside of it's SoI, best you can do is a Semi-Synchronous orbit, which is an orbital period that is 1/2 Laythe's orbital period.

[cantab]

Remember that what's important is the orbital period. It doesn't matter if the orbit's a bit elliptical, that just means the station will appear to wobble back and forth a little (librate) from the ground. But if the period's a bit long or short the position will drift over time, worse the more too long or short it is.

[Xaelath]

Thanks a lot guys!

I was able to do a geostationary orbit over Kerbin!

Here's some screenies with my K-Sat 1.

Edited April 17, 2014 by Xaelath
Added images.

[Claw]

Nice job.

Don't forget, the orbital period needs to match the sidereal day and not just a rotational period.

[jmiki8]

AFAIK, geostationary orbit around Laythe is not possible, because the orbit would lie outside of the moon's SOI.