Hi there!

[sndrtj]

Hello!

Hailing from Netherlands, Europe, Earth, Solar System, Galaxy, Local Group, Virgo Supercluster!

I've recently bought KSP and I absolutely love it! Best game purchase ever....

I have one question though: how I do plan efficient interplanetary trips? I have successfully landed at Duna, but it took me 2.5 years to get there. That seems a bit redundantly long (especially considering Earth-Mars trips take about 6-18 months, and Mars is far further from Earth than Duna is from Kerbin). I know this is probably a rather basic question, so sorry in advance when this has already been answered countless times!

Thanks a lot, and happy to meet y'all!

Sndrtj.

[Horan]

Efficient (fuel) is something different than time efficienty

For fuel look on ksp.olez.biz for the best phase angle and for time I dont really know, maybe kerbal alarm clock for alarms and begin with other missions?

Also greetings from the netherlands,

Horan

[NeoMorph]

Bit of a mistake there Horan.... it's actually http://ksp.olex.biz/.

Greetings from the UK sndrtj. And welcome to the addiction called KSP.

[SRV Ron]

If you are able to launch when the Duna window is close, you won't need to spend several months in Kerban (Their sun) orbit before the intercept window becomes available. And, if you launch at the right time, you can go direct to a Duna intercept from a Kerbal orbit and cut the Delta V requirement nearly in half to get there.

[sndrtj]

I get that, but how do I calculate when the launch window gets nearby? I assume orbits of planets are rather fixed, so couldn't one calculate when (and at what angle) Hohmann transfer orbit-style launch windows appear? Or is this wishful thinking on my behalf?

[Specialist290]

Sounds like you might find alexmun's KSP Launch Window Planner useful. It allows you to plug in a specific "earliest departure date" to help you find the closest window, and the output also gives you an "ideal departure" that has the ideal departure date and ejection angle. You don't have to get it perfect, but it'll give you a good idea of how to set it up for best results.

[sndrtj]

Ah, that sounds exactly what I'm looking for! Awesome! Thanks! :-)

[Sirrobert]

Welcome.

There are a couple of mods that will tell you phase angles. Mechjeb can do it (along with plan a manouver for you), Kerbal Alarm Clock will tell you when you got a window, and that one that Specialist suggested

[Xaelath]

Welcome aboard, sndrtj!