Hohmann Transfer - A "Must Know" thing for everyone!

[OptiSTR]

Hey guys, So ive been playing KSP for a while now, and as all newbiews out there I always had an issue with fuel.

I had hard times to do the simplest things like to land on the Mun or Minimus and then return, always ran out of fuel.

But then I discovered the "Hohmann Transfer" guide, and I totally had an OMG moment right there!

My fuel consumption was reduced by 80%!!!

I found myself returning to Kerbin with 80% fuel still remaining in my tanks!

I could easily land on Minimus and then on the Mun and then return to Kerbin with just one small lander!

So ill say it again! To all of you, its a MUST for EVERYONE!

[r4pt0r]

so according to your link, most efficient departure time can be explained by using a clock metaphor.

with kerbol in the middle of the "clock" and kerbin at the 6, depart for duna when it is at 4 o'clock.

then with kerbin again at our imaginary 6 o'clock, what "time" would you want to launch for eve or jool?

seeing as their orbits are mostly circular, it should work the same right? minor adjustments for eves inclination of course

edit: further review of the thread indicated by OP shows "4:30" as a better launch time for duna. gotta be precise

Edited May 25, 2014 by r4pt0r

[Random Tank]

Hey guys, So ive been playing KSP for a while now, and as all newbiews out there I always had an issue with fuel.

I had hard times to do the simplest things like to land on the Mun or Minimus and then return, always ran out of fuel.

But then I discovered the "Hohmann Transfer" guide, and I totally had an OMG moment right there!

My fuel consumption was reduced by 80%!!!

I found myself returning to Kerbin with 80% fuel still remaining in my tanks!

I could easily land on Minimus and then on the Mun and then return to Kerbin with just one small lander!

So ill say it again! To all of you, its a MUST for EVERYONE!

I'm sorry, but this just feels like its worded like one of those 'Earn £5364 a week!' adverts, so i'm not going to click on that and just mark this as spam....

Nice little guide though, helps improve on what I already know

[Pecan]

Next-up bi-elliptic transfers for fun and profit (<- It's wikipedia). Quite why a big burn to go further, taking longer, beats a Hohmann transfer is beyond me, despite the comment at the bottom that "Evidently, the bi-elliptic orbit spends more of its delta-v early on (in the first burn) thus yielding a higher contribution to the specific orbital energy and, due to the Oberth effect, reduces required delta-v." Yeah, if you say so.

[blizzy78]

I'm sorry, but this just feels like its worded like one of those 'Earn £5364 a week!' adverts, so i'm not going to click on that and just mark this as spam....

Or you could just watch your browser's status bar while hovering over the link.

Next-up bi-elliptic transfers for fun and profit (<- It's wikipedia)

See what Pecan did there? How exactly does that make his link any more serious and non-spammy than OptiSTR's?

[Pecan]

Or you could just watch your browser's status bar while hovering over the link ... See what Pecan did there?

Good point blizzy and rather what I was thinking. For those that didn't know or dont remember:

1) Yes, clicking random links can lead to bad things.

2) Almost every browser can display a status bar - switch it on.

3) When you mouse-over a link usual browser behaviour is to display what the link really connects to in the status bar - check it before clicking.

4) Only if the link looks genuine (and OptiSTR's is to a forum tutorial here, so I trust it) - click after checking.

[SlimeCrusher]

Good point blizzy and rather what I was thinking. For those that didn't know or dont remember:

1) Yes, clicking random links can lead to bad things.

2) Almost every browser can display a status bar - switch it on.

3) When you mouse-over a link usual browser behaviour is to display what the link really connects to in the status bar - check it before clicking.

4) Only if the link looks genuine (and OptiSTR's is to a forum tutorial here, so I trust it) - click after checking.

Or rather go "Forget the links!" and google "Hohmann transfer" to know what the guy is talking about lol

[Red Iron Crown]

Congrats to the OP on discovering one of the big concepts of space travel, Hohmann transfers are the key to efficient interplanetary travel. It's a great feeling when you have a "lightbulb" moment when a complicated concept suddenly clicks.

[deadshot462]

I remember reading about this when first playing Orbiter. Took many tries ingame to fully understand how to use it.

I remember burning the wrong way and making my orbit bigger/smaller unintentionally plenty of times.

[eempc]

Isn't the Hohmann's transfer covered in the Training mission: Orbiting 101? Or was that a different manoeuvre?

[Itchylol]

Too hard. I just make bigger rockets with more delta-v.

[OptiSTR]

Too hard. I just make bigger rockets with more delta-v.

Dude you serious? what so hard about it? its like 1+1 and it saves you loads of dV!

And you dont even have to use any Alarm Clock mods or whatever, i dont use any mods (except MechJeb for Ascending and Lending because its pain in the ass).

Today im gonna try to use this theory and fly to a distant planets, so far i only used it to get to Minimus and Mun.

[cantab]

I'm not sure how you'd get somewhere without making a Hohmann transfer (aside from a deliberate bi-elliptic).

[Vanamonde]

While this is indeed a handy thing for players to know about, creating one thread to link to another thread on our same forum is a bit redundant. This thread will be closed now.