First time to go to Eeloo

[rodion_herrera]

My space program (career) is already 37 years old. I haven't been to Eeloo yet. As a matter of fact, ever since I got KSP last year, I've never been to Eeloo at all! So just asking some of the folks who have been there, and experienced a lot of boo-boos along the way, to share some tips (general and specific to particular parts/engine etc) as to how to get there without screwing it up in a big way Thanks.

[Tsynique]

Haven't been there myself either but from what I've seen so far the most demanding thing might be aligning the orbital planes, since Eeloo is really and odd ball in this regard amongst other planets Not to mention the amount of time it takes to get to Eeloo and it most likely doesn't have a very frequent launch window.

Also, this helps: http://alexmoon.github.io/ksp/

[rodion_herrera]

Thanks Tsynique. Will look into Alex's calculator. Been mostly using Olex's.

[LethalDose]

Haven't been there myself either but from what I've seen so far the most demanding thing might be aligning the orbital planes, since Eeloo is really and odd ball in this regard amongst other planets Not to mention the amount of time it takes to get to Eeloo and it most likely doesn't have a very frequent launch window.

Also, this helps: http://alexmoon.github.io/ksp/

Because it's orbital period is so much different from Kerbin's, it has a launch window for Hohmann x'fer about once/kerbal year (If my numbers are right, it's about every Kerbin 448 days, on average), but the interval between windows can change because it's orbit is so eccentric.

Edited July 29, 2014 by LethalDose
interval in 6h "Kerbin days"

[MarvinKitFox]

Eeloo is easy, just throw enough delta-v at it, and dont even think of solar power.

A hidden mystery of the KSP universe.

To a rocket, Eeloo is *closer* than Moho. By about 45%

To a rocket, Eeloo surface is actually closer than Jool low orbit!

(rockets dont do time, or distance. to them, the only measures worth mentioning are TWR, and delta-v)

How easy is Eeloo?

Go there, plant a flag, AND return for only 2635kg

See Eeloo on $5 a day

Edited July 29, 2014 by MarvinKitFox

[Blind Dead McJones]

The mod Kerbal Alarm Clock is incredibly helpful for finding transfer windows, though it might be a few days off because of the way it calculates transfers (I think it assumes both Kerbin and Eeloo are in perfectly circular orbits, which they aren't). It's also inclined enough that you'll almost certainly need to make a course correction anyway.

[viktor19]

Everything formentioned is true. Also, try to change inclination early on to avoid Jool encounter. It can REALLY mess with your trajectory.

[AlexinTokyo]

If you use KAC to find transfer windows, make sure it's set to "Model" and not "Calculated" (might be "Formula"; I'm not at my PC right now).

KAC has stored model data for all bodies for (IIRC) 101 earth years from t=0. This model data does take inclination and eccentricity into account. The "Calculated" mode uses formulae which do not.

[rodion_herrera]

Thank you so much for the tips, now I feel more confident about the trip!

[SRV Ron]

Try to launch when Eeloo's orbit crosses the plane of Jool. That way, you won't have to mess with the change of inclination.

[Red Iron Crown]

Everything formentioned is true. Also, try to change inclination early on to avoid Jool encounter. It can REALLY mess with your trajectory.

Jool is not to be avoided, it is to be embraced! Use Jool on your way outsystem to kick you into higher orbit and change inclination, use it on the way back to lower your orbit and change planes again.

Also, I'll just leave this here (not mine, but epic skills and humor):

http://imgur.com/a/HWxoz#0

Edited July 30, 2014 by Red Iron Crown
Removed embedded album, works better at imgur.com.

[NecroBones]

My main piece of advice, even though it was already mentioned, is to be sure to pack enough delta-V. This cannot be overstated. In terms of the dV requirements, it's quite a bit easier than Moho, but a lot harder than transit with the other planets. Think of it as a lighter version of the Moho delta-V challenge.

Having said that, if you've done Moho, then the same overall ship design should work for Eeloo with fuel to spare. Not just due to the dV requirements for the transfer orbits being a little lighter, but the surface gravity is about 62.5% of Moho's, so the lander will also have fuel to spare if it was designed with Moho in mind.

I don't know if you've done Moho or not, but if you have, Eeloo's only real challenge in comparison is its eccentric and inclined orbit.

[rodion_herrera]

Thanks for all the advice. Yes I've been to Moho, but that was way back in 0.19 LOL, so I need to rethink that as well. In my current career, the only planets I haven't visited are Eeloo, Dres and Moho, and will tackle them in that order.