ultimate guide to the kerbal space program
DESCRIPTION
Kerbal Space Program GuideTRANSCRIPT
Version: 0.23.5 – 0.24(ish)
Wernher Von Kerman
Lovingly Dedicated to:
Jebediah Kerman
Bob Kerman
Bill Kerman
The Team at Squad.
"We who are about to die, salute you."
The Kerbonaut’s Guide to the Galaxy.
1 st Edition
Before you start: It is recommended that you laminate
this guide. When you see a “” You should leave
a tick/cross in DRY WIPE marker according to your current situation.
Failure is always an option. Good luck and have fun exploring the
Kerbolar System
KSP Basics:
Delta-V - In astrodynamics a Δv or delta-v (literally “change in velocity”) is a measure of the amount of the effort that is needed to change from one trajectory to another by making an orbital manoeuvre.
L”X”O – Low “Enter Planet Name Here” Orbit. For example, LKO = “Low Kerbin Orbit.”
Escape Velocity – The velocity required to exit a planet’s sphere of influence.
Periapsis (Pe) – The lowest point in your orbit.
Apoapsis (Ap) – The highest point in your orbit.
Prograde/Retrograde – Prograde is “forward relative to the direction of movement” it will increase your orbital velocity.Retrograde is “backwards relative to the direction of movement” it will decrease your orbital velocity.
Navball – Used to get your bearings and to navigate when in space.
Thrust-To-Weight-Ratio – TWR for short is a ratio that defines the power of a craft's engines in relation to its own weight. If a craft needs to get into a stable orbit or land safely
on the current celestial body without using parachutes, then its engines must put out more thrust than its current weight to counteract gravity. In the terms of a ratio, a craft with a greater thrust than weight will have a TWR greater than 1.
Inclination - The tilt of the orbit is given by the inclination. Usually the value is given in degrees where the value is given between –90° and 270°. An inclination of 0° or 180° is equatorial, so the craft is always above the equator.
Navball Point of Reference - As all movement in space is relative, the point of reference determines the object from which all distance measurements and velocity vectors are made. Clicking this area will toggle the point of reference between Surface and Orbit, as indicated by the green text. If a target is selected, there is a third option, Target. Changing the point of reference changes the location of the prograde and retrograde markers.
Manoeuvre Nodes - A maneuver node is a planned velocity change along an orbit. Multiple maneuver nodes can be added which will affect the following maneuver nodes. After adding a node it shows the velocity change needed to reach the next new orbit next to the navball.
Manoeuvre Node Directions –
Prograde/Retrograde - These vectors directly change the speed of the craft. Burning prograde will increase velocity, raising the altitude of the orbit on the other side, while burning retrograde will decrease velocity and reduce the orbit altitude on the other side.
Normal/Anti-Normal - The normal vectors are orthogonal to the orbital plane. Burning normal or anti-normal will change the orbital inclination. On the navball the normal and anti-
normal vectors are located on the equator line directly between the prograde and retrograde markers.
Radial in/Radial out - The radial-in vector points directly toward the center of the orbited body (center of the brown hemisphere on the navball), while the radial-out vector points directly away from it (center of the blue hemisphere). Performing a radial burn will rotate the orbit around the craft like spinning a hula hoop with a stick. Radial burns are the least efficient way of adjusting one's path - it is much more effective to use prograde and retrograde burns.
Navball Icons
Centre of:Mass – “The centre of mass, abbreviated CoM, or centre of gravity, is the location of an object where all mass is equally distributed around it. It is important to balance
a craft to prevent it from getting out of control. Planes should have a centre of mass slightly in front of the centre of lift. For all craft the thrustvector should point to, point away from or go through the centre of mass.” – Kerbal Space Program Wiki
Centre of Mass (Yellow)
Centre of Thrust (Pink)
Thrust – “The centre of thrust or thrustvector is the direction in which the thrust is acting and on which point the thrust acts on the craft. The thrustvector and centre of mass should
be in one line to minimize steering.” – Kerbal Space Program Wiki
Lift – “The centre of lift is used mainly when creating planes, it shows the axis and direction of lift provided by wings, control surfaces and winglets. Inside the editor it is showed as a cyan-coloured sphere (axis) along with an arrow (direction of the lift). The centre of lift should also always be behind the centre of mass.”– Kerbal Space Program Wiki
Kerbin
“A unique world, Kerbin has flat plains, soaring mountains and wide, blue oceans. Home to the Kerbals, it has just the right conditions to support a vast, seemingly undepletable population of the eager green creatures.” –Kerbal Astronomical Society”
Planetary Characteristics: ΔV Stats (LKO):Sphere Of Influence: 84,159.3km Body: Delta-V:Atmosphere Present: Yes Mun ~860m/sOxygen Present: Yes Minmus ~930m/sAtmospheric Height: 69,077m Eve ~1033m/sSurface Gravity: 9.81m/s (1G) Duna ~1060m/sEscape Velocity: 3,431m/s Moho ~1676m/sΔV To LO from Sea Lvl: ≈4500 m/s Jool ~1915m/sSynchronous Orbit: 2868.75km Eeloo ~2100m/sPe for Aerobrake(Suggested): ≈36,000m KEO ~1120m/sScience Multiplier:Surface: 0.4Atmospheric: 0.7Space: 1
Mun
“The Muns discovery is widely regarded as one of the more important breakthroughs of Kerbal evolution. Granted it didn’t happen all that long ago, but it’s still fair to say that Kerbals are wiser and more evolved now than they were back then.” –Kerbal Astronomical Society
Characteristics: Mun Biomes: Sphere Of Influence: 2429.6km Biome: Atmosphere Present: No MidlandsOxygen Present: No Midlands CratersAtmospheric Height: N/A HighlandsSurface Gravity: 1.63m/s (0.166G) Highland CratersEscape Velocity: 807.08m/s CanyonsΔV To Low Orbit: ≈800m/s Northern BasinSynchronous Orbit: N/A (SoI too low) East CraterPe for Aerobrake(Suggested): N/A Northwest CraterScience Multiplier: Southwest CraterSurface: 4 Farside CraterAtmospheric: N/A East Farside CratersSpace: 3 Polar Crater
PolesPolar Lowlands
Minmus
“Minmus is the smallest moon orbiting Kerbin. From the surface of Kerbin, it can be seen on clear days as a tiny blue speck in the sky.”-Kerbal Astronomical Society
Planetary Characteristics: Minmus Biomes:Sphere Of Influence: 2,247.4km Biomes:Atmosphere Present: No HighlandsOxygen Present: No MidlandsAtmospheric Height: N/A LowlandsSurface Gravity: 0.491m/s (0.05G) SlopesEscape Velocity: 242.61m/s Lesser FlatsΔV To Transfer: 920m/s FlatsΔV To LO from Sea Lvl: N/A Great Flats Synchronous Orbit: 357.94km Greater FlatsPe for Aerobrake(Suggested): N/A PolesScience Multiplier:Surface: 5Atmospheric: N/ASpace: 4
Eve
“Eve is certainly the purplest object in the solar system. Its one of the larger, most visible objects, mainly because of its very, very purple tint.”–Kerbal Astronomical Society
Planetary Characteristics: ΔV Stats*:Sphere Of Influence: 85,109.4km Body: Delta-V:Atmosphere Present: Yes Kerbin ~1030m/sOxygen Present: No Moho ~810m/sAtmospheric Height: 96,708m Duna ~190m/sSurface Gravity: 16.7m/s (1.7G) Dres ~430m/sEscape Velocity: 4831.96m/s Jool ~1045m/sΔV To LO From Sea Lvl: ≈11,500 m/s Eeloo ~1230m/sSynchronous Orbit: 10,328.47km Gilly ~1650m/sPe for Aerobrake(Suggested): ≈72,500m LEO ~12000m/sScience Multiplier: Kerbol Orbit ~80m/sSurface: 12Atmospheric: 7Space: 7
*(From Orbit Around Eve + Does not include getting into orbit or landing)
Duna
“Also known as the red dot that you can see if you squint at it really hard, Duna has long been a wonder to Kerbalkind.”–Kerbal Astronomical Society
Planetary Characteristics: ΔV Stats *:Sphere Of Influence: 47,921.9km Body: Delta-V:Atmosphere Present: Yes Ike ~270m/sOxygen Present: No Eve ~190m/s
Atmospheric Height: 41,446m Dres ~460m/sSurface Gravity: 2.94m/s (0.3G) Kerbin ~1060m/sEscape Velocity: 1372.41m/s Moho ~840m/sΔV To LO from Sea Lvl: ≈1750 m/s Jool ~1075m/sSynchronous Orbit: 2880.00km Eeloo ~1260m/sPe for Aerobrake(Suggested): ≈13,000m LDO ~1380m/sScience Multiplier: Kerbol Orbit ~110m/sSurface: 8Atmospheric: N/ASpace: 7
*(From Orbit Around Duna + Does not include getting into orbit or landing)
Dres
“Dres is a very small planet. It was the first planet considered to be a dwarf. Its orbit is highly irregular and together with its size it took a long time to discover since half the time it was not where scientists expected to find a planet.”–Kerbal Astronomical Society
Planetary Characteristics: ΔV Stats *:Sphere Of Influence: 32,832.8km Body: Delta-V:Atmosphere Present: No Eve ~430m/sOxygen Present: No Duna ~460m/sAtmospheric Height: N/A Jool ~1315m/sSurface Gravity: 1.13m/s (0.115G) Kerbin ~1300m/sEscape Velocity: 558.00m/s Moho ~1080m/sΔV To LO from Sea Lvl: ≈555 m/s Eeloo ~1500m/sSynchronous Orbit: 732.24km LDO ~800m/s**
Pe for Aerobrake(Suggested): N/A Kerbol Orbit ~350m/sScience Multiplier:Surface: 8Atmospheric: N/ASpace: 7
*(From Orbit Around Dres + Does not include getting into orbit or landing)
**(Delta-V needed to get into orbit after ascent)
Moho
“Moho figures in Kerbal mythology as a fiery place with oceans of flowing lava. In reality however, its much less interesting.”–Kerbal Astronomical Society
Planetary Characteristics: ΔV Stats *:Sphere Of Influence: 9,646.7km Body: Delta-V:Atmosphere Present: No Eve ~810m/sOxygen Present: No Duna ~840m/sAtmospheric Height: N/A Jool ~1695m/sSurface Gravity: 2.70m/s (0.275G) Kerbin ~1680m/sEscape Velocity: 1,161.41m/s Dres ~1080m/sΔV To LO from Sea Lvl: ≈1,400 m/s Eeloo ~1500m/sSynchronous Orbit: N/A (SoI too Low) LMO ~2200m/s**
Pe for Aerobrake(Suggested): N/A Kerbol Orbit ~730m/sScience Multiplier:Surface: 9Atmospheric: N/ASpace: 8
*(From Orbit Around Moho + Does not include getting into orbit or landing)
**(Delta-V needed to get into orbit after ascent)
Jool
“Jool is particularly known for being a rather large, predominantly green planet. Kerbalkind has longed to visit it since it was first spotted in the sky. Philosophers reason that the swirling green planet must be a really nice place to visit, on account of its wholesome coloration.”–Kerbal Astronomical Society
Planetary Characteristics: ΔV Stats *:Sphere Of Influence: 2.4559852×109 m Body: Delta-V:Atmosphere Present: Yes Eve ~1045m/sOxygen Present: No Duna ~1075m/sAtmospheric Height: 138,155km Moho ~1695m/sSurface Gravity: 7.85m/s (0.8G) Kerbin ~1915m/sEscape Velocity: 9,704.43m/s Dres ~1315m/sΔV To LO from Sea Lvl: ≈22,000 m/s Eeloo ~2115m/sSynchronous Orbit: 15,010.46km LJO ~2630m/s**
Pe for Aerobrake(Suggested): N/A Kerbol Orbit ~965m/sScience Multiplier:Surface: N/AAtmospheric: 7Space: 7
*(From Orbit Around Jool + Does not include getting into orbit or landing)
**(Delta-V needed to get into orbit after ascent)
Eeloo
“There’s been a considerable amount of controversy status of Eeloo as being a proper planet or just a lump of ice going around the sun. The debate is still ongoing, as most academic summits held to address the issue have devolved into, on good days, petty name calling, and on worse ones, all-out brawls.”–Kerbal Astronomical Society
Planetary Characteristics: ΔV Stats *:Sphere Of Influence: 119,082.94km Body: Delta-V:Atmosphere Present: No Eve ~1230m/sOxygen Present: No Duna ~1260m/sAtmospheric Height: N/A Moho ~1880m/sSurface Gravity: 1.79m/s (0.172G) Kerbin ~2100m/sEscape Velocity: 841.83m/s Dres ~1500m/sΔV To LO from Sea Lvl: ≈840m/s Jool ~2115m/sSynchronous Orbit: 683.69km LEO ~2100m/s**
Pe for Aerobrake(Suggested): N/A Kerbol Orbit ~1150m/sScience Multiplier:Surface: 9Atmospheric: N/ASpace: 8
*(From Orbit Around Eeloo + Does not include getting into orbit or landing)
**(Delta-V needed to get into orbit after ascent)
Time Warp Altitudes
Delta-V Map
Airplane Construction (By Keptin)
VAB Checklist*
Booster: Fuel Engines SRB’S Decouplers Struts! Control Surfaces Correct Staging Action Groups LES (Launch Escape System)
Orbital Stage: RCS Monopropellant Fuel Engine (LV-909/Poodle) Batteries Solar Panels/Reactor Docking Port
Lander/Descent Stage: Landing Legs Ladder Lights Parachutes Command Module S.A.S/Reaction Wheels
More RCS and Monopropellant Fuel Engine (LV-909/Poodle) Batteries Solar Panels Crew (Jeb, Bill, Bob) Science (Goo, Materials) Clear Hatch Snacks!
*Some parts may not be available if you play in Career mode.
Rocket Construction ToolsPresuming that you’ve already built your first rocket (If not, whack a RT-10 Solid Fuel Booster onto a Command Pod Mk1 and launch!) These are tools designed to help make more efficient rockets:
Apologies for not having 0.23.5 rockets, there are no graphs available on the internet including these. I’m working on making my own.
To use this nomogram, pick a dV on the left and Isp on the right. Draw a straight line between them. The required mass fraction of your vehicle/stage is where your line crosses the Mass Fraction scale.
Do the same as before, choose your desired payload weight on the left and your mass fraction which you obtained beforehand and draw a straight
line between them. This is the amount of fuel you will need to lift the payload, the dry fuel tanks and fuel.
You Done Goofed!Check That:
Hatch isn’t obstructed! Landing leg orientation is correct! You have enough electricity! You have strutted EVERYTHING! You have sufficient fuel supplies! You have crew! Action groups are set up! You have science modules! Parachutes for landings!
Mission Planner:
Mission Name:
Budget: /
Contracts:
Science Goal: +
Mission Briefing:
Chosen Crew Member(s):
Launch Vehicle:
Orbital Vehicle:
Lander:
Launch Date:
Flight Checklist:Pre-Launch:
S.A.S Staging Crew Damage Check 5P’s: Pods: Command Modules, Habitats etc. Propulsion: Fuel and Engines Power: Panels, Batteries, Reactors Piloting: RCS, S.A.S etc. People: Crew, (If using TAC) Food, Water
etc.
Launch: Increase Throttle Activate First Stage
Ascent Stage: Jettison SRB’s At 7.5-10km, Complete Gravity Turn Continue To Burn Until Desired Apoapsis
is Reached
Orbital Stage: Burn Pro-Grade until the Periapsis is
within 0-3km of the Apoapsis Height
Deploy Solar Panels Do Science Perform Transfer Stage OR Burn Retro-
Grade to return to Kerbin.
Pre-Landing (When Returning or Landing Anywhere): Retract Solar Panels and Antenna Deploy Legs Arm Parachutes Crew Check Select Landing Area
Post Landing: Do Science! Stretch Legs! Recover Vehicle (If landed on Kerbin)!
Flight Observations/Notes:
Orbit Guide
1) Build a rocket. It should have enough Delta-V to get into LKO. A minimalistic rocket would be:Command Pod Mk1FL-T400 Fuel TankLV-909 Liquid Fuel EngineTR-18A Stack DecouplerFL-T800 Fuel TankLV-T30 Liquid Fuel Engine
2) Turn SAS on and throttle up3) Countdown from 10.4) Press Space to launch and wait until you are at 10,000m,
ensure that you head directly up (Keep your dot on the blue top dot on the Navball)
5) Jettison your first stage with the spacebar6) Throttle down to 2/3rd power7) Turn 45 degrees East (Press D) and burn until your apoapsis
is at 70-75km. You can check this by pressing M.8) As you approach apoapsis, orient your ship to the 0-degree
latitude mark (Directly East) between the blue and brown halves of the navball.
9) Once you are 10-30 seconds away from apoapsis, begin your orbital burn by using the Shift key to throttle up. You can go at full throttle or partial throttle, but you may overshoot when at full throttle.
10) Wait until a periapsis appears directly opposite to your apoapsis and wait until it’s altitude becomes >70km. Hit X to turn off your engines instantly.
11) Congratulations, you have made orbit!
Docking Tutorial Courtesy of Leforian
1. Time your launch by putting the target slightly behind KSC in its orbit like this.
2. As you are burning start your gravity turn at the normal altitude.
3. In orbital view try to get your apoapsis to meet the target's orbit ahead of the target.
4. The tricky part is determining where to put the apoapsis. You can make it encounter sooner by burning more vertically, and encounter later by burning more horizontally.
5. I misjudged the timing and my apoapsis crossed the orbit too late.
The top red carrot is where I will be, and the bottom carrot is where my target will be. I need to push my apoapsis farther away. Remember that burning directly prograde will raise your apoapsis further, so you will also have to burn slightly down in pitch to keep your apoapsis at the altitude you need.
6. After moving my apoapsis forward for a minute or two I get a good 100 meter-ish encounter.
Formula Sheet “For when you feel like Wernher Von Kerman”
Thrust to Weight Ratio –
Ft - Engine Thrust
M – Total mass of the craft
g – The local gravitational acceleration
Combined Specific Impulse –
If the Isp is the same for all engines in a stage, then the Isp is equal to a single engine. If the Isp is different for engines in a single stage, then use the equation above.
Tsiolkovsky rocket equation –
Basic Δv Calculation – Δv - the velocity change possible in m/s
Mstart - the starting mass in the same unit as Mend
Mend - the end mass in the same unit as Mstart
Isp – the specific impulse on the engine in seconds.
Fuel flow rate –
Orbital velocity –µ - Gravitational Parameter of parent body (km3/s2)r – Radius of orbit (km)
Notes Page
Science Modules:
Mystery Goo™ Containment Unit:“The Mystery Goo™ Containment Unit is a science part used to expose a goo to atmospheres and vacuum in attempts to gain science from observing the goo inside. This can be achieved either via action group or right clicking the container and clicking observe mystery goo. The unit cannot be reused after its results were transmitted, unless it is cleaned via the Mobile Processing Lab MPL-LG-2. Like EVA
reports, the science gained from observing the Mystery Goo varies depending on different conditions in flight.” – Kerbal Space Program Wiki
SC-9001 Science Jr.“Science Jr. is the more advanced scientific sensor. It is used to retrieve science points and to complete science experiments in space or other celestial body. The unit cannot be reused after its results were transmitted, unless it is cleaned by theMobile Processing Lab MPL-LG-2.” – Kerbal Space Program Wiki
PresMat Barometer:“Displays atmospheric pressure to five significant figures, while active. A pressure below 0.0001 is shown as vacuum by the sensor. Lower atmospheric
pressures markedly reduce lift and drag induced by the atmosphere, and cause a small change in engine efficiency.” – Kerbal Space Program Wiki
GRAVMAX Negative Gravioli Detector:“This instrument shows the gravity in your current sphere of influence to a maximum of 4 significant figures and two decimal places. This can be used with altitude to estimate the mass of the nearest celestial body or to measure its surface gravity. Alternatively, it can be used with the accelerometer and altitude to make landing estimates.” – Kerbal Space Program Wiki
2HOT Thermometer:“The 2HOT Thermometer displays temperature to 5 significant figures when activated and right-clicked. There is no unit shown but it is assumed to be degrees Celsius. The 2HOT cannot be used to earnscience while distant from a celestial body, although it will continue to tell the temperature.” – Kerbal Space Program Wiki
Mobile Processing Lab MPL-LG-2:
“The Mobile Processing Lab MPL-LG-2 allows scientific data to be transmitted with higher efficiency and to reuse the Mystery Goo™ Containment Unit andSC-9001 Science Jr. after transmitting their result. The module needs its full capacity of two Kerbals to work. Note that it is not a command module;
any craft it's a part of will need a probe body or command pod to be piloted. Using the module consumes electricity” – Kerbal Space Program Wiki
Easy Science At Kerbin:Gather a:
Crew Report! EVA Report! Surface Sample! Mystery Goo! Materials Bay!
Kerbin Biomes: Launchpad Runway KSC Mountain Shores Tundra Water Grasslands Desert Badlands Highlands Ice Caps
Flying Over Flying Over Flying Over Flying Over Flying Over Flying Over Flying Over Flying Over Flying Over Flying Over Flying Over Flying Over
Interplanetary Travel Orbital Transfer Guide 10 Year Launch Window Calendar (Earth
Years) Gravity Assists Delta-V Requirements Travelling To Duna, Mun and Minmus Landing and Parachutes
KSC
Interplanetary Travel Orbital Transfer Guide 100 Year Launch Window Calendar
(Kerbin Years) Landing Guides Transfer Windows Gravity Assists Delta-V Requirements Ideal Interplanetary Phase Angles
Orbital Transfer GuideIn map view, put the blue cross on the planet you’re orbiting and the red cross on your
rocket. The point where the green line intersects your desired planet's orbit is where you want it to be when you start your transfer burn.
Hohmann & Bi-Elliptical Transfers
Hohmann Transfer:
A Hohmann transfer is a technique that involves burning your engine twice whilst in orbit in order to reach a higher orbit.
You start off by burning prograde at your periapsis until you reach the desired altitude for your apoapsis. You will now have an elliptical orbit. Next you have to travel up to your apoapsis and burn prograde once again in order to raise your periapsis to the same altitude as your apoapsis. Like so:
Bi-Elliptical Transfer:
A Bi-Elliptical transfer is similar to a Hohmann transfer although it requires one extra step. Most of the time the Hohmann technique is more useful but in some cases using a Bi-Elliptical transfer can save you Delta-V!
You start a Bi-Elliptical transfer by burning prograde from your periapsis in order to
raise your apoapsis. Again, making an ellipse. Once you are at apoapsis, you burn prograde to raise your periapsis to your desired orbital altitude. After travelling to periapsis, you want to burn retrograde and bring your apoapsis down to roughly the same altitude as your periapsi. Like so:
Landing GuidesYou’ve come this far; let’s not screw it up now!
Check your parachutes:
Atmospheric Targeting Graph/Guide:
Aerocapture Graphs:
250 500 750 1000 1250 1500 1750 2000 2250 2500 2750 300025000
30000
35000
40000
45000
50000
55000
Kerbin SOI Entry Aerocapture Chart
MinmusMunSync OrbitSSync Orbit1000 km100 km
Orbital Velocity (m/s)
Aero
capt
ure
Peria
psis
(m)
250 500 750 1000 1250 1500 1750 2000 2250 2500 2750 300055000
57000
59000
61000
63000
65000
67000
69000
71000
73000
75000
Eve SOI Entry Aerocapture Chart
Sync OrbitSSync Orbit1000 km100 km
Orbital Velocity (m/s)
Aero
capt
ure
Peria
psis
(m)
250 500 750 1000 1250 1500 1750 2000 2250 2500 2750 30008000
9000
10000
11000
12000
13000
14000
15000
16000
17000
18000
Duna SOI Entry Aerocapture Chart
IkeSync OrbitSSync Orbit100km50km
Orbital Velocity (m/s)
Aero
capt
ure
Peria
psis
(m)
250500
7501000
12501500
17502000
22502500
27503000
32503500
37504000
100000
105000
110000
115000
120000
125000
130000
135000
Jool SOI Entry Aerocapture Chart
PolBopTyloVallLaytheSync OrbitSSync Orbit1000 km150 km
Orbital Velocity (m/s)
Aero
capt
ure
Peria
psis
(m)
250 500 750 1000 1250 1500 1750 2000 2250 2500 2750 300020000
22000
24000
26000
28000
30000
32000
34000
Laythe SOI Entry Aerocapture Chart
SSync Orbit1000 km100 km
Orbital Velocity (m/s)
Aero
capt
ure
Peria
psis
(m)
Transfer WindowsYears 1 -25
Years 26 -50
Years 51 – 75
Years 76 -100
Gravity Assists:“A gravity assist is a maneuver in which you use a flyby of a secondary celestial body (such as a
planet or moon) to alter your orbit about the primary (typically the sun, but occasionally a planet: for instance, when navigating the Joolian moon system). Gravity assists are useful because they allow
you to gain or lose orbital energy or make expensive maneuvers such as plane changes for free; however, they are difficult to set up and require careful planning and lots of patience. That said, once
you master them, you can manage feats you wouldn't have thought possible.” –Stochasty
1. Firstly, you have to put yourself into a transfer orbit, ensuring that the celestial body is travelling in the direction you want to go in.
2. Time Accelerate until you reach the SoI of the celestial body.3. Plan another course correction manoeuvre at Periapsis to increase your
Apoapsis height after leaving the SoI, it is most effective when you are closer to the body, but ensure you won’t collide with anything and that you won’t be accidentally aerobraking.
4. Time Accelerate until you leave the SoI of the celestial body.5. When you check the map you will notice that your Apoapsis height has
increased.
6. You can repeat this, changing your course when furthest away from the body you are getting a gravity assist from, until you have reached a the SoI of another planet or anywhere really.
7. You can use gravity assists to go from Kerbin to Duna, or Jool to Kerbin without using a lot of fuel. It is one of the most efficient ways of interplanetary travel but is also one of the hardest manoeuvres.
8. You can perform a powered gravity assist. Accelerating at your periapsis has the greatest effect on your apoapsis. This still applies to your periapsis during a gravity assist. When you accelerate during your fly-by, fuel is used very efficiently to increase the apoapsis of your final trajectory. This is a very difficult technique because it is hard to control your final trajectory even when using a manoeuvre node but can save a lot of time and a lot of fuel.
Delta-V Requirements:(To Low Orbit)
Mün: ~5620m/s
Minmus: ~5550m/s
Moho: ~8430m/s
Eve: ~6890m/s (And Gilly: ~8750m/s)
Duna: ~5980m/s (And Ike: ~6360m/s)
Dres: ~6650m/s
Jool: ~9095m/s
Pol (From LJO): ~3400m/s
Bop (From LJO): ~3380m/s
Tylo (From LJO): ~3130m/s
Vall (From LJO): ~2760m/s
Laythe (From LJO): ~2380m/s
Eeloo: ~8750m/s