ENG1081 Report W5: Kerbal Space Program

(Method)
Q1. Describe the key steps in planning our mission to the Mun (including the details of the orbit used, where to burn
rocket and in what direction etc).

The first step in planning the mission to Mun was to determine the method of how we would get there. We
discussed whether to use Kerban as a slingshot to launch our rocket towards Mun or to choose an
appropriate point in the orbit of Kerban to blast our rockets such that we escape Kerbans obit into the
direction that would take us to a point in Mun’s orbit of Kerban such that both Mun and our rocket are close to
that point.

We ended up choosing the second method, and chose a location approximately in between the periapsis and
the apoapsis in the orbit of Kerban, and placed a maneuver node at that point. Our method of reaching Mun
involved blasting the rockets in the prograde direction until the apoapsis of our orbit was the same altitude as
the obit of Mun while our periapsis remained in our current orbit. The maneuver node provided us with a
trajectory and directions for how long we need to burn our rockets for. We blasted our rockets on full throttle
at the beginning and gradually reduced to 0 to match our rocket with the set trajectory, and occasionally
blasting rockets for adjustments.

When we finally reached the same altitude as Mun’s orbit, we continued to overshoot for a second before
placing a second maneuver node and creating a circular orbit around Mun where the periapsis and the
apoapsis are approximately the same distance apart.

R1. List the similarities and differences between your report and the expert answers. State what you have learnt from
the comparison.

(Results/Conclusions)
Q2. What process should you carry out once at the Mun to enter into an orbit around the Mun rather than just having a
passing encounter with the Mun?

When we finally reached the same altitude as Mun’s orbit, we continued to overshoot for a second before
placing a second maneuver node and creating a circular orbit around Mun where the periapsis and the
apoapsis are approximately the same distance apart.

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R2. List the similarities and differences between your report and the expert answers. State what you have learnt from
the comparison.

(Further Discussion/Investigation)
Q3. We ruled out a trip to the Mun that would see us fly directly from Kerbin to the Mun. Explain why we ruled it out.
Support your answer using calculations (for instance maybe calculating the energy required to enter the orbit we
chose and comparing this to the energy needed to move directly there).

We ruled out a trip flying directly from Kerbin to Mun as it would require too much energy that the fuel we
have simply could not provide. According to our calculations, to escape from Kerbin’s orbit from the cicular
orbit of 200,000m would require an escape velocity of 2970m/s. Thus, to fly directly from the ground at Kerbin
to the Mun, the rocket would not only require enough energy to begin with to have an escape velocity of
2970m/s at an altitude of 200,000m, but also enough energy to get to that altitude. From the calculations
shown below, where heat and mass of fuel loss are assumed negligible, the total energy required to get the
rocket from ground at Kerbin to the altitude of 200,000m and achieve the escape velocity is approximately
4.08x1010J. Based on the fuel provided in the program, it is not enough to escape the orbit let alone make it to
Mun and land.

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R3. List the similarities and differences between your report and the expert answers. State what you have learnt from
the comparison.

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