Talk:Tutorial:How to get to Duna

Launch to Kerbin Orbit

I'm a little confused by the following in step 3, launching into Kerbin orbit:

…heading east instead of the usual west.

The normal ascent to orbit from KSC is going east, taking advantage of the small amount of rotational velocity you start out with from Kerbin's own rotation, into a counter-clockwise orbit (this is also mentioned just after the above quote). So, either step 3 is incorrect in some way, or it needs more explanation to clarify the intention.

I'm not claiming expertise here, but I'm struggling to see why you'd do anything other than a standard east / 090° ascent from KSC, at least as your initial launch to orbit when keeping it simple. An advanced departure might try to do something like matching the solar orbital plane, I guess, but that's easy enough to do either as part of the later Hohmann transfer, or fine tuning the intercept once in solar orbit. Matching Duna's plane wouldn't account for an opposite launch.

So, should this just be a standard launch to orbit heading 090°, or what am I failing to see here?

--Murph (talk) 02:30, 23 November 2013 (CST)

I had the exact same question and came to discussion to see if there was a discussion/explanation. I'm going to edit it; if we're missing something, please do add a clarification while reverting.

Kenberto (talk) 02:05, 14 January 2014 (CST)

These interplanetary tutorials seem like they could be helpful, but I don't understand most of the angles and clocks that are written. Which way is the normal or 12 o' clock and where is the center. It also feels the fixed references change each time they're used. I found some forum posts asking the same thing but couldn't find an answer. I guessed the references for going to Duna and got there OK, but I couldn't do it for returning. Don't know how to use these wiki edits. Username is Hodor