General Question Retrograde heliocentric orbit

[Goth]

Is it possible to orbit the Sun retro-grade in:

• real life, (in theory, e.g. admitting we have some sci-fi ship with crazy power and amount of fuel);

• in Orbiter (I remember trying that with the stock DG and unlimited fuel but I failed; with slingshots maybe?)

 

[garyw]

What about a figure of 8 style pass around Jupiter?

 

[Urwumpe]

Is it possible to orbit the Sun retro-grade in:

• real life, (in theory, e.g. admitting we have some sci-fi ship with crazy power and amount of fuel);

Yes, and you would not even need a lot of fuel or thrust for it. You could do it with a few DSMs and around three jupiter gravity assists. Would take you about 15-20 years of flight time though.

 

[garyw]

Or perform a TAU probe style mission and use lots of thrust at the 1,000 AU point. Suns gravity will do the rest.

 

[Urwumpe]

What about a figure of 8 style pass around Jupiter?

Not enough DV by that gravity assist. You can get maximal around 6500 m/s if you permit some frying of your electronics.

 

[Goth]

So can I also do it in Orbiter provided that I have a decent slingshot plan?

 

[Urwumpe]

So can I also do it in Orbiter provided that I have a decent slingshot plan?

Yes, and you will very likely also need a few DSMs for targeting jupiter for each pass.

 

[Goth]

a few DSMs

Sorry, what's that?

 

[Urwumpe]

Sorry, what's that?

Deep-Space Maneuver.

A propulsive Maneuver (engine burn) to correct your trajectory, done somewhere in the middle of nowhere in the solar system.

 

[Quick_Nick]

Deep-Space Maneuver.

A propulsive Maneuver (engine burn) to correct your trajectory, done somewhere in the middle of nowhere in the solar system.

Is this in line with the practice of burning at apoapsis to change direction? Otherwise, the term 'deep-space maneuver' sounds terrible for fuel. (I'm not familiar with DSMs)

 

[TMac3000]

I'm curious as to why you want to get into a retrograde solar orbit?

 

[Urwumpe]

Is this in line with the practice of burning at apoapsis to change direction? Otherwise, the term 'deep-space maneuver' sounds terrible for fuel. (I'm not familiar with DSMs)

No. You let Jupiter change your direction. But you need to DSMs likely because it is very hard to impossible to get a trajectory for multiple gravity assists at the same planet without DSMs.

 

[Goth]

I'm curious as to why you want to get into a retrograde solar orbit?

To fly against the tide.

BTW, I remember trying this with the stock DG and unlimited fuel when I didn't know about slingshots. I basically pointed towards the Sun and fired my engines until I was basically falling toward it. Then I pointed the ship in the retrograde direction, helping myself with the external view, and I fired the engines. My orbit started to get bigger but I kept proceding in the prograde direction.
Can you guess why? I'm pretty sure the direction was correct.

 

[Ripley]

To fly against the tide

You made me think about the movie "Midnight Express"...

 

[ADSWNJ]

To fly against the tide.

A Goth wishing to fly against the tide Who knew?