Flight Question Base/planet approach with IMFD

[IronRain]

I'm using IMFD to do my interplanetary travels, but I have a question.

When should I do a planet approach burn and when should I do a Base Approach burn? inside the SOI of mars or outside of it?

Thanks!

IronRain

 

[jarmonik]

Both programs are used inside the SOI. First burn should be made soon after enterig the SOI and some correction burns later closer to a planet or a moon.

BaseApproach program is mostly designed for direct reentry without orbit insertion. BaseApproach can be also used to enter in an orbit that's properly aligned for landing. But that's only necessary when the rotation period of a planet is very long. In every other case the Planet Approach can be used.

In a future versions of IMFD these programs will be combined in a single one.

 

[insanity]

I've always base approach inside the SOI to get a properly aligned orbit for insertion. For mars, once inside the SOI I run base approach aligned with olympus and a 115km PEA. Do a couple correction burns, then run orbit insert and proceed with the tricky martian landing.

I only use planet approach for planets that don't have bases, but in much the same way.

 

[Tommy]

I've found that Planet Approach can be used accurately from outside the Planet's SOI (about 3 times the SOI radius max, accuracy increases as you get closer) while Base Approach is unreliable until inside the SOI.

 

[IronRain]

Thanks everyone. I'll check it out next week cause I'm going on vacation