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Automatic Orbit Charts for All Planets (Using SMA Values in Debug Menu)

By Opt_0™

Put yourself in any Orbit Automatically with the Debug Menu. Charts include All Planetary Bodies: Lowest Safe to Highest Possible Orbit, and Synchronous Orbit where applicable. Simply enter the SMA Value shown in the charts into the Debug-Orbits Menu and arrive at desired Orbital Altitude around the selected planetary body. Add this Guide to your Favorites to find it quickly in Steam Overlay while In-Game. Your Votes count and help keep the Guide in Circulation so other Players may find it more easily, Thank you very Much! Feel free to share links to this Cheat Sheet.

(You can copy-paste the SMA value directly from Steam Overlay to ingame Debug Menu)

The Lower Sections covering the other Settings in the "Debug Menu>Cheats>Set Orbits" are explained in the simpliest way I could think of to make the information accessable to the widest player base possible. Just some simple discriptions, value ranges, and some example pictures.

I had gone through and written all this information down in a small note book, primarily for the SMA Values. Then I realized it might be helpful to others as well. So here it is with some extra KSP pics to put it into context. I hope it is useful and helps anyone.
[Additional Note, 6 years Later: THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR UPVOTES, AWARDS, AND SHARES FOR THIS GUIDE! WOW! SO GLAD IT HAS HELPED!]
~"Learn Better Together"~ Sincerely Opt_0.

Award

Created by

Opt_0™
Offline

Category: Gameplay Basics, Modding or Configuration, Secrets

Languages: English

Posted

Updated

24 Sep, 2016 @ 4:30pm

6 Dec, 2022 @ 5:16pm

11,802	Unique Visitors
807	Current Favorites

Guide Index

Overview

Kerbin

Mun (Moon)

Minmus

Moho

Eve

Gilly (Moon)

Duna

Ike (Moon)

Dres

Jool

Laythe (Moon)

Vall (Moon)

Tylo (Moon)

Bop (Moon)

Pol (Moon)

Eeloo

SMA

Eccentricity

Inclination

MNA

OBT

LAN

LPE

Comments

Kerbin

Radius:

600,000 m

Escape Velocity:

3,431.03 m/s

_____SMA:_____

_____Meters____

___KiloMeters___

686750

86,750 m

86.75 km

MIN

700000

100,000 m

100 km

750000

150,000 m

150 km

800000

200,000 m

200 km

1100000

500,000 m

500 km

1600000

1,000,000 m

1,000 km

5600000

5,000,000 m

5,000 km

10600000

10,000,000 m

10,000 km

83317694

82,717,694 m

82,717.69 km

MAX

3463330

2,863,330 m

2,863.33 km

Mun (Moon)

Radius:

200,000 m

Escape Velocity:

807.08 m/s

_____SMA:_____

_____Meters____

___KiloMeters___

215250

15,250 m

15.25 km

MIN

216000

16,000 m

16 km

220000

20,000 m

20 km

225000

25,000 m

25 km

250000

50,000 m

50 km

300000

100,000 m

100 km

700000

500,000 m

500km

1200000

1,000,000 m

1,000 km

2405264

2,205,264 m

2,205.26 km

MAX

NO SYNCH

N/A

Minmus

Radius:

60,000 m

Escape Velocity:

246.61 m/s

_____SMA:_____

_____Meters____

___KiloMeters___

67650

7,650 m

7.65 km

MIN

68000

8,000 m

8 km

70000

10,000m

10 km

85000

25,000 m

25 km

110000

50,000 m

50 km

160000

100,000 m

100 km

560000

500,000 m

500 km

1060000

1,000,000 m

1,000 km

2224954

2,164,954 m

2,164.95 km

MAX

417940

357,940 m

357.94 km

Moho

Radius:

250,000 m

Escape Velocity:

1161.41 m/s

_____SMA:_____

_____Meters____

___KiloMeters___

266500

16,500 m

16.5 km

MIN

27000

20,000 m

20 km

275000

25,000 m

25 km

300000

50,000 m

50 km

350000

100,000 m

100 km

500000

250,000 m

250 km

750000

500,000 m

500 km

1250000

1,000,000 m

1000 km

9550196

9,300,196 m

9,300.2 km

MAX

NO SYNCH

N/A

Eve

Radius:

700,000 m

Escape Velocity:

4831.96 m/s

_____SMA:_____

_____Meters____

___KiloMeters___

809750

109,750 m

109.75 km

MIN

810000

110,000 m

110 km

825000

125,000 m

125 km

850000

150,000 m

150 km

900000

200,000 m

200 km

1200000

500,000 m

500 km

1700000

1,000,000 m

1,000 km

5700000

5,000,000 m

5,000 km

84258271

83,558,271 m

83,558.27 km

MAX

11028470

10,328,470 m

10,328.47 km

Gilly (Moon)

Radius:

13,000 m

Escape Velocity:

35.71 m/s

_____SMA:_____

_____Meters____

___KiloMeters___

33825

20824 m

20.8 km

MIN

38000

25,000 m

25 km

43000

30,000 m

30 km

53000

40,000 m

40 km

63000

50,000 m

50 km

88000

75,000 m

75 km

113000

100,000 m

100 km

123000

110,000 m

110 km

124862

111,862 m

111.86 km

MAX

55140

42,140 m

42.14 km

Duna

Radius:

320,000 m

Escape Velocity:

1,372.41 m/s

_____SMA:_____

_____Meters____

___KiloMeters___

379250

59,250 m

59.25 km

MIN

380000

60,000 m

60 km

420000

100,000 m

100 km

470000

150,000 m

150 km

570000

250,000 m

250 km

820000

500,000 m

500 km

1320000

1,000,000 m

1,000 km

5320000

5,000,000 m

5,000 km

47442730

47,122,730 m

47,122.73 km

MAX

3200000

2,880,000 m

2880 km

Ike (Moon)

Radius:

130,000 m

Escape Velocity:

534.48 m/s

_____SMA:_____

_____Meters____

___KiloMeters___

158875

28875 m

28.87 km

MIN

160000

30,000 m

30 km

165000

35,000 m

35 km

170000

40,000 m

40 km

180000

50,000 m

50 km

230000

100,000 m

100 km

380000

250,000 m

250 km

630000

500,000 m

500 km

1039103

909,103 m

909.10 km

MAX

NO SYNCH

N/A

Dres

Radius:

138,000 m

Escape Velocity:

558.00 m/s

_____SMA:_____

_____Meters____

___KiloMeters___

151700

13,700 m

13.7 km

MIN

153000

15,000 m

15 km

163000

25,000 m

25 km

188000

50,000 m

50 km

238000

100,000 m

100 km

638000

500,000 m

500 km

1138000

1,000,000 m

1,000 km

10138000

10,000,000 m

10,000 km

32504511

32,366,511 m

32,366.51 km

MAX

870240

732,240 m

732.24 km

Jool

Radius:

6,000,000 m

Escape Velocity:

9,704.43 m/s

_____SMA:_____

_____Meters____

___KiloMeters___

6355000

355,000 m

355 km

MIN

6400000

400,000 m

400 km

6500000

500,000 m

500 km

7000000

1,000,000 m

1,000 km

11000000

5,000,000 m

5,000 km

106000000

100,000,000 m

100,000 km

1006000000

1,000,000,000 m

1,000,000 km

2006000000

2,000,000,000 m

2,000,000 km

2431425334

2,425,425,334 m

2,425,425.33 km

MAX

21010460

15,010,460 m

15,010.46 km

Laythe (Moon)

Radius:

500,000 m

Escape Velocity:

2801.43 m/s

_____SMA:_____

_____Meters____

___KiloMeters___

563750

63,750 m

63.75 km

MIN

570000

70,000 m

70 km

575000

75,000 m

75 km

600000

100,000 m

100 km

750000

250,000 m

250 km

1000000

500,000 m

500 km

1500000

1,000,000 m

1,000 km

3500000

3,000,000 m

3,000 km

3686409

3,186,409 m

3,186.41 km

MAX

NO SYNCH

N/A

Vall (Moon)

Radius:

300,000 m

Escape Velocity:

1,176.10 m/s

_____SMA:_____

_____Meters____

___KiloMeters___

332612.5

32,612 m

32.61 km

MIN

340000

40,000 m

40 km

345000

45,000 m

45 km

350000

50,000 m

50 km

400000

100,000 m

100 km

800000

500,000 m

500 km

1300000

1,000,000 m

1,000 km

2300000

2,000,000 m

2,000 km

2382337

2,082,337 m

2,082.33 km

MAX

NO SYNCH

N/A

Tylo (Moon)

Radius:

600,000 m

Escape Velocity:

3,068 m/s

_____SMA:_____

_____Meters____

___KiloMeters___

645750

45,752 m

45.75 km

MIN

650000

50,000 m

50 km

675000

75,000 m

75 km

700000

100,000 m

100 km

850000

250,000 m

250 km

1100000

500,000 m

500 km

1600000

1,000,000 m

1,000 km

5600000

5,000,000 m

5,000 km

10747953

10,147,953 m

10,148 km

MAX

NO SYNCH

N/A

Bop (Moon)

Radius:

65,000 m

Escape Velocity:

276.62 m/s

_____SMA:_____

_____Meters____

___KiloMeters___

91737.5

26,737 m

26.74 kmkm

MIN

95000

30,000 m

30 km

100000

35,000 m

35 km

115000

50,000 m

50 km

165000

100,000 m

100 km

315000

250,000 m

250 km

565000

500,000 m

500 km

1065000

1,000,000 m

1,000 km

1208850

1,143,850 m

1,143.85 km

MAX

NO SYNCH

N/A

Pol (Moon)

Radius:

44,000 m

Escape Velocity:

181.12 m/s

_____SMA:_____

_____Meters____

___KiloMeters___

50225

6,224 m0m

6.22 km

MIN

54000

10,000 m

10 km

69000

20,000 m

20 km

69000

25,000 m

25 km

94000

50,000 m

50 km

144000

100,000 m

100 km

544000

500,000 m

500 km

794000

750,000 m

750 km

1031717.5

987,717 m

987.72 km

MAX

NO SYNCH

N/A

Eeloo

Radius:

210,000 m

Escape Velocity:

841.83 m/s

_____SMA:_____

_____Meters____

___KiloMeters___

235750

25,750 mm

25.75 km

MIN

240000

30,000 m

30 km

245000

35,000 m

35 km

260000

50,000 m

50 km

310000

100,000 m

100 km

710000

500,000 m

500 km

1210000

1,000,000 m

1,000 km

100210000

100,000,000 m

10,000 km

117892112

117,682,112 m

117,682.11 km

MAX

893690

683,690 m

683,69 km

SMA

[The following sections are placed at the bottom to allow faster acces to data-tables above]

Semi-Major Axis:

Half the Major Axis of an Orbit. In the special case of a Circular Orbit it is the Radius.
The SMA values in the charts above will set a Circular Orbit as long as Eccentricity is left at 0.

Above are simple charts for each planetary body in KSP.

Lowest Possible Safe Orbit allowed by the Debug Menu.
Series of Altitudes relative to each individual body; Orbits listed are relative to Planet Size.
Highest Possible Orbit allowed by the Debug Menu.
And the specific SMA needed for Synchronous Orbit where it's possible.

How to Set SMA:

Open Debug Menu = L-Alt + F12

Go To: Cheats>Set Orbit

Enter Listed SMA for Specified Desired Orbit.

If you want an orbit not listed use the following "idiot's equation"
Planet's Radius( in meters) + Desired Orbit Altitude (in meters) = SMA for Circular Orbit
This equation is only really applicable to Circular Orbits. Setting Altitudes for Ellipses is a whole other can of space worms.

Eccentricity

Eccentricity:

This will turn your Circular Orbit into an Ellipse.

The value range you will use to set an Ellipse: 0.01 to 0.98
DO NOT USE a value of 1 ! This will set your SMA to Infinity. Your Craft WILL Be Lost!!!
Escape Velocity will be achieved if you use any value in the range of: 1.01 to 2+
The Debug Menu will automatically set the safest SMA Value.
You will need to press "Set Orbit" twice, as the first will fail and reset the SMA automatically.

For the purposes of this guide's goal of simplicity I have included a limited Ellipse Value Image.
The values presented in the Image are used purely as an example to show the effect of setting an appropriate Value for "Ecc". All values between 0.01 and 0.98 are valid.

DO NOT USE an Eccentricity Value of 1.
YOUR CRAFT WILL BE LOST.

The Debug Menu will automatically set the SMA to "Infinity" as shown.

Inclination

Inclination:

The Incline or Angle of your Orbit relative to a Default Equatorial Orbit.

Inclination is measured in 180 Degrees.
Positive Values for the Northern Hemisphere: (1 to 180)
Negative Values for the Southern Hemisphere: (-1 to -180)
Direction of Orbit is Relative to the selected Inclination Value used, as shown in picture.

This Picture only uses limited angles for visual clarity: All +/- Values between 1 and 180 are valid.

Green Arrow is Default Equatorial Orbit ( All values -other than SMA- set to 0)

Red Arrow is the "New" Inclination and corresponding Direction of Orbit.

NOTE: For a Polar Orbit you will want to use 90 degrees (either +/- values of 90 = Polar orbit).

MNA

Mean Anomoly:

Essentially how much time and distance traveled along your Orbit relative to passing the Periapsis.
"A pseudo-angle expressing the proportion of the orbital period that has passed since last periapsis." (KSP Wiki[wiki.kerbalspaceprogram.com])

MNA is expressed in Radii, with a maximum of 2π. (Values Range: 0 to 6.2832)
In Circular Orbit the values used for MNA will coincide with your Angular Position in Orbit.
360 Degrees in a Circular Orbit = 6.2832, use this Number to Calculate your desired position.
3.1416 Value always sets you at halfway along your Orbit, for both Circular and Elliptical.
Elliptical Orbits will require slightly different calculations Not Covered by this Guide.

MNA Value 3.1416 will always set your craft to halfway along it's orbit, regardless of weather it's a Circular Orbit or any size of Ellipse. However this does not hold true for the other values listed in this section. All other Values listed here for MNA are in relation to Circular Orbits Only.

Below are two MNA Charts listing the Required MNA Values for both 3 and 4 Satellite Networks.

IMPORTANT NOTE: These Charts are for Circular Orbits. LAN and LPE can also be used to achieve the same thing in an Circular Equatorial Orbit. Just remember that LAN and LPE Values are in 360 Degrees.

Sat #

MNA

Sat 1

Sat 2

2.0944

Sat 3

4.1888

Sat #

MNA

Sat 1

Sat 2

1.5708

Sat 3

3.1416

Sat 4

4.7124

OBT

I have not yet to found ANY information on what this value is. Initial testing has shown no obvious results. I'm sorry I have no information at this time after repeated attempts to find anything related to this abbreviation. If any one can provide a link to any info it would be greatly appreciated.

LAN

Longitude of Ascending Node:

The Longitudinal Angle of your Acsending Node relative to Debug Menu "0 Point".

Blue Orbit is LAN: 90, Inc: 10. This is an example of LAN set with a slight inclination in Orbit.
~Default "0 Point" always faces the Sun.

The value used for LAN is measured in Arc Degrees. (Values: 0 to 360)
If no Inclination is set, LAN can be used to Set Craft anywhere along an Orbit.
Any change in angle is relative to the Debug Menu "0 Point", not the planet surface.
Longitude is shown as the Lines running North to South (or vice versa).
Longitude actually measures distance in arc degrees East to West (or vice versa).

Grey Lines are Polar Orbits (Inc: 90) set with LAN to highlight lines of Longitude as an Example.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Debug Menu "0 Point":

The Default "0 Point" appears to always be the most Sunward point of the Planet at that time.
All Longitudinal values are Relative to the Debug Menu "0 Point".
NOT the Longitude of the Planetary Body itself.

Synchronous Orbit over a specific location may require you to test/search for your desired Longitude.

LPE

Longitude of Periapsis:

The Longitudinal Angle of your Periapsis relative to Debug Menu "0 Point".

LPE is measured in Arc Degrees (Values: 0 to 360)
This Angle is Relative to the Debug Menu "0 Point" and not the planet's surface.

This setting works almost exactly the same as the LAN with obvious consideration for the difference between your Ascending Node and your Periapsis when working with more complex Orbital Settings. But at this point if you are using these settings extensively in conjunction with each other then the chances are you no longer need explanation of these settings and how to put them to use.

I hope these slight explanations have helped in some way with taking your first steps into using the Debug Orbits Menu. More importantly I hope the main goal of the Guide which was the SMA charts find plenty of use! Thanks again for your Votes and Favs. Good Luck in Space!

48 Comments

< >

cheeseisgud 4 Aug, 2024 @ 6:01pm

Thx for posting this, I've been using this for over 2 years!

Opt_0™ [author] 24 Apr, 2024 @ 8:36am

phoneticdecay 19 Apr, 2024 @ 1:23pm

Still Using This

Discovered it Today & Wish it would have been found oh so long ago.

Opt_0™ [author] 9 Oct, 2022 @ 5:27pm

@LucSon (about 2 years laters, lol) I think you'll want to use the LAN setting, 0-360 degrees.

Opt_0™ [author] 9 Oct, 2022 @ 5:25pm

@AJ. After posting it 5 years ago I am SO happy it is still useful.

In fact I just returned to Steam this summer after not really PC gaming for like 3-4 years and found myself using this guide again! Funny part was, I had forgotten what it all meant and if I could still understand it. I did. XD

AJ. 9 Oct, 2022 @ 3:09pm

This is great, thank you.

Opt_0™ [author] 22 Nov, 2021 @ 7:35pm

@Ol1sss Understood, Commander. 07
-It's been some time, maybe let me know if it still works proper? And I'll check back in a year.-

Kerasella 28 Jun, 2021 @ 6:12pm

OMG... Love you broo ❤️❤️

emctgc 3 Jan, 2021 @ 1:47pm

how do you activate cheats on big sur?

blockMath_2048 22 Jul, 2020 @ 8:14pm

@Post_apocalyptic_Bilbo_Swaggins alt + f12

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