Flight Question Safe Jupiter orbit

[EternalFrustration]

Hey all, what's a good altitude for a Jupiter orbit? You know, one that won't run me into any pesky moons or alien monoliths...
Thank you all!

 

[Urwumpe]

Hey all, what's a good altitude for a Jupiter orbit? You know, one that won't run me into any pesky moons or alien monoliths...
Thank you all!

I recommend being between Europa and Ganymede, if you need such fixed numbers. Running into a moon is really an art, especially if you have high relative inclination.

800,000 km Sma should do it.

 

[Rtyh-12]

When I visited Jupiter, I had a hard time hitting any moons, and I was doing it on purpose, so I think you're safe.

If you want to do it the realistic way, you should orbit at around the altitude of Callisto, since radiation is low enough for you to survive there. You also have access to a big moon which has a lot of ice (which you can make water out of, and out of water you can extract both oxygen and hydrogen, so you have what to breathe and fuel too. Besides, ice will be handy to shield yourself against any radiation.) Of course, all this doesn't matter in Orbiter, but you might find it fun to simulate a mission you could actually perform IRL.

 

[EternalFrustration]

Yeah, I know I was being a little paranoid about such an unlikely event, but I'm reminded of a video or post someone made about going to Mars and their path accidentally running them right into the Moon.
Anyway, back on topic again, I managed to make it this afternoon while my kids napped. Next stop for me, Europa!
Thanks again!

 

[Urwumpe]

Yeah, I know I was being a little paranoid about such an unlikely event, but I'm reminded of a video or post someone made about going to Mars and their path accidentally running them right into the Moon.

That was me and it was to Saturn, the 0.5° angular size of Earths moon is quite large compared to others moons. Simply waiting 90 minutes for the next opportunity was enough to fix it, even trying it in the same scenario did not always result in a crash. A few cm/s more DV and you had a near miss, with the resulting swing-by bringing you terribly off course, but not kill you.