What are the odds?

[EnDSchultz]

So I was doing an Earth-Mars transfer and had completed my first aerobraking pass through the Martian atmosphere. Apoapsis was about 10,000km. As I was coming in for my second run through the atmosphere to bring the apoapsis down further...about halfway to my periapsis, something floated into my viewscreen. I could hardly believe it, but apparently by absolute chance I had stumbled upon Phobos!

What are the odds that completely at random I would not only intersect Phobos' orbit, but also reach that intersection at the exact time the moon was at that point?

Anyway, just an interesting story I thought I'd share. Carry on!

 

[computerex]

It's always nice to bump unexpectedly into a moon eh I do it everytime I make a journey to the Jovian system...

 

[EnDSchultz]

Here are a few screenies of my encounter now that the attachment system is responding to me! Sorry they're so dark...space tends to be that way sometimes!!

 

[insanity]

Did you have a go at landing on it? It's a real tricky one

 

[EnDSchultz]

It is, especially at later MJD dates when planetary positions start twitching around a bit...it'll just toss you right off as soon as you hit the surface!

It was actually getting late so I saved and quit shortly after taking those photos and haven't had a chance to finish my re-entry yet.

I have no plans to land on it, at least not during this pass. Relative speed's too high (I think we're moving in opposite directions) and I want to save my fuel for a landing at Olympus. Not long ago I set down on Mars with about 3% fuel left in the main tanks, so since then I try to be a bit more conservative with my fuel!!