Orbital Mechanics 101

What is an orbit? How do you reach orbit? How do you change orbits? Mars One Astronaut Candidate Ryan MacDonald explains the basics of orbital mechanics.
- This is what goes on behind the scenes of Kerbal Space Program!

[yeshuanazarene]

Nice actually seeing this on paper. Gonna have to try some of these equations playing KSP. 🙃awesome video

[dmnevns]

Great video, Ryan! Looking forward to Part II

[uchihasasuke]

I like your videos. You're full of energy and able to condense the information while keeping it simple. If you're not already a professor, I would recommend you try teaching. You seem to have a knack for it :)
You helped me a lot, Thanks!

[bartonpaullevenson]

You forgot to point out that the total energy is the sum of kinetic and potential, but potential is negative because the G has a minus sign in front of it, and that's why you've got a minus sign in the equation despite having said "plus."

[Krogren]

This is interesting and useful! Thank you for preparing such a comprehensive lecture!

[wolboatpo]

You have explained this amazingly, thank you!

[tdscwhelan]

3:47
_"That's not flying, it's falling with style!"_

[ameliarose]

Great video! Can't wait to learn more because I'm planning on being a test pilot and hopefully an astronaut so videos like this really help me with school!😁

[alejandroalmarza]

Excellent explanation and details math on orbital logics…one simple recommendation is to improve lighting to improve visualization ok board …keep bringing this marvelous knowledge. Thanks

[davidaloysparrow]

Great video, super helpful. Hope you’re doing well!

[daddycool]

Loved the video bro, I look forward to watching some of your other stuff!

[deathcoder]

WOW! I really enjoyed this video. I'd like to make those calculations to see how big of a rocket do I need (almost 0 payload and by big I mean mass) to put it in orbit. I learned a lot. Thanks

[chilisrhyme]

14:38 can we plug in any given variables from different planets?

[madhur]

Great enthusiasm. I am an Aerospace Engineer with MS. I belong to aerodynamics and propulsion but I trying to switch to space craft dynamics. Let me know if could connect. I am currently working for Indian Space Research Organization as research fellow.

[SW]

great video but why do you subtract the potential energy to get the total energy. I thought in mechanics PE + KE is constant?

[jamesturgay]

Idk if this is because it's a game but in KSP I just do the transfer orbit in a way that your transfer orbit gets bent by the moon creating a "pass-by" (idk the real name) orbit where you have to slow down at the apoapsis of this orbit to create an orbit around the moon.

[Neocharm]

Excellent explanation. Thanks very much. I wish you were my Professor.

[aryanthacker]

Wow, this is a really great video! Just one question, in the conservation of energy, why do we subtract the potential energy to get the total energy instead of adding it? Also, I didnt fully understand why potential energy increases as you get closer to the planet, shouldnt it be the other way? thanks!

[cupostuff]

5:44 it would've been nice to lay out the full 3rd law equation

[jacobvandijk]

@ 5:31: How can a period (= time-unit) be equal to a distance (= length-unit)?