Delta-v (change of velocity) is the change of speed a spaceship needs to do in order to get from an orbit to another, to land, launch or perform different tasks.
Delta-v Budget
Delta-v budget is the sum of changes in speed conducted by a spaceship during its mission. For example, a ship traveling from a Venus to a satellite of Saturn will require multiple engine burns, changing its velocity many times. By adding all these changes, we can get the delta-v budget.
How To Calculate
There are many delta-v maps available on the internet. However, all of them come with routes almost only from and to the Earth.
However, at some point, settlers will develop alternative transit routes to other destinations. For example, a colony on Saturn's moon Iapetus might be interested in minerals brought from Ceres.
Formulas are listed on Math And Terraforming and on Planetary Parameters.
The image on top-right of this article is a summary of all major Trade Routes expected to occur in the Solar System. Future Space Stations are also included, because most cargo will be shipped during flight windows with massive ships, that, because of their huge sizes, cannot land on a celestial body with high gravity.
The map includes delta-v energy requires for jumping between orbits around a celestial body. For example, the numbers listed on chart 1, indicate the delta-v required for changing between an orbit and another. More exactly, the value shown for Earth-Jupiter is the delta-v required to pass from Earth orbit to Jupiter orbit around the Sun. For the chart of Jupiter system, the value for a Io-Himalia is the delta-v required for jumping from Io's orbit to Himalia's orbit.
The values listed on top, with a red arrow, indicate the delta-v required to escape/enter the Hill sphere (sphere of influence). For example, on Earth system, the value indicated for Moon shows the delta-v needed to escape from Moon orbit around the Earth to Earth's orbit around the Sun or the delta-v needed to travel from Earth's orbit around the Sun to the orbit of the Moon around Earth.
On right, you can see values for entering low orbit and for landing. For example, for Moon (around Earth), the first value shows the delta-v required to go from the orbit of the Moon (around Earth) to an orbit around the Moon, at 100 km high. The value for landing/launch represents the delta-v needed for landing on the Moon from Moon orbit or for reaching Moon orbit (100 km high) from Moon surface.
Nearly all values are in black. There are a few values listed in blue. They represent the delta-v required to switch between a prograde and a retrograde orbit.
Flying between two orbits requires usually two engine burns. The first burn will send you on an elliptic orbit, touching an orbit at apoapsis and the other orbit at periapsis. The second burn moves the ship from its elliptical trajectory to the second orbit. Most delta-v charts lack this part. Well, it is very important that, once you reach the targeted planet, you will need an engine burn to remain in orbit around it. This is why most delta-v charts give lower values then those listed here.
One can remark that the delta-v required for transfers to very far orbits is smaller then the delta-v required for traveling to closer orbits. This is not an error, but a true fact. Going from Earth to Sedna will require less fuel then going from earth to Eris. Even if the first engine burn will require more delta-v, the second will require far less delta-v, because at high distances gravity is very low.
Transfers between prograde and retrograde orbits require a different technique. The ship will conduct 3 engine burns. The first will move the ship from initial orbit to the limit of the Hill sphere. There, a second engine burn will change rotation direction. A third engine burn will insert the ship on the desired orbit.
Entry/exit transfers across the sphere of influence also require two engine burns, but one of them is very small.
Landing/launch requires also two engine burns: one to enter/exit orbit and one to land/launch. They don't include atmosphere friction, which can save huge energy while landing and can increase delta-v budget during launch. This is because once other planets and moons will be terraformed, their atmospheres will be completely changed.
In order to calculate a complex trajectory, like from Enceladus (Saturn) to Io (Jupiter) through Helene and Himalia stations, you need to add all the values on the way:
- Enceladus launch --> Enceladus low orbit
- Enceladus low orbit --> escape to Saturn orbit
- Saturn Enceladus orbit --> Saturn Helene orbit
- Saturn Helene orbit --> Helene low orbit
- Helene low orbit --> Helene landing
- Helene landing --> Helene low orbit
- Helene low orbit --> Saturn Helene orbit
- Saturn Helene orbit --> escape to Sun orbit
- Sun Saturn orbit --> Sun Jupiter orbit
- Enter Jupiter Hill sphere --> Jupiter Himalia orbit
- Enter Himalia sphere of influence --> Himalia low orbit
- Himalia low orbit --> Himalia landing
- Himalia landing --> Himalia low orbit
- Himalia low orbit --> Jupiter Himalia orbit
- Jupiter Himalia orbit --> Jupiter Io orbit
- Enter Io sphere of influence --> Io low orbit
- Io low orbit --> Io landing.
Please note that sometimes I mixed delta-v values for entering orbit with delta-v values for landing. The value for landing is always the highest.
Also, many ships will prefer to use other ways to travel, which require less fuel. The use of Oberth effect, aerobraking and gravity assists can save a lot of fuel.
Solar System
The following list contains the delta-v budget required to travel between future Space Stations along future Trade Routes for the Solar System.
For comparison, an Earth surface - Moon surface flight will require a delta-v of 14.466 km/s.
Mercury
See also: Mercury Space Station
Mercury station – Venus station 13.987 Mercury station – Earth station 19.309 Mercury station – Mars Phobos 22.566 Mercury station – Ceres station 24.871 Mercury station – Jupiter Himalia 27.677 Mercury station – Saturn Helene 30.457 Mercury station – Uranus Perdita 28.699 Mercury station – Neptune Halimede 24.564 Mercury station – Pluto Styx 23.921 Mercury station – Eris low orbit 23.472 Mercury station – Sedna low orbit 21.676
Mercury station – Mercury orbit (100 km) 0.851 Mercury station – Mercury surface 3.095
Venus
See also: Venus Space Station
Mercury station – Venus station 13.987 Venus station – Earth station 8.609 Venus station – Mars Phobos 12.953 Venus station – Ceres station 16.969 Venus station – Jupiter Himalia 21.184 Venus station – Saturn Helene 24.872 Venus station – Uranus Perdita 23.786 Venus station – Neptune Halimede 19.808 Venus station – Pluto Styx 19.361 Venus station – Eris low orbit 19.057 Venus station – Sedna low orbit 17.438
Venus station – Venus orbit (100 km) 5.978 Venus station – Venus surface 7.377
Earth
See also: Earth Space Station
Mercury station – Earth station 19.309 Venus station – Earth station 8.609 Earth station – Mars Phobos 8.585 Earth station – Ceres station 13.281 Earth station – Jupiter Himalia 18.216 Earth station – Saturn Helene 22.447 Earth station – Uranus Perdita 21.763 Earth station – Neptune Halimede 18.033 Earth station – Pluto Styx 17.565 Earth station – Eris low orbit 17.357 Earth station – Sedna low orbit 15.858
Earth station – Earth orbit (100 km) 3.468 Earth station – Earth surface 11.425 Earth station – Moon orbit 2.979 Earth station – Moon surface 4.703
Mars
See also: Phobos station
Mercury station – Mars Phobos 22.566 Venus station – Mars Phobos 12.953 Earth station – Mars Phobos 8.585 Mars Phobos – Ceres station 7.274 Mars Phobos – Jupiter Himalia 12.991 Mars Phobos – Saturn Helene 17.914 Mars Phobos – Uranus Perdita 17.786 Mars Phobos – Neptune Halimede 14.287 Mars Phobos – Pluto Styx 13.922 Mars Phobos – Eris low orbit 13.858 Mars Phobos – Sedna low orbit 12.539
Phobos – Mars 4.876 Phobos – Deimos 0.778 Mars – Deimos 5.377
Ceres
See also: Ceres Space Station
Mercury station – Ceres station 24.871 Venus station – Ceres station 16.969 Earth station – Ceres station 13.281 Mars Phobos – Ceres station 7.274 Ceres station – Jupiter Himalia 6.468 Ceres station – Saturn Helene 12.613 Ceres station – Uranus Perdita 13.323 Ceres station – Neptune Halimede 9.849 Ceres station – Pluto Styx 9.662 Ceres station – Eris low orbit 9.853 Ceres station – Sedna low orbit 8.867
Ceres station – Ceres surface 0.561
Jupiter
See also: Himalia station
Mercury station – Jupiter Himalia 27.677 Venus station – Jupiter Himalia 21.184 Earth station – Jupiter Himalia 18.216 Mars Phobos – Jupiter Himalia 12.991 Ceres station – Jupiter Himalia 6.468 Jupiter Himalia – Saturn Helene 9.876 Jupiter Himalia – Uranus Perdita 11.323 Jupiter Himalia – Neptune Halimede 8.619 Jupiter Himalia – Pluto Styx 8.637 Jupiter Himalia – Eris low orbit 9.139 Jupiter Himalia – Sedna low orbit 8.590
Jupiter clouds – Jupiter orbit (1000 km) 42.816 Jupiter orbit – Almathea 15.045 Jupiter orbit – Io 23.842 Jupiter orbit – Europa 24.550 Jupiter orbit – Ganymede 25.694 Jupiter orbit – Callisto 24.964 Jupiter orbit – Himalia 20.368 Almathea – Io 11.623 Almathea – Europa 13.836 Almathea – Ganymede 16.269 Almathea – Callisto 16.792 Almathea – Himalia 13.555 Io – Europa 8.447 Io – Ganymede 11.828 Io – Callisto 13.427 Io – Himalia 11.974 Europa – Ganymede 8.318 Europa – Callisto 10.886 Europa – Himalia 9.731 Ganymede – Callisto 8.386 Ganymede – Himalia 8.946 Callisto – Himalia 6.919
Saturn
See also: Helene station
Mercury station – Saturn Helene 30.457 Venus station – Saturn Helene 24.872 Earth station – Saturn Helene 22.447 Mars Phobos – Saturn Helene 17.914 Ceres station – Saturn Helene 12.613 Jupiter Himalia – Saturn Helene 9.876 Saturn Helene – Uranus Perdita 11.335 Saturn Helene – Neptune Halimede 9.978 Saturn Helene – Pluto Styx 9.154 Saturn Helene – Eris low orbit 10.029 Saturn Helene – Sedna low orbit 10.010
Saturn orbit (1000 km) – Saturn clouds 25.707 Saturn orbit – Pan 8.128 Saturn orbit – Mimas 10.626 Saturn orbit – Enceladus 11.833 Saturn orbit – Tethys 12.557 Saturn orbit – Helene 12.772 Saturn orbit – Dione 13.181 Saturn orbit – Rhea 13.966 Saturn orbit – Titan 16.471 Saturn orbit – Hyperion 13.447 Saturn orbit – Iapetus 13.484 Saturn orbit – Phoebe 12.013 Pan – Mimas 3.050 Pan – Enceladus 4.405 Pan – Tethys 5.738 Pan – Helene 6.415 Pan – Dione 6.824 Pan – Rhea 8.201 Pan – Titan 11.830 Pan – Hyperion 8.985 Pan – Iapetus 9.561 Pan – Phoebe 8.497 Mimas – Enceladus 1.752 Mimas – Tethys 3.179 Mimas – Helene 3.995 Mimas – Dione 4.404 Mimas – Rhea 5.998 Mimas – Titan 10.142 Mimas – Hyperion 7.391 Mimas – Iapetus 8.239 Mimas – Phoebe 7.447 Enceladus – Tethys 1.976 Enceladus – Helene 2.837 Enceladus – Dione 3.347 Enceladus – Rhea 4.927 Enceladus – Titan 9.318 Enceladus – Hyperion 6.617 Enceladus – Iapetus 7.660 Enceladus – Phoebe 6.987 Tethys – Helene 1.750 Tethys – Dione 2.159 Tethys – Rhea 3.908 Tethys – Titan 8.538 Tethys – Hyperion 5.890 Tethys – Iapetus 7.208 Tethys – Phoebe 6.613 Helene – Dione 0.441 Helene – Rhea 2.232 Helene – Titan 7.089 Helene – Hyperion 4.498 Helene – Iapetus 5.939 Helene – Phoebe 5.644 Dione – Rhea 2.641 Dione – Titan 7.498 Dione – Hyperion 4.907 Dione – Iapetus 6.348 Dione – Phoebe 6.053 Rhea – Titan 6.432 Rhea – Hyperion 3.908 Rhea – Iapetus 5.630 Rhea – Phoebe 5.701 Titan – Hyperion 3.487 Titan – Iapetus 5.752 Titan – Phoebe 6.662 Hyperion – Iapetus 2.365 Hyperion – Phoebe 3.487 Iapetus – Phoebe 3.255
Uranus
See also: Perdita station
Mercury station – Uranus Perdita 28.699 Venus station – Uranus Perdita 23.786 Earth station – Uranus Perdita 21.763 Mars Phobos – Uranus Perdita 17.786 Ceres station – Uranus Perdita 13.323 Jupiter Himalia – Uranus Perdita 11.323 Saturn Helene – Uranus Perdita 11.335 Uranus Perdita – Neptune Halimede 5.535 Uranus Perdita – Pluto Styx 5.918 Uranus Perdita – Eris low orbit 7.097 Uranus Perdita – Sedna low orbit 7.245
Uranus orbit (1000 km) – Uranus clouds 15.385 Uranus orbit – Perdita 5.744 Uranus orbit – Puck 6.183 Uranus orbit – Miranda 7.299 Uranus orbit – Ariel 8.251 Uranus orbit – Umbriel 8.443 Uranus orbit – Titania 8.753 Uranus orbit – Oberon 8.725 Uranus orbit – Sycorax 6.456 Perdita – Puck 0.501 Perdita – Miranda 2.115 Perdita – Ariel 3.679 Perdita – Umbriel 4.288 Perdita – Titania 5.119 Perdita – Oberon 5.334 Perdita – Sycorax 4.266 Puck – Miranda 1.784 Puck – Ariel 3.293 Puck – Umbriel 3.940 Puck – Titania 4.827 Puck – Oberon 5.070 Puck – Sycorax 4.138 Miranda – Ariel 2.011 Miranda – Umbriel 2.755 Miranda – Titania 6.811 Miranda – Oberon 4.150 Miranda – Sycorax 3.626 Ariel – Umbriel 2.043 Ariel – Titania 3.215 Ariel – Oberon 3.664 Ariel – Sycorax 3.546 Umbriel – Titania 2.394 Umbriel – Oberon 2.863 Umbriel – Sycorax 3.153 Titania – Oberon 2.116 Titania – Sycorax 2.944 Oberon – Sycorax 2.747
Neptune
See also: Halimede station
Mercury station – Neptune Halimede 24.564 Venus station – Neptune Halimede 19.808 Earth station – Neptune Halimede 18.033 Mars Phobos – Neptune Halimede 14.287 Ceres station – Neptune Halimede 9.849 Jupiter Himalia – Neptune Halimede 8.619 Saturn Helene – Neptune Halimede 9.978 Uranus Perdita – Neptune Halimede 5.535 Neptune Halimede – Pluto Styx 1.114 Neptune Halimede – Eris low orbit 2.440 Neptune Halimede – Sedna low orbit 3.595
Neptune orbit (1000 km) – Neptune clouds 16.969 Neptune orbit – Proteus 7.696 Neptune orbit – Triton 10.297 Neptune orbit – Nereid 7.785 Neptune orbit – Halimede 7.210 Proteus – Triton 6.964 Proteus – Nereid 4.280 Proteus – Halimede 3.877 Triton – Nereid 4.183 Triton – Halimede 3.698 Nereid – Halimede 1.096
Pluto
See also: Styx station
Mercury station – Pluto Styx 23.921 Venus station – Pluto Styx 19.361 Earth station – Pluto Styx 17.565 Mars Phobos – Pluto Styx 13.922 Ceres station – Pluto Styx 9.662 Jupiter Himalia – Pluto Styx 8.637 Saturn Helene – Pluto Styx 9.154 Uranus Perdita – Pluto Styx 5.918 Neptune Halimede – Pluto Styx 1.114 Pluto Styx – Eris low orbit 1.540 Pluto Styx – Sedna low orbit 2.780
Pluto – Charon 1.997 Pluto – Styx 1.334 Pluto – Nix 1.337 Pluto – Kerberos 1.334 Pluto – Hydra 1.328 Charon – Styx 0.762 Charon – Nix 0.775 Charon – Kerberos 0.784 Charon – Hydra 0.786 Styx – Nix 0.046 Styx – Kerberos .058 Styx – Hydra 0.061 Nix – Kerberos 0.054 Nix – Hydra 0.058 Kerberos – Hydra 0.048
Eris
Mercury station – Eris low orbit (100 km) 23.472 Venus station – Eris low orbit 19.057 Earth station – Eris low orbit 17.357 Mars Phobos – Eris low orbit 13.858 Ceres station – Eris low orbit 9.853 Jupiter Himalia – Eris low orbit 9.139 Saturn Helene – Eris low orbit 10.029 Uranus Perdita – Eris low orbit 7.097 Neptune Halimede – Eris low orbit 2.440 Pluto Styx – Eris low orbit 1.540 Eris low orbit – Sedna low orbit 2.552
Eris – Eris orbit (100 km) 1.018 Eris – Dysnomia 1.531 Eris orbit – Dysnomia 0.513
Sedna
Mercury station – Sedna low orbit 21.676 Venus station – Sedna low orbit 17.438 Earth station – Sedna low orbit 15.858 Mars Phobos – Sedna low orbit 12.539 Ceres station – Sedna low orbit 8.867 Jupiter Himalia – Sedna low orbit 8.590 Saturn Helene – Sedna low orbit 10.010 Uranus Perdita – Sedna low orbit 7.245 Neptune Halimede – Sedna low orbit 3.595 Pluto Styx – Sedna low orbit 2.780 Eris low orbit – Sedna low orbit 2.552
Sedna surface – Sedna orbit (100 km) 0.307
For more details, look at the image on top-right of this page.
