How to do an Off-Plane Transfer to the Moon using TransX MFD

    I've found that there are a lot of people who know how to get to the Moon when their orbital planes are matched, but don't know how to do the same thing when their orbital planes are inclined to the Moon.  This has led to the notion that doing an off-plane transfer to the moon is really expensive, whereas in reality, the transfer costs are virtually identical, and is just as easy.  Here's how to do it:

    I'm using a Soyuz-ST as my launcher, with a Chapman Probe as the payload (weighs 1100kg with fuel, or about 1.2 tons), and I'm launching out of Baikonur in Kazakhstan.  Because of Baikonur's high latitude, any Moon-shot that I do will always have a higher inclination to the Moon.  You do not need to use the same set-up, feel free to use any setup that you are comfortable getting to the moon with.  Remember, if it can get you to the moon with an in-plane transfer, you will be able to use it with an off-plane transfer.

• The very first thing to do, is before you take off, advance the time until the moon (the yellow cross) is to the left of where its orbit, and your orbit intersect.  If you are going to be changing your inclination as you take off (ie, shooting for a polar orbit), remember to take that into account.
• You can use any day of the year to launch to the moon, but you won't be able to launch at any time, the date of the month you launch directly affects the time of day you must launch at.  This is the most crucial step to insuring the most efficient lunar transfer possible.
• Once the Moon's in position, launch into orbit.

• Once you're in orbit, set up TransX.
• On the left MFD, select the Moon as your target, and in the right MFD, advance to the moon (FWD button).

• Change the view (the VW button) to Maneuver, and turn the Maneuver mode on.

• Select Prograde as your variable (press VAR or -VR till you get to it), and boost it up to about 3100.

• Select the Man. Date variable (again, using the VAR/-VR buttons), and move it forward to till the orbit lines up with the white bar.  Avoid using any settings higher then Super or Ultra, as anything above moves the date forward too quickly.
• This bar is where your orbital plane and your target's (in this case the moon's) orbital plane cross.

• Go back to the Prograde variable and boost it up until your orbit comes close to the Moon (pay close attention to the MFD on the right).
• You can adjust both the Man. Date and Prograde to refine your orbit.  NEVER use the inclination of offset ones as they just inefficiently waste your fuel on a maneuver like this.

• Select the Target View (VW button).  Turn the spacecraft prograde, and once the Begin Burn time reaches zero, apply full thrust.

• Switch back to Maneuver Mode, and watch as your orbit's apogee increases.

Once your orbit matches the predicted orbit, shut down the engines, and turn Maneouvre mode off (otherwise you will not be able to view your currently orbit properly).

• That's basically all there is for an off-plane transfer to the Moon, the following is for a correction burn, and settling down into lunar orbit, and is no different then a regular lunar transfer.

• Go forward a day or two till your about 2 thirds of the way to the Moon.

• Turn Maneuver mode back on, the set the date forward a bit (not a lot, just about 0.1 days ahead).

• Use the different properties (prograde, inclination, and offset, do not use man. date for this) to adjust your planned orbit.  Use the information on the right to get it just right.  I picked an Inclination of about 90° so that I could put the probe straight into a polar lunar orbit.

• Switch to the Target View, and line the spacecraft up with the green x (the closer the x gets to the center, the more sensitive the change in attitude becomes, so take this slow).
• Once the the Begin Burn reaches 0, apply full thrust (this may not last very long).

• Once Delta V reaches 0, shutdown your engines.
• A good tip at this point is to use your LIN thrusters to bring the Delta V even closer to 0.

• Turn Maneuver mode off, and watch the moon get closer.

• As you approach the moon, turn the Maneuver mode on again.
• Adjust the Man. Date till it equals the PE MJD (the is the time of your closest approach).

• Adjust the Prograde variable until the orbit appears circular.

• Switch to Target View, turn retrograde, and wait till the Begin Burn timer reaches zero, then apply full thrust.

• Use a standard Orbit MFD to watch your orbit.  Once your orbit is circular, shut off your engine.

• Welcome to the Moon, and enjoy the view!