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I am trying to dock vessels on the surface (any body), the purpose is to transfer fuel from ISRU mining/refining equipment to spacecraft. Rather than trying to make all my vessels have docking ports at exactly the same height and orientation, I'm trying to use the robotic parts to facilitate docking port alignment. The problem is that there is a bug when docking rovers on the surface using robotic parts. The bug usually results in the total destruction of one or both vessels. The bug was reported on the tracker here: https://bugs.kerbalspaceprogram.com/issues/23177 There have been a few threads discussing the issue, here's one of them: I am still struggling with this bug, and have not found a satisfactory way to dock vehicles on the surface. Using the 'Klaw' instead of docking ports doesn't help, the same ship destruction occurs. I am looking for suggestions to successfully dock vessels on the surface, I'm hoping someone has found a way to mitigate the surface docking bug. I realize there are several mods which would make surface refueling possible. I do not use mods, so that suggestion would not be helpful to me- although other players may find those suggestions helpful. Any suggestions for docking surface vessels (rovers, or rover to large ship) would be appreciated.

for KSP 1.8.x - 1.11.x (v1.1.0) About: Smart Docking Aid adds two new SAS modes to level 3 probe cores and level 3 pilots. Most KSP-players know the issue with aligning two docking ports correctly while docking two ships or station parts together. Smart Docking Aid's new mode aligns the player controlled ship's docking port to the target docking port. So you only have to translate your ship in front of the target docking port and move forward until it docks. There is no more weird camara movement necessary to see if you will dock properly or ram your target out of orbit. Smart Docking Aid introduces two new SAS modes: Parallel- & Parallel+. Both modes can help you align parallel to a desired target (i.e. orient towards the normal direction of the targeted part/docking port) Download: Github SpaceDock CKAN Requires Module Manager Changelog: v1.1.0. QoL Improvements * Obey "All SAS Modes on all probes" in difficulty settings * Replace stock SAS module readout * Unset SDA mode on SAS disable * Change MM pass to LAST ---- v1.0.0. Initial Release * Implements new SAS functionality - Parallel - - Parallel + Source Code Source Code can be found on Github (Source Code) Known Issues Part Upgrades resets the module readout to the stock one. If you find any issues, please report them to this thread or open a GitHub issue. Special Thanks As usual thanks to @woeller for creating icons, testing & feedback. @Jacky_Rabbit, iron_thomas, Multyino for feedback & testing. This work is licensed under the Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International license

I am atempthing to dock but the station wont show up I know that it wont until 2.4k but i am at 59.0m it is a 6 way rockomax docking pice with a probe core and the bigest rocomax tank. If i switch to it i cant see my other craft. if i cant solve this i gues i have to hyper eddit up the station. bummer because i wanted to learn how to dock

My discord server: https://discord.gg/4d7PSyG

I am trying to dock my mining vehicle to a landing ship on Mun. However, after a successful docking, it starts to "jump". Here is the video: https://youtu.be/dKNikw3ewYU Can anyone help me please?

this Is my modlist KSPIE Beyond Home Planetary Domes EPL KW rocketry IFS my docking ports will not release even when I click undock it disappears and the ships stay connected any fixes you have?

So I was making a Asteroid Capture Scientific Drone (ACSD) and I tried to put a lander on a docking port in the Spaceplane Hangar, but when I had it on another docking port (how It would look if it was docked in space), it wouldn't let me detach when I started flying, how do I make a predocked part of my craft that I can undock whilst in space?

Was curious how fast others can complete the docking tutorial. I found it a great practice for when I ever get anything large into orbit lol. Currently takes me 27 minutes. I made some mistakes today though so I have to try some more. Streamed the entire tutorial if interested. Here is the hightlight of my final approach. Check out this video "Highlight: Kerbal Docking Tutorial Speedrun" http://www.twitch.tv/kinslayer125/v/575860847?sr=a&t=1s

I've been playing KSP for a couple months now and have progressed to docking multiple ships together to create space stations. I watched several different tutorials on youtube to learn how to reliably dock. However, I've noticed that no one uses the docking mode. I have tried using it, but I'm confused as to what it's supposed to do other than alternate between translational and radial directional keys. Nothing shows up on the little window when I click the docking mode button. I see the crosshairs that shift around as I adjust my trajectory, but what am I supposed to line it up with? If someone has a link to a video that explains the ingame docking mode, I'd appreciate seeing it.

Shielded PicoPorts (SPP) Adds shielded PicoPorts to Kerbal Space Program. Requires PicoPorts part addon. An original parts addon zer0Kerbal and brought to you by KerbSimpleCo Parts Shielded PicoPort Basic Shielded PicoPort Female Shielded PicoPort Male Shielded PicoPort Plus See More See our Parts Catalog for part pictures For more images, see our Marketing Slicks Discussions and news on this mod: See Discussions or KSP Forums Changelog Summary for more details of changes : See ChangeLog Known Issues for more details of feature requests and known issues : See Known Issues GitHub Pages : See Pages Help Wanted Localization See More Discussions and news on this mod: See Discussions or KSP Forums Changelog Summary for more details of changes : See ChangeLog Known Issues for more details of feature requests and known issues : See [Known Issues][MOD:known] GitHub Pages : See Pages Installation Directions 1 Use CurseForge/OverWolf App (currently does not install dependencies) Whilst I agree CKAN is a great mod for those that can't use zip tools. I take no part, nor am I interested in maintaining the CKAN mod metadata for my mods. Please don't ask me about it but refer to the CKAN mod thread if you are having issues with CKAN or the metadata it maintains. Beware, CKAN can really mess up though it tries very, very, very hard not to. or Dependencies Kerbal Space Program 2 PicoPort Suggests Either 3 Module Manager Module Manager /L ***NEW*** Inflatable PicoPorts (IPP) Docking Port Descriptions (DPD) GPO (Goo Pumps & Oils') Speed Pump (GPO) On Demand Fuel Cells (ODFC) Supports TweakScale ReStock Connected Living Space Tags parts, config red box below is a link to forum post on how to get support Be Kind: Lithobrake, not jakebrake! Keep your Module Manager up to date Credits and Special Thanks see Attribution.md for more Legal Mumbo Jumbo (License provenance) How to support this and other great mods by zer0Kerbal Connect with me Track progress: issues here and projects here along with The Short List this isn't a mod. ;P↩︎ may work on other versions (YMMV)↩︎ Be Kind: Lithobrake, not jakebrake! Keep your Module Manager up to date!↩︎

I haven't been able to find anything about this yet, and I haven't run any tests because it's easier in zero G. Has anyone attempted clipping different sized docking ports together to basically make a universal docking port? I already have a couple vessels in orbit with this concept but have yet to use them.

I have two objects, a main station with no RCS, or engine, and a power plant part with a poodle engine, RCS, and about half a tank of fuel. They are both is a similar orbit but have a similar velocity and seem to stay the same distance away from each other. Any tips to fix this? Thanks and have a great day!!!

I've been trying to use the new robotic parts to make docking vessels on the ground (rovers) easier. I'm running into some unexpected behavior, which is causing my ground-docking attempts to fail. Often, explosions are involved. I'm wondering if others here have had success with what I'm trying to do. Without robotic parts, docking two vessels on the ground is frustrating, as everything has to line up perfectly. Often, what worked during testing doesn't work on a body with different gravity, or if the mass of one or both vessels changes. I'm trying to use the robotic arms to make docking vessels on the ground easy. Here's an example rover. Has a small servo, small hinge, small piston, another small hinge, and a Dock Port Jr. The arm has enough articulation and extension available to reach and align with docking ports at various heights. However, here's what happens. One vessel (sometimes both) is thrashed violently. Sometimes ends in explosions. Sometimes ends with one vessel flung away. This one is probably going to end with a bang.. What appears to be happening is during docking, one docking port instantly changes it's orientation, dragging the vessel it's attached to along with it. Here's one example: Here's another example. The docking ports were lined up perfectly, but ended up looking like this after they joined. I'm using a stock game, 1.7.2 (2555), with Making History and Breaking Ground, no mods. I've tried different size docking ports and robotic parts, with similar results. Auto struts is disabled (although I tried auto struts on as well). I'm stumped.

Hello, does anybody here know how to rendezvous and dock with spacecraft easily and efficiently? I'm building a small station at the moment - around 100km above sea level, and when I managed to dock the second stage (comms and power) to the main parent module, I was quite proud, and I decided to go ahead and try attach the third and fourth modules, (crew and research modules) but then I nearly gave up completely when I just couldn't get a rendezvous with the craft again, even though I had a good 1.5k Delta V at my disposal. Also, anybody know how to directly insert a photo into these posts? Sorry if this sounds stupid. Any help would be greatly appreciated

It's all experimental right now but here's the idea. Have a science vessel SSTO which can be used for Interplanetary transport of people and equipment. The equipment should be almost anything between two large docking ports. In this case I have designed a mining module which I launched on a rocket into a parking orbit. Now my SV-SSTO (Science Vessel) is going to try it out. First separate the command module. Dock onto the Mining module Then re-acquire the drive/science section It's a tight squeeze. I think I will call this particular experiment a success. Fits like a glove. (although it should fit like a mining module) I hope you like it. D.

How can I quickly align 'target' with 'prograde' on the navball (I'm learning how to dock)? I keep flying past my target because my prograde isn't lined up all the way with my target.

I haven't docked before, and I've been doing the docking tutorial. There's (apparently) a magnetic phase that kicks in close to contact, but when my ports contact (yes, they TOUCH each other on point, no angled contact), they just bounce off each other (yes, the ports are unshielded). Is there anything I can do to fix this?

So, I'm building up a mining colony at Minmus, but I'm trying to make it as efficient as possible. I am using Kerbal Attachment System mod, just for reference. Would it be more efficient for me to process minerals on minmus and then ship it to orbit, or to ship minerals to orbit and process it there?

Hi guys, I'm sorry to ask that because there are already a million tutorial about docking but i've got some problems doing it. Sorry, I think I just found the problem blob:https://imgur.com/a0016323-aadc-4a6c-a363-22e88f1c1d8b

It took me a while but my autopilot is finally finished. Download file here: https://github.com/Toukie/KSP/tree/master/GAPAPOV

I was just wondering if it's possible to dock 2 seperate craft together using 2 different docking ports on each craft simultaneously. (4 total) I don't think you could do it in older versions but I'm not sure which version it was when I last played and would prefer a knowledgeable person to save me some sleuthing if they would be so kind. It seems like something that really ought to be in the game, but I could see how there would be control issues unless the detachment was assigned to an action group to "let go" at both points simultaneously. Either that or stagger the decoupling to delay until all connected ports have been told to decouple.

From my experience it's difficult to impossible to dock with a surface outpost, because the docking ports have to be the same height above the ground. And they have to be axially aligned, so if there was a way to control the orientation and raise it up it would be easier to dock.

Hey Guys, I'm currently reading Downbelow Station by C J Cherryh, and I thought it would be fun to recreate the titular space station in KSP. There is, however, a problem I'm running into. In the book, all of the docking ports on this space station are on the ring, not the hub. Given the diameter of the station and how fast it would have to spin to generate 1g, the surface of the ring is moving by at about 73 meters per second, way too fast to even hope to perform a successful docking. So to anyone here who has read the book or is even just familiar with the story, what am I missing here? Cherryh's work in science fiction is for the most part pretty well grounded in scientific accuracy, so how is it she did not think of this? If anyone has any insight into this subject, I would really love to hear your thoughts. Thanks.

In one of my RSS/RO/RP-1 campaigns, I ended up launching a spaceplane before any manned capsules (because reasons), and decided it would be fun to role-play a world where ballistic re-entry is considered unsafe for humans. This does of course make BLEO (Beyond Low Earth Orbit) missions rather awkward, as you can't use the atmosphere to slow you down on the way back. But, with a massively over-complicated multi-launch architecture, I managed to perform a manned lunar fly-by with nary a heat-shield in sight (and all LVs under 275t GLOM). The full write-up, with 65 screenshots, is here on my website.

Different day, same recent topic for me. Docking vessels together is going to be the death of me or cause me to set fire to my PC in frustration. There has GOT to be a better way, without having a mod just do it for you. There is just so much to do in this game that I haven't even scratched the surface of yet. Never been successfully to a planet outside of Kerbin realm of Kerbin, Minmus, and the Mun, and I feel it is because I can't dock for nothing. What typically happens for me is that I can get my two vessels within around 50 meters apart from each other, and then it just seems like I play an endless game of having the one vessel fly around/by/past the other vessel that is in orbit. I've been using docking port mod, and even with that I've noticed some issues, like it not being able to identify Rockomax Hubmax multi-point connectors (do those things need need docking ports placed on them to have Dock Port Indicator mod see them....hope not), and occassionally seeing my the front of my ship (where the docking port is) act like the back of my ship, meaning the orange doc alignment circle doesn't show up properly. This guy just wants to build a simple space station about 250Km out from Kerbin. I sent my Habitation module up first, and followed it off with my Science module. I spent 3-4 hours yesterday failing at docking the two pieces. The main issue to me seemed to be even though I built my RCS thrusters as evenly spaced out from center of mass as possible, when using the thrusters, they still seemed to drift off course and not respond true to the inputs given. By some miracle, coming back to the game after a 2 hours break I managed to get my Science mod lined up, speed down to 0 m/s, and guide it in and docked. Figured, ok, maybe now I got it. Sent out my last pieces, combined fuel station module as well as escape pod. Nope.....not happening. Here I am again spending 2-3 hours this afternoon trying to get the damn things docked, and it just is not happening. Biggest problem now is that I want to dock to the Rockomax multiport connector, and Docking module won't recognize it....but even then, I am stuck in the endless dance of getting close and then having the orbiting piece fly right by me. If anyone has any other tips for a frustrated guy running 1.4.3 in accomplishing any of this, I'd appreciate it. I was in this same boat over a month ago. I really want to enjoy this game, but my inability and inefficiency in docking is sapping the enjoyment. I can't keep spending hours upon hours playing, doing the same thing, with no progress at the end of those several hours. Building vessels with RCS thrusters spaced properly to get proper movements without drifting. Is there a way to make STS movement to defined markers (Target, prograde, retrograde, etc) move fast without turning on engines? When you have a larger vessel to try and dock, it moves so slow or won't move at all without thrusters. Would adding more reaction wheels help that? Does Rockomax Hubmax multi point connect need docking ports placed on them to dock? Or to have Docking Port mod identify them? Tips on how to avoid getting in pattern of having orbiting object you are trying to dock continually get within 50m only to start drifting away from you? Any tips on camera setting to use? I constantly feel like I am adjusting the camera, or getting it stuck at the point where it won't spin one direction anymore. Any mods that will dock for you once you get to a certain distance away?