Jump to content

Question about station encounters.


Recommended Posts

Just so you know, I have successfully docked before, and I am currently building my 2nd Starburst Station.

However most of the time, even when I get it within 0.5, (got 0.0 before) mostly when trying to get close with a giant fuel module, I am going way too fast, and I pass it completely.

How do I prevent this from happening?

Edited by Mattratt
Link to comment
Share on other sites

You have to null out your velocity relative to your target. As you get close to the target, click on your navball until it says "target" (and not "orbit" or "surface"). Then point your ship to the retrograde marker and burn until your velocity drops to 0.0m/s. You should now be parked in space a fixed distance from your target. Now you can aim at the pink target marker on your navball and slowly burn to get some speed which will allow you to close that distance. Keep this speed very low, just a couple m/s at most -- sometimes it's easier to control this with RCS using H and N keys instead of your main engines.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Probably the best way to do it stock is to set up a maneuver node at the point of closest approach. Look at your target relative velocity (click on the speed gauge until it says "Target"), and set up the node for a retrograde burn equal to that amount. You should get a burn time estimate from the maneuver node; start the burn when you're an equal number of seconds away from the node (unlike a regular burn, where you want to split it 50/50 on either side of the node) and stop when you get pretty close to zero. This will at least get you reasonably close to the closest approach distance you had with the target originally, and travelling at a much slower relative velocity, making the approach part easier.

EDIT: Ninja'd, twice.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The simple solution, install MechJeb and let it do it for you.

In reality do it like Kelderik said. If your engines are too powerful to do fine adjustments right click on them and limit the thrust to 5% once you get close.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

target the ship and set your navball to display the target relative speed, once you get in 100km start retroburning and keep your speed at 1/40th of the distance, then 1/30th at 20km, 1/20th at 10km and 1/10th at <5km. Naturally you need to use wider margins if your engines arent as good.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This thread is quite old. Please consider starting a new thread rather than reviving this one.

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...