Hi there ! I wrote in this thread because it dedicated for newbies (like me) hope they will not repeat my stupid mistake. Yesterday I spend 4 (four) hours on low-distance approach trying to my first dock, without success. I did counless attempts to dock, on extremely low speed and with pinpoint precision, they touched but not docked. Runned out of monopropellant and smashed both ships to the ground in angry (unmanned, yes). After this I realise what something must be very, very wrong. Two words about test ship design. Rocket, decoupler, docking port, payload (battery, tanks, probe core), parachute. Experienced designers already understand problem and start to laugh. DOCKING PORT HAS TWO SIDES, AND LOWER DOES NOT WORK AT ALL ! So if you attach port to the lower side of the craft - rotate it ! After fixing error I docked in 40 minutes of game time, in 3 or 4 attempts. You really does not need pinpoint precision to dock, on low distances ports "attracted" to each other, just approach from right angle and speed. Hope it helps.
