Help request: can't get final dock to dock

[Forby]

I'm trying to build a square space station, and I can't get the final dock to clamp. And before you ask...

1. Both docks are facing the correct way
   
2. All sides are identical pieces, hence the same length
   
3. I've tried "leaving" the ship and reloading it from the space center
   
4. I've restarted KSP
   
5. I've tried weeping shamelessly
   

I've also attempted redock multiple times. I'm pretty sure angle isn't an issue at this point. I've also rotated to different docks on the hex-dock-thingie. Since it's the last of the 4 sides, I know I can clamp onto 2 sides at once. I'm not sure what else to try.

I'm running version 0.90.0.0 via Steam on Linux.

Any suggestions? Thanks.

Close up of the un-docked docks:

Station:

Edited March 14, 2015 by Forby

[Osprey]

I suspect docking clamps don't work when the target vessel is the same as the one on which the docking port is located. If you can get two sides to clamp at once, my only guess is you need to do it so both ports connect simultaneously rather than sequentially, as you'd then encounter the above issue re: same target.

Other than that no idea, but cool design btw.

[monophonic]

There is a bug where the docking ports sometimes keep believing they are docked even when they are not. Then they refuse to dock again. Try right clicking both of the reluctant docking ports and see if they display an undocked status. If either one says it's docked, even though they obviously aren't, you have hit this bug. I don't know if you can fix it with the right click menu, but save file editing has been mentioned before.

Also I'm sorry that I cannot give more detailed instructions. I haven't done anything with docking ports in KSP so far.

[TheXRuler]

mhhh, as far as I know it's not possible to dock docking ports on when they are both on the same ship, might be wrong though. In case you encounter the bug, let me know via pm, I have had this quite a few times and could explain how to edit stuff to make it work again.

[Starhawk]

I believe it is possible to connect two craft using multiple docking ports. I'm not sure if the loop configuration might be a problem for the program, but it seems far more likely that you have encountered the docking port bug.

As mentioned above, save file editing is the resolution I have seen discussed on the forum.

Good luck and happy landings!

[StrandedonEarth]

From looking closely at the image, it appears the top port may not be perfectly aligned (very slightly rotated). Do you have "NavyFish Docking Alignment Indicator"? That also has a rotation alignment on it, although that may not help with this square setup. Try to undock that top part, give it a slight twist, then quicksave. When you quickload, it should reset the ports and they should snap together. *Disclaimer: I haven't used the quickload trick myself, but I've read on these forums that it works. Also, you may want to use alt-f5 first so you can go back to where you started if things go wrong. Alt-f9 lets you choose what to quickload.

[WanderingKid]

I can confirm you can 'multi-dock' ships, but they both need to be linking at the same time. The Ares Helm in my current Let's Play does it.

I do, however, recommend the Docking Port Alignment Indicator, in particular for rotation control. Even just a hair off 0/90/etc can set one as non-linking (which caused me serious roll issues on said interplanetary craft).

If you're incredibly curious, you can find me playing with it here:

The redocking procedure for the right engine starts at around 13:00.

Hope it helps.

[Xannari Ferrows]

Multi-docking is hard! Sliding in sideways is the way to go, but this situation will test your patience. Off by a single nanometer and it will fail.

[Forby]

This is a pretty active community! That's awesome.

Well thanks for the replies everyone. I don't have the "Dock Align" plugin installed. I generally prefer vanilla oftens though, so I'd rather not add it.

I also had no clue how to identify which was the dock of interest when I looked at my save file, so I wasn't sure how to ensure that the dock wasn't poopie. Instead I launched another of the side pieces and gave it another go... and failed again. Then I came back here and read some more replies and based, on the latest few, it sounds like it's just harder than I can handle. That's kind of a bummer, I thought it would be awesome to go Lego-style and use the same "side piece" over and over and build a 3D lattice network for a super station. But alas, my piloting skills aren't there.

Thanks again for all the replies!!

[WanderingKid]

Well thanks for the replies everyone. I don't have the "Dock Align" plugin installed. I generally prefer vanilla oftens though, so I'd rather not add it.

I, too, am a vanilla advocate under most circumstances.

That said, I have Kerbal Engineering Redux, Kerbal Alarm Clock, Docking Alignment Indicator, PlanetShine, Toolbar and Ambient Lighting installed. Keep in mind you're in a beta (and for a long time it was alpha) so a lot of the polish you need for proper controls just aren't there yet, as they were much more worried about the mechanics under the hood than the interface. The mods really just add that polish for you.

But, I understand your preference. Good luck to you!