Targetable Waypoints

[Stoney3K]

I know that KSP has a manner of implementing waypoints on a planet's surface and above it. However, it's impossible to target them for flight guidance.

Of course, you can plant flags and launch dummy probes in orbit, but that means more memory usage because those craft are simulated (even flags are flyable objects) and it may be a bit cumbersome to do so just for arbitrary reference points in space. Also, static waypoints in mid-air are difficult right now. (A good example would be a series of waypoints for the runway 09 approach from orbit to the KSC)

Ideally, there would be directional waypoints as well which can be followed on the navball 'Target' mode. An ILS runway 9 approach, for example, would be a waypoint on the runway threshold which has a direction pointing along the runway, with a 3 degree slope upwards. This way you would be able to auto-land your aircraft with SAS on 'Target Retrograde'.

[Feradose]

A mod that I want it to be stock does this. I think its waypoints mod or something.

[Stoney3K]

A mod that I want it to be stock does this. I think its waypoints mod or something.

I know that there is a mod called 'Kerbal Waypoint Manager', which lets you create waypoints, but it doesn't allow you to target them. The created waypoints are the same as the ones used in contracts -- they're visible on the map and on the navball, but they are not targetable.

[tomf]

What do you mean by target? Waypoint manager does allow you to target a waypoint and have it display in the main flight view, along with the current distance to it and you current estimated time to reach it.

[Stoney3K]

What do you mean by target? Waypoint manager does allow you to target a waypoint and have it display in the main flight view, along with the current distance to it and you current estimated time to reach it.

With 'Target', I mean the already available feature in KSP where you can 'Set As Target'. Your target shows up in the nav ball (pink icon), and an extra navball view mode is added. It also allows additional SAS modes (Target, Anti-Target, and the movement modes relative to the motion of said target).

At present, only flyable objects (ships, bases, rovers, stations, flags, debris, etc.) can be set as target, no virtual waypoints. For example, you cannot target the "Area XYZ-321" zones that are created through contracts, even though they are visible in flight, in the map view and on the navball.

Waypoint Manager creates the same waypoints as contract waypoints, which offer almost no interaction. They're also restricted to planet surfaces.

[TheMoonRover]

Hmm, I'm sure I've suggested this before. Or I've suggested being able to add your own waypoints anyway.

You can click on a waypoint in map view and it comes up with an option something like "Activate Nagivation"

Clicking it adds an icon to the NavBall, and you can follow it much like the target icon, although the SAS target function doesn't work for it. This is stock behaviour.

For me it's good enough to find contract locations so long as I know the target altitude and don't have to do anything drastic to reach it. It can be a bit difficult when looking for a ground based location, particularly if you're on a large airless body, but then landing at a target is difficult even if you do know exactly where it is.

But I agree that the waypoint system could use some improvement/expanding.