Docking - Craft Circle Each Other On Approach

[Mr. Peabody]

I have no idea what is going on here. Every time I try to dock my crafts just go in circles and I can never get contact. It is so, so frustrating. I can't understand what's going on. I use SAS hold target and accelerate towards it but the crafts just circle each other. 

The docking port (large) also doesn't seem to magnetically attract the way it should. Instead it seems to repulse the other docking port when it reaches magnetic range. Please help.

[StrandedonEarth]

9 minutes ago, The Dunatian said:

I have no idea what is going on here. Every time I try to dock my crafts just go in circles and I can never get contact. It is so, so frustrating. I can't understand what's going on. I use SAS hold target and accelerate towards it but the crafts just circle each other. 

The docking port (large) also doesn't seem to magnetically attract the way it should. Instead it seems to repulse the other docking port when it reaches magnetic range. Please help.

When on "hold target" use RCS to translate  (IJKL) so that your prograde indicator is centered over the target indicator. Then you will be approaching it straight on, not drifting past it sideways, although orbital mechanics may make it drift a little. Make sure your navball is in target mode.

As for the docking ports, it's easy to get the Sr ports backwards, although I don't know if that would make them repulse. Pic(s)?

 

 

[bewing]

48 minutes ago, The Dunatian said:

it seems to repulse the other docking port when it reaches magnetic range.

It sounds like you are not completely zeroing out your relative velocity before you go for the docking. If you have residual tangential velocity, you will get that "circling" effect.

As far as the magnetism goes -- if you have SAS turned on, it will fight the magnetism. If they are fighting each other, you will get this "repulsion" effect. You can also get it if your approach is too far off from a right angle to the docking port. In general, it works best to have SAS turned off for at least one ship when the magnetism kicks in.

 

[HvP]

5 hours ago, The Dunatian said:

I have no idea what is going on here. Every time I try to dock my crafts just go in circles and I can never get contact. It is so, so frustrating. I can't understand what's going on. I use SAS hold target and accelerate towards it but the crafts just circle each other. 

The docking port (large) also doesn't seem to magnetically attract the way it should. Instead it seems to repulse the other docking port when it reaches magnetic range. Please help.

Is the docking port you are controlling from in line with the axis of the ship, or is it radially attached? There is a bug in KSP where SAS hold target doesn't aim in the right direction when using an off-axis docking port.

https://bugs.kerbalspaceprogram.com/issues/20513

Edited February 18, 2019 by HvP

[Xd the great]

7 hours ago, HvP said:

Is the docking port you are controlling from in line with the axis of the ship, or is it radially attached? There is a bug in KSP where SAS hold target doesn't aim in the right direction when using an off-axis docking port.

https://bugs.kerbalspaceprogram.com/issues/20513

In line with axis, it will be easier.

[Tyko]

adding to the advice...

Make sure you right-click on the docking port and select "control from here". This makes sure any direction changes are relative to the docking port. If you're controlling from somewhere else it may feel like controls are reversed or behaving different than you expect.

[Snark]

On 2/17/2019 at 12:59 PM, The Dunatian said:

I use SAS hold target and accelerate towards it

This is the problem.  Because if you do that, then what will happen is

On 2/17/2019 at 12:59 PM, The Dunatian said:

the crafts just circle each other

Here's an illustrated docking tutorial I put together a while back, which you may find helpful.