KAO Posted September 9, 2012 Share Posted September 9, 2012 So I have this TKS spacecraft(below):trying to dock with this space station(below):I have both of them at the same altitude(accurate to within +/- 10/20 meters) but the TKS is over 50km behind the orbit of the stationso how do I rendezvous the two crafts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TinfoilChef Posted September 9, 2012 Share Posted September 9, 2012 Given they're both at the same altitude and assuming they're on the same inclination the thing to do would be lower one side of the orbit for the TKS by a kilometer or two. it will then close on the station slowly, gaining a bit each orbit. then when they're close enough, close the distance. Probably a quick burst of main engines followed by thrusters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaydeeDem Posted September 9, 2012 Share Posted September 9, 2012 So I have this TKS spacecraft(below):trying to dock with this space station(below):I have both of them at the same altitude(accurate to within +/- 10/20 meters) but the TKS is over 50km behind the orbit of the stationso how do I rendezvous the two crafts?Get the TKS in a slightly lower, (5km difference orbit) and gradually catch up with the station. Once the station is slightly behind you in map view, raise your apoapsis to the target craft's height. Once within 1km, use gentle RCS taps to maneuver ever so slightly closer to you station. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vanamonde Posted September 9, 2012 Share Posted September 9, 2012 Anything you do to close the gap wil inevitably loose you the altitude match. That's just the laws of orbital mechanics. You can speed up, but that will cause you to rise above it, and then you'll need to burn down to correct. Or you can brake (counter-intuitive as it sounds) which will cause you to drop below it, thereby speed up and overtake it, but then you'll need to burn up to meet the target again. Those are pretty much your only options. It's an unnatural situation to have two objects orbiting at the same altitude but different speeds, so you'll need to just keep making burns until you're close enough to finalize things with RCS, which is 20km or less. Personally, I would speed up because that approach is a bit less complicated to carry out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KAO Posted September 10, 2012 Author Share Posted September 10, 2012 success! thanks a lot you guys! couldn't have happened without you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ydoow Posted September 10, 2012 Share Posted September 10, 2012 Dang, that's pretty.What mods are you using? I can never find them on my own... :/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KAO Posted September 10, 2012 Author Share Posted September 10, 2012 it's kosmos mostly, but it relies on the Novapunch pack to just get the thing into munar orbit, and it uses a bunch of miscellaneous mods to do awesome stuff up there (like its detachable, rocket propelled impact probe with cameras) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nhnifong Posted September 10, 2012 Share Posted September 10, 2012 How did you put more than one command pod on a vessel? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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