Rendezvous (for non mathematicians)

[amore555]

Hey guys,

I do quite well on KSP, have landed on both moons numerous times (without Mechjeb) and even landed on Duna yesterday, before taking off and landing on the moon (Ike?) as well in the same mission.

I do all this without any real maths, I just go by gut and most of the time it works out (the patched conics system helps out a lot)

Anyway, the one thing I can't do is rendezvous, I know there are all sorts of equations to help you figure this out, but I am just not a numbers guy. The closest I have got two ships is 50km.

Can anyone help me, or point me towards a mod that assists in rendezvous? I know there is mechjeb, bt it seems to me that even that assumes a certain level of knowledge that I just don't have.

[Nibb31]

This is how I do it without calculation:

1) Get both ships into the same circular orbit. Use RCS to make the target's orbit as circular as possible.

2) Match your active craft's inclination with the target by burning normal or antinormal.

3) Lower or raise the orbit of your active craft to reach the target:

- To catch up with the target, decelerate to lower your orbit.

- To slow down, accelerate to raise your orbit.*

4) Use warp and do several orbits if necessary. This is where you need patience.

5) When you get under 10km from the target, circularize your orbit again, and use RCS to translate to the target.

Yes, step 3 is counter-intuitive. But remember that when you lower your orbit, you are travelling a shorter distance, therefore you will get to a specific point faster. I usually limit myself to lowering or raising only one side of the orbit, and only by 10km maximum and then using warp. With a bit of practice, you can eyeball it pretty well.

The secret is to be patient. Do not overdo any burns because you will only have to compensate later. The same goes for the final approach on RCS.

Edited September 21, 2012 by Nibb31