Tips for rendezvousing ?

[kacperrutka26]

Hello everyone!

I have downloaded the docking mod from erkle (Sorry for wrong pronunciation if it is wrong) And I want to rendezvous with rockets but I need some tips. I have MechJeb too so if there is an option please tell me.

Also, If I launch a rocket that is meant to be my station, does the next rocket I launch that is going to rendezvous need docking clamps too?

[Qumefox]

Not sure about with mods, but I can give some tips on doing it stock.

1) high ship mass is evil and just makes things harder.

2) RCS is your friend.

3) the closer you can get the two craft via normal orbital corrections, the easier approaching/catching the other ship will be, in regards to a fuel needed and time spent standpoint.

[GOOMH]

can't tell you about docking clamps but I can tell you about rendezvous. First off how math friendly you are because that'l make it possible to do it on the fly but if you just hate it you can always use this: http://kerbalspaceprogram.com/forum/showthread.php/8915-Orbital-Rendezvous-Made-Easy? It hasn't been updated in a long time but it works for Kerbin rendezvous. Plus remember the last Km is all by eye and it needs patience to prevent over shooting it.

[LaydeeDem]

MOST HELPFUL TIP FOR RENDEZVOUS:

Lower orbit to speed up

Higher orbit to slow the down

[RadiationKing]

Completed my first rendezvous today while orbiting Eve (to rescue Bill and Bob, Jeb stayed behind to go down with his ship) without any mods. Anyway the best advice I guess I could give is patience, and a good understanding of orbital maneuvering. You can't just thrust towards your target because you'll affect your orbit on the other side of the planet and you'll move away faster than you can correct. You need to sync the orbits so you catch up to your target. Like mentioned above, lower orbit to speed up and higher to slow down. It can be very counter intuitive at times. If you're ahead of your target but your orbit is going to be lower than your targets orbit, you have to thrust away from it to allow it to catch up.

Also, again as mentioned, RCS. You can't really do it without it. As for a step-by-step, this is as I understand it:

1. Align orbit planes.

2. Position your apoapsis in exactly the same place as your targets apoapsis (this is your rendezvous point).

3. Position your periapsis below your targets so you catch up and meet at your apoapsis (next to impossible to judge accurately by eye, maybe mechjeb helps)

4. When you catch up to your target at your apoapsis you make your periapsis identical to your targets (Assuming the rest went as planned this is the easy bit)

However, information required to do this is missing or a pain to get for now. Hopefully that will change soon.

In my experiance (I'm counting orbiter in this as I've only done this once in KSP) you need to match up your orbits so you get within 1km of your target and then use RCS to finish.

I can't help with mechjeb or docking side of things, I'm waiting for it to be included as standard.

Anyone more experienced please correct me if I'm wrong.

[nhnifong]

if you have plenty of fuel, just get close, set your mechjeb rendezvous target to the other craft, and just alternate beween burning RVEL- and TGT+

[EvilotionCR2]

I got big problems with it too...Try Hyperjump(or how what is it).

[KAO]

once I did my first rendezvous, the others were a piece of cake

here's the skinny:

1. if your ship is ahead of your target ship, get a higher altitude than your target ship and circularize. Then warp so the target ship will catch up to you.

2. if your ship is behind your target ship, get a lower altitude than your target ship and circularize. Then warp so you will catch up with the target ship.

use NML- and NML+ to adjust the tilt of your orbit to match the target ship. Use the RAD+ and RAD- to change the altitude of your orbit faster.

once the two ships are within 100m of each other put the ships in either prograde or retrograde orientations, then right click your docking part and click "dock", do the same on the target ship. From there on use RCS to position yourself to the point where the two docking cones line up, they should start red, then turn green, then blue.

[TelluriumCrystal]

Hi, I've completed two rendezvous with my mothership following these three easy steps:

1. Launch your rocket using mech jeb at the same altitude as the object you are trying to rendezvous with. This will store necessary data in mech jeb for a timed launch. Once the ascent autopilot disengages you can end the mission.

2. Now get the same rocket on the pad for the actual rendezvous. At the bottom of the ascent autopilot window there is a "time launch with rendezvous" button. Press this and select the object you wish to rendezvous with. Mech jeb will use the data collected in the previous launch to perfectly time your rendezvous! Note: you will warp on the pad, so be aware your rocket may get damaged (explode) when it comes out of warp. Let mech jeb do its thing and you should end up close to your target!

3. Use RCS to slowly and safely complete the rendezvous.

Hope this helped!

[Qumefox]

You can't just thrust towards your target because you'll affect your orbit on the other side of the planet and you'll move away faster than you can correct.

This depends.. If your still dealing with the solar map.. Yes orbital corrections are needed to catch your target. If your in visual range (the game is showing you target distance) then you can just direct thrust, because you'll accelerate then decelerate to catch your target long before your orbit has an extreme effect on your direction... providing your orbits are relatively well matched anyway.. The more matched your orbits, the longer the window you have to do this in. If your orbits differ greatly, you might end up being in visual range of your target for a few minutes to a few seconds..

[Vanamonde]

The most helpful insight I had when I was figuring out rendezous is to set up the conditions and let time do most of the work. Look not so much where your ship and the target are now, but look ahead along their trajectory lines and manuever to bring those lines together. Match orbital planes but slightly above to let the target catch with you or slight below to catch up with the target, and once you get within about 20km, you can start gently steering directly for the target. But don't let your approach speed get too high, or you'll lose the trajectory match and/or not be able to brake in time.