Docking and RCS - what am I missing?

[JoeSchmuckatelli]

First docking attempt since For Science! (and maybe KSP2) came out.

I got my crafts close, hit DEL for docking mode, and tried to use the RCS thrusters to bring the crafts together.  However, with RCS enabled and my engine disabled - I can't get forward thrust.

From what 'muscle memory' tells me of the long ago time I played KSP - in Docking Mode the Shift and CNTRL keys should give me forward and rearward puffs.  

Nothing.

I ended up having to restart the engine and turn down thrust a lot to give me closing speed.

Clearly I'm missing something; shouldn't KSP2 give me RCS control in Docking mode via WASD + CNTRL & Shift?

This damn docking, FWIW, was both successful and played out in real time; took me 45 minutes from when I got the craft w/in 75m of each other.

[HebaruSan]

H is forwards, N is backwards.

(Unless "docking mode" is drastically different. I still haven't tried it in either game.)

Edited December 27, 2023 by HebaruSan

[Vl3d]

Worst of all.. the RCS puffs are very unstable, they never stop adjusting.I think the control algorithm is bad. It makes docking very difficult.

[Superfluous J]

I've not docked or used rcs yet in ksp2. Do you not have the ability to disable using them for roll/pitch/yaw?

That was step 1 in KSP. I even had a Module Manager config that set them that way by default.

[18Watt]

15 minutes ago, Vl3d said:

Worst of all.. the RCS puffs are very unstable, they never stop adjusting.I think the control algorithm is bad. It makes docking very difficult.

I had the same issue in KSP1.  Currently, in KSP2, the solution (for me) is identical.  I turn off Pitch Roll Yaw on all RCS thrusters, and only use them for translations (HNIJKL).  

Just now, Superfluous J said:

Do you not have the ability to disable using them for roll/pitch/yaw?

Yes, you can still do that, and yes it's still a good idea.

1 minute ago, Superfluous J said:

That was step 1 in KSP.

Still step 1 in KSP2..

[Vl3d]

10 hours ago, 18Watt said:

I turn off Pitch Roll Yaw on all RCS thrusters, and only use them for translations (HNIJKL).  

Aha.. well.. I learn something new every day.. I'll try that. But the SAS / stability / control algo is still jank.

[Kerbart]

On 12/26/2023 at 6:55 PM, JoeSchmuckatelli said:

I got my crafts close, hit DEL for docking mode, and tried to use the RCS thrusters to bring the crafts together

 

I find it easier to skip docking mode altogether and just use IJKL for translation (HN fwd/bck). If you do need to fix your orientation it's easier to do without having to switch back and forth to docking mode. And as mentioned in nearly all the responses; turn off yaw/pitch/roll for the RCS thrusters.

That should make it easier. Good luck!

[JoeSchmuckatelli]

10 hours ago, 18Watt said:

I had the same issue in KSP1.  Currently, in KSP2, the solution (for me) is identical.  I turn off Pitch Roll Yaw on all RCS thrusters, and only use them for translations (HNIJKL).  

Yes, you can still do that, and yes it's still a good idea.

Still step 1 in KSP2..

... And yet they don't tell me how. 

SMH. 

This is a harsh forum. 

[Kerbart]

8 minutes ago, JoeSchmuckatelli said:

... And yet they don't tell me how. 

SMH. 

This is a harsh forum. 

In KSP1 you have to activae tweakables in the settings

In KSP2 it's in the part manager, ut you might have to twirl/unfold that option open to see the 6 axis options for RCS thrusters. When [;aced with symmetry you only have to edit one of them.

[18Watt]

3 hours ago, JoeSchmuckatelli said:

... And yet they don't tell me how. 

Sorry Joe, I made a bad assumption.  My bad.

As @Kerbart said, if you placed the RCS thrusters via symmetry, you only need to deactivate pitch roll yaw on one of them.  Not sure if that works in flight, and I always check each one anyway, just because.

[Kerbart]

12 minutes ago, 18Watt said:

 Not sure if that works in flight, and I always check each one anyway, just because.

Yes it does. I know because I haven't found a way to remove parts from symmetry in flight (if you adjust spring strength individually on landing legs you can straighten out a craft landed on a slope in KSP1, but I haven't found out how to do it in KSP2)