How to get the SAS working on this craft? (file included)...and help about docking.

[gtrx]

here's the craft:

http://pmc.do.am/wwrr/5_modular_station.craft

the SAS is not working, I don't know why. It works, but too slow. It seems as if only the remote guidance unit's built-in SAS unit is working, not the other bigger SASes that I have installed.

The idea in this craft is to make a "modular" and flexible space station.

And I want it docked to more of the same and fuel tanks, like this one:

http://pmc.do.am/wwrr/5_modular_fuel_tank.craft

I'm new to KSP, and currently haven't been able to dock anything. Got around 20-30meters close to the target craft, but couldn't get any closer, its too difficult without the right knowledge. And the docking keys are confusing. I don't know how to control RCS accurately. And the camera view on the docking port is missing colors (or is it an IR camera?).

Thanks for any help in advance.

[Nasakev]

On large crafts, SAS can be quite slow. One solution is to use a lot of RCS and ASAS to control it, but currently this drains monopropellant like crazy (should be fixed in the next update though).

Docking is one of the more difficult things to do in this game; I landed on the Mun before I docked anything. Try this tutorial:

When docking, be sure to turn the camera to "chase" mode. This lines the camera up with rcs thrust (a moves left, d moves right, etc etc).

Good luck!

[gtrx]

On large crafts, SAS can be quite slow. One solution is to use a lot of RCS and ASAS to control it, but currently this drains monopropellant like crazy (should be fixed in the next update though).

Docking is one of the more difficult things to do in this game; I landed on the Mun before I docked anything. Try this tutorial:

When docking, be sure to turn the camera to "chase" mode. This lines the camera up with rcs thrust (a moves left, d moves right, etc etc).

Good luck!

I have this one big truck of 40+ tons that has a rocket that can take it to duna and while in kerbin and duna orbits, I could rotate the craft at good speeds (about 15 degrees per second, maybe more). But one of the crafts I have linked here (the fuel tank) is just about 20tons or even lesser in kerbin orbit and it accelerates like maybe 1deg/sec/sec.

Did you try the two files for yourself? Both of them have large ASAS. and the station I have 4 more smaller SASes as well. So 5 in total.

Btw I have landed on moon, minmus and almost landed on duna but I still can't dock. I'll check out the video, maybe it helps.

[stupid_chris]

The problem is that the SAS modules don't give any torque. They are solely use to stop your craft'S rotation when activated.

The thing is, the command pods have much more rotpower than the probe cores. This means your truck, which was manned I am 100% sure of it, had much more ability to rotate because the command pod can do this better. The probe cores, however, can't do this as well, and are really slow to react with heavy payloads, because they don't have much rotpower. Sticking SAS modules just adds weight and slows you down even more. Really the best you can do is stick more probe cores or empty command pods to increase the rode power, or add an RCS system.

Hopefully this will be changed in .21 with the new SAS logic.

[gtrx]

The problem is that the SAS modules don't give any torque. They are solely use to stop your craft'S rotation when activated.

The thing is, the command pods have much more rotpower than the probe cores. This means your truck, which was manned I am 100% sure of it, had much more ability to rotate because the command pod can do this better. The probe cores, however, can't do this as well, and are really slow to react with heavy payloads, because they don't have much rotpower. Sticking SAS modules just adds weight and slows you down even more. Really the best you can do is stick more probe cores or empty command pods to increase the rode power, or add an RCS system.

Hopefully this will be changed in .21 with the new SAS logic.

yeah it was manned.

so SAS modules don't work? or they don't work without a human pod? I suppose I could add the small 1 man pod which weighs the least.

[Johnno]

I'm new to KSP, and currently haven't been able to dock anything. Got around 20-30meters close to the target craft, but couldn't get any closer, its too difficult without the right knowledge.

Type 'docking' into the forum search and have a look, it's one of the most frequently asked about things. There's tutorials in the tutorials section and if you go on youtube and just type in kerbal docking you're bound to find heaps and heaps of videos.

And the docking keys are confusing. I don't know how to control RCS accurately. And the camera view on the docking port is missing colors (or is it an IR camera?).

If you stay in staging mode then QE WASD controls yaw - pitch - roll. Enable RCS and HN controls forward /back, IJKL controls 'translation' which is sideways and up/down movement (without turning). Practice practice practice. You thrust in one direction then you gain speed in that direction, you'll eventually have to thrust the opposite direction to slow down in regards to the object you're moving near to. Physics 101.

Camera view on docking port? You mean to say, in docking mode, the small box with a cross in it? That's simply your RCS thrust direction indicator. You can ignore it and just go by looking at your target, alternatively a bit of help from your navball. Learn to read the navball, it's very important and useful, there's tutorials for that in the tutorials section as well.

[gtrx]

Never mind, I've solved the problem using MechJeb 2