Docking Advice...

[Apophis775]

I'm looking for some docking advice. I have been able to successfully dock ships in orbit, but I'm looking for an easier method of doing it than i currently use. Basically, right now, I get them both into orbit, sync their orbits as close as I can, then dock them. Sometimes, this takes 20 minutes, other times, 2 hours.

Is there a good guide or tutorial?

I was following the Gemini one from the wiki, but it's a bit out of date...

[that1guy]

This should help, it is a simple rendezvous/docking tutorial I made, hope it helps

http://www.youtube.com/all_comments?v=rByx521BHVs

[pebble_garden]

You could try my method of launching direct to a rendezvous and docking, as shown in my Phoenix Project tutorial (parts 1-3).

Or you could try the accelerated version which formed the 100km Rendezvous Challenge, where some hardy souls managed to get their rendezvous and docking in under 5 minutes.

[blizzy78]

I have made interactive in-game rendezvous and docking tutorials, perhaps you might want to try those out. (see signature)

[Apophis775]

I used those docking tutorials I think...

[Sirine]

Practice make perfect.

My 1st successful docking spend 4 hrs, real time.

Now about 15mins per docking. (or less).

[Apophis775]

Is there a "written out" tutorial anywhere? No offense to anyone, but I learn about 75,000 times better from reading.

[Specialist290]

In addition to those already mentioned (which are quite good), the Drawing Board (link in my sig) has links to a number of other resources on rendezvous and docking that might prove helpful. EDIT: Including a number of written tutorials.

As far as general tips for advanced rendezvous techniques go:

1. Objects in higher orbits tend to travel more slowly on average. If you're behind your target and want to catch up, lower your periapsis; if you're ahead of your target and waiting for it to catch up to you, raise your apoapsis.

2. Set your target, then plot an intercept. Any intercept, as long as it brings up the "Closest Approach" data. Then move your maneuver node around in the orbit and see how the data changes. Ideally, you want an orbit whose apoapsis / periapsis just barely grazes the target's at the point of closest approach within a few kilometers. (You may need to make additional tweaks to the node itself to refine this).

3. Once you're within about 10-20km (depending on what you're comfortable with), confirm that your Navball is set to "Target" mode, then start steering your prograde velocity marker (the open yellow one) onto your target prograde marker (the open pink one). Each burn will "pull" the prograde marker towards the heading your nose is pointing to; you can thus pull your vector onto the target by pointing your nose so that, on a line drawn from your prograde vector marker to your heading indicator (the "airplane"), the target marker falls somewhere between the two, then burn and watch how the prograde vector moves. (A similar thing happens with regard to your retrograde vector marker (yellow marker with an "x"), except engine burns "push" rather than "pull"; thus, while you're killing your velocity on your approach, you can try to "push" the retrograde vector onto the target retrograde marker (pink dot with triangular crosshairs).)

Hope this helps

[Captain Sierra]

Just for clarification, because I think specialist290 got it a bit off, the prograde icon, when in target mode (when it says in fine print 'target' by your velocity), is prograde velocity relative to target. The pink icon with the circle split in 4 is your target aim icon. it points directly at the target.

[Specialist290]

That's basically what I meant, although I've always heard it called "target prograde" (i.e. if you're pointed in this direction, you're looking right at the target).

It does get a little confusing, I'll grant.

[Apophis775]

Thanks everyone! Just did my second fully successful (no damage to either craft) docking, and hope to bring them back to Kerbal safely. For some reason, it seems like I smash into the ground extra hard lately. Even with many parachutes. I just doubled the parachutes I had on my MK II capsule last time to prevent further Kerbal Death...

I'll keep reading these tutorials and practicing, and maybe I'll have a space-station soon.

[blizzy78]

I've also done a video-plus-text tutorial. See signature again.