Launch, rendezvous, and dock - The quick and easy way (v0.21.1 and v0.22)

[pebble_garden]

If you have trouble with launching to orbit, and flying to a space station rendezvous, this is the tutorial for you. I've devised a technique so easy it's almost boring. That is, unless you fly it faster.

YouTube video

Lesson download

It's part 1 of The Miranda Project for KSP v0.21.1 (and v0.22), and is an updated, more comprehensive version of Part 3 of my earlier

tutorial.

This time it comes with a .zip file containing saved games and instructions, and a bunch of pre-built spacecraft. There's nothing for you to build or stations to launch.

Note: I tested this in v0.22 and it seemed to work fine. If anyone finds a compatibility problem, please let know.

Edited October 17, 2013 by pebble_garden
Added a note about this lesson working in V0.22.

[tuliomir]

Hello pebble_garden,

Thanks for your videos! I already commented on your Youtube channel about how great they are, and how I use them as reference for my KSP playings. Also, I like how you gave a lot of detail in that "quick lesson" about the marble technique.

Here I would like to share another curious technique I found on Kerbal Academy to achieve this launch + rendezvous. The author, RoboRay, calls it the "once around method".

http://goo.gl/wAfWpR

As he puts it, the idea is to launch when your target ship/station is flying right above you, raise apoapsis to match the target, but only raise periapsis enough so that you don't re-enter atmosphere (don't circularise). When you reach apoapsis, slowly thrust prograde until you get an encounter with the target after one complete orbit. ( He explains it better on the link ).

Since I've only seen the kind of direct intercept you and Manley put on your videos, would you care to comment about this other technique?

Thanks again!

[pebble_garden]

I haven't tried the "Once Around" method, but it makes sense (I just checked out the link you sent), and if you're willing to wait a whole orbit it sounds like a stress-free way to get up there and refine your rendezvous. However, I believe just about anyone should be able to manage my Miranda Lesson 01 method, as it gives you several minutes of relaxed thrusting to make your rendezvous. Yes, it requires good timing, and a precise ascent profile, but I've found it extremely easy to get a perfect intercept and rendezvous each time, for the several dozen times I flew/refined the technique.

It really all comes down to what each player is comfortable with. I believe my Miranda method is a lot easier than the Phoenix version, and even if one has to retime it for their own rocket, the technique is robust.

What do you think? Have you tried all the different methods? Which works best for you? What are the plusses and minuses of each?

[miles2912]

As an intermediate pilot this is a great reference video. I used to just fly the target vector and reverse thrust when I got close. Rinse and repeat a few times to close my approach. Your push the marble technique is great. I will try it on my next docking. Thanks for the great vid. Bookmarked.

[HeadHunter67]

Your Phoenix tutorials taught me how to dock and rendezvous, and the Miranda video is a nice update to the method. Thanks again for opening up a whole new world for me in KSP.

[Stealthy Monk]

I was able to glean two things from your tutorial, and just wanted to share my appreciation with you.

1. The 'pushing the marble' technique is very effective and easy to master and has helped me a lot since I started playing KSP about 3 months ago. Your video(s) are very clear, with excellent notations. I'm sure this took a lot of work/editing, and I thank you.

2. Psychadelik Pedestrian were previously unknown to me, but are now firmly ensconced in my 'running' playlist as they have some brilliant tracks for running to.

Thank you, pebble_garden

[pebble_garden]

Miles2912, Headhunter67, Stealthy Monk, you're all very welcome. Glad I could help! I'm feeling the urge to continue the Miranda lessons once I kick my Assetto Corsa addiction.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1mp8xu_87-percent-an-assetto-corsa-race_videogames