So close!! (Docking)

[ChrisMayhew]

I finally managed to get a successful rendezvous with the first section of my space station however I couldn't get the docking ports lined up

Through trying and failing badly I ran out of RCS and had to basically abandon the mission

I had set the docking port as my target and was trying to use RCS to get lined up but I just seemed to spin around the station all the time.. I can only assume I'm doing something wrong? I'm not using RCS at the right times or using it too much?

Any tips on how to line up the docking ports easier?

Thanks,

Chris

Edited November 2, 2013 by ChrisMayhew

[blizzy78]

I have made an in-game docking tutorial, perhaps you might want to try this out. (see signature)

[KvickFlygarn87]

You might want to point the crafts normal/antinormal. Also, the navball is your friend line those prograde and target markers up!

[ChrisMayhew]

I have made an in-game docking tutorial, perhaps you might want to try this out. (see signature)

Thanks I'll give it a try tomorrow morning and see how I get on!

I'm fairly new to KSP but I love it!

[fatfluffycat]

You set the target as the docking port? Thats good but....

When your about 1km from the target, make sure you speed is 0.0m/s, or really close to it.

Then start use RCS and point at the target

It sounds like your not killing your speed. (Like going 70m/s and burning straight at the target, this will make you go around the target multiple times)

[HeadHunter67]

NavyFish's Docking Port Alignment Indicator is a great plugin that makes docking a breeze. It's not an autopilot - you still have to do all the work - but it presents the necessary information in an intuitive way. The technique is simple and you can use it to dock even at odd angles with ease.

[Mr.Rocket]

use H and N to go forwards and back, and ijkl to move up, left, down, and right, while using wasd to turn.

[Woopert]

Agreed about NavyFish's plugin. Instead of using your eyes to guess the alignment is shows you. Also, keep calm while docking. It's easy to get worked up while starting out, about losing the rendezvous opportunity, or colliding into the station. Once in close, stop the relative velocity and start inching in.

[Frederf]

If possible aim the docking ports along the normal to the orbit, usually on the horizon north or south if in an equatorial orbit. Such alignments maintain their body-relative orientation throughout the orbit. If you expect actual rotation of the target craft you'll have an infinitely harder time docking. Switch to the other craft and cancel its motion (SAS will work at a distance) before proceeding. It's cheaty but time accelling to 5x and back to 1x will also freeze rotations.

[ChrisMayhew]

Agreed about NavyFish's plugin. Instead of using your eyes to guess the alignment is shows you. Also, keep calm while docking. It's easy to get worked up while starting out, about losing the rendezvous opportunity, or colliding into the station. Once in close, stop the relative velocity and start inching in.

Thanks, I'll give it a go and see how I get on.

Thanks for the replies everyone, I'll send up another piece today and have another go with all your suggestions!

[fedemotta3]

Don't forget to change to "Chase view" before attempting a dock!

[brienne]

Right click on docking port you aim for.

Right click on your docking port: "pilot from here"

Used "target mode" with your navball (click on it): then prograde and retrograde icon depends on the vessel you want to dock. 0 m/s = you don't move, relative to the vessel.

So, come 50m far, then switch to "docking" ("click down left on your screen"), activate RCS ®. Then you can go up/down, left/right, front/back with RCS (IK,JL,HN).

Choose a camera view ("V". I usually prefer chase view).

Then go in front of the docking port, stop.

Turn face to face, stop.

Slowly approach and... dock.

If troubles: stop (0m/s) and advise.

Good luck and have fun.

Edited October 31, 2013 by brienne

[ChrisMayhew]

Well with the combination of what people said and the targetting mod suggested and probably a bit of luck I managed to successfully dock my two parts together!

Now onto my 3rd stage!

Edited October 31, 2013 by ChrisMayhew

[SRV Ron]

Like real missions, docking is a S L O W process using tiny movements with thrusters. Get some practice in with two ships or just launch a ship, then practice flying around the booster. Two examples below, one with two ships in orbit around Mun and one using a full orange fuel can and booster.

The manned ships were not designed for docking, they cannot use lateral thrusting. The fuel can is designed for lateral thrusting and docking.

Edited October 31, 2013 by SRV Ron

[brienne]

Well with the combination of what people said and the targetting mod suggested and probably a bit of luck I managed to successfully dock my two parts together!

Now onto my 3rd stage!

Congratulations!

[SRV Ron]

Well with the combination of what people said and the targetting mod suggested and probably a bit of luck I managed to successfully dock my two parts together!

Now onto my 3rd stage!

Good Job. The more you do this, the better at it you will get.

[blackfire83]

Congrats. That first docking is one of the coolest feelings in KSP.

[toomuchbrew]

NavyFish's Docking Port Alignment Indicator is a great plugin that makes docking a breeze. It's not an autopilot - you still have to do all the work - but it presents the necessary information in an intuitive way. The technique is simple and you can use it to dock even at odd angles with ease.

This was really helpful for me.

[ChrisMayhew]

Good Job. The more you do this, the better at it you will get.

Thanks Hopefully i'll get better at it as I take more parts up and connect them

Congrats. That first docking is one of the coolest feelings in KSP.

Thanks, Yeah I felt good after I docked it!

[vetrox]

Congrats.

Another thing to get right if you're using rcs to dock is the placement of your rcs blocks. Incorrect placement can cause your ship to move in an unwanted fashion whilst docking.

[ChrisMayhew]

Congrats.

Another thing to get right if you're using rcs to dock is the placement of your rcs blocks. Incorrect placement can cause your ship to move in an unwanted fashion whilst docking.

Yeah that could have been a problem, It was placed roughly in the middle of the final part?

[SpaceSphereOfDeath]

I just get close, point the ports at each other, and before they turn away from each other, move forward.

I can't be the ONLY person to think of this method

[vetrox]

Yeah that could have been a problem, It was placed roughly in the middle of the final part?

I normally have 3 sets of blocks on a craft (if i plan to use rcs to dock) 4 at the front of the craft 4 at the back and 4 where the center of mass is or is predicted to be.

Although jsut having a batch in the center could work but only if thats roughly where the center of mass is. I dont have a screenshot right now but i had a ship that was basically an orange tank, 3 man capsule and some nukes but the center of mass (fully loaded)was closer to the front of the craft rather than the middle.

Also, I'm going to assume you know how to use the docking controls. I only recently learnt these (Previously i had not used rcs to dock and I'm quite proficient in just lining the docking ports up) although people say its the ijkl keys or something like that, when i switch to docking mode i use wasd shift and ctrl.

Shift and control move your craft forward and backwards (increase your speed to or away from target). A and D move the prograde marker on the navball left and right. W and S move the prograde marker up and down. All you need to do is have your docking ports roughly lined up together. Set the docking port you want to dock with as your target and just use docking mode to keep the prograde marker on the pink circle on the navball. Easy.

Although its hard for some It still baffles me at the difficulty people have. The nav ball has everything you need

[HeadHunter67]

I'd definitely also recommend the RCS Build Aid plugin. Use it in the VAB to show if your RCS thrusters are properly balanced to avoid unwanted torque.

[Traches]

Yep, I was gonna point out the RCS build aid mod as well. If you don't want to use a mod, make sure your RCS thrusters are positioned as close to the CoM as possible, taking into account where that will be when your fuel tanks aren't empty. It helps me to have a trim tank pretty far forward in the ship that I can move fuel to in order to put my CoM closer to where the RCS is balanced for.

An unbalanced ship is a nightmare to dock.