Landing on a docking port

[FlamedSteak]

So I'm about to start doing science on the minmus biomes.

However rather than send ships back and forth I'm thinking of landing a Kethane miner/Science Lab Base and have a science lander dock with it to return science, reset it's experiments, refuel and then venture off in search of more science.

The problem is, I'll have to land the lander onto a docking port without the use of MechJeb. Has anyone ever done surface dockings with much success?

I'm certain Minmus is the best place to do give this a go, but I'm worried it's going to be too much of a challenge and I'll end up destroying the entire base with mistimed throttle adjustments.

Edited December 27, 2013 by FlamedSteak

[Grover]

if you land gently, you can land on any part, though i dont see the problem in adding a few landing legs to your facility

[Dave Kerbin]

Gravity on Minmus is very low. With 4 RCS thrusters you could use them to precisely and carefully land 8t, though I would go with less, a Minmus hopping lander is certainly possible in less then 5 tons and you'd use most of the fuel up during operations before you came back to dock. You might also use some of the I-Beams if you have them to create angled guides (like a bowl) to guide in the lander and create a fence around the docking port so the lander can't tip over onto your base. A Rockomax Brand Adapter 02 under the docking port could also provide a blast shield.

[boomerdog2000]

I've done the opposite on the Mun. Had a landed module and a small rover that drove underneath and docked with it, so it is possible. It can be a little finicky though. It'll probably be much easier on Minmus with the low gravity.

[Superfluous J]

I've done it with no help, but it's HARD. I won't even bother trying any more without the Automated Vertical Velocity and Altitude Control so I can hover while getting my bearings.

But yeah, when you get it down it's awesome

[BlackBicycle]

Automated Vertical Velocity and Altitude Control

You have just made my day! Erm... night... Even though I kinda like to pilot by the seat of my pants... but still : )

[Blue]

Landing on top of a target docking port with a lander is unnecessarily difficult in my book.

Try building a surface vessel capable of moving, with a docking port located on the top directly above the centre of mass, and a lander vehicle with a docking port located in the middle on the bottom, and with radial-mounted engines.

Here's an Eeloo-lander I made, which could carry a rover and some cube-sats to Eeloo. To a place as low-gravity as minmus, it could easily carry a payload the size and weight of a full large orange tank.

[FlamedSteak]

Hmmm, good suggestions here. Particularly adding a thrust-shield and I-beams as a port guide.

The only other thing I could do is put an orbital station in place and have a mobile Kethane lander, plus a Science lander. Then do all the processing from orbit.

Not as effecient as doing it all from the surface though, hauling the kethane miner into orbit and back to the surface again is going to cost a fair whack in resources.

[Champ]

wouldnt it be easyer to let the Science lab/kethane refinery in 10km orbit, and have a lander/miner take science and kethane from minmus to this small base ?

Or just the lab in orbit, and have a kethane mining and refining lander ?