Any docking cheats or better docking scripts than mech jeb?

[Javin]

No I havent given up. Bit peed off with some offensive comments here but still around. How would I go about a recording? I can manage a simple docking with just two bog standard ships my issue is when they get a bit bigger.

* Note: I can't stress how important the North/South orientation of the two ships are. I managed my first dock without it, but MAN was it irritating... Just have to throw that out there.

When you're placing your RCS thrusters on the ship, are you making sure to place them center-mass ONLY on the portion of the ship that's going to be docked? Nothing else should be attached to the ship at all at that point, not even a decoupler. Add the rest of the stuff AFTER the RCS thrusters are placed. That might be a gotcha, too.

[radonek]

My two cents is the poor fellow is in free cam mode. I made the same mistake on my first docking and it really was frustrating. RCS controls were strangely inverted and inversion changed depending on camera position. Sounds familiar? If so, be advised that chase cam is your thing. Point of chase cam (which good souls here failed to mention) is not better view (quite contrary, actually). No, you use it because fixing your view to spacecraft means your perception of left and right also remains fixed to craft. Your thrusters remain attached to same set of keys.

Also - do you have same issue with Kerbal on EVA?

[XOIIO]

Mechjeb works fine, I send stuff up all the time, 80-150 RCS fuel, get within 80 meters, or closer depending on your patience and let it dock, all you need to do before is make sure it has a clear path and it's a cake walk.

[Cpt.Carnage]

Out of curiosity has he switched into docking mode? I didn't see any mention of that.

[Tex_NL]

Out of curiosity has he switched into docking mode? I didn't see any mention of that.

Irrelevant. All docking mode does is switch the regular controls to translation.

It is much more handy to stay in regular fight mode and use IJKL to translate and WASD to turn at the same time.

[John FX]

Mechjeb works fine, I send stuff up all the time, 80-150 RCS fuel, get within 80 meters, or closer depending on your patience and let it dock, all you need to do before is make sure it has a clear path and it's a cake walk.

If you have issues with control for whatever reason then Mechjeb is the way forward.

Target docking port on other craft, control from here on the port you want to dock with it and push go.

If you want to use less RCS then have the purple circle in the middle of your navball, activate SAS, switch ships, target port on docking ship and control from here on port to be docked to and put the purple circle in the middle of the navball, activate SAS. Switch ships back, retarget, and then push go. You`ll use about 5 RCS to dock a standard size ship from 80m as you now be perfectly aligned.

[Captain Sierra]

MechJeb as 'supposedly' had it's docking script improved greatly to the point where it's as efficient RCS-wise as a master docking player. Is this true? I don't know. As for the OP, definitely cycle to chase cam. That eliminates camera angle. Also try experimenting with both Lazor Docking Cam, and NavyFish's docking alignment indicator, both of which have already been linked. I remember seeing a mechjeb-branch mod which was basically mechjeb lite. It gave all the commonly used features (docking autpilot, ascent guidance, landing guidance, maneuver node execution, etc.) and put them into the common toolbar. If you don't want full mechjeb, there's this and it's being updated a lot more frequently than regular mechjeb (I believe) so there's a chance that it's docking autopilot is more effective.

There's also ORDA. Orbital Rendezvous and Docking Assistant. Though this is old and I don't know when it was last updated. I'm almost certain it's incompatible with any version post .20.2

[Kerbal01]

have you tried a mod called ORDA its an automatic docking/rendezvous plugin(it has its own set of parts you'll need to add) that really helps. if you can get your ship in orbit with inclination close to your target orbit it will dock your ship the rest of the way to a docking. however it uses a lot of battery so watch out for that.

[relin]

If you're on the wrong side of the docking point, Mechjeb's docking autopilot is a pain to use: it slows the craft down as it approaches the axis, and for sufficiently light craft, it can make it stop almost completely without crossing over. Other than that, it works just fine: line up your docking ports ahead of time and it works like a charm.

[Captain Sierra]

-snip-

There's also ORDA. Orbital Rendezvous and Docking Assistant. Though this is old and I don't know when it was last updated. I'm almost certain it's incompatible with any version post .20.2

have you tried a mod called ORDA its an automatic docking/rendezvous plugin(it has its own set of parts you'll need to add) that really helps. if you can get your ship in orbit with inclination close to your target orbit it will dock your ship the rest of the way to a docking. however it uses a lot of battery so watch out for that.

This is the friendly neighborhood ninja police. Your post has been ninja'd. Than you for your attempt.

[theend3r]

Mechjeb's docking was so crappy a few versions ago that I never tried it again. Docking isn't hard once you figure out how to tune each axis separately (speed, x, y), no need to do it all at once.

[DerekL1963]

If you're on the wrong side of the docking point, Mechjeb's docking autopilot is a pain to use: it slows the craft down as it approaches the axis, and for sufficiently light craft, it can make it stop almost completely without crossing over.

I'm wondering when's the last time some of you have used MechJeb's docking autopilot - if it has been more than three or four months, your opinion is badly outdated and disconnected from reality. If it's been less than that, there's a good chance you've either encountered a bug, a corner case, or screwed something up (MJ is not a miracle worker).

If you're in the first instance, you really should drop by the MJ thread and download the latest stable dev build and give it a try. If you're in the second instance, you should drop by the MJ thread and let us help you figure out what's going on.

Either way, you should watch this video - this what the MJ docking autopilot can do. (Ignore the crash at the end, this is from an as-yet unreleased build and the new "slow down and don't hit something if the user is stupid and specifies too high a docking speed" routine isn't quite working yet.)

[Tank Buddy]

1. Practice.

2. http://kerbalspaceprogram.com/rcs-build-aid-v0-2/

3. Use Nav Ball.

4. -10 Frustration

I don't know why this one thing is frustrating you so, so much when there are literally, an indefinite number of things you can do without docking.

And it's not even that hard.

Edited January 23, 2014 by Tank Buddy

[Landge]

You don't need MechJeb or any other mods to practice docking. Build your rocket with 2 capsules already docked. Launch it into orbit then undock them. Select one or the other capsule using the bracket keys [ or ] and back away from the other capsule using rcs. Just get at least a meter or 2 away for the docking clamps to reset before closing in again. Keep repeating, getting farther away each time while throwing in some rotation or offset maneuvers into the mix. Pretty soon you'll be a pro. I prefer using the IJKL keys for lateral motion, HN for forward/back and WASD for rotation.

Edited January 24, 2014 by Landge

[Sirine]

@crazyewok Best cheat for you, get a personal tutor via "Steam live video". Ask him/her (preferably her) to teach you how to dock.

[XOIIO]

MechJeb as 'supposedly' had it's docking script improved greatly to the point where it's as efficient RCS-wise as a master docking player. Is this true? I don't know. As for the OP, definitely cycle to chase cam. That eliminates camera angle. Also try experimenting with both Lazor Docking Cam, and NavyFish's docking alignment indicator, both of which have already been linked. I remember seeing a mechjeb-branch mod which was basically mechjeb lite. It gave all the commonly used features (docking autpilot, ascent guidance, landing guidance, maneuver node execution, etc.) and put them into the common toolbar. If you don't want full mechjeb, there's this and it's being updated a lot more frequently than regular mechjeb (I believe) so there's a chance that it's docking autopilot is more effective.

There's also ORDA. Orbital Rendezvous and Docking Assistant. Though this is old and I don't know when it was last updated. I'm almost certain it's incompatible with any version post .20.2

Yup, I can dock from 80 meters away with 87.5 rcs at the start, and somewhere around 35-50 at the end. I usually go closer though.

[Seshins]

it took me 207 hours of procrastination/frustration to finally nail docking. i still find it quite a bit of a chore, but i also use the Lazor docking cam? Makes things alot easier.

[rockbloodystar]

Try http://kerbalspaceprogram.com/dock-align-indicator/ . You still have to do the work yourself but it does help matters quite a bit.

And if that's not good enough for you, apparently Mechjeb can do the job; I haven't tried this myself and others have reported it being a wasteful piece of crap when it comes to docking, but it may be worth a shot.

MechJeb is a little fiddly. You just need to have the porst the right side of each other and vaguely parallel before you do it. RCS placement is pretty darn important too. It can usually dock in under 30 seconds from a good rendezvous position.

[relin]

I'm wondering when's the last time some of you have used MechJeb's docking autopilot - if it has been more than three or four months, your opinion is badly outdated and disconnected from reality. If it's been less than that, there's a good chance you've either encountered a bug, a corner case, or screwed something up (MJ is not a miracle worker).

If you're in the first instance, you really should drop by the MJ thread and download the latest stable dev build and give it a try. If you're in the second instance, you should drop by the MJ thread and let us help you figure out what's going on.

Either way, you should watch this video - this what the MJ docking autopilot can do. (Ignore the crash at the end, this is from an as-yet unreleased build and the new "slow down and don't hit something if the user is stupid and specifies too high a docking speed" routine isn't quite working yet.)

http://youtu.be/zo11sOVYe1Q

I'm currently using v2.1.1.01, but thanks. Still doesn't like being on the wrong side of the docking port.

[biohazard15]

Actually, MJ is not that bad with docking. The main trick: don't keep docking autopilot enabled all the time, it can (and will) waste all your monopropellant. Enable it, wait until it starts to move toward target, disable it. If it starts "moving towards correct side", enable it for a short time when you reach correct side to correct course. Wait until the target is near (10-20m), enable it again.

[DerekL1963]

I'm currently using v2.1.1.01, but thanks. Still doesn't like being on the wrong side of the docking port.

Then you're using an outdated build, try downloading the latest stable dev build. I've never had a problem with it flying around to reach the right side of a port.

[Commander Zoom]

Personally, I prefer not to use dev builds unless the last public build just doesn't work (i.e., got broken by a KSP update). If it's good and stable enough to release, release it.

[helaeon]

Step by step how I generally set up rendezvous and docking using mechjeb and NavyFish's docking indicator, I'm also using enhanced navball. I am using the dev build from the 17th, but I think all of these things are in the .23 release version. It's semi-manual so all things you can do yourself, but mechjeb makes it way easier and faster as it can figure out the timing rather than you dragging a maneuver node around your orbit and to keep the ship oriented so you have less things to think about and your RCS balancing isn't such a huge deal (though it helps because you can make bigger movements without a problem) I used to hate hate hate docking by the way. Learned how to build single stage lander-return vehicles so I didn't have to dock in Munar orbit. Now I dock something about every day, sometimes several times.

0. Set your destination vessel as your target. (You can do this after circularizing too and is generally when I do it).

1. Get into an orbit that is circular and has a different altitude than your target, and on a similar plane. The more difference in altitude the faster your initial closing speed will be, closer the plane the less delta-V you need for rendezvous. Docking with my space station at 200km I try to set a 75-85km orbit from launch.

2. At the first AN or DN after circularizing, match plane with target. (MechJeb can set this node for you. All of these operations are in the maneuver planner. Smart A.S.S. is it's own window.). There are reasons to do this after the next step, but generally I find it's less complicated to do this first.

3. Set Mechjeb to Hohmann Transfer to Target, it may be several orbits until you catch up with your target or it catches up with you, but you'll have a node for the correct time and how much to burn.

4. Set Mechjeb to Match Velocity with Target at closest approach. This should put you within about 100-500m when the burn is complete. This node will cause map view to show that you're no longer going to have a good rendezvous, it's wrong, once the burn is complete and you delete the node you'll see a new intercept point that is going to be the same or less than your distance now.

5. Right click on the docking node on your craft you want to use and select "control from here"

6. Open up Mechjeb Smart A.S.S. and set it to TGT mode, and select TGT +. Also look to see that your NavBall is in Target mode (you can change it by clicking on where the speed is. This will show you your relative velocity, although without a direction symbol).

7. Give your engine just a little tap when facing the purple marker (or with RCS translate forward) to start closing in. You'll see what is usually the prograde vector move towards the purple target spot, use your RCS to translate left or right, up or down to steer that green marker to the purple one (yes more forward will bring it closer but your closing speed should be 1 m/s at most). You'll see that up-down and left-right move the green marker on your navball similarly. It doesn't have to be perfect at this point so save your fuel by not doing little adjustments. At this point it's also good to have SAS on incase your RCS is misbalanced.

8. At 100-150m you should be able to see the docking port you want (if not switch to the craft you want to dock with and turn that port towards your other ship if you can), right click on it from your docking ship and pick "select as target". At this point NavyFish's docking indicator will pop up. Turn SMART A.S.S. to "PART -" also under the TGT button. Your ship might turn quite suddenly. If you want to save some RCS fuel turn RCS off and let SAS do that action before you click PART-

9. Ignore your NavBall and watch NavyFish's indicator. Use only the distance and speed indicators here, ignore any others. You could make this thing full screen and the docking would work perfect if you pilot it correctly (provided you don't collide with anything). Again you can drive the green prograde looking cursor using your RCS up-down, left-right controls. You'll see 2 intersecting green lines, drive the cursor towards that intersection. Now they'll start to move towards the center, when they are about there move the green cursor to the center also. If the green lines start to diverge from the center move the green cursor in the direction the green line is going once it goes center move it back. Mechjeb will handle your directional rotation as long as PART- is on. Still keep your closing velocity under 1 m/s.

10. Once aligned translate forward so you are closing at about .75-1 m/s. Once you are within 50m slow down to about .25-.3 m/s. The magnets on the docking port may start to slide your ship around as they meet up, that's okay don't fight it or try to correct against it. Usually if that's going to happen it's within 5 m or so if you're dead on with your alignment you won't notice it.

Now you're docked!

There are more advanced things you can do, but once you get the above down you'll probably start to figure those out on your own. MechJeb works best as an assistant to help you do things that would involve a lot of dragging of nodes or way too much flying all over your keyboard. MechJeb's auto dock is good to watch to get the general idea, but if you tell it what to do step-by step it does a way better job using far less energy, and you can do that final alignment and actual docking WAY better than MechJeb can, but using Smart A.S.S. helps a ton to simplify it as you don't have to worry about your rotation orientation to the destination docking port.

With very large ships... then the thing do to is go much, much slower and think about your movements so you don't over-correct. One reason you may not be able to dock those monsters is you're going too fast (I just re-built a space-station so went through this myself), so instead of .3 m/s do like .1 or .15 at contact so the crafts bounce less. Also wait to really have any closing velocity until you are aligned.

Hopefully that helps you or someone else having trouble.

[Duranis]

http://kerbalspaceprogram.com/rcs-build-aid-v0-2/

Would strongly recommend trying this out to check your rcs placement. I had a terrible time trying to get to grips with docking and just couldn't manage it. Turns out that my biggest problem was bad rcs placement. Even though I always thought it was well balanced just a small amount of rotational torque on your rcs when you are translating can really mess you up.

Now that I have the rcs placement correct I have found even docking quite large parts (200+ tons) is fairly easy.

[crazyewok]

Got it.

I think I was going slightly too slow. Increaced my speed by .4 ms and it seemed to go alot smoother.