Problem with docking crafts side to side

[Cirocco]

Hi guys. I don't often post on the forums but now I've run into a problem that my google-fu cannot resolve, so I'm hoping one of you can help.

I'm having major issues trying to dock two ships (or a space station and a ship) side to side. With both docking ports on the side of their respective ships, I have a damn hard time getting a proper alignment. When I control from the docking port, set the target to the opposing docking port and all three dots are aligned on the navball (pro-grade marker, centre of the navall, and target marker), the game still insists on trying to dock the front of the ship to the opposing docking port at an angle. I just realised while typing this post that this is probably because the heading (centre dot on the navball)is always directed by the in-line axis of the ship and therefore should not be aligned with the target marker if the docking ports aren't attached in-line with the ship. Well damn.

This doesn't solve my problem though: right now when I'm docking side-to-side, I use the navball to get myself to within about 100m. After that I'm forced to eyeball it -which is damn hard-. So do you guys know a way to fully use the navball to dock side to side rather than having to almost purely eyeball it?

thanks in advance,

Cirocco

Edited April 7, 2014 by Cirocco
EDIT: Answered :)

[LethalDose]

It sounds like you're controlling from the appropriate point on the active ship. Are you changing your target to the specific docking port, though?

[M4ck]

If the station is not very large(you can rotate it without things ripping apart), a very easy way is to point it at the docking ship as well, like this:

1. After getting the docking ship within like 100m to the station, zero out the relative velocity. Switch to "control from" the docking port, set the target docking port as target, rotate so the target marker is in the middle of the navball. Activate SAS.

2. Switch to the station. "Control from" the docking port you want to dock with. Set the port on the docking vessel as target, rotate the station so it is ALSO pointing right at its target, and activate the SAS on it as well.

3. Switch back to the docking ship and use RCS to move towards the station.

If done correctly, you will be lined up for docking and probably won't have to correct the approach at all, only use the H/N keys(or whichever you have set to RCS forward/backward movement). I'll make a short image guide if you want.

[Cirocco]

It sounds like you're controlling from the appropriate point on the active ship. Are you changing your target to the specific docking port, though?

yup, changing control to the docking port I want to dock and setting target to the specific docking port I want to dock with.

If the station is not very large(you can rotate it without things ripping apart), a very easy way is to point it at the docking ship as well, like this:

1. After getting the docking ship within like 100m to the station, zero out the relative velocity. Switch to "control from" the docking port, set the target docking port as target, rotate so the target marker is in the middle of the navball. Activate SAS.

2. Switch to the station. "Control from" the docking port you want to dock with. Set the port on the docking vessel as target, rotate the station so it is ALSO pointing right at its target, and activate the SAS on it as well.

3. Switch back to the docking ship and use RCS to move towards the station.

If done correctly, you will be lined up for docking and probably won't have to correct the approach at all, only use the H/N keys(or whichever you have set to RCS forward/backward movement). I'll make a short image guide if you want.

I'm actually already doing this. I've even done it with the ships about 10m apart and stationary in relation to one another to see exactly what happens and what happens when I line up according to the navball when controlling from docking port (and having the appropriate port set as target) is that if I get all three points lined up, the tip of the craft is level with the docking port of the space station, rather than both docking ports being level.

This ONLY happens when I'm doing docking with the docking port of the ship mounted radially on the side though. Mounted on the nose, regular docking procedures work fine.

[Pecan]

The heading indicator on the navball does indicate which way the docking port (that you're controlling from) is pointing.

The prograde indicator does show which way you're moving.

The target indicator does show where the target is.

Sooo - when all three are aligned you're pointing at and moving towards the target.

The bit you're missing is ... unless you're approaching from directly in front of the target docking port they aren't aligned for docking but for approach.

What you need is a mod that shows you port-alignment, not just heading/movement alignment.

The most popular is Navyfish's (see spaceport), which shows an alignment window.

I prefer the minimal 'sequel' to it which adds a port alignment symbol on the navball - that way everything is in the same place. (Align to docking-port symbol, use RCS to translate to target, approach & dock.)

[M4ck]

Now that's weird. Can you post a picture somewhere during the docking? Maybe seeing the navball + vessels orientation will give us some ideas how to help.

[Redshift OTF]

I just tested this and controlling from the docking port on the side does point the navball to the side as it should do. One thing I did find was the target marker of the opposing targeted docking port was not correctly aligned with the actual port. It was out by the width of 1 port more pointing to the other crafts centre of mass so I think it could be a variable bug.

Control from here is selected on the right docking port and the left docking port is the target. They are just about to dock and exactly facing each other but the target marker on the navball is way off. I don't think it is a Mechjeb thing.

[Superfluous J]

The target indicator targets the center of mass, which is below the docking port on both ships.

I'm not sure but I think the Docking Port Alignment Indicator mod shows the correct target in its own custom display.

EDIT: Oops. I for some reason thought that post with the image was the first one of the thread. So I'm simply reiterating what the others have said. But it still looks like that is what it is.

Edited April 5, 2014 by 5thHorseman

[breakthrough]

The [thread=43901]NavyFsh[/thread] docking port alignment indicator will line up correctly.

The [thread=54303]Navball[/thread] alignment indicator does not, but I often run both as the navball indicator is faster and easier for simple centerline to centerline docking.

[Pecan]

Are you sure about that breakthrough? I only use the navball version and haven't had a problem. Can't check just at the moment but I will later, although I'm pretty sure that the port is targetted, not CoM.

[Cirocco]

Redshift: perfect illustration of my problem, thanks for the pic. I'm a total forum noob so I'm not sure how to upload pictures decently in my posts.

breakthrough: OH GOD THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THOSE! Seriously, these will make my life a lot easier. I'm doing almost purely docking on the nose of the craft now to avoid the side-to-side issues, but with these plugins I'll be able to easily do both again

[Halavus]

Just wanted to say thank you, because I had the same problem and those mods are very helpful.

[Kryxal]

It's not actually a bug, it's an undocumented feature ... you know how it goes.