How to dock without using monoprop - Double SmartASS technique

[Norcalplanner]

Have you ever run out of monoprop but still need to dock? Or are simply trying to lower the mass and part count on your docked ships? Then step right up, because I've stumbled across a technique that will help you dock quickly and easily without using any monoprop. My apologies in advance if this is common knowledge, but I haven't seen anybody else talking about it on the forums. I call it Double SmartASS.

Required elements on each ship:

Docking port (obviously)

Sufficient ASAS for a decent turn rate (able to turn 180 degrees in 30 seconds or less) without RCS thrusters

MechJeb

How to do it:

Rendezvous with the other ship as per usual, fairly close (50m or so)

Make sure you're in target mode, and zero out the relative velocity

Control your ship from the docking port, and target the other ship's docking port (standard docking procedure)

Engage SmartASS on MechJeb - go into target mode, and tell it to point at the target

Hit the "]" key to switch to the other ship

Do the same as above, controlling it from the docking port, targeting the other docking port, and telling SmartASS to keep the ship pointed toward the other docking port

The two ships will now be perfectly aligned towards each other - SmartASS will stay active on the other ship as long as it's within physics range

Take the smaller ship and thrust towards the larger ship at .3 or .4 m/s

Take your hands off the keyboard and watch your ships dock

If your vector is a little bit off, don't worry about it - the ships will rotate as they get close to each other, will maintain correct alignment, and will still complete the docking maneuver

That's it! Enjoy your newfound freedom from monoprop.

Sorry about the "unanswered" status in the thread title - the board wouldn't let me post here without choosing one or the other...

[KerikBalm]

I already do that, except I don't have smart SAS or mechjeb, I just change between ships and reorient.

It does take more precision though

[DrMonte]

That's my way of docking too. Only I do not use any mods at all.

There was a time when I didn't mount RCS at all for the ships below 30t. Now I put a bit of propellant for a final slowdown thrust.

One more hit: when the docks lock on magnetic connection but ships do not dock because of wrong angle you keep easy thrust forward and carefully correct the angle. Both ships will rotate and dock.