Rendezvous and Docking with Space Station!

[VincentMcConnell]

Finally I\'ve done it around Kerbin. I was one of the first in Lunar orbit rendezvous, but Kerbin was a new thing. Well. Here it is! Rendezvous and a nose to nose contact with my space station (I touched noses, and bounced off. But about two seconds before contact, I took a picture).

Slowly approaching!

Pitching into attitude for 'docking'

Contact was shortly after this picture was taken

--EDIT--

If the photos aren\'t loading for you, please view the last few entries in my facebook KSP album. There are more than 300, but the final 29 or so are about this event:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150580458183830.407421.571363829&type=1&bef=10150701970128830&l=50dabb47fc

[Guekko]

I tried many time, but never success can you explain how you do?

I have problem with timing, or speed.

Thanks

[Vlad. Just Vlad.]

You can use KAPAS-75 Mod for docking.

[Guekko]

Can you post a link, i don\'t find it on the forum or on google. Thanks

UPDATE: Find it! http://kerbalspaceprogram.com/forum/index.php?topic=8828.0

[Randox]

Never heard of Kapas, but we do have RinComp which can apparently handle the orbit and docking.

For me, the key is patience and practice. You only learn how to time the transfer between orbits with experience. On my successful attempt, I flew right past the other craft twice because I got bored and fired up the main engine. The second miss left me within ~5km though, and I was able to contain myself and approach at a very modest speed.

[VincentMcConnell]

I tried many time, but never success can you explain how you do?

I have problem with timing, or speed.

Thanks

Get a spacestation into a 200KM orbit. Get your docking vehicle in a 180KM orbit. Wait until the 180KM orbiting craft speeds up and runs exactly 50.5KM away from the spacestation. Burn to transfer your orbit to 200KM. If you are aligned on planes, the space station and your docking spacecraft should end up only a few hundred meters from each other. Kosmo-not has a good orbital rendezvous table and tutorial in a thread called, 'Orbital Rendezvous Made Easy'

[Randox]

The table made my head spin, but those numbers would work for me. And that\'s a lower orbit than the one I use (I use 190 to make the guess a bit less sensitive)/ Being able to go lower would be an excellent time saver though.

EDIT: Went back and grabbed that table. I get it now.

[Guekko]

Get a spacestation into a 200KM orbit. Get your docking vehicle in a 180KM orbit. Wait until the 180KM orbiting craft speeds up and runs exactly 50.5KM away from the spacestation. Burn to transfer your orbit to 200KM. If you are aligned on planes, the space station and your docking spacecraft should end up only a few hundred meters from each other. Kosmo-not has a good orbital rendezvous table and tutorial in a thread called, 'Orbital Rendezvous Made Easy'

When i burn, the speed must be important, i burn to the max? and slowly, slow down for my orbit reach 200km one? If i\'m about 100m to the space ship could i burn a little to reach it? cause if i burn my orbit will change?

[Randox]

100m is WAY to close to use your main engines. By 100m you should be firing your RCS in reverse to avoid flying by.

[Kosmo-not]

In my Orbital Rendezvous Made Easy thread, I have now attached the spreadsheet I used to create the table. Now, you won\'t be limited to only orbits that are on the table in the picture.

[VincentMcConnell]

When i burn, the speed must be important, i burn to the max? and slowly, slow down for my orbit reach 200km one? If i\'m about 100m to the space ship could i burn a little to reach it? cause if i burn my orbit will change?

No. If you\'re 100 meters away, you should be able to see it as a big white complicated form in the shape of the target craft... In this case, point your nose directly at it and level the camera so that you\'re looking down the engine bell. If you see the purple icon drifting to one side, slowly thrust in that direction so you level out your R(.) (Relative Velocity). Make sure the purple icon stays fixed in the center of your engine bell and then slowly translate with the rcs forward. When you come right up to the target craft, thrust back a little bit and null out any relative velocity you have.