Docking.... or not.

[SkidMcMarx]

I simply cannot dock two simple craft (lander can, rcs, batteries/solar panel) in orbit around kerbin. I can get them within meters (5-10m) of one another but they just twirl around one another, much to my frustration. Apparently the two docking ports are meant to just 'stick', magnetically together once they get close, this isn't happening for me.

Can the developers not just allow in a future update for me to right click on the docking port of the other ship and command it to dock automatically, I'm bored of twirling around 120,000km in the air; I want a space station already! For now, all I have is two tin cans in the wind.

[Maverick]

Get Mechjeb. Will dock auto for you.

[SkidMcMarx]

I have mechjeb on my cpu, but not on these particular ships. It didn't work for me, it would start its gravity turn at around 8000km and then eventually plummet into the surface. So I stopped using it, any idea if there is a really good concise tutorial to learn where I was going wrong?

[Thumbs_of_Fury]

Right click the dociking port on your controlled spaceship, and click control from here, then, when within 300m of your target, right click the target port, and click set as target, then dock. This turns the magnets on.

[DeltaDude]

Sounds like you are having serious issues in your technique, probably due to high speed maneuvers, rendez-vous and dock very carefully. And practice makes perfect.

[Maverick]

Messaggio originale di baiyon:

I have mechjeb on my cpu, but not on these particular ships. It didn't work for me, it would start its gravity turn at around 8000km and then eventually plummet into the surface. So I stopped using it, any idea if there is a really good concise tutorial to learn where I was going wrong?

Scott Manley - youtube. 1 or 2 docking tutes on KSP forums. Google fella.

You wanted devs to make "autodock" - Mechjeb already does it.

But using Mechjeb doesn't mean you need to use it everywhere. If it crashes on flight, don't use it on flight.....

[Langkard]

And you can edit the flight profile in Mechjeb and change the altitude for the start of the gravity turn with a simple click and then type in something different, like 10, and have the turn start at 10Km.

Also, using the Smart A.S.S. function in Mechjeb you make both ships face each other exactly, making docking so simple that you don't need to use the Mechjeb docking function itself. Just point the two docking ports at each other and move one ship in to the other and you're done. I use Mechjeb for getting into a nice easy and circular orbit, then a precise rendezvous with a Hohmann transfer ending with a distance of 50 meters, then Smart A.S.S. to align them and I dock manually.

[Krow]

for me i never use modes on a game that will probubly receve an update that maters so baiyon you have got closer than me but acheved the same, at the moment it is far to dificult to dock in space without mods thay should implement a docking assistant computer for the game that isent a mod

[Langkard]

Another way, without using mods, to cut down on all of the extraneous motion is to use reaction wheels only for alignment and RCS thrusters only to move closer and finish the dock. It is much easier to stop rotation of the reaction wheels (included in all command parts now, not just in an ASAS module). So get close. Then turn off RCS and just use reaction wheels in both sections to point the docking ports at each other. This might take some time and a lot of peeking about the edges of your craft from behind and much switching of views. But once you have the two docking ports pointed at each other with reaction wheels and you have SAS turned on, then it's just a simple matter of using the forward thrust of your RCS to close in and dock. The hard part is the alignment. Which is why many people use Mechjeb or one of the docking window mods. Alignment is much more stable if you don't use RCS thrusters, since it is difficult to stop the rotations you impart using them without using a mod.

[Maverick]

Messaggio originale di dank42:

for me i never use modes on a game that will probubly receve an update that maters so baiyon you have got closer than me but acheved the same, at the moment it is far to dificult to dock in space without mods thay should implement a docking assistant computer for the game that isent a mod

Docking IS easy - with experience - it's not Solitaire guys... Do the tutes, watch some vids, show some patience and practise, practise, practise!

The excuse that it is too hard to update a mod is a bit lazy imho. It's once maybe every few months and takes oh... 2 minutes. Just use it and have done with it, or learn how to do it manually. 2 simple choices here.

The fact that it is hard is the whole point..... What will you achieve on easy mode all day?

When you dock 50 times manually you are on your way to winning at KSP.

[DeltaDude]

Messaggio originale di dank42:

for me i never use modes on a game that will probubly receve an update that maters so baiyon you have got closer than me but acheved the same, at the moment it is far to dificult to dock in space without mods thay should implement a docking assistant computer for the game that isent a mod

I Agree 100% with Maverick, Docking is easy, once you have experience. Being hard is the whole point of the game? Do you think NASA used mechjeb and other "Easy buttons" to dock craft together, especially in the apollo missions?

First off, if you do you should not play this game.

The whole point of KSP in my eyes is the challenge, and the achievement over them using blood sweat and tears. An easy mode would take all that out of the game, and everything would be much more boring and pointless.

And by the way, we do have assisting computers within the game, SAS, The Navball, and the orbital map. things that in reality make everything extremly simple as they are.

Not to mention the most important assisting computer some of us have to our advantage is our brain.

So I have never used mechjeb in any of my missions, and have been able to dock what now feels like millions of times. If I can, just about anyone can.

When you dock 50 times manually you are on your way to winning at KSP. +1

[I'm Ant]

Apollo used a computer to pilot their ship so Mechjeb is more realistic than manual flight.

[DeltaDude]

Messaggio originale di LMA:

Apollo used a computer to pilot their ship so Mechjeb is more realistic than manual flight.

Of course they did, but much more limited than Mechjeb from what I have seen not just where you press one button and everything is done for you.

[Fel]

@Jon: What's so wrong wanting to have an "easy button"?
Docking is quite easy, sure, but it's plain boring after the first 15 times.

What I mean is that having the option is always a better thing, because we all want different things from the game.
Some people just want big stations, some spend hours designing ships, others might even went to play with planes only.

Mods like MechJeb offer automations, but they are not forced onto you, are usually not perfect in term of efficiency, and also offer a lot of datas for us to read about our ships.


Anyway, for docking you need to nearly perfectly align the docking ports and put them in a position where they nearly connect in the right way, at very low relative speed, so it can take a while getting used to it.
Just like it takes a bit to understand why you don't thrust up until space and then thrust sideway to orbit, I guess.

[Krashed]

I think that the docking ports might bug out some times. I've docked a few times, but there was one part of my space station that i spent hours on trying to get docked. I had the ports lined up perfectly, power running to them, controlling from the one targeting the other, and nothing. Came in at .1 m/s to touch them together and no dock. So I deleted everything and did a clean install. My next station wont be with the stock docking ports.

[Maverick]

Messaggio originale di Fel:

What's so wrong wanting to have an "easy button"?
Docking is quite easy, sure, but it's plain boring after the first 15 times.

No argument there mate. It's the poor excuses for avoiding a mod that does the job already is the issue me thinx.

What the heck is the difference between a mod that requires a single click or having an option in-game that does it with one click? Be honest now....

Besides, devs have ruled out automation so it's all sort of moot anyway. People just need to decide whether they want solutions or not. The excuses used are pretty lame. You can't complain that something is too hard, be offered a solution and then say "I don't want THAT solution".

EDIT: Let's not forget that mods are also going to be integrated.