Apollo Trans & Docking Tutorial

[Bartman]

When ever I load the Trans & Docking tutorial for Apollo the spacecraft is always tumbling and I have to try and null out all movement before the SIVB separation. Even then I seem to have a hard time to dock as there is always residual movement between the two craft causing issues when docking.

Now my question is, how accurate is this in comparison to real life experience? or is this tutorial bugged at present?

Happy anniversary Apollo :) listening to Apollo in real time as I type!

[Delle(DK)]

I think the scenario is broken due to a bug.
In my game the spacecraft is also rolling, and in general it would be a bad idea to undock since it make it impossible to dock again if the two space craft are not alligned properly or "standing still".
Also i think its not so good to even atempt docking in the dark ( especially in a tutorial where people are supposed to learn ) its is more easy if you can see something ;-)

I also find it difficult to turn/flip the capsul after undocking, and its like nothing is happening all though i see white/gas in external view when i use WASD key... when i use JKLI key then i can mover frw/back/left/right and roll, but the other WASD key do not seem like it have much effect.

[Bartman]

Thanks for the reply. Glad it's not just me. Hope the dev puts this on the "to be fixed" list.

[BigG]

I sped up the time until I was on the day side, but I also have issues with the rcs pitch hardly working takes awhile for the craft to pitch over towards the LM, and then the right and left rcs keys (J &L keys ) don’t work for me anyway.

[dRead_SolJah]

I also got the same problems with this tutorial at first, but i managed to dock after a few try-outs, here is my advice until they correct it:

.) Time-shift/Fast-Forward until on the day-side so you could see something.

.) Place the "CMC MODE" Switch to FREE, not AUTO or HOLD!!!! After i set this switch, i was able to pitch easily in all directions with my stick or with keyboard controls. I think this is wrong in the tutorial, i dont know, but it worked for me :)

.) Seperate the Command Module from the Lunar Lander

.) Dock it :)

[Shitehawk]

I also had this problem and worked out my own strategy to overcome it. This proved completely successful and actually quite straightforward and easy. Before I got it though, I also tried the advancing time into daylight technique but this didn't really help as the SIVB assembly was still 'tumbling'. I also encountered random thruster inputs which I wasn't making which didn't help matters at all. Anyway, what worked for me is as follows:

Follow the tutorial all the way up to pressing the SIVB/CSM separation switch....but don't press it yet!

Using the gimbal globe, dial out all the wandering pitch, roll and yaw movements. This is easier than you might think. It also helps to align the pitch right along the black/white border. When done, all your thruster indicators should be centred in their respective input indicators as well as the orange lines on the gimbal globe being centred.

Then, hit the SIVB/CSM separation switch. Thrust forward slightly and stop. Then do your pitching 180 degrees manoeuvre. Don't even bother looking out of the window and you can easily perform this in the dark as well. On reaching the opposite side of the gimbal globe, the back/white border again, then look out the window and hey presto, nice and bright in the darkness and still quite close are the LEM docking alignment T lights.

Hope this helps. Good luck and have fun.