Docking mode and Rendevouz in space

[TheOrigin]

DID anyone figure out how docking mode works in KSP2?

In KSP 1 your hud switches visually to another mode with real indicators for the source part (control from) and the target part (set target) to align them perfectly and then use the linear docking controls to approach each other.

Here in KSP 2 - there is a switch in the settings to toggle docking mode but nothing happens, no indicator, no hud elements, nothing. Same for "precision mode".. its keybound, but does nothing?

I managed to assemble 3 parts of a space station already, but only in "normal view" mode with alot of trial and error using solely RCS thrusters.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2939325641

If you are interested in how to setup a rendevouz and docking maneuver, i just made a 1,5h episode of it explaining every step. Took longer than in KSP 1 but i managed it in the end without docking mode.

https://www.twitch.tv/videos/1749693879 (Interception part starts at ~ 00:45min)

[Ice_Water]

I had a hard time with this As well, I used to rely on the target mode on SAS but for some reason, it looks like they removed it.

[Bertie]

Originally posted by Ice_Water:

I had a hard time with this As well, I used to rely on the target mode on SAS but for some reason, it looks like they removed it.

Target modes works fine for me - it's the 3rd of the 4 icons below the SAS 'wheel'

[TheOrigin]

Originally posted by Ice_Water:

I had a hard time with this As well, I used to rely on the target mode on SAS but for some reason, it looks like they removed it.

Its only available if you have setup a target otherwise its greyed out.. as Bertie said: third icon on bottom row bellow the SAS direction window. Looks like the prograde marker but in white instead of green.

I also managed to bring a Space Shuttle to my station (timestamp ~02:00:00 )

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtxNTl2DIVY&t=7289s

[AngryBaer]

Using the I, J, K, L keys there is no need for mode switching really and you retain rotating ability at the same time. And you sort of get a docking camera by cycling through the camera views with V. Just takes some getting used to.

I do miss the little indicator screen that shows whether you're in precision mode and which direction you're applying.

[[joebro]]

I wouldn't have a problem with rendevous and docking if i could get my ships to stop uncontrollably spinning. When I get them close to another and try to stabilize with SAS it works for the current ship i'm controlling, then when I switch to the other, the ship i was just controlling loses SAS and starts spinning again. Must be a physics bug.

[TheOrigin]

Yes absolutely - the uncontrolable spinning is crazy. I am also totally mad about the fact that the game keeps renaming your ships randomly with "default ship xx" all the time when docking. If you have 3 to 4 different parts, stuff in cargo bay etc. after decoupling it you dont know anymore what is what. So annoying

[TheOrigin]

Originally posted by AngryBaer:

Using the I, J, K, L keys there is no need for mode switching really and you retain rotating ability at the same time. And you sort of get a docking camera by cycling through the camera views with V. Just takes some getting used to.

I do miss the little indicator screen that shows whether you're in precision mode and which direction you're applying.

What V - view do you use for docking?

Also as i remember right in KSP one you were able to use RCS thrusters with docking controls even though RCS was turned of globally. This is not possible by now. Because i want to turn the ship with torque/gyro and do fine adjustments with rcs. Because EVERY small rcs input alters your speed/direction.

[Eiko]

Docking mode does something but I'm not exactly sure what. I just don't use it and use the RCS translate keybinds, as someone above said. Line up the "target prograde" vector with the "target direction" vector and it's fine.

The only complaint I have with it is that if you set one vessel to face the docking port on another, and then switch vessels to the other one, the SAS on the first vessel bugs out when you get close enough and decides to point ~10-15 degrees pitch-up from the correct facing. Otherwise it seems the same as KSP1 did to me. Maybe I was missing some nice feature of KSP1 that made docking easier lol.

[AngryBaer]

Originally posted by TheOrigin:

What V - view do you use for docking?

Also as i remember right in KSP one you were able to use RCS thrusters with docking controls even though RCS was turned of globally. This is not possible by now. Because i want to turn the ship with torque/gyro and do fine adjustments with rcs. Because EVERY small rcs input alters your speed/direction.

I've tried the camera that locks to the craft rotation instead of the free orbit camera and found that pretty nice.

That's news to me. I thought you always had to switch RCS on/off anyway. There's a hotkey. And in this new version I don't accidentally activate the next stage, thinking I'm still in docking mode.