Kerbal Space Program

[razark]

Woohoo!

My first docking attempt. And my first successful rendezvous.



Now I have to figure out how to put up large things so I can build a station.

How hard is Docking / Rendevouz?? I havent even rendevouzed with anything yet so can anyone give me a quick step by step explanation on how?

Originally Posted by razark

Woohoo!

My first docking attempt. And my first successful rendezvous.



Now I have to figure out how to put up large things so I can build a station.

[razark]

Originally Posted by USNSRCaseySmith

How hard is Docking / Rendevouz?? I havent even rendevouzed with anything yet so can anyone give me a quick step by step explanation on how?

Easier than I expected. I learned it here:
I followed the method, and docked.

Basically, you get two craft in orbit, and select your target. Get close to it (using the info on the map to know when your closest encounter is), and then try to get your speed relative to it to 0. Once you've done that, point at it and burn, until you get another close approach, closer than the last. Zero your relative speed, then point at it and burn. Eventually, you'll work yourself in close to it. I got mine down to .1 km, and then used the RCS to move close and dock.

It sounds harder more complicated than it actually is. It may not be the best method, but it works. Before this, my closest pass was about 5 km from another vessel, moving at a high relative speed. The new tools make it much easier.

[NeonSamurai]

Definitely not the most fuel efficient way by a long shot, but not much choice given that this game doesn't have the needed navigation aids that a game like orbiter has for plotting intercepts. Which are really difficult to do correctly in a fuel efficient manner, as it involves increasing or decreasing your orbit so that you are faster or slower than your target, then matching orbit again at just the right moment so that you slide into place. It is definitely one of the more challenging tasks to do successfully in orbiter (even more tricky than transitioning between planets/moons).

I am hoping at some point this game will approach orbiters level of sophistication when it comes to navigation software/MFDs. I actually am really impressed at what players have been able to accomplish in KSP with such rudimentary navigation instruments, particularly earlier on. Anyone remember trying to make stable orbit back when there wasn't really a map or anything?

[Lionclaw]

I never achieved orbit in the pre-map versions of KSP. Usually it was just sub-orbital flights.

Was more used to Orbiter and the MFD's. Pretty difficult to get to orbit without any instruments at all when you're starting out.


With 0.18 I've visited Moho and Duna so far. in 0.17 I escaped Kerbin's sphere of influence but I didn't achieve any encounters, very difficult without some sort of navigational aid.

I remember in Orbiter getting to the other planets was hard enough with TransX or IMFD. Made it to Mars, Venus (game crashed before achieving orbit IIRC.) Almost made it to Saturn, but the oxygen was depleted in Dansteph's Delta Glider... So close.

But that was years ago.

Came to realise, it's around 9 years ago when I first started playing Orbiter seriously. Time flies.

Whoops, rambled on a bit off topic.

WOrking on docking now, I have a ship that I use to reach a near perfect 75KM low orbit and Im using a 2nd to get up there, so far Ive got up to the altitude now just catching up to the other one... no luck yet. I hope I get it soon!

[Stealhead]

So if I buy it now I will not have to pay again when it is officially released right?

Anyway I bought it messed with the demo a bit and the pictures of KSP posted here and in the other games screenshots is really convincing enough as is.