| DOCKING |
NOTE: 'Num pad /' switches your thruster configuration between 'rotation' and 'translation'
(linear).
83 - Rotate your ship until your Directional Indicator points directly at the V(ISS) Velocity Vector.
Fire linear thrusters (mostly Num Pad 6 & Num Pad 9) until the value readout under the vector
reads 0.0X (x is any digit). Now for all practical purposes you are moving at the same speed and
in the same direction as your target.
84 - Set your left MFD to 'docking'.
85 - Slave your MFD to frequency NAV1 by cycling with 'shift' + 'n'.
85.5 - Rotate your ship (Directional Indicator) back to the ISS. If your distance is less than
2.xxxk move on to step 86. If your distance is greater than 2.xxxk, use linear thrusters 'num
pad 6' to move towards the ISS.
85.75 - Monitor your velocity on the left hand docking MFD. Do not accelerate above 4 m/s.
Your linear thrusters are relatively weak and it takes a long time to slow your forward momentum.
Proceed slowly to avoid an overshoot or, worse, collision with the ISS. See image above.
86 - When your distance to target is less than 2.xxxk, rotate to put your Directional Indicator on
the ISS. Use linear thrusters 'num pad 6' or 'num pad 9' to achieve a velocity of 2.5 m/s. When
you fire thrusters, you'll notice that a green cross moves onto your screen. When using the
docking HUD, that cross is your Velocity Vector while moving forward.
86.5 - It will be beneficial to dock in the sunlight. If it is night now, or if night falls while docking, it
would be best to halt all movement relative to the ISS, turn off all thrusters and engines and time
accelerate until the sun comes up again. To halt all relative motion point your Direction Indicator
at the Velocity Vector and fire linear thrusters until the value is as close to zero as possible.
NOTE: At anytime during docking, if things feel like they are out of control, point your nose
(Directional Indicator) at a Velocity Vector (cross or cross in circle) and use 'num pad 6' or 'num
pad 9' to reduce thrust as close to zero as you can. This matches your velocity and direction in
relation to your target. You have effectively stopped. Gather your wits and jump back to step 84
to begin again.
87 - Use 'ctrl' + 'r' to cycle thru frequencies Nav 2 thru Nav 4. The docking HUD will display
approach corridors for the available docking ports. Choose the one that looks the closest to
this:
88 - Slave your left 'docking' MFD to the same frequency using 'shift' + 'n'.
89 - Use linear thrusters to position your velocity vector on the green corridor box furthest from
the ISS.
90 - Engage rotational thrusters and point your nose (Directional Indicator) at the furthest box as
well.
You are now moving directly towards that outside corridor box. From there you will set up your
final approach.
91 - Ensure your Field of View is 60. Use 'z' or 'x' to adjust .
92 - Keep your Velocity Vector pointed at the outside box using linear thrusters. As you
approach the outside box, more and more of the corridor boxes will disappear off screen. When
only one box remains, reduce your thrust to 1.0 m/s. In this instance, read your velocity from the
velocity vector, not the docking MFD.
NOTE: You may experience some drift in your Velocity Vector. Use linear thrusters to move it
back on target when it drifts too far away.
93 - When the final corridor box disappears, ensure your Directional Indicator and your Velocity
Vector are aligned, Use linear thruster 'num pad 9' to stop your ship relative to the ISS. Use all
linear thrusters as needed to reduce velocity as close to zero as possible.
93.5 - To increase your visibility, click on the 'PWR' button under the right MFD to deactivate it.
94 - Rotate your ship (Directional Indicator) until it rests on the box closest to the ISS. Follow the
ISS arrow when you rotate--NOT the V(ISS) arrow. Remember that 'num pad 5' is a handy way
to kill rotation.
94.5 - Rotate your ship until the boxes are horizontal with the bar on top.
95 - Use linear thrusters to position the Velocity Vector on the middle of the box closest to the
ISS. If you can't see your vector or if your vector is drifting badly, apply a short forward thrust
'num pad 6' to bring your velocity vector on screen and settle it down.
96 - Using linear thrusters, move your ship up/down and right/left until you can see directly down
the corridor to the ISS.
97 - Reference the left 'docking' MFD. Rotate your ship until the big 'X' turns white and is
centered perfectly on the graph. Your ship is now oriented correctly for docking. As long as the
'X' is centered, you will not need to rotate your craft any more.
98 - Ensure your Velocity Vector is pointed at the middle of the box closest to the ISS and fire
forward linear thrusters 'num pad 6' until a velocity of 2.0 is reached.
99 - Reference the green cross on the left 'docking' MFD. Use linear thrusters to maneuver the
green cross to the exact center of the graph. This takes some time to master. Be patient.
You've got quite a bit of time on this. If you feel you are approaching too fast, use the 'num pad
9' key to slow your forward momentum.
NOTE: As you apply linear thrusters, you may notice a yellow arrow that pops up on the
'docking' MFD and extends outward from the center of the graph. This is an aid to assist in
centering the cross. Make small linear thrust actions that point the yellow arrow at the green
cross. Don't let the yellow arrow become too long. You will end up chasing the cross back and
forth across the graph and pulling your hair out. As long as the short yellow arrow is pointed at
the cross, it is good enough. It may take some time but the cross should eventually meander
towards center. Remember that using the control key with the num pad linear thruster keys
reduces the thrusters to 1/10th power. This is extremely helpful when working with the docking
MFD.
TIP: The key to the docking MFD is small actions. Use small spurts on the linear thrusters and
see what those actions did. If it was correct then make another small spurt like the last one. If it
was incorrect then make two small spurts with the opposite thruster.
ANOTHER TIP: To start with, don't try to correct the cross' variance in two axes. For instance, if
the cross is high and right of center, use thrusters in the up/down direction only to bring the
cross down to the horizontal cross hair. Once that is stabilized, use the right/left thrusters to line
it up with the vertical cross hair. This MFD is far from intuitive and until you learn how it works
you have to concentrate and baby it along. Patience, young Padawan.
ANOTHER NOTE: When you are relatively far away from the target and just starting your
approach, the docking MFD will be very active and erratic. As you get closer to the ISS and work
the MFD it should settle down nicely and require only small nudges to bring it back into line.
100 - Somewhere around 300 meters, reduce your forward velocity to 1.5. Continue to wrangle
the docking MFD.
101 - Use the 'k' keyboard key to open the nose cone for docking.
102 - When you get within 30 meters of the ISS slow your approach with 'num pad 9' until your
velocity is between .25 and .3 m/s
103 - Continue to adjust your approach using the 'docking' MFD until you dock.
104 - After capture, shut down all thrusters. Turn off the RCS ('control' + 'num pad /')
105 - Switch to external view 'F1' and marvel at your accomplishment!
You made it, Cadet! Well done!
(linear).
83 - Rotate your ship until your Directional Indicator points directly at the V(ISS) Velocity Vector.
Fire linear thrusters (mostly Num Pad 6 & Num Pad 9) until the value readout under the vector
reads 0.0X (x is any digit). Now for all practical purposes you are moving at the same speed and
in the same direction as your target.
84 - Set your left MFD to 'docking'.
85 - Slave your MFD to frequency NAV1 by cycling with 'shift' + 'n'.
85.5 - Rotate your ship (Directional Indicator) back to the ISS. If your distance is less than
2.xxxk move on to step 86. If your distance is greater than 2.xxxk, use linear thrusters 'num
pad 6' to move towards the ISS.
85.75 - Monitor your velocity on the left hand docking MFD. Do not accelerate above 4 m/s.
Your linear thrusters are relatively weak and it takes a long time to slow your forward momentum.
Proceed slowly to avoid an overshoot or, worse, collision with the ISS. See image above.
86 - When your distance to target is less than 2.xxxk, rotate to put your Directional Indicator on
the ISS. Use linear thrusters 'num pad 6' or 'num pad 9' to achieve a velocity of 2.5 m/s. When
you fire thrusters, you'll notice that a green cross moves onto your screen. When using the
docking HUD, that cross is your Velocity Vector while moving forward.
86.5 - It will be beneficial to dock in the sunlight. If it is night now, or if night falls while docking, it
would be best to halt all movement relative to the ISS, turn off all thrusters and engines and time
accelerate until the sun comes up again. To halt all relative motion point your Direction Indicator
at the Velocity Vector and fire linear thrusters until the value is as close to zero as possible.
NOTE: At anytime during docking, if things feel like they are out of control, point your nose
(Directional Indicator) at a Velocity Vector (cross or cross in circle) and use 'num pad 6' or 'num
pad 9' to reduce thrust as close to zero as you can. This matches your velocity and direction in
relation to your target. You have effectively stopped. Gather your wits and jump back to step 84
to begin again.
87 - Use 'ctrl' + 'r' to cycle thru frequencies Nav 2 thru Nav 4. The docking HUD will display
approach corridors for the available docking ports. Choose the one that looks the closest to
this:
88 - Slave your left 'docking' MFD to the same frequency using 'shift' + 'n'.
89 - Use linear thrusters to position your velocity vector on the green corridor box furthest from
the ISS.
90 - Engage rotational thrusters and point your nose (Directional Indicator) at the furthest box as
well.
You are now moving directly towards that outside corridor box. From there you will set up your
final approach.
91 - Ensure your Field of View is 60. Use 'z' or 'x' to adjust .
92 - Keep your Velocity Vector pointed at the outside box using linear thrusters. As you
approach the outside box, more and more of the corridor boxes will disappear off screen. When
only one box remains, reduce your thrust to 1.0 m/s. In this instance, read your velocity from the
velocity vector, not the docking MFD.
NOTE: You may experience some drift in your Velocity Vector. Use linear thrusters to move it
back on target when it drifts too far away.
93 - When the final corridor box disappears, ensure your Directional Indicator and your Velocity
Vector are aligned, Use linear thruster 'num pad 9' to stop your ship relative to the ISS. Use all
linear thrusters as needed to reduce velocity as close to zero as possible.
93.5 - To increase your visibility, click on the 'PWR' button under the right MFD to deactivate it.
94 - Rotate your ship (Directional Indicator) until it rests on the box closest to the ISS. Follow the
ISS arrow when you rotate--NOT the V(ISS) arrow. Remember that 'num pad 5' is a handy way
to kill rotation.
94.5 - Rotate your ship until the boxes are horizontal with the bar on top.
95 - Use linear thrusters to position the Velocity Vector on the middle of the box closest to the
ISS. If you can't see your vector or if your vector is drifting badly, apply a short forward thrust
'num pad 6' to bring your velocity vector on screen and settle it down.
96 - Using linear thrusters, move your ship up/down and right/left until you can see directly down
the corridor to the ISS.
97 - Reference the left 'docking' MFD. Rotate your ship until the big 'X' turns white and is
centered perfectly on the graph. Your ship is now oriented correctly for docking. As long as the
'X' is centered, you will not need to rotate your craft any more.
98 - Ensure your Velocity Vector is pointed at the middle of the box closest to the ISS and fire
forward linear thrusters 'num pad 6' until a velocity of 2.0 is reached.
99 - Reference the green cross on the left 'docking' MFD. Use linear thrusters to maneuver the
green cross to the exact center of the graph. This takes some time to master. Be patient.
You've got quite a bit of time on this. If you feel you are approaching too fast, use the 'num pad
9' key to slow your forward momentum.
NOTE: As you apply linear thrusters, you may notice a yellow arrow that pops up on the
'docking' MFD and extends outward from the center of the graph. This is an aid to assist in
centering the cross. Make small linear thrust actions that point the yellow arrow at the green
cross. Don't let the yellow arrow become too long. You will end up chasing the cross back and
forth across the graph and pulling your hair out. As long as the short yellow arrow is pointed at
the cross, it is good enough. It may take some time but the cross should eventually meander
towards center. Remember that using the control key with the num pad linear thruster keys
reduces the thrusters to 1/10th power. This is extremely helpful when working with the docking
MFD.
TIP: The key to the docking MFD is small actions. Use small spurts on the linear thrusters and
see what those actions did. If it was correct then make another small spurt like the last one. If it
was incorrect then make two small spurts with the opposite thruster.
ANOTHER TIP: To start with, don't try to correct the cross' variance in two axes. For instance, if
the cross is high and right of center, use thrusters in the up/down direction only to bring the
cross down to the horizontal cross hair. Once that is stabilized, use the right/left thrusters to line
it up with the vertical cross hair. This MFD is far from intuitive and until you learn how it works
you have to concentrate and baby it along. Patience, young Padawan.
ANOTHER NOTE: When you are relatively far away from the target and just starting your
approach, the docking MFD will be very active and erratic. As you get closer to the ISS and work
the MFD it should settle down nicely and require only small nudges to bring it back into line.
100 - Somewhere around 300 meters, reduce your forward velocity to 1.5. Continue to wrangle
the docking MFD.
101 - Use the 'k' keyboard key to open the nose cone for docking.
102 - When you get within 30 meters of the ISS slow your approach with 'num pad 9' until your
velocity is between .25 and .3 m/s
103 - Continue to adjust your approach using the 'docking' MFD until you dock.
104 - After capture, shut down all thrusters. Turn off the RCS ('control' + 'num pad /')
105 - Switch to external view 'F1' and marvel at your accomplishment!
You made it, Cadet! Well done!
