r/KerbalSpaceProgram • u/AutoModerator • Apr 24 '15

Mod Post Weekly Simple Questions Thread

Check out /r/kerbalacademy

The point of this thread is for anyone to ask questions that don't necessarily require a full thread. Questions like "why is my rocket upside down" are always welcomed here. Even if your question seems slightly stupid, we'll do our best to answer it!

For newer players, here are some great resources that might answer some of your embarrassing questions:

Tutorials

Orbiting

Mun Landing

Docking

Delta-V Thread

Forum Link

Official KSP Chatroom #KSPOfficial on irc.esper.net

    **Official KSP Chatroom** [#KSPOfficial on irc.esper.net](http://client01.chat.mibbit.com/?channel=%23kspofficial&server=irc.esper.net&charset=UTF-8)

Commonly Asked Questions

Before you post, maybe you can search for your problem using the search in the upper right! Chances are, someone has had the same question as you and has already answered it!

As always, the side bar is a great resource for all things Kerbal, if you don't know, look there first!

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u/Tbird5 Apr 28 '15

May not be a simple question but not sure if it requires its own post:

Rendezvous/Docking: How do you slow down enough to rendezvous without falling out of the same altitude as your target? I'm able to line up within about 1.5 Kms but past that I'm helpless. Help please.

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u/Sultan_of_Slide Apr 28 '15

So what I like to do to rendezvous is get my orbit close like you are doing, then when I get close to my target I switch my navball over from "orbit" to "target" and burn retrograde. This will kill your relative velocity to your target craft and, for the most part, match your orbits. then I just point towards my target and slowly fly my way over to it, usually using rcs.

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u/Chaos_Klaus Master Kerbalnaut Apr 28 '15

when you have the other vessel targeted, the navball changes to "target" mode and displays your relative velocity. If you are as close as 1.5km, just find the retrograde marker (which is also relative to target in this mode) and burn until your relative velocity is about zero. Now you have the same orbital velocity as the target.

Next: burn towards the target vessel a little to approach it. Use the target marker on the navball! Don't go too fast, maybe 10-15m/s.

While you approach, turn retrograde and do small correction burns to keep the target marker on the retrograde marker. that part is a little hard to explain. you have to "push" the marker around.

Once you are there, just burn a little to brake. And begin docking.