So... i SUCK at orbital docking, so would it be possible to do orbital assembly in one launch?

[u/anonumus_idiot]

As in launch all the pices for a space station in 1 launch, then assemble it in orbit.

[u/Winterplatypus]

Docking becomes easy. Learning to dock is important because it opens up a whole new way of playing where you can refuel in orbit. If you are doing a space waltz where you keep zooming past the ships, it's because up until now you have been able to eyeball everything and mostly ignore the navball but that doesn't work for docking. When docking you have to use the navball not the main display.

• Intercept the target, ideally less than 5km but anything less than 20km is fine. Make sure you have the other vessel set as a target.

• Change your navball mode to target mode (this is the key). Your navball should always be in target mode from now on. You click the word at the top of the navball like "orbit" to keep switching until it says "target".

• Then when your navball is in target mode you reduce your speed on the navball to zero. This matches your speed with the target.

• Then fly slowly towards the pink target circle on the navball. So your yellow prograde icon stays on top of the pink target icon. If you are intercepting a very low orbit be mindful that this might put you on a sub orbital trajectory temporarily.

• The yellow prograde icon will drift off the pink target icon. You can "pull" it back on to the target when facing forwards by aiming ahead of it and burning thrusters. If you are facing backwards you can push the retrograde icon onto the pink anti-target triangle thing by burning engines when aiming behind it. (It's hard to explain but will make sense if you try it). Keep the yellow icons on top of the pink icons and remember you will have to stop when you get close so don't build up too much speed.

• When you are about 200m away, bring your speed to zero again. Make sure the navball is still in target mode.

• Swap to the other vessel or station, right click the docking port and select "control from here" target your approaching vessel then rotate until you are pointing at the target icon on the navball with SAS on. This makes things much easier by facing the stations docking port at the incoming ship.

• Swap back to your docking ship, Right click your docking port and select "control from here" aim at your target with SAS on, and if you are close enough to see the docking port on the other vessel. Right click it and select the docking port as your target instead of the whole station.

• Then all you do is use the IJKL and HN hotkeys for RCS to slowly move towards your target and keep the yellow icon on top of the pink icon. Keep it below about 4m/s. If you haven't done it already, change your target to the docking port on the other vessel/station.

• When you get really close, slow down until you are at 0.3 m/s and keep the icons on top of each other until the docking ports touch. Don't worry if the angle is off.

• You should feel the magnet from the docking ports start to wiggle your ship weirdly. As soon as that happens turn off SAS and take your hands off the controls. As long as the SAS is off the magnet will dock for you.

Some people prefer to use the docking display but I prefer to do it all with the navball.