Newcomer / Intro Docking on a Cube-shaped orbital station and regarding universal cartographics

CMDR Mark Val · Apr 30, 2015

Hi all,

I seem to be struggling with landing in a cube-shaped orbital station. Too often I can't find the envelope entry as I will be trying to figure out where it is in the first place. Just wondering if there are any tips and tricks to overcome this? I always dread landing in a cube-based orbital now

2nd Question

Once my ship is destroyed do I lose all Cartographics information as well? I just crashed my ship and when I restarted I couldn't find all of my previous cartographics information anymore

Thanks again in advance for your responses

jpaulwilson1982 · Apr 30, 2015

When you receive permission to dock, look carefully at the hologram of the station on your dash. There should be tiny arrows, all pointing to the entry point of the station.

And when your ship is destroyed, you lose Cartographic data, bounty vouchers, and combat bonds. When you accumulate a lot of that stuff, I suggest avoiding combat as much as possible and running from all battles.

Ian Phillips · Apr 30, 2015

Position your ship so that you see the station rotating counter-clockwise. The entrance is on the 'top' face. There are also arrows shown on the hologram of the station, showing where to go to find the entrance.

You do indeed lose all your cartographic data if you lose your ship.

Adam Lusardi · Apr 30, 2015

1 If you target the station the left HUD shows arrows pointing out the entrance. There are other ways but this is the simplest.
2 Yes you lose data and bounty kills.
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Double ninjad

jpaulwilson1982 · Apr 30, 2015

Wow we're fast

faluc · Apr 30, 2015

There are more ways to find the entrance of a Coriolis Station:
- The back side has four red lights at the corners, the entrance will be at the opposite side with four white lights at the corners
- Target the station, and the hologram representation on your HUD will have little arrows on it that point to the side with the entrance
- The entrance faces the planet that the station orbits around. Approach from the direction of the planet while in supercruise and you'll drop to normal space already facing the entrance

2nd: Yes, you do lose all cartographic data when your ship blows up. Nothing more exciting than coming home and docking after a month of exploration

TheNunu · May 20, 2015

I hate those cube stations too, already 2 times i forgot to do a docking request because i was to busy searching for a entry and after finally finding it i forget about the docking request, it only happened in cubes that i forget the docking request, ussually i wouldn't mind the fine, but sadly the fines is listed under crimes D: I was hoping to become a crime free pilot in the game. D: But thats not possible because of the fines from cubes.

Oopsie Daisy · May 20, 2015

The way I deal with the cube shaped stations is a) figure out the axis of rotation (the entrance will be on one end of that axis), b) Look for the exhaust trails of ships entering/leaving one end.

TheNunu · May 20, 2015

Yes the others wrote that too, but i still fail at it, i guess i need to get used to them first.

cmdr lowest · May 20, 2015

Target the station and look at the hologram. It shows where the entrance is.

Your compass will also direct you.

It is always one anti-clockwise face too and if there's a planet close by the entrance should always face the planet.

Don't forget to request docking permission...

dshepsman · May 21, 2015

There is an easier way, or a method to at least get you in the general area of the entrance:
when in supercruise, position yourself between the station and the planet. When you drop out, you should be near the front of the station

dayrth · May 21, 2015

The entrance faces the planet.

the100thmonkey · May 21, 2015

The side that the letterbox is on rotates anti-clockwise. Work out which end is spinning in that direction and head for it.

CMDR Nightjar · May 21, 2015

Easiest I find is the Right-hand thumb rule. Curl the RH fingers in the way the station is rotating - the thumb-up shows you the side of the entrance. Other tips above are also good.

Crazy Jedi · May 21, 2015

dayrth said:
The entrance faces the planet.

This works for me

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the100thmonkey said:
The side that the letterbox is on rotates anti-clockwise. Work out which end is spinning in that direction and head for it.

And so does this.

After I learned these two pearls of wisdom I found landing on these stations a lot easier. It helps if you come out of SC a little further out to give yourself time to work out the rotation and line yourself up.