Newcomer / Intro Docking Training Mission - I cannot dock?

[Smallous]

Hello,

I am unable to dock in this training mission. Landing gear is down. I obtain the docking assist and everything looks OK as far as I can tell and the pad highlights blue. But when I go down slowly the pad’sdocking clamps do not engage. The only thing I can see that might be wrong is the ship still has a momentum of 1 (forwards or backwards) and I cannot get it to zero, even if I use the keyboard binding the speed stays at 1. I am using a Xbox 360 controller. If I press and hold LB outside the station speed goes to zero, but when inside the station speed only reduces to 1.

 

[Chris Simon]

If you are in the middle of the (correct) pad ( both the horizontal and vertical line of the "crosshairs" light up blue) then you should dock even when you slam the ship onto the pad.
Are you sure you lowered the landing gear and not the cargo scoop?

 

[Smallous]

Yes I do have the landing gear down. I'll try the "Slam" method. Maybe I am not on the correct pad, but I think there is warning if an attempt is made to land at the wrong pad. I do get both lines blue. I wondered if the problem was due to my ships forward momentum of 1, which refuses to Zero, but you made no mention of it in your reply. I'll go and watch the training video again see if I can see what I a doing wrong.

 

[Smallous]

OK, I have be able to dock, not quite sure what I was doing wrong the 1st time. Maybe I was not facing the correct way. Started to take better note of surroundings and the tower that was in front of the landing pad. Thanks.

 

[Chris Simon]

Yes I do have the landing gear down. I'll try the "Slam" method. Maybe I am not on the correct pad, but I think there is warning if an attempt is made to land at the wrong pad. I do get both lines blue. I wondered if the problem was due to my ships forward momentum of 1, which refuses to Zero, but you made no mention of it in your reply. I'll go and watch the training video again see if I can see what I a doing wrong.

That's not it. While racing, "friction braking" is pretty common. Go full speed, slam the pad, slide into the middle.
The clamps usually work even then, so 1m/s is not the problem. I have no idea what it might be.

Try to start normal game and undock and dock there, maybe it's bugged landing pad, who knows.

Edit: Aha, yes. You need to have the tower in front of you and blast shields behind.
Also the ship's landing hologram facing the wrong way usually gives you a hint.
Maybe it wasn't your fault, though. When a ship is departing, the landing pad then turns to face the right way for the next ship. But sometimes it doesn't turn for quite some time, in which case it will register you facing the wrong way, even if you aren't.

 

[Brassik]

If you are over the landing zone with landing gear down. Press X to stop and F to descend. Those are the default keys if you've changed anything you'll have to check your control options

 

[Spenceuk99]

Always face the pad numbers. If the locks don't engage and you are sure you are bang in the middle, slide back a few feet then forward again and the lock should engge.

 

[CMDR Mr. Boombastic]

This thread needs a picture......

Here's an image of an outpost landing pad with the blast shields/ramp - the panels with the triangles. The rear of your ship should be facing the blast shields. That's both for outposts and starports. Docking at starports is easier because you always enter the starport facing the correct direction.

Spoiler

So, in this particular image the front of your ship should be facing towards the left side of the landing pad when you dock.
If you are facing the wrong way you still get the blue guide light but you won't be able to dock.

 

[Smallous]

Thanks for everyone's help. I must have been facing the wrong way earlier. Sorry, its all a bit bewildering at 1st! Stiil I manged to complete my 1st solo delivery mission. 10000 CR wahoooo.

 

[Para Handy]

Thanks for everyone's help. I must have been facing the wrong way earlier. Sorry, its all a bit bewildering at 1st! Stiil I manged to complete my 1st solo delivery mission. 10000 CR wahoooo.

Welcome, well done, congrats on the first mission. Don't worry about making mistakes, we all did (and still do) and ask away in this forum, lots of help available.


Enjoy yourself


[alien]