Newcomer / Intro missions and docking

[Weezer]

So here's my dilemma. Newbie using an X52 Pro, so far so good.
Have completed most tutorials (except advanced combat). Had no problem with travel, jumping and docking. Tried 4 missions (fetching beer, etc,) made all
my jumps (sidewinder) and made it to the starport/outpost. Found my pad but couldn't complete the docking? I get above the pad and inside the
"blue circle" but when I touch down (landing gear deployed) it doesn't say docking completed it keeps counting down the timer until it says i
ran out of time. This happened 4 times in 4 different places. What kind of dumb newbie mistake am i making? :S

 

[Derpster Frey]

Let's do the obvious first, are you facing the right way?

 

[Painkiller]

When landing, always face forward the landing pad number. Get close to it, when it starts fading away, then start descending. The only problem I think you got is that you face wrong direction on the pad.
Check this video, on 16m 16s , there is the info you need.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkf3lr_k2Xk

 

[Weezer]

When landing, always face forward the landing pad number. Get close to it, when it starts fading away, then start descending. The only problem I think you got is that you face wrong direction on the pad.
Check this video, on 16m 16s , there is the info you need.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkf3lr_k2Xk

I was instructed to say land on pad 2. When i approached it said 20 and when i rolled 180 it said 02? The ship schematic was facing forward i think. Let me look at the video link.

 

[Weezer]

When landing, always face forward the landing pad number. Get close to it, when it starts fading away, then start descending. The only problem I think you got is that you face wrong direction on the pad.
Check this video, on 16m 16s , there is the info you need.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkf3lr_k2Xk

I looked at the video and now see that you know your facing the right direction when the pad number is at the "back" of the pad, didn't know that.
Simple things confuse simple minds.

- - - - - Additional Content Posted / Auto Merge - - - - -

I looked at the video and now see that you know your facing the right direction when the pad number is at the "back" of the pad, didn't know that.
Simple things confuse simple minds.

Having understanding he facing forward concept, i would thing that in at least one of the 4 missions i was facing forward? Anything elese that
might cause this, assuming the landing gear is deployed. Would coming down to fast be an issue "hard landing"?

 

[Feldspar]

Would coming down to fast be an issue "hard landing"?

With a bit of judgment it is possible to land hard enough that it takes off half of your shields and still be accepted.

 

[Painkiller]

With a bit of judgment it is possible to land hard enough that it takes off half of your shields and still be accepted.

Before some patches in ED, when I was docking using DC with my ASP no shields, he was always ramming my ship on landing pad, getting my hull to 99% , each landing cost me almost 2000 credits . Now its fixed , DC works perfect

 

[willowfan]

You are facing the right way when -

Your ship hologram is facing away from you and the chevrons are also pointing away from you.

The pad number hologram is in front of you.

The Control Tower is in front of you.

The engine blast shields are behind you.

The landing pad walkway/stairs are on your right.

 

[Weezer]

You are facing the right way when -

Your ship hologram is facing away from you and the chevrons are also pointing away from you.

The pad number hologram is in front of you.

The Control Tower is in front of you.

The engine blast shields are behind you.

The landing pad walkway/stairs are on your right.

Was able to complete a mission after knowing my AFT from my Fwd. Many thanks ALL for your help.