I've done a search here and come up with a couple of threads on this but how do you others approach planetary bases?.. I have landed on several hundred planets, moons etc while on a 4 month long exploration jaunt both high and low G without hardly a problem which is really easy when you yourself are choosing the landing spot. However I am having problems at planetary bases while doing missions as I keep over/under reaching the designated target and end up boosting to my destination the last 75-120km. Also does anyone have a link to how to create a 3D planetary map or some other tool which makes it easier to plan a multi delivery mission assignation?.
Horizons What is the best way to approach landing at Planetary Bases?.
- Thread starter Saltyseadog
- Start date
With practice, if you keep a ~45° angle when approaching a station, you should get to the station at a close distance and remember to go slow on high g worlds.
Try the Codex for an app http://edcodex.info/
Try the Codex for an app http://edcodex.info/
Last edited:
I aim to make approximately a 30 degree angle downwards slope to the base before Glide kicks in .... puts me within hailing range when it has ended.
Then, taking this further .....
Request landing and check which bay has just lit up, compared with those lit up previously. Aim to approach it heading inwards towards the base (you may have to skirt the perimeter). In a small ship, I fly in like a plane, gear down as I am on the approach to slow me down, and hit "full stop"(the X key for me) as I am over the target - if perfect I land straight away.
On high g planets, I come in more slowly and drop onto the bay when aligned above. The drop has to be gentle, so use FA off/on/off in quick succession to try to control the descent.
In big ships, approach the yellow number of the bay, then drop down from above it.
Hope this helps.
Then, taking this further .....
Request landing and check which bay has just lit up, compared with those lit up previously. Aim to approach it heading inwards towards the base (you may have to skirt the perimeter). In a small ship, I fly in like a plane, gear down as I am on the approach to slow me down, and hit "full stop"(the X key for me) as I am over the target - if perfect I land straight away.
On high g planets, I come in more slowly and drop onto the bay when aligned above. The drop has to be gentle, so use FA off/on/off in quick succession to try to control the descent.
In big ships, approach the yellow number of the bay, then drop down from above it.
Hope this helps.
Thanks for the replies and reps to you all. [up]
I find if you align the target base target circle so it is just inside the outer edge of the planet, this equates to about a 30 degree approach angle, which after the glide terminates, can mean you are just 4 km away from the base. It takes a bit of practice, but very satisfying when it works! Modulate the thrust so it is always showing about 6 seconds to impact. 
You will end up at full throttle by the end of the glide, but you won't crash, and no damage is done exiting glide.
You will end up at full throttle by the end of the glide, but you won't crash, and no damage is done exiting glide.
Last edited:
Why would you want to end 20k from the base? I usually target a 30 to 45 degree angle at half throttle depending on the planets gravity. Make sure you are pointed dead center before you enter glide (it's easier that way, no drifting) and you will pop out at 5k out and around 2.5k in altitude.
@Piper - I don't normally have to deal with the shenanigans of drifting around the base when Control assigns me a pad on the other side of the base.
You can also use your vertical thrusters to bring you down faster, along with boost and throttle.
Lastly, it gives you a different view of the facility, and I like variety...
You can also use your vertical thrusters to bring you down faster, along with boost and throttle.
Lastly, it gives you a different view of the facility, and I like variety...
Make sure your altitude is half that of the distance. So if you have 200km to go, your altitude would be 100km.
Aim above your target to overshoot it.
When you have 80km to go, and altitude 40km, you will drop out into Glide. Aim for the target this time.
You should drop out of glide within 8 - 6 km of the target.
Observe Gravity - its its less than half a G, throttle up, and then make the landing call.
After the box lights up lower the landing gear at 3.5km to go, and drop down to 75% thurst.
Drop to 50% thrust over the target, turn and line up.
Drop to 25% thrust for final decent, scrub off all the speed, and then switch the engines off completely.
Now I come in using the booster keys (for me its , and .) and F to Fall (R to Rise).
If gravity is more than half a G or more than 1, I usually throttle right back and aim for the landing pad at higher altitude, coming in over the top of it, and using the Rise booster only and zero forward momentum, to offset the fall speed, and just hover down.
Aim above your target to overshoot it.
When you have 80km to go, and altitude 40km, you will drop out into Glide. Aim for the target this time.
You should drop out of glide within 8 - 6 km of the target.
Observe Gravity - its its less than half a G, throttle up, and then make the landing call.
After the box lights up lower the landing gear at 3.5km to go, and drop down to 75% thurst.
Drop to 50% thrust over the target, turn and line up.
Drop to 25% thrust for final decent, scrub off all the speed, and then switch the engines off completely.
Now I come in using the booster keys (for me its , and .) and F to Fall (R to Rise).
If gravity is more than half a G or more than 1, I usually throttle right back and aim for the landing pad at higher altitude, coming in over the top of it, and using the Rise booster only and zero forward momentum, to offset the fall speed, and just hover down.
Last edited:
Aim to begin glide at 50km, make use of the faster orbital cruise to get position for an approx 30deg descent to base. I find it helps to have base on horizon when you enter the planet's influence. Usually puts me at the base at about 6km once glide is complete (may want to adjust for higher G worlds).
Nose down, full throttle.
You'll be fine
Don't forget to boost!
That's how I approach in my Type-7. I can only imagine the people on the ground, looking up at a giant space-brick barreling down on them at 317 kph, and then kicking into a gentle auto-docking at 300km.
There are some great YouTube videos but I can give a short primer:
There are 4 phases to a planetary landing: Planetary Approach, Orbital Cruise Mode, Glide Mode, then Landing.
Approach the planet just as you would a star-port and when the timer drops to 7 Light Seconds (7 LS) set throttle to 75%. Spot your target/destination and circle the planet if necessary. When the planet starts getting big in the window reduce throttle to 50%. I like to approach a planet "hull-down" with the settlement I am planning to land at coming at me over the horizon, with the nose of my ship pointed just above the horizon (your altitude still drops because, geometry) watching to make sure my speed eventually drops into the "blue zone" in the mini-panel to the left of the HUD. I want the settlement to be at a point about half-way between an imaginary drawn line under my ship and the horizon before I drop-in, this gives me an approach angle of approximately 35-45 degrees downward towards my destination. I push forward and point my nose at my destination and when Orbital Cruise (OC) kicks in the AoA ladder appears on the HUD. Aiming high (above the target) will increase my Glide angle, aiming lower will shallow it. I personally aim high because I like to be right up against or near the "red-zone", very steep at 50 degrees angle when Glide Mode kicks in, shortens the Glide time and leaves my ship right over the target at about 5-6 Km altitude. So:
Approach the planet, drop throttle to 75% at 7 LS out.
Spot your destination, circle planet if necessary.
Reduce throttle to 50%.
Point your ship's nose just above the horizon and maneuver to place your destination about half-way between the imaginary line under your ship and the horizon.
As your altitude drops watch to make sure your speed (eventually) drops into the "blue-zone" (left mini-panel).
When Orbital Cruise (OC) begins watch the AoA indicator on the HUD and when the settlement is at about 45 degrees in front and below you, push into a shallow dive toward the settlement.
Aim slightly high so your angle does not shallow (geometry) but watch the HUD to make sure your angle does not become too steep and make sure you are pointed directly at your target when Glide Mode begins. Optimum angle (for me) is about 50 degrees.
Once Glide Mode starts, just hang on, do not make huge control inputs and get ready to ask for landing clearance. Aim at the settlement.
When Glide Mode ends, if you did everything correctly you should find yourself about 5 Km above the settlement with Air Traffic Control warning you to ask for clearance.
This advice applies to low-G worlds, high-G worlds require a slightly different technique.
Don't worry, it takes much longer to read it than it does to do it. o7
Last edited:
you can see it, you know, from the ground if you are looking in the right place when someone glides in. I was watching people arrive at the barnacle site when that was a thing. Fun to watch. o7
I initially aim for ~30deg (+-5deg) and enter at ~140km/sec (+-15km/sec) and I maintain my pitch cantered on the base marker until I enter glide mode, once in glide mode I will set the throttle to within the top 1/2 half of the blue throttle zone and change my pitch so its centred on the upper 1/2 of the base marker (dependent on base position thus the approach), i.e. if the base is in a crater, than I may initially be centred above the base marker so I pass over the rim >2.5km, then once over the rim I then pitch down so its centred on the upper 1/2 of the base marker, which normally drops me at ~9km out at ~2km height, then once at 7.5km I request landing, then take a ~1.5km radius arc around the base to my landing pad at ~300m AGL so I can then make a straight-in approach to my pad.
Any landing you walk away from is a good landing.
This is how I do it. .>>>> https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B3UfwiG4zNJfMUpsVFhzOUJzekU <<<
oops.. missed the "planetary". But I would still like to see a video of doing that not done by someone simply showing off.
To really understand, there needs to be narration of the actions and why the actions were done.
oops.. missed the "planetary". But I would still like to see a video of doing that not done by someone simply showing off.
To really understand, there needs to be narration of the actions and why the actions were done.
Last edited:
This is a year old thread and I am pretty adept at landing on planets now but thanks for reopening it anyway as perhaps it will help others.
- [big grin]