Docking

Manual Docking

New pilots are encouraged, once launched, to turn their ships around and practice docking at the Lave Space Station. This is a fundamental skill that must be acquired. After sufficient trading and purchasing of (higher priority) equipment (such as an E.C.M. system) one can purchase docking computers that will automate the process.

An example of manual approach and docking is available here. Study it well. Docking.mov (warning 7 Mbytes)

A similar video for Oolite can be found on Youtube.

The general method is:

• Align with the center of the rotating entrance slot, paying due attention to any other ships approaching or leaving.
• Visually aim for a point in space a few hundred meters in front of the slit so that you approach the slot along the rotation axis of the station.
• Upon final approach commence matching your ship's rotation to the Space Station's.
• Enter the slot at a moderate speed and your craft's shields should be able to withstand any (minor) pilot error.

The in-game tutorial teaches docking.

• Restart your game and select Start New Commander.
• Then select Tutorial
• Use the b & n keys (ie: b n, b n, b n etc) to skip to lesson 7.

Automated Docking

• See Docking Computers
• There are a variety of automated helpers (see OXP list at Docking Computers)

The Dark Side

• For programming instructions (for writing OXPs etc) see Docking Instructions