Flight Question DG-IV Getting to rendezvous with ISS

[blaze10001]

I'm following Tex's tutorial to dock with the ISS and whenever I am in orbit (after the auto ascent) I think it is really unstable, my rendezvous point is constantly moving and when I try to be smart and manually adjust the orbit myself I mess it up and get roasted in the atmosphere.

Is there something wrong with me, DG-IV or orbiter?

Blaze

 

[insanity]

Do you have non-spherical gravity on?

What's your final ApA and PeA (check the orbit mfd)?

This is a silly question, and one I've been victim to this problem a number of times, but is your joystick's (if you have one) throttle open?

 

[blaze10001]

Do you have non-spherical gravity on?

Yes, I'll try again with it off.

---------- Post added at 06:47 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:07 PM ----------

Okay, I guess it was non-spherical gravity sources, my orbit is stable now.

 

[blaze10001]

YES! finally my first dock to ISS!

cheers!

Blaze

 

[dbeachy1]

Congratulations!

 

[unknown_orbiter]

The non-spherical gravity option should only be enabled once you become able to calculate your rendezvous point with it enabled, requiring some math and luck .

 

[Turbinator]

Getting to the ISS with a DeltaGlider and the Align Planes MFD, and Sync MFD, and ofcourse the Dock HUD, with the correct nav frequency selected is super easy.
Easier than easy.

You might not do it 100% correctly, and might need to refill your fuel tanks with the in-game scenario editor, however doing it entirely yourself, with all realism setting enabled, is far more satisfying than watching an autopilot.

 

[EtherDragon]

Getting to the ISS with a DeltaGlider and the Align Planes MFD, and Sync MFD, and ofcourse the Dock HUD, with the correct nav frequency selected is super easy.
Easier than easy.

You might not do it 100% correctly, and might need to refill your fuel tanks with the in-game scenario editor, however doing it entirely yourself, with all realism setting enabled, is far more satisfying than watching an autopilot.

Hey now, don't belittle the experience.

Getting two tiny objects to converge on the same space at the same time, when they are both moving at ~7km/s and being tugged around by the Earth/Moon/Sun is no small feat. =D

Good job on tackling one of the steeper parts of Orbiter's Learning curve blaze. Get this manoever down under varying conditions and you will have developled the skills required to rendevous with any body orbiting another. Making the Moon, and Mars within reach.

Your next logical step is learning to land on a specified target on the moon. Another steep climb up the learning curve. Good luck!