Docking MFD

Docking MFD is used to assist the pilot to align, approach, and dock with another vessel or station. It will provide indicators for alignment with the dock, both in translation and rotation.

Screenshot of HSI MFD mode

Docking modes

• IDS mode: The MFD will use a radio signal transmitted by the target, tune one of the NAV receivers to the dock frequency and slaving the Docking MFD to that receiver. The frequency is displayed in the upper right of the display. The mode will work up to a distance of about 100 km.

• Visual mode: It will use a visual system from cameras mounted within the docking port to display parameters. This is used for docking to vessels without IDS, and works up to about 100 meters from the docking vessel.

• Direct target selection: This is used by those who don't want to use the IDS or visual modes, it works by computed distance and orientation from the target. It works at any distance.

Controls

• NAV button (Shift+N): Select NAV receiver for IDS mode, NAV 1, 2, 3, 4.

• VIS button (Shift+V): Select visual mode, select target vessel and dock.

• TGT button (Shift+T): Select Direct mode, select target vessel and dock.

Display

Visual indicators

• To the left is a bulls-eye style display with scales for approach speed, rotational alignment, and lateral/vertical alignment.

• Approach path indicator: A yellow cross indicates the nominal approach path relative to your dock, the scale on the vertical axis below center indicates how far off center your dock is.

• Tangential velocity indicator: The yellow arrow indicates how fast your ship is moving laterally/vertically with respect to the approach path, in what direction and how fast your ship is moving up/down/left/right. In translation RCS mode, move slowly so the arrow moves toward the yellow cross until the cross is centered.

• Alignment indicator: The white or red × indicates rotational alignment. Outside the approach cone, it will be red, inside, it will be white. In rotational RCS mode, rotate the ship until the indicator is centered.

Longitudinal rotation indicator: A small red or white arrow. The docks are designed so that you must be rotated in the correct position to dock, although, in Orbiter you can dock in any rotation, your ship will instantly align. To do it correctly, rotate the z-axis of the ship until the arrow is at 12 o'clock is white.

• Approach cone: A concentric circle that as you approach the dock, it gets smaller. Your alignment cross and × needs to be inside this cone to dock, outside this cone and your ship will just pass through the other vessel. The cone is red until the cross is inside it, then it will turn green.

• Tangential velocity indicator