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Shuttle piloting on Space Station 14 is actually a rather straightfoward afair. Just keep in mind that shuttles have collision damage - so slamming into other structures will hurt both your shuttle and whatever you crashed into!
Controlling
The shuttle is controlled via the shuttle console. On DeltaV there is also a special variation on it - the cargo shuttle console. The cargo shuttle is the only shuttle capable of going to the Automated Trade Station (ATS).
By default, to control the shuttle:
- Use WASD to move the shuttle
- Use Q and E to rotate the shuttle
- Hold Spacebar to stop in place
- If you press WASD or Q or E while holding Spacebar, you can make small adjustments.
Shuttle Control Console Interface
The shuttle control console consists of three tabs.
Pilot View/The Mass Scanner
The first tab is the Pilot View/The Mass Scanner. This is where you will spend most of your time, and the best view for controlling the shuttle. It shows the shape and size of objects around you (as well as their identity if they have any), while the panel on the right shows your coordinates and speed (both movement speed and rotation speed).
You can change your zoom level in this view with your mouse scrollwheel.
Faster Than Light (FTL) view
The second tab is the Faster Than Light (FTL) view. It contains the long range scanning radar, which is turned on by pressing "Scan For Objects". On it, you can see what objects are in the area of space and how they are located relative to you, but not their size. More importantly, this is the panel which is used to make FTL jumps. FTL jumps can be made either within the same sector of space, or into other sectors of space you have access to. For example, on Delta-V, the ATS station is located on a different space sector, only accesible by the cargo shuttle. To jump to a different sector, select the ATS from the drop down menu in the bottom right corner, to open the view for a different space. sector.
You can pan your view around in this view by click dragging on the radar screen.
Docking view
The last, third tab is the docking view. For all intents it is a zoomed in version of the mass scanner (first tab), and you can zoom out if you wish. Crucially, this view is orientated with respect to your docking ports, and the docking port can be changed by clicking the "View" button. Once able to dock, you click the "Dock" button to connect the two docking ports together.
Docking
Docks on your mass scanner show up in a different colour and with a special, two piece icon.
To dock, two docks need to be essentially touching. Remember to move slowly when docking - going too fast will cause a crash with destructive consequences! Then, go into the docking view to dock, select your airlock with the "View" button and click "Dock" on the oppossite airlock. The airlocks will connect and then open. It can be easier to maneuver when docking using docking view because it is zoomed in more.
After connecting your first airlock, make sure to which to your other docking airlocks using the "View" button and if they can dock, connect them as well!
Shuttle power and machinery
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- Firstly, it needs to be a separate grid, unconnected to the rest of the station.
- A shuttle needs a power generator, and cables plus substations and APCs to provide that power to all its equipment.
- You need at least four thrusters - to go forward, back, and then left or right. Stritcly speaking you can even get away with just forward and back, and rely on rotation using the gyrostabilizer.
- A gyrostabilizer is essential. It basically ensures you can control your shuttle and it does not spin out of control.
- Lastly you need a shuttle console. It controls the shuttle.
Other equipment on the shuttle is technically optional, but useful.
- Walls and windows
- A docking airlock to dock your shuttle
- An air supply - using air gas canisters and a canister port
- A mini gravity generator so there is gravity on the shuttle