Why Cant I Dock Elite Dangerous? Troubleshooting The Challenge

In Elite Dangerous, you have the flexibility to customize your landing gear controls to suit your preferences. This means you can assign the landing gear function to a different key or button through the game’s settings menu. For players on PC, the default key for engaging the landing gear is the ‘L’ key. However, if you’re playing on an Xbox console, you can easily deploy your landing gear by pressing the ‘B’ button and then pushing down on the D-pad. This customization allows you to adapt the controls to your gaming setup, making your Elite Dangerous experience more comfortable and tailored to your needs.

The auto docking computer in Elite Dangerous is a convenient onboard system designed to streamline the docking process for pilots. Once you receive clearance from the station’s control, you can engage the docking computer by ensuring your ship’s speed is either at zero or set to zero (this can be done using the default key “x”). This system takes over the docking procedure, allowing you to relax and observe as it expertly guides your ship to a safe and precise landing within the station. It’s worth noting that while setting the speed to exactly zero is recommended, the system often functions even if it’s just brought to a stop.

To successfully dock in Elite Dangerous, you’ll first need to request permission via the Contacts tab found in the left menu of your ship’s interface. To access this, press ‘1’ (default key) to open the Target menu, then use ‘q’ or ‘e’ to toggle to the Contacts tab. Once there, navigate and select the desired station using the space bar. Next, highlight and choose the “Request Docking Permission” option, which can be done using the ‘w’, ‘s’, and spacebar keys. This process ensures a smooth approach and entry into the station.