How does one dock ships in the FL universe realistically?

[nOmnomnOm]

On a base we have all seen those rings under the ship that make the ship float up magically. A nice piece of quick sci-fi to get the problem across.

Looking ahead though from this 10 year old game, what would be actual ways in which ships like tranports would dock/mourn inside a station? Wheels? Some of them dont have flat bottoms. Example is the serenity.

Would they be attached by strong cables? Perhaps a docking bridge similar to what we have in airports for passengers to enter but this time the arm holds on? Perhaps even an arm from the ceiling or two to hold the ship?

For the purpose of simplicity and for my work, we are assuming that the docking bay has 0 gravity. How do you think would be best to help the ship in one place?


Pictures of examples?
https://mandrykart.files.wordpress.com/2...ardock.jpg
http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/metr...0503195448
http://static.wixstatic.com/media/ca25f9...0f1fa8.jpg <- What i am thinking atm
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736...40f2a4.jpg

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[Arioch]

I imagine something like the above, but magnetic clamps and a retractable entry corridor - something like Mass Effect and the Normandy: https://i.ytimg.com/vi/S6kCi9y6a5c/maxresdefault.jpg

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[Venkman]

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/S6kCi9y6a5c/maxresdefault.jpg

My thoughts exactly.

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[nOmnomnOm]

http://i.imgur.com/nrTa8JY.jpg
Here is where i am at so far and working at the left side page. Kinda messy

Trying to fit a Serenity to make it stay in the station.... I could also just have transports be on the outside but.... then it is hard for cargo to move inside.

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[Char Aznable]

Um... Yes? That's why transports use mooring points? They don't move inside, except for the biggest stations and maybe planets?

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#notmyfrankfurt

[nOmnomnOm]

An armored transport or a BWT would have different requirements in size than a 5k-er though, no?
I'm just bouncing off ideas... I could have them all from the outside but I am thinking about some variety.

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[Omicron]

I always assumed it is some variation of gravity control in form of what it appears very efficient tractor beam. Would also explain why stations have gravity to begin with.

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[Skorak]

People in Freelancer have mastered Anti-grav. Making it useable for even small applications. First thing that comes to mind is the Intro cutscene where they carry away the injured.

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[HassLHoFF™]

There is a midget field around each station, that shrinks any ship drastically attempting to dock, that's why the bases are much more huge from the inside than from the outside.

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[Impyness]

Also probably just attached by cables or something like the thing they attach to planes to let people board.