Docking and boarding ships and stations require a few things to successfully execute.
Docking isn’t just a pastime activity, but something you will and can do quite a bit. Some missions will require you to dock with other ships or even space stations.
Then there’s the matter of enemy or civilian spacecraft that you can attack and board, stealing everything they own including their ship if you so choose.
However, to successfully dock you will need some skills and not the type you get by practicing…
First off, docking with spacecraft that does not want you to do so requires targeting skills.
These skills are used to precisely aim and target the ship’s engines, taking them out so that the ship can be boarded. You can target several different systems on a ship. Just select the ship engines and fire away.
This is where practice makes perfect comes in. Once you have obtained at least Tier 1 Targeting Control Systems you can start boarding spacecraft.
To do so during combat or while having visuals on said ship you will need to lock on to it and target it. Once locked on you will fire at its engines until they are destroyed. Effectively stranding the ship in space.
Note that some pilots can execute evasive manoeuvres to break your lock on, so if that happens you will need to get a lock on again.
Once the ship’s engines have been taken out you merely fly closer to the ship while locked onto it and once you get within roughly 500 meters of the ship a board option will appear and you select it.
Once boarded you’re free to do as you please. Whether it’s to steal the ship, rob it, or rescue a hostage.
Stealing the ship means you will need to kill everyone on board that ship. Your companion will join you when you board so do keep their affinity level in mind.
Don’t overlook the captain’s locker and the cargo hold for loot. If you’re on a hostage rescue mission, committing theft in their presence is a crime since they can witness it.
That’s all there is to it.