How to launch a ship with a crew-capable command pod unmanned in V0.20?

[cswancmu]

In V0.18 and V0.19 you could simply create your ship starting with a probe core and it would launch without crew in any command pod your ship contains. Now, though, it appears that one of your pods is automatically populated regardless of order, focus, or position. How can I perform this vital task in the newest version?

Edited July 4, 2013 by cswancmu

[capi3101]

Can't do it in the current version. A lot of folks recommend the Crew Manifest mod; it will let you remove the crew manually. Only other choice is to put a realllllllly long ladder on your rocket and get everybody off the ship before you launch or just bite the bullet and go manned. Me, I put a space station in orbit for the purpose of disembarking the crew for return to Kerbin at a later time.

And yes, it is a bite. Hopefully something they correct in 0.21.

[Eric S]

Without Kerbal Crew Manifest, your best bet is to EVA the kerbals and then end mission them before you launch the craft (you can do that as soon as you EVA them).

[zanzibar196]

Can't do it in the current version. A lot of folks recommend the Crew Manifest mod; it will let you remove the crew manually. Only other choice is to put a realllllllly long ladder on your rocket and get everybody off the ship before you launch or just bite the bullet and go manned. Me, I put a space station in orbit for the purpose of disembarking the crew for return to Kerbin at a later time.

And yes, it is a bite. Hopefully something they correct in 0.21.

Nonsense. You most certainly CAN do it. Your FIRST command pod that you choose is populated, sure... but the 2nd, and so forth are NOT. You can also use a probe core on the secondary craft for control after it seperates.

[Colonel_Panic]

Nonsense. You most certainly CAN do it. Your FIRST command pod that you choose is populated, sure... but the 2nd, and so forth are NOT. You can also use a probe core on the secondary craft for control after it seperates.

The problem posed is that if you have ANY mannable command pods, the game will ALWAYS man ONE of them, so if you want to have an unmanned ship with a mannable command pod, your only option without using crew manifest is to EVA your kerbals out of the command pod and end mission on them before launching.

I recommend just getting crew manifest. It has many uses.

[Tiron]

Well you could always just hax the persistence file to make the pod empty, but what fun is that?

You don't need ladders to EVA them out either. EVA them out, let go of the command pod, and hit escape-> End flight while in freefall. It's not cheating because they were never there >.> <.<

[EmissionGeneration]

The next update is meant to have a fair bit of Kerbal Management in it, so lets hope that we have the option to send up empty Capsules. It seems like something in demand by a fair few people, so chances might be good. I haven't read into much on what is coming next though.