Question/coment/suggestion

[briansun1]

So why can we not place anything in front of the shielded docking ports or parachutes?

I ask because it doesn't really make sense for the docking port. And for the parachutes it's just a thought

[Sirrobert]

Well for the parachutes, you'd lock the chute inbetween parts and you couldn't use it.

I'd like an option to open the shielded port in the VAB and dock something to the shielded port though

[BostLabs]

Well, there are no connection points on top of those items. But I'm sure you are aware of that.

why would you want to obstruct either of those items? If it is a temp obstruction, like an escape tower, why not build a structure around those items and have them on decouplers so you can get rid of them when you no longer need them?

can you tells us what you are trying to accomplish?

[briansun1]

for example I want to mount a dropable probe under a plane and then parachute it down...

and for the docking port thing give me a sec to post it up

Edited November 1, 2013 by briansun1

[boomerdog2000]

Attaching something to the shielded docking port for take off kind of makes having the shield useless, since the point of the shield is supposedly to help aerodynamics on ascent.

[Pulstar]

I use those ports on spaceplanes I send to laythe. It would make it much, much easier to send them there if you could actually attach something to the top node, so that you could send it into LKO on a rocket. Maybe tweakables will allow us to open the shield in the VAB.

Or just allow attachment below jet engines and aerospikes.

[Kasuha]

The shielded docking port could be open in VAB just like ladders are extended. If you attach anything to it, it will be open on launch. Otherwise it will be closed. Same for inline docking port.

[JoCRaM]

also the sheilded docking port should have it's drag factor tweaked - say .15 closed, .35 open - also the sheild should be ripped off if open while traveling at speeed in atmosphere? (leaving it at .25 drag like a normal port?)

[JoCRaM]

... but it would be nice to toggle he state of things like landing gear in the SPH/VAB