The six man pods weren't quite long enough to separate them with any reasonable stability, and they still can't corner above 15m/s, but I'll try to see if I can shift the legs inward (possibly off the side docking ports?). I need to change the overall plan as well, seeing as with a 100 ton lifter to heft the 12-man Kerbin Return Vehicle to LKO, my mission schedule is going to get ridiculous. I think I'm going to use your idea, where each crew brings their own habitat and supplies then returns in a parked orbital vehicle. EDIT: New ascent vehicle and tugs designed. Launching at 60 day intervals, I can make the Day 283 window with about a month to spare.