Question about the mobile lab.

[Solarapple]

About to use it. Does it require the craft it's with to be active (like a kerbal in a command pod or a probe) for it to work? Please answer as soon as possible.

[OhioBob]

The Mobile Lab itself must be occupied by two Kerbals for it to work. However, the Mobile Lab is not a command pod and cannot control your vehicle. You must also have a command pod or probe core. I'm not certain if you can move your crew from the command pod to the Mobile Lab, leaving the command pod unoccupied, and have your Mobile Lab work (assuming no probe core). Even if you can do that, I wouldn't recommend it. Having your command pod unoccupied will mean you'll have no way to control your vehicle (you'd be adrift). I'd recommend a three-kerbal crew so you can move two to the Mobile Lab and leave one in the command pod. Of course if you have a probe core then you don't need a crewed command pod.

Edited April 20, 2015 by OhioBob

[Solarapple]

Thanks. I just needed to know this for my first trip to duna where I don't cheat to get home!

[Kelderek]

The lab will not function without an active pilot in a command pod or a probe core. I tried to take only 2 kerbals in a ship that had a pod and a lab and you cannot use the lab. Slap on a probe core and you'll be ok, or bring a 3rd kerbal to be the pilot in a command pod.

[Taki117]

The great thing about the Mobile lab is that it's the same diameter as the MK1-2 command pod. This means that if you have that command pod you have enough kerbals to make the lab functional without looking too terribly horrible. It does, as others have said, require two kerbals in the lab, and a third (or probe core) to control your ship.

[Kelderek]

If I'm interested in matching the diameter of the lab, then I usually use the cupola. This allows me to take Jeb, Bill and Bob on a mission together, and it also looks pretty cool. <3 the cupola!

[Alshain]

The great thing about the Mobile lab is that it's the same diameter as the MK1-2 command pod. This means that if you have that command pod you have enough kerbals to make the lab functional without looking too terribly horrible. It does, as others have said, require two kerbals in the lab, and a third (or probe core) to control your ship.

Except the Mk1-2 is annoyingly heavy for a lander. But you can leave it in orbit and take a lander can with the command pod.

[Kryxal]

The 1-2 command pod makes for a good re-entry craft when you return to Kerbin, a couple of radial chutes and you're in good shape with it. I'll usually put a standard docking port on it, then whatever you want to dock can go on top of that. These days, everything gets a probe core...