Now that bases are in contracts perhaps a new docking port is in order.

[Daveroski]

Building bases is fun but connection parts of it together is difficult to say the least.

The different gravities affect the heights of docking ports so two which will dock on Kerbin will not dock on The Mun or just about anywhere else.

It would be about 2m long and the same diameter as a docking port and have a docking port on one end.

It would look white and concertina(ish) the docking port end would be able to move about a meter up and down so that it can be lined up properly with another port on site.

This would compensate for gravity discrepancies.

If there is an easy way of doing this without using a mod then please do enlighten me.

I'm not even sure there is a mod which has such a docking port.

Infernal robotics would be an excellent alternative if only it didn't hate docking ports.

[DSKY]

It could also be done like pipes in KAS, but with a larger diameter. You would have to EVA to connect them, and they would have a (presumably) very limited connection distance, say 3-5m or so.

[Wjolcz]

It could also be done like pipes in KAS, but with a larger diameter. You would have to EVA to connect them, and they would have a (presumably) very limited connection distance, say 3-5m or so.

Very much this.

[tater]

While I like the idea of a KAS part that is designed for kerbals to travel through, the condition for satisfying a base contract should be the required new construction parts merely be landed on the body in question, and within some range of each other (say inside an X hundred meter radius).

[Daveroski]

I was thinking simpler.

Drive to the building/ship you want to dock with.

Use a slider for up and down on the part control interface to line up the port vertically.

Dock. Transfer fuel / kerbals.

Undock and go for the next load..

No EVA's No pipes just a little slider that enables you to raise and lower the end of the docking ring so that you can drive forward and dock normally.

[sumghai]

Playing the devil's advocate here...

What happens when you have two segments docked using this proposed offsetable docking port, and you change the offset while both segments are still docked? Does one or both segments move?

[Daveroski]

Playing the devil's advocate here...

What happens when you have two segments docked using this proposed offsetable docking port, and you change the offset while both segments are still docked? Does one or both segments move?

I'd be fine with having it's ability to move only available while undocked. Keep in mind, that the problem I'm trying to address is the vertical matching of docking ports while on the ground. Nothing more.

Simple, but just about everyone who then built a fuel transport rover would have the item installed.