Better docking while on a body?

[paul23]

Hello, I'm currently starting to work on a munar base once again. Back in 0.24 I made a really cool base, with a lot of "docking ports" for rovers etc to refuel their supplies. - And also docking ports to extend the base further.

However then I launched the system, and suddenly when I finally got the massive thing (It contained also 2 massive kerobdyne tanks as reserve fuel for rovers on the mun, which was half the mass of the base). And then the second mission that brought the rovers I noticed something terrible: gravity.

The gravitational forces on the mun were different, making suspension act differently, and the lightweight vehicle didn't align with the base anymore. Now I could 'fix' it slightly by removing the suspension. But that still was very hard to align.

This made me realize that to connect land-bases you really need to have more tools. - Something that gives the exact center of the docking port in height above ground is the minimum. And ideal would be a special docking port that "is lax on position", so you could say connect your small rover's 1.25m dock to any position on the 3m docking port of the base. (and the game would leave it at that spot, not forcing a perfect alignment).

Is there a mod to do this? Or is it nowadays a non issue? I'm asking this here since I don't wish to discover it again after I build my bases.

[MunarKows]

About stock modular base building: Back in September 2013, forum user Temstar posted a thread called The art of modular base building, about how to move modules around and align docking ports on different modules. They used these concepts to create the Modular Base Creation Kit, which is made for building large bases whose modules easily connect with each other (all stock, but there are modules made for kethane). It was made with munar bases in mind, but the concept can be used for any body with a solid surface. Both threads have very interesting pictures showing what can be done with this concept.

But for those that dont want to use the stock docking system for making modular bases, Kerbal Attachment System has always a very popular solution to that because of its pipe system, which allows you to use a kerbal on EVA to make a pipe between 2 vessels, which functions very similar to placing struts in the VAB/SPH. The pipe merges the vessels, just like when docking, allowing transfer of resources between them using the right-click menu. However, some people think that this is too cheaty and/or not as fun as the stock docking system, because it allows you to just place some landers together, connect them all with pipes, and call it a base.

But using features from KAS and it's sister mod Kerbal Inventory System, you can also bring parts with you stored in containers and assemble them in the field to make a base (or whatever you want to build), as if you were building on the VAB/SPH.

[magnemoe]

KIS works well for connecting modules.

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/127413

Planetary bases has some support for this, the ultimate solution is the KAS corridor, this require KAS but let you draw an pipe between modules who are wide enough for an kerbal to walk.

However that I think you are after is adjustable landing legs or better wheels where you can set adjust the height

[paul23]

I've already USI for "bases", so kis looks kind of "too much". Do KAS & USI work together?

Well adjusting height would also be neat, as I can then just calculate everything - is there a mod for that? (Which allows temporary removal of suspension and setting of height)