What is wrong with this design?

[Dizzle]

Sorry if this is the wrong place to post this.

I\'ve constructed a ship meant to land on the Mun, and deploy a manned rover which can then explore the surface. When it\'s ready, it can than return to Kerbin with plenty of fuel left over. It was essentially the unmanned rover in the vid I posted in the videos thread, with a few changes to accommodate the manned pod and the need to return to Kerbin.

It actually exceeded expectations. It landed on a VERY steep hill (middle of a gigantic crater steep) and still manage to trek its way uphill for 35km and visited an arch. It took off and was on course to re-enter Kerbin with plenty of fuel left over. It was only when I was 50km from the surface that I realized I had forgotten to add a decoupler between the rover and the command pod.

I figured it\'d be no big deal, I added the decoupler, double-checked the staging, and everything seemed to check out.

It explodes on the launch pad. The exact same thing, plus a decoupler, and it explodes on the launch pad.

I really have no idea what\'s going on here. It happens as SOON as the startup lag goes away, and restarting the game doesn\'t help. I\'m really at a loss here, and was wondering if you guys could see something that I don\'t. My theory is that Bill and Bob, tired of Jeb\'s antics, are deliberately sabotaging the launch.

*Requires MechJeb

[aphazael]

I\'m not on a machine that I can load up your .craft file and check it out myself, but my first guess would be that the extra .8 ton from the decoupler pushed some part further down the stack past its weight limit. What\'s the first message that comes up on the end flight dialog? That might give you some hint as to what happened.

[princessjane]

I have had this same problem on countless craft, you add a single item close to the command pod and stuff just starts randomly falling off or blowing up. The only solution I have found is to disconnect and then reconnect parts until the problem area is no longer falling off. If you can pin point the area that is falling off it can make this process much quicker.

[samstarman5]

Since I don\'t use MechJeb it won\'t make sense to try to bring it up on mine, but I must say: Ultra-points for pointing out included mods. :thumbup:

[E. F. Kranz]

Launches fine, here.

[Bluejayek]

When you can\'t lift off, add more boosters.

When your ship falls apart, add more struts! If you don\'t know what part is failing, add them everywhere. It can\'t hurt.

[Dizzle]

I have had this same problem on countless craft, you add a single item close to the command pod and stuff just starts randomly falling off or blowing up. The only solution I have found is to disconnect and then reconnect parts until the problem area is no longer falling off. If you can pin point the area that is falling off it can make this process much quicker.

Thanks, seems to have worked!