Station Question

[Provisional Name 12]

I want to build a massive space station for the purposes of going around the solar system collecting biome data for research from all the easy low gravity planets. For some reason, this is my big idea.

I was under the impression that what I should do is build a large ship with many Nerv engines (32 to be exact, 4 each on 8 nacelles) and a detachable refueling unit and then throw some sort of detachable data gathering craft onto it. I started by designing this and throwing it onto a larger fuel mining ship I already had. One problem that immediately occurred was that in addition to the fact that those parts alone put me at 2mil before I even had assurances that I put the craft together right to make orbit. When I went to try it out, the less propelled refueling station fell right apart from the main stage.

So I got to wondering, how stable are docking ports on a station in space? Will my craft hold together if I send these up in 3 stages and then connect them to maneuver throughout the system? Is this a realistic goal, or are there better ways to do this?

Here is a picture of the general design for the station base, without the other craft docked.

http://imgur.com/F48GWBy

Edited May 22, 2016 by SpaceCommunism

[Alshain]

It's gonna wobble like crazy.  The docking ports are not the problem, it's suspending those large engine tanks out on large long girders and THEN adding in the docking ports too.

[ag3nt108]

Docking ports are not too bad at pulling but suck hard at pushing. So your payload should be behind of the docking port which is attached to the propulsion

 

Edited May 22, 2016 by ag3nt108
zigged when I wanted to zag

[Provisional Name 12]

I have frequently used these Nacelle designs (though these ones are much larger than others), and as long as I attach it with girders and secure it top and bottom and all around with struts I haven't had problems. In fact it is largely becoming my new design preference, for non-atmospheric travel designs. I don't anticipate that this will be a problem.

Here is a similar design on my mining/refueling craft:
http://imgur.com/UUcPhEZ

The port on the top is for a small craft, the bottom has a Sr. docking port for the refueling apparatus, but I could move the small port to hook up to the refueling craft instead.

Edited May 22, 2016 by SpaceCommunism

[Vanamonde]

This question about how to play the game has been moved to Gameplay Questions. 

[Brofessional]

You can use the KIS/KAS mod to attach struts in orbit.

[Provisional Name 12]

This is true, but at the same time this seems like it would be really arduous. to do every time I want to connect it. Though, I will likely only do it once per planet if that. So it might be easier than I expect.

Edited May 22, 2016 by SpaceCommunism

[Claw]

Well, it shouldn't be too wobbly if you strut it in triangles, and run those triangles along the axis of the ship. Though it'll depend on what the three modules look like, that you are connecting. Try to keep everything axial and somewhat flat (rather than the long, slender things you see in sci-fi shows). When things get long, you'll definitely get wobble on the connecting joints, even if you strut. If you have struts connecting the width of the vessel (such as the fuel tanks) down to a part that the docking port is attached to, that will help a lot. I would recommend putting some torque wheels or RCS ports on those engine nacelles too, or it's going to bend like crazy when you try to turn it.

 

Also, you may want to consider launching that thing empty and fueling it up in orbit. Trying to launch something that large, constructed as a hub and spoke, while full of fuel will probably be quite a challenge.

[Warzouz]

Exploration Space Station. I'm doing it...

I suggest to do very simple station. You don't need to be huge to collect many data. I favor sendiong space station everywhere instead of moving it. The main reason is if you have s station somewhere, you can respond to rescure mission, get science, get ore, plant flag VERY quickly. If you have moved you station elsewhere, you can't do that any more.

You'll find my design here.

It's designed for 1.0.4, but it need very little tweaking to 1.1.2.

[Norcalplanner]

A second vote here for reducing the size of the station. A single lab and a hitchhiker is all you really need, plus electrical, propulsion, a reaction wheel, and a small lander. Also, LV-Ns are expensive and heavy. Make sure your initial TWR is down around 0.3 or 0.4. If you want to push the station with a detachable drive section, use a 2.5m or larger docking port.