How do I remove parts from a vehicle already in space?

[Zosma Procyon]

Through a flip up I can't believe I made I now have I-beams permanently stuck to the viewing cupolas on my newest mobile base. They were supposed to be connected to decouplers, but I seemed to have connected them directly to the glass. I've tried hitting them with freefalling kerbals, with no success. If I can't remove them, I've just going to cheat in a fixed replacement.

[Hotel26]

Depending upon how familiar you are with the contents of the save files (e.g. quicksave.sfs, persistent.sfs), you might find the VESSEL and remove the part.  If the part has an id/link, you would need to also hunt down and remove references to those links.  Save, make a backup copy of the save file (probably also of the persistent file in case of total disaster), then edit the quicksave, then reload it.  If you don't get what you want, edit further, then reload again.  If it all goes pear-shape, put your original persistent file back and reload KSP.  Good luck with this, though (it's not for the faint-hearted).

(I'd also advise you wait 30 more minutes as someone more expert than I is surely going to be able to suggest a better, safer way!)

Edited December 25, 2018 by Hotel26

[Zosma Procyon]

Nevermind. I'm going to accept the self flagellation of replacing it.

[Superfluous J]

One of my favorite "install it, use it, uninstall it" mods are Kaboom! (exclamation mark is part of the name). Not sure if it works on 1.6 (or even 1.5.1)

 

[Gargamel]

The KIS/KAS mods will let you EVA over to them and remove them manually.......   It's probably the least cheaty way to do it, as it's pretty much what NASA would try first, try to fix the thing we got rather than send up a new one.      You might have to send up a repair mission to send up the wrench you need, but I'm pretty sure there's a way to cheat one into the the inventory if needed.  

[magnemoe]

22 hours ago, Gargamel said:

The KIS/KAS mods will let you EVA over to them and remove them manually.......   It's probably the least cheaty way to do it, as it's pretty much what NASA would try first, try to fix the thing we got rather than send up a new one.      You might have to send up a repair mission to send up the wrench you need, but I'm pretty sure there's a way to cheat one into the the inventory if needed.  

Yes, note that KAS require en engineer with an power tool or wrench. 
Then its an very powerful tool, extremely kerbal but kind of OP as in make an makeshift spacecraft out of the wreck and return to orbit. 

And yes people has done stuff like that. 

 

[Goody1981]

On 12/25/2018 at 2:30 PM, Zosma Procyon said:

Nevermind. I'm going to accept the self flagellation of replacing it.

If it’s not too late - Whack-a-Kerbal is the best way, especially for the situation you’re describing. It’s stock, no mods required.

alt-F12 to open the cheat menu, turn on whack-a-Kerbal, then middle mouse button to fire. It basically fires solid objects (you pick mass, size, velocity) in the direction you’re facing, and if they hit a part of your ship it’ll blow it up. Have used it many times to “prune” mistakes haha

[RandomKerbal]

Use KIS, Kerbal Inventory System. Learn to use it, take a kerbal on EVA and detach the part.

[Spricigo]

3 hours ago, RandomKerbal said:

Use KIS, Kerbal Inventory System. Learn to use it, take a kerbal on EVA and detach the part.

well, it had enough time to do it by now.