why my rockets go wonky on liftoff

[MPDerksen]

I create a rocket with a manned capsule.  I flip over a core that I'm transporting, so now it's upside-down on top of my rocket.  Think lander on top of a capsule.  When I lift off, bad things happen.  Quickly.  Do I need to NOT flip my probe core?  Do I need to hibernate it?  Same thing happened when I put a Cupola on my station.  It was inverted and wouldn't fly correctly until I righted it.  But that made it really difficult to dock in orbit.

Does flipping a core/lander (even with no pilot) summon the Kraken?  

[overkill13]

You need a "control from here" point that is pointing in the direction of travel.  You can use a probe core, another pod or a docking port, but the key thing is that SAS does not like control to be pointed much away from the direction of travel, certainly not backwards.  Add a docking port facing the correct direction and make it the root part of the vessel or right click on it and "control from here" before launching.

Edited April 5, 2019 by overkill13

[StrandedonEarth]

Hopefully you have a control point (docking port, pod or probe core) that is facing the right way. Right-click it, and select "control from here." You want the navball to be blue, not brown, when you light that candle.

I think I've been ninja'd...

[MPDerksen]

Problem solved.  You both rock.