Docking Port Decouple Vs Undocking

[jbdenney]

I was looking at Docking ports. I saw the option to "Undock" but also one to "Decouple". What is the difference between those.

Is there a difference in using a docking port to dock and allow crew transfers and fuel transfers or as a connection point to hold station parts together? I figure there must be a reason for having both options.

 

Thanks

Bruce

[bewing]

When you first build a rocket with a generic docking port, you can attach a part to the docking port. Such as a nosecone. What this means is that the docking port acts like a decoupler the very first time you use it -- when you clear that very first attached part from the docking port.

 

[Curveball Anders]

7 hours ago, bewing said:

When you first build a rocket with a generic docking port, you can attach a part to the docking port. Such as a nosecone. What this means is that the docking port acts like a decoupler the very first time you use it -- when you clear that very first attached part from the docking port.

I use the nosecone on top of docking port frequently, esp in the early game.

Can add that you can also r-click on the docking port and add it to staging.

 

[Fraktal]

9 hours ago, bewing said:

When you first build a rocket with a generic docking port, you can attach a part to the docking port. Such as a nosecone. What this means is that the docking port acts like a decoupler the very first time you use it -- when you clear that very first attached part from the docking port.

 

...how come I didn't know this?!  I've got 878 hours clocked into KSP already, yet I had no idea you don't need an extra decoupler for docking port nosecones!