Use a small command module in a big ship

[daveharnett]

Howdy. I'm looking to use a small unmanned command module as the starting point for a lifter.

The problems I'm encountering are

1: I can't figure out a way to place a ship's primary command module anywhere but in the central stack. A radial mount or a spot on a non-central stack would avoid this problem.

2: Putting a small radius part in the middle of a big radius stack makes a structural weak point (the module can't be at the top since the payload will live there).

I've tried 'wrapping' the module in larger radius 'collar' shaped parts (ASAS/Decouplers), but it's still a weak point (they either crush or hinge). How do you get around these problems without adding a mess of structural supports?

[M5000]

How do you get around these problems without adding a mess of structural supports?

It's simple: You don't. Struts out the ass or you're out of luck..

[sal_vager]

Is this what you are after?

[Chruschtschow]

[...] starting point for a lifter [...]

I suppose that you want to get a reusable launcher design, so you don't have to rebuild it every time from scratch, right? If that's the case, you just build the rocket the way you described it. Then you take everything BELOW the command module, but not the command module and drop it on the small jigsaw icon. Then start a new design, build the payload and load the launcher from the jigsaw icon again.

Which jigsaw icon? This one!

Edited April 25, 2013 by Chruschtschow

[RoboRay]

If you enable part-clipping (ALT-F12), you can actually fit your probe pod (and a battery) inside the hollow decoupler on top of the launch vehicle.