Questions regarding multi-part space stations

[giltirn]

Hi All,

I am attempting to build a space station comprising multiple parts connected by docking rings. I lifted the first module, consisting of a couple of fuel tanks, solar panels, batteries and a probe core. I then lifted a second module with a larger fuel tank, some RCS fuel and a second probe core. After I docked the two together, only one probe core appears on the orbital map and in the tracking station - the core belonging to the second module . I have a few questions that I cannot seem to find answers to elsewhere:

1) Is it standard behaviour that the most recently attached core assumes control of the station?

2) Will this second core receive electricity from the solar panels on the first module? If not the second probe core is going to run out of electricity and die as I do not have solar panels on the second module.

3) Do all modules of the station need individual probe cores?

4) Is there a way of choosing which core is active?

Thanks for your help!

[KSK]

Hi All,

I am attempting to build a space station comprising multiple parts connected by docking rings. I lifted the first module, consisting of a couple of fuel tanks, solar panels, batteries and a probe core. I then lifted a second module with a larger fuel tank, some RCS fuel and a second probe core. After I docked the two together, only one probe core appears on the orbital map and in the tracking station - the core belonging to the second module . I have a few questions that I cannot seem to find answers to elsewhere:

1) Is it standard behaviour that the most recently attached core assumes control of the station?

2) Will this second core receive electricity from the solar panels on the first module? If not the second probe core is going to run out of electricity and die as I do not have solar panels on the second module.

3) Do all modules of the station need individual probe cores?

4) Is there a way of choosing which core is active?

Thanks for your help!

1) Yes, this is normal. Once two ships are docked they show as a single ship on the map. Likewise if you launch a ship with more than one probe core attached (so that you can de-orbit spent booster stages for example) then the extra cores only show up once you decouple or undock them.

2) I'm not completely sure but yes I think so.

3) No. You could have a single large ship consisting of the station module and an 'engine+probe' section attached to it with a decoupler. Dock the whole thing to your station, decouple the engine+probe and you're good to go.

4) Yes - right click on the core you want and select 'Control from here'. You can do the same with spare docking ports too, which is helpful for lining up the station to receive new modules.

Sorry about the bullet point answers - hope they help.

Edited May 21, 2013 by KSK

[Akalaël]

2) I'm not completely sure but yes I think so.

2) I am completly sure, it does

Once docked, the parts of you station will share the ressources.

[NeoMorph]

There is definitely something a bit wonky with the "Who is in control". For example you dock to something and then you get control of the whole thing. But undock and you don't get back control of your original ship but the ship you docked to. I would have thought your are still in the control room of the ship you docked with but that doesn't seem to be the case.

Yes, to get back into your original ship you have to hit the [ or ] buttons which seems really wrong.

[DMagic]

You can also rename your station by right clicking on any of the probe cores. You can also change it so that it appears as a station on the map, not a probe.

And about resources being shared, electricity, monopropellant, and I think xenon, will be shared by any part of the station, regardless of how they are connected. Fuel won't be automatically shared between tanks, but you can right-click on one tank and alt-right-click on another and manually share fuel.

[giltirn]

Thanks for the answers everyone. I guess resource sharing means that I can dock modules to the station that don't have cores? Typically I fly up my module, dock it to the station, then undock the command pod and take it back to Kerbin leaving the station unmanned.