Is the only way to rescue with external seats? Or is there something more realistic?

[AdamGM]

Can you launch a command pod without having it full up? Can you put Kerbals into another container somehow?

[Francesco]

use kerbal manifest.

or put more than one command pod on your ship: the game fills only the first one with kerbals.

oh, and don't forget the hitchhiker module

[Mark V]

Currently, there is no way known for me to do it other than take a kerbal out of the pod and ending its "flight", giving one seat left in the pod to rescue a kerbal with. Or you could just strap an empty pod on the rocket somwhere.

[AdamGM]

Cool, I didn't know it maxed out at 3. I don't use mods but it sounds like I have a solution

[classyjakey]

Choose something else as your starter thing not a pod, then put the pod on, it should be empty.

[Commander Zoom]

as classyjakey said, probe-piloted rescue craft are also a solution.

[Eric S]

As of 0.20 (or was it 0.19?), using a probe first then a manned pod still results in the game populating the manned pod.

I either EVA the kerbals before launch, or use Kerbal Crew Manifest to unload them and then fly the rescue craft from a pod, since that way I can't mess up and strand even more kerbals somewhere.

[UmbralRaptor]

The Hitchhiker pod sounds like it would cover this. As would EVAing a few kerbals from one of the capsules.

[Mr Shifty]

Deleted because it was no addition to the excellent advice already given.

Edited June 23, 2013 by Mr Shifty

[zanzibar196]

Yes. And Yes.

For better answers, the container is called the hitchhiker module... and if you want multiple command pods on a ship (I would suggest adding power and a robot control pod), here is a video demonstrating it:

[Tank Buddy]

Yes, if you start with a probe, any added capsule will be empty, as far as I know. For large rescues, use the Hitchhiker Storage Container.