Attachment and Decoupler interaction (or lack there-of)

[PTNLemay]

Sorry about creating so many threads tonight, but some of these problems are just completely stumping me...

Click for a pretty picture of my rocket

This diagram shows my current situation, the first component to my glorious spacecraft is already in orbit, but I know it's not going to have enough Delta V to complete it's mission (I want to go out to Jool). So I've included 2 attachment points (the green rectangles) where I'll stick extra fuel tanks. I have the fuel module ready to go, but I'm not sure how to attach it to my booster. I stuck the attachment point on the bottom of the fuel tank, because that works best, but it won't connect to the decoupler on the booster.

EDIT:

This is a screengrab of the actual fuel-tank in question. http://i.imgur.com/KZdePN3.png That little green connection ball is missing.

I also tried using another attachment point and stick that to the booster, but that doesn't seem to work either.

Edited July 31, 2013 by PTNLemay

[Galacticruler]

By attachment points I assume you mean docking ports?

decouplers and docking ports are incompatible, you need a docking port where the decoupler is.

[PTNLemay]

I think that's what they're called in the parts menu... at any rate.

I've tried that, putting a docking port on the fuel tank, then taking another one, flipping it around and sticking it to the first dock, then attaching the booster. That way I could just disengage the two ports when the booster is spent. But it's also not sticking. I know it can be done because I've seen people build modules with docks on the front and the end, building kind of... space trains with multiple "wagons". These are usually sent up with booster stages. But I don't know how they attach them.

[lammatt]

there's a lot of ways to do things in KSP

you can do it the stock-ish way or do it with mod

to fuel transfer with stock parts only

you have to dock

ie. you have to have a docking port available on both vessels (check the port's orientation when you attach; 1st-timers tend to miss that)

to do it with mods

you can either

- Kerbal Attachment System

- Lazor System

- Quantum Struts

other ways

- F5 => edit the quicksave.sfs => F9

[FITorion]

The radial attachment point in the "structural" tab is what you are using. That is wrong. It is not a docking port. It does not allow things to attach in space.

What you want are docking ports (found in the Utility tab).

Radial attachment points are things that you attach to the side of something that you normally couldn't put stuff on during construction. They provide a flat surface that you can then attach a docking port to so that other ships with docking ports can connect. If you don't attach a docking port it has no function.

[Galacticruler]

What engine are you using btw?

if it is too powerful or heavy it might be breaking the connection.

I've noticed docking connections made in the VAB don't like to stick.

[FITorion]

On the Left is what you have. Wrong and will not function.

On the Right is what you should have.

[Levelord]

On the Left is what you have. Wrong and will not function.

On the Right is what you should have.

This. 10char.

[PTNLemay]

The radial attachment point in the "structural" tab is what you are using. That is wrong. It is not a docking port. It does not allow things to attach in space.

What you want are docking ports (found in the Utility tab).

Oh... Yes, right.

Phil's noob mistake: successfully identified. +1 Rep for you, thanks. lol

[PTNLemay]

Sorry if this is only tangentially related to my original inquiry, but I just had to post this somewhere.

http://i.imgur.com/hqWjCpt.png

I did it! In the end I didn't use docking ports to provide extra fuel, but I made it anyway. My first successful interplanetary maneuver.