Help Undocking

[Apollo13]

I cannot get my command module to undock from my space station. The image is my command module docked to the space station, having just delivered RCS monopropellant. I wish to undock and return to Kerbal.

In the left image, when I right-click the docking port on the RCS fuel tank. I'm offered the context menu which allows undocking. When I click on Undock, nothing happens. That is, when I try to back away from the station with the command module (I'm in Docking mode, so I'm using translation key commands), I see all the jets across the space station fire. Also, I'm still firmly docked.

When I right-click the docking port on the command module (right image), the context menu does not offer the Undock option. FYI, between the command module and the docking port, there is a parachute. In previous flights, I've docked to something, undocked, and deployed the parachute. so the chute should not prevent undocking from the space station.

I've tried the "Control from here" option on both docking port context menus and the command module menu.

What do I need to do? I want to go home. There's a cold beer and a hot chick waiting for me down there.

Edited July 31, 2013 by Apollo13

[sojourner]

This sounds like the docking bug I've seen mentioned. Someone had a video with a fix somewhere on the forum, try a search. Also, I've heard that docking and undocking another craft somewhere else on your station can smetimes fix the issue.

[nhnifong]

As far as I know, there is no fix once you're already in flight. You have to avoid snap-connecting any decouplers or docking nodes in the VAB with clipping on or sometimes they don't disconnect.

[Apollo13]

Thank you. I searched and found this.

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/showthread.php/35777-Can-t-Undock-Bug

A couple other topics as well.

[Apollo13]

I needed to rearrange the Station anyway. So, I undocked the whole assembly that I just delivered. I moved to another docking port on the station and re-docked. I was then able to undock from the assembly without problem.

Before this, I undocked and redocked at the same docking node where I have the problem. My problem continued until I moved to another node, described above.

Squad *REALLY* needs to fix this fun-killing bug. Since I'm not the first to encounter it, and it requires a tortuous and convoluted process to fix it by manually editing the .SFS file (see my 18:29 post). It's nice for Squad to create shiny new toys and features for each pre-alpha release. But, lets prioritize the fun-killers.

Sidebar: Having undocked, I EVA'd Jeb from his living-pod on the station to the returning command module, so he could return home too. Upon reentry, the drag-chute deployed to slow the craft. When the chute popped open, it tore loose from the capsule. Jeb and the pilot plunged to their deaths. Funeral arrangement are TBA.

[sojourner]

Good to hear the problem was resolved, sad to hear about Jeb and company.

[Apollo13]

Problem is NOT RESOLVED. I had the same problem elsewhere on the station. I ended-up EVAing my Kerbalnauts to escape pods to return them to Kerbal. I then used a command module to deorbit the station to let it burn in the atmosphere.