Can I save and reuse launch vehicles without command pods?

[greensha]

I searched for the answer but wasn't able to find anything. I thought this would be a faq. I would like to save some of the launch vehicles (rockets) that I have made but add different payloads too them. I can't figure out to do this with out rebuilding the vehicle in the VAB. For example... I have made a heavy lift rocket to take the core of my space station to orbit. I would like to use that same rocket to lift large payloads (primarily fuel) to the space station. However, when I detach the command pod (I'm using unmanned pods with MechJeb), I am unable to add new command pods and the new payload.

Any help would be much appreciated,

Thanks!

Edited August 11, 2013 by greensha

[Johnno]

Detatch the rocket from the payload and put it aside below/on the side. Pick up the payload/pod and delete it, then pick a new pod/probecore from the parts list. Pick up your rocket and attach it onto the pod/core. Made sure to rename your new rocket or it'll overwrite your previous one.

Alternatively, build a lifter by starting with a probecore, save, then just open it up and build the payload on top of it.

[antbin]

You need two mods: Sub-Assembly Manager and SelectRoot.

Hopefully this functionality will be included in later versions.

[greensha]

Detatch the rocket from the payload and put it aside below/on the side. Pick up the payload/pod and delete it, then pick a new pod/probecore from the parts list. Pick up your rocket and attach it onto the pod/core. Made sure to rename your new rocket or it'll overwrite your previous one.

Thanks for the quick reply. I tried that, but I can't get the rocket to attach to the new command pod/payload. Once the original command pod has been deleted I can no longer attach any components. Even if I replace the command pod with the same type of pod, I still can't connect it.

[greensha]

Solved! When I selected the new command pod it placed it very close to the floor of the VAB and it was obscured by support scaffolding. I didn't realise that it had done that so I selected another command pod and it treated that second pod like a regular component.

[gloowa]

Try doing what i do.

Every time i build a rocket, i start by placing remote guidance unit, and then build my first stage around it. After Launch vehicle is done, i save it as, say, "UberLauncher1". Then i rename the vessel according to payload it will deliver, say "SS Core" for launching core of my space station, and save it.

Only now i build the actual station core. Save.

Now you have craft "SS Core" ready to launch if something goes wrong with first one, and you have "UberLauncher1" to re-use it with different payload.

Also, Giving each stage it's own guidance unit is awesome way to clean up after launches - if you leave a bit of fuel in stage, you can then change trajectory to ensure it will crash lithobrake.