Will this idea work?

[Dimetime35c]

Okay so I've got the space station main core up and want to start building onto it. However getting all my parts to 1 catch the station, and 2 then dock correctly is proving to be harder then expected. Would building for lack of a better word a space tugboat make things easier? Basically build a craft that's nothing but RCS tanks and that has thrusters all over the f ing place. Would such a craft even work?

[SkyRender]

Yes, actually. Scott Manley designed something just like that for Reusable Space Program, in fact. Basically all you need is: docking ports on either end, core, battery, solar panels, monopropellant, and 2 sets of 4 any-direction RCS thrusters. They're crazy-agile and fantastic for base construction, since it means you don't have to worry so much about how you design your additions.

[Dimetime35c]

Would putting a rocket on it be any use? How much power is needed to push and tow parts in space? I'm thinking it will need the ability to tow parts to catch up with the station.

[Technical Ben]

I use "Construction pods" which are often little more than 2 ports, an RCS tank, some power and a core and of cause a MechJeb.

With those I can shunt things back and forth. If it's something bigger or further I add some liquid engines, but those are often docked to the section I'm launching, and then scuttled/re-entry burned on completion.

[SkyRender]

Unless what you're moving is absurdly heavy (we're talking 15+ tonnes), you don't need more than the RCS tug I described. It DOES help if the object you're towing has RCS ports to help out, though; having all your RCS in the back can cause some serious issues when trying to reorient yourself or do anything besides speed up and/or slow down.

[Whackjob]

One of my (way) overbuilt RCS tugs. Normal dock on one end, large dock on the other. Lots of power for moving around large parts.

[SkyRender]

And here, by contrast, are a pair of pretty minimalist tugs:

[BahamutoD]

Would putting a rocket on it be any use? How much power is needed to push and tow parts in space? I'm thinking it will need the ability to tow parts to catch up with the station.

You still need to rendezvous with the station without the tow. I don't think having something come off the station to grab an object that hasn't "caught up with the station" and come back is any easier than matching orbits with the station in the first place.

[Anton P. Nym]

This is the tug I built, inspired by the Starfury design from Babylon 5. It's very maneuverable and does a great job of hauling stuff, but putting the docking port in back means I have to be sure to select it in "control from here" mode when docking with the payload. Otherwise it's a dream given for- er, handles great.

-- Steve

[Vanamonde]

That's how I build all my stations: components that can be re-arranged by RCS tugs. Here is the small tug moving a strut.

And the large one moving a lab component.

[numerobis]

Could you move big objects by using a pair of tugs, one at each end, in order to get translation without rotation?

[SkyRender]

Could you move big objects by using a pair of tugs, one at each end, in order to get translation without rotation?

You can, but you'll have a problem when you go to dock it: both docking ports will be taken up by the two tugs. This can be dealt with, but it's a bit of a pain in the butt.

[leax256]

wow, thats a nice station. I would build like that but I really want the physics engine to work better, part count must be kept low.