Mk1 Pod and RC-001s controller combo on ship causes station to rotate uncontrollably.

[ScarM]

I am attempting to dock a ship with unmanned Mk1 pod using a RC-001s remote controller. (seen in picture) The

pod was to return one of the kerbals back to KSC. I approach the docking at 0.1 m/s; as slow

as I can manage, but moments after docking, the station begins to spin wildly.

I've tried disabling reaction wheels/torque and turning off electrical at the Mk1 pod before

docking, but have the same bad results. I've tried ensuring control at the RC-001s then

turning off RCS, SAS; always the same disaster.

The identical ship with Mk1 pod removed will dock just fine. Other craft and adding pieces

to the station dock just fine. The problem is narrowed down to mk1pod and remote controller

on the same craft.

Aside question: Is a flag for planting on the surface from a 'mod' or cobbled from stock parts?

Edited September 16, 2013 by ScarM

[Captain Sierra]

picture appears broken.

In regards to question 2, I am not fully understanding what you are asking.

As for the main issue, you got a kraken problem! I am guessing this is some kind of escape pod you are sending up and that is why it needs the mk1 pod. Are you attempting to dock by the nose with a jr port (asking because pic is busted) or on the rear with a standard port?

[rodion]

Aside question: Is a flag for planting on the surface from a 'mod' or cobbled from stock parts?

Can't help you with your main problem, especially due to busted image, but this one is easy - neither. Flag planting is a real + supported thing Kerbals can do in the game and doesn't use any in-game parts except the flag part, which also counts as its own flight in progress. Right click a Kerbal on the surface of any body to see the flag planting option.

[ScarM]

The docking craft has a standard Clamp-O-Tron on the nose. This docks to one of the ports of the same size on the station. I needed a single seat ship to arrive at station empty and return a kerbal back to the surface. Mk1 just seemed like the logical choice.

I'm researching how to make the picture visible now.

Thanks for the quick replies!

[Kasuha]

Postimg seems to dislike direct linking to their images. This link works:

http://postimg.org/image/fw2whvr2n/

Does it start spinning regardless to which port you dock?

After you dock, you can try to switch quickly to space center and back, that often gets rid of such problems.

And I would rotate that orange tank with solar batteries 90 degrees. This way it is blocking access to two ports.

[ScarM]

The original image should be visible now. Link suggestions from postimg.org do not work.

What appear to be Sr. Clap-O-Tron docking ports facing the solar arrays are actually the large inline batteries. Placement was chosen primarily as counterweight on the arm segment while being lifted to the station.

I will be working some of these suggestion soon. Thanks again.

[ScarM]

Resolved: 'Returning to Space Center' before the station begins to rotate solves the problem. Simply return to the flight though the Tracking Station options.

I was able to reproduce the problem with a craft with two RC-001 units, so there is a problem with too many control units while docking. Jumping out of the flight to Space Center and back is a crude workaround, but I'll use it for now.

Jebediah is a real trooper. He stayed on station until the solution was found.

[HeadHunter67]

I had the same problem when I assembled my MIR station - it would start to shake itself and was in danger of tearing itself apart.

As you did, I found that switching to the Space Center and back via the Tracking Station helped. At that point, I made sure to disable all peripheral sources of torque (only the core retained its powered torque) and turned off SAS for good measure. Also, if you're using MechJeb, make sure SmartA.S.S. is off before leaving the station.

[Specialist290]

Another thought might be to use the smaller HECS and OKTO-series probe cores with manned pods. They don't have nearly as much torque as the remote controllers, and they still serve as fully-functional command units. I've often tucked an OKTO2 underneath a docking port on some of my larger craft, and I haven't noticed anything unusual happening when I do that.

[Rhomphaia]

Couldn't look at your .craft since I don't have the required mods. But from looking at your picture I am guessing that you have used an octagonal strut as a spacer between the command pod and the docking port.

There is a known problem that occurs when you have those or the cubic octagonals between docking ports and command pods (the cubics are usually the cause of people reporting problems with clipping since they are commonly used clipped in to provide lightweight radial attachment points.).

The simplest solution would be to either use the 1 man lander can instead of the command pod and attach the docking port directly, or to use the Octo or Hex probe and have that as the spacer.

[tgf]

After much searching and even more frustration, I'm glad to have found this thread! I've encountered this issue using just one HECS + one Rcs-001 and even with one Rovemate + Rcs-001. I would unmark this as "answered" because in reality it's a persistent bug that should be addressed.

Current solutions:

- Upon docking, return to Space Center and then back to ship.

- Use HECS or OCTO core instead of RCS-001 in your craft design

- Edit: Also possibly http://kerbalspaceprogram.com/0-21-rotationfreeze/

[Fooblack]

Just had the same bug- the docking target was using the 1m lander can and the docking ship was using the OKTO probe core. Returning to space center and back resolves the issue here too, but the okto core being bug free is out, unfortunately. Other searches I've done indicate this may be a bug in Mechjeb.