Multi-port docking?

[Razorcane]

Is multi-port docking possible? Let me explain a hypothetical situation. I have a module attached to a space station. It has a clamp-o-tron jr. on it so that I can grab it with a robotic arm. Is it possible to dock with the clamp-o-tron jr. while still being docked to the station?

[I_Killed_Jeb]

Yes

10chars

[Razorcane]

Is there a certain trick to get it to work? I have the clamp-o-trons near each other, yet they do not magnetize.

[I_Killed_Jeb]

Can you be more specific? If the clamp-o-trons have been disengaged from each other, for instance, they will not stick back together without some element of time/separation.

[Razorcane]

I was fairly specific. The station modules are attached to the rest of the station via the regular clamp-o-trons. The robotic arm has a clamp-o-tron jr. on it, and so does the station module, so that it can be grabbed and moved around. However, when I get close to it, it only magnetizes, but doesn't connect. I tried undocking the regular clamp-o-trons, and that worked, but the regular clamp-o-trons immediately tried to dock again, and caused the ship to spin out of control and break apart.

[boomerdog2000]

I don't think you can. Fairly certain since the ship is already a ship, it can't dock itself to itself.

[Superfluous J]

I don't think you can. Fairly certain since the ship is already a ship, it can't dock itself to itself.

No, they can. I and many others use the 3-way adapters with 3 docking ports to make more secure connections all the time.

As to the OP's post... I don't know. Never used the robotic arms so don't know if there are any problems there.

[Merinsan]

I'm certain you can't. Multiport docking only works when they are 2 separate ships.

It wont work if you are trying to dock to another part of the same ship, for the exact same reason that makes multiport docking hard - if the 2nd, 3rd etc port doesn't magnetize at the same time as the first, they wont dock with the ship, and they wont after the first one docks.

Edited November 14, 2013 by Merinsan

[boomerdog2000]

No, they can. I and many others use the 3-way adapters with 3 docking ports to make more secure connections all the time.

As to the OP's post... I don't know. Never used the robotic arms so don't know if there are any problems there.

Yes but that's different. You're docking multiple ports simultaneously which is possible if somewhat difficult. He is trying to dock a portion of the ship to the same ship without undocking which I don't think is possible.

Example would be: You're using your 3-way adapter with 3 docking ports, but only 2 of the ports connect. Don't you have to undock then redock and hope that all 3 connect?

OP is trying to get that 3rd docking port to connect without undocking.

[soranno]

Put anything on the launch pad with a multi port connection. In the VAB you can only make one of them connect, but as soon as physics loads the others will automatically connect.

That is a ship docking to itself, exactly the same as being described here.

What is probably happening is the robotic arm is holding it back, when you release the robotic arm grip on whatever part it is, does it then make the connection?

[FITorion]

docking with multiple ports is possible but hard. I've never been able to do it. You have to line everything up just right so that all the ports on the 2 ships connect at the same time. Even slightly off and not all the ports will connect... even though they are right next to each other... It's because they are now part of the same ship.

Using the robotic arm as you describe won't work because the ports are part of the same ship.

[Razorcane]

Put anything on the launch pad with a multi port connection. In the VAB you can only make one of them connect, but as soon as physics loads the others will automatically connect.

That is a ship docking to itself, exactly the same as being described here.

What is probably happening is the robotic arm is holding it back, when you release the robotic arm grip on whatever part it is, does it then make the connection?

The robotic arm doesn't even connect. It will magnetize, and try and connect, but it won't actually connect. And when I undock the module from the rest of the station, it immediately tries to re-dock, even though that shouldn't be possible. What probably happens is, as soon as it is undocked from the station, it docks to the arm, which resets the undock timer thing, and it immediately tries to re-dock. However, I figured that the robotic arm would be powerful enough to pull away, but alas it isn't possible.

[Johnno]

Please consider carefully where you place new threads, this one was in the wrong subforum. Rule 2.4 is in effect, repeated offences may lead to infractions.

Thread moved.

[Starwhip]

Does said module have a probe core and RCS? If it does, switch to it and thrust just a *little* bit forward, go back to the arm, and dock it.