AARP introduces the RockoOKTOClampo.

[Galane]

The combining of a Rockomax Brand Decoupler with the reaction wheels and electronics of an OKTO2 probe core and a Clampotron docking port began when Alan Aerospace Recycling and Packaging's chief engineer and head janitor was cleaning off a workbench in the R&D lab.

He knocked an OKTO2 off and it landed smack in the middle of a slightly used Rockomax Brand Decoupler that was on the floor. His first thought was "Why hasn't anyone though of this combination before? There's so much empty space in there, I bet I could take the works out of the probe core case and attach them around the inside..."

While he was working on that (instead of mopping the floor) one of our test pilots wandered in and asked what was up. Upon being informed at length of the benefits of having basic remote guidance built into a decoupler, the pilot snarkily replied "Well then, may as well shove a Clampotron in there too, and an ice cream parlor while you're at it!".

We're still working on the ice cream parlor part. The stuff keeps sublimating into vanilla flavored vapor.

Replace the standard Rockomax Brand Decoupler on your orbital insertion stages with the RockoOKTOClampo to transform them from space debris to useful propulsion devices or fuel tankers - or just to be able to de-orbit them by remote control without having to try and find somewhere to attach a regular OKTO2.

AARP will be using has used these on our upcoming ongoing manned mission to Duna so the lander can dock and be brought back to Kerbin. (Which will happen when the transfer window comes around again.)

Copy this code to a .cfg file and place it anywhere in your GameData folder. There is still one cosmetic glitch. If an engine is mounted directly above the decoupler, the fairing stays attached to the decoupler. Since there's no collision with those fairings it doesn't cause any problems, it just looks weird.

Any ideas on making that eject or vanish when decoupling?

PART
{

name = decoupler1-O
module = Part
author = NovaSilisko

mesh = Squad/Parts/decoupler1-2/model.mu
rescaleFactor = 1

node_stack_bottom = 0.0, -0.3654699, 0.0, 0.0, 1.0, 0.0, 2
node_stack_top = 0.0, 0.4508572, 0.0, 0.0, 1.0, 0.0, 2

fx_gasBurst_white = 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 1.0, 0.0, decouple
sound_decoupler_fire = decouple

TechRequired = advConstruction
entryCost = 2800
cost = 440
category = Structural
subcategory = 0
title = RockoOKTOClampo
manufacturer = Rockomax Conglomerate & Probodobodyne Inc.
description = The RockoOKTOClampo combines a Rockomax Brand Decoupler, the reaction wheels and electronics from a Probodobodyne Inc. OKTO2 probe core and a Clampotron docking port. The ROC can split a rocket in two, maintain remote guidance of the part split off and enables docking with it to siphon off leftover fuel or to refuel and recycle a spent stage into a useful rocket component.

attachRules = 1,0,1,1,0

mass = 0.4
dragModelType = default
maximum_drag = 0.2
minimum_drag = 0.2
angularDrag = 2
crashTolerance = 9
breakingForce = 200
breakingTorque = 200
maxTemp = 3400
fuelCrossFeed = False

stageOffset = 1
childStageOffset = 1

vesselType = Probe

MODULE
{
    name = ModuleDecouple
    ejectionForce = 250
	explosiveNodeID = top
}
MODULE
{
	name = ModuleCommand
	minimumCrew = 0

	RESOURCE
	{
		name = ElectricCharge
		rate = 0.02777778
	}
}

RESOURCE
{
	name = ElectricCharge
	amount = 10
	maxAmount = 10
}

MODEL
{
	model=Squad/Parts/Utility/dockingPort2/model
	position = 0.0, 0.0, 0.0
	scale = 1.0, 1.0, 1.0
	rotation = 0, 0, 0
}

MODEL
{
	model=Squad/Parts/Utility/decoupler1-2/model
	position = 0.0, 0.0, 0.0
	scale = 1.0, 1.0, 1.0
	rotation = 0, 0, 0
}

MODULE
{
	name = ModuleDockingNode
	referenceAttachNode = top
	nodeType = size1
}

MODULE
{
	name = ModuleReactionWheel

	PitchTorque = 0.5
	YawTorque = 0.5
	RollTorque = 0.5

	RESOURCE
	{
		name = ElectricCharge
		rate = 0.015
	}
}

MODULE
{
	name = ModuleSAS

}
}

Edited December 31, 2013 by Galane

[stupid_chris]

Two things:

Why not distribute a cfg file doing this instead of making people create one?

Second, for the fairing glitch, afaik this applies to every decoupler mounted under an engine. Generally quicksave/quickload removes it.

[Galane]

That is a config file. Just make a new text file then copy and paste it into it.

I've popped these into place on my Duna rocket and have been testing in another save to make sure things work. Then I'll load up my back up quicksave from my main game and see if I can get it all up and on its way by the time the transfer window comes along.

[Pigbear]

That is a config file. Just make a new text file then copy and paste it into it.

I've popped these into place on my Duna rocket and have been testing in another save to make sure things work. Then I'll load up my back up quicksave from my main game and see if I can get it all up and on its way by the time the transfer window comes along.

he meant upload the file.

[Roxette]

My two cent's worth, I'd much prefer to see more simple 'mods' like this simply posted as code blocks in the forum than as files to be downloaded. It makes it easier to look at them and consider them both as complete works and code snippets to use as hints for making similar things. I think it's more efficient and helpful that way, and copying and pasting a small block of code into a text file and saving it to disk isn't exactly, well, rocket science, is it?

[Dante80]

Looks good, a request. Can you please develop a similar part using the Sr docking module? It would come very handy C:

[Galane]

I figured this out by examining the stock cfg files for the three parts, and the custom cfgs for the 2 in 1 and 3 in 1 Clampotron parts to learn which sections were for the functions I wanted to add, and how to poke in the model for the docking port.

The Clampotron Sr. is the same size as the Rockomax decoupler.

If you just want to add remote control to the docking port, add this to the cfg

vesselType = Probe

MODULE
{
	name = ModuleCommand
	minimumCrew = 0

	RESOURCE
	{
		name = ElectricCharge
		rate = 0.02777778
	}
}

RESOURCE
{
	name = ElectricCharge
	amount = 10
	maxAmount = 10
}

If you want the reaction wheel and SAS parts, add this.

MODULE
{
	name = ModuleReactionWheel

	PitchTorque = 0.5
	YawTorque = 0.5
	RollTorque = 0.5

	RESOURCE
	{
		name = ElectricCharge
		rate = 0.015
	}
}

MODULE
{
	name = ModuleSAS

}

If you want to get real clever you can use Module Manager to add those to multiple parts with a single cfg file (which I don't know how to do, I've only used it to patch MechJeb into everything that's a command pod class part) but since I was also combining the Clampotron and was only doing this one part and making it new part instead of patching the original, I added it directly. The Module Manager patch for MechJeb also automatically applies to the RockoOKTOClampo.

I expect to get quite a bit of use out of it, swapping it for the standard decoupler on stages that end up in orbit so they can be used to stash fuel or push things around the Kerbin system - or just to deorbit them if they have RCS thrusters and fuel left.

[Roxette]

Galane - thanks for the idea to do this, it's a fairly simple but very useful extra.

I am about to upload to spaceport a full mod pack derived from the idea, with both standard and senior size ports. I decided to just use the model of the actual docking port and change its color to make it distinctive, it doesn't really need complex visuals, it just needs to have a clearly different appearance.

I thought further on what I said above, and from reading a lot of posts here on the forum, it seems there are a lot of users that do lack either the technical knowledge or the confidence to make simple config file based mods like this, and it is a part which can be used in many situations. I'll post the link here when it's up.