Can I leave fuel tanks in space and connect them to later rockets?

[SpaceGoblin]

I was wondering if I could leave/separate fuel tanks in space, or rocket sections, and connect those up to a later rocket. I could then make a rocket that could reach the farther planets, by just doing it through multiple launches.

I'm guessing no, but thought I'd ask first. If we ever sent man to Mars, we might use a method like this to get enough supplies and fuel into space for the trip.

[WillHop]

Yeah, if you leave docking ports on them you can dock other vessels to them in orbit

[JumpsterG]

Absolutely possible. ANYTHING with a docking port can be attached/detached as often as you'd like to other vessels with compatible ports. All functionality remains the same, and fuel even flows through docking ports without any adjustments.

Remember, if the item in question doesn't have a probe core or command module on it somewhere, it will show up in map view only as debris (though you can still select it as a target and dock normally).

Practice building multi-part vessels or stations whole in the VAB, then split each segment off into their own launch components.

Edited December 20, 2013 by JumpsterG

[BlackBicycle]

I was wondering if I could leave/separate fuel tanks in space, or rocket sections, and connect those up to a later rocket.

Well... You can, but not in terms of orbital assembly of a mothership. The docking ports don't hold the pieces very well, and anything complex enough will not be able to accelerate without breaking. I tried that accidentally, fired engines on a craft docked to the station. The whole thing promptly tore itself apart.

That said though, I'll add a (very) short story on how I built my orbital fuel depot.

Version 22 i think it was, that's when the docking parts came about, right? Anyways... I launched a habitable module first, though it had an unmanned control unit and no people on board. The module had a hub of 5+1 docking ports (a cross plus one on top, and one on the other end of the module). I then launched a series of identical tanker modules, designed to rendezvous with the station as a big orange tank + monopropellant (RCS) tank + docking port + probe core + MechJeb. I launched four, and in the end I had a station at 100km orbit, with 4 orange tanks and a habitable module. I then designed a tanker that would carry about one largest white tank full of fuel to orbit (is that like 400? think so) and some monopropellant too. I launched those until I had 4 orange tanks full of fuel and 4 large mono tanks full. Now I could launch a heavy craft, refuel it in orbit and shoot for whatever planet I wanted. I was so happy I took a hiatus from playing this (RL, you know). When I came back, 23 was out, and I just started all over again : )

[SRV Ron]

Most certainly. Best to use for refueling rather then assemble for long range flight.

[Soda Popinski]

Well... You can, but not in terms of orbital assembly of a mothership. The docking ports don't hold the pieces very well, and anything complex enough will not be able to accelerate without breaking. I tried that accidentally, fired engines on a craft docked to the station. The whole thing promptly tore itself apart.

I seriously disagree with this. This may have been overdoing it a bit, but I put together a mothership for a Duna trip consisting of a pair of nearly identical Command Modules + Landers + Rover docked to a Jumbo tank with a Kethane rig + probe for mapping (Kethane and ScanSat). This whole thing was sent to Duna and aerobraked into orbit (using Deadly Re-entry, so I needed that inflatable heat shield). Anyway - it required 4 launches (minimum) to get everything in space, where I then assembled, found out I built the Kethane rig wrong, launched a new rig, docked it, then launched refueling missions to top off the tanks.

If you do orbital construction using stock only parts, I recommend using the Clamp-o-Tron Sr. to get a good strong connection.

[chrisb2e9]

If you do orbital construction using stock only parts, I recommend using the Clamp-o-Tron Sr. to get a good strong connection.

You can also dock more than one port at a time. it's hard to do, but it makes the rocket nice and symmetrical.

[JiWint]

I made my mother ship to Eeloo using 4 docked orange tanks with probes,rcs,and sr dock port :3

[Cancanaja]

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7460/10298606565_e1e05315d7_o.jpg

You can also dock more than one port at a time. it's hard to do, but it makes the rocket nice and symmetrical.

How did you add the struts after the ship was built?

[sojourner]

How did you add the struts after the ship was built?

He probably used the Docking Struts mod.

[toric5]

no, if you look closely, the crafts are always strutted to themselves. (look at the docking ports.)