More control over detatched probe names

[StarkRG]

I realize we can change the name in flight but it would be nice for detached probes to already have names different from the parent spacecraft. Example: I want to be able to create a spacecraft named "Cassini", and have a probe detach called "Huygens". Currently the detached probes simply copy the name of the parent spacecraft with "probe" tacked on to the end (as if they're sort of glorified debris, which I guess is essentially how the game views them). This is only marginally useful since often you'll have more than one probe and they'll all end up with the same name and a lander or rover shouldn't be called "probes".

I would suggest that the mechanic to implement this would be to have a name attached to each pod/probe core with defaults based on the parent spacecraft's name (similar to how it works currently). This would also allow the probes to have sequential names such as Parent Spacecraft Probe 1 and Parent Spacecraft Probe 2 (if you wanted to be really fancy you could try to detect what kind of vehicle it is, if it has wheels it's a rover, if it has landing legs it's a lander, if it's neither of those but it's crewed it's a shuttle or something). The names should be editable within the VAB/SPH as well as being able to change them in flight. Presumably you'd have to have some way of figuring out which pod or probe core gets the roll of the parent spacecraft, and thus the primary name, when it isn't the root component (when it is the root the choice is obvious). Two reasonable choices are the pod/core which is highest (the downside being forward-placed probes would now be the parent) or the pod/core which is placed first (the downside being aft-placed rovers become the parent. Another option, though more fiddly and probably not worth doing, would be to provide a hierarchy of precedence (crew capsules take precedence over non-crewed probes, for example). But, of course, these defaults can be overridden by the user specifying which pod gets which name.

A second suggestion to this would be to enable a parent spacecraft to have one name at launch and, after separation, each individual probe gets a different name. For example you could launch a spacecraft called "Cassini/Huygens" and then have "Huygens detach" and do its thing while "Cassini" goes off and does another. In other words they have one name while combined and different ones when separated.

[federicoaa]

Well, if you dock and undock two ships, the two ships become one and therefore have the same name, after undocking, the second ship will be renamed as first ship lander/probe, which is quite bad if you are using remotetech

[dazhat]

This is more complex than it sounds because when ships dock, the game sees them both as a single ship.

[Kasuha]

Well, if you dock and undock two ships, the two ships become one and therefore have the same name, after undocking, the second ship will be renamed as first ship lander/probe, which is quite bad if you are using remotetech

When the game docks two ships, it makes them one. But the name of the other ship is stored in the docking port and if you undock that port, the separated ship gets its name back.

Some time ago I suggested that ship names should be stored in command pods and probe cores instead, that would make it easier to control and set up.

[federicoaa]

When the game docks two ships, it makes them one. But the name of the other ship is stored in the docking port and if you undock that port, the separated ship gets its name back.

Some time ago I suggested that ship names should be stored in command pods and probe cores instead, that would make it easier to control and set up.

In my case, I added an extra part to a satellite by coupling and decoupling different nodes, maybe that's because the name changed

[Kasuha]

In my case, I added an extra part to a satellite by coupling and decoupling different nodes, maybe that's because the name changed

Well yes, I have these problems all the time as I construct my ships in orbit and when I am then decoupling parts of the constructed ship, very weird things happen with their names. Hopefully devs will come up with some better system someday. Till then I either have to rename the ship every time I decouple or just leave those names as is.

[StarkRG]

Some time ago I suggested that ship names should be stored in command pods and probe cores instead, that would make it easier to control and set up.

Yes, that's exactly what I'm suggesting.

It would also be nice to be able to change the primary name when selecting it to launch (so I can launch several identical satellites with different names without having to zoom inside my fairing to change the name which is difficult when the craft wobbles even slightly).

Edited December 26, 2013 by StarkRG

[Einsty]

Yes, that's exactly what I'm suggesting.

It would also be nice to be able to change the primary name when selecting it to launch (so I can launch several identical satellites with different names without having to zoom inside my fairing to change the name which is difficult when the craft wobbles even slightly).

I like this a lot.

Perhaps it would be possible to allow some basic strings in names, like writing "ComSat -launchname-" in the VAB (via tweakables or something) and when launching, assign the launch name variable, like "Thomas". The resulting name would then be "ComSat Thomas"

Also, since name could be saved per pod, a simple right-click option to make the pod primary (and thus name the ship after it) would be sufficient solution.