Defining Vessel Type

[Git]

Hello All,

I've got a question that's been on my mind for a while, and it has to do with vessel classification in KSP. If you go to the tracking station, on the upper left side of the screen there are buttons that allow you to toggle through viewable debris, probes, ships, landers, stations, etc. How specifically do I classify what I am building in the VAB or SPH? I've had what I intended to be stations listed as probes and ships, so what do? I couldn't find any obvious help anywhere else about this...

-G

Edited June 1, 2014 by Git

[ThreeMartiniLaunch]

I don't think you can do it in the VAB, but once on the launchpad, you can right click on any probe core or command module and choose "rename vessel".

[Jimbimbibble]

Agreed, that's the best way. KSP tries to figure out what kind of vessel it is based on the design and name you give it but it doesn't always get it right.

[Git]

Thanks guys, it works. My only other question about it is what happens when I need to launch multiple assemblies for something like a new station. Will KSP display the final product as a bunch of stations put together, or does it all take one name?

[Harvzey]

It all gets merged into one tag, thankfully

[Claw]

The VAB/SPH assigns vessel type based on what kind of controlling parts are on board.

Vessel Type at time of Launch

Rule 1: Type priority order from lowest to highest is: Debris, Probe, Rover, Lander, Ship, Station, Base. (Happens to be the same as the buttons from left to right in the map view.) If more than one of the rules below is present, the Type is set by the highest priority controller.

Rule 2: If a vessel has no source of control, it is assigned Type = Debris.

Rule 3: If a vessel uses a probe core (or rover body) for control, it is assigned Type = Probe.

Rule 4: If a vessel uses a lander can or cupola for control, it is assigned Type = Lander.

• It doesn't matter if the crew stations are unoccupied.
  

Rule 5: If a vessel uses a command pod or cockpit for control, it is assigned Type = Ship.

• It doesn't matter if the crew stations are unoccupied.
  

- You can find and edit the default Type in each component's part.cfg file. Look for the line similar to "vesselType = Lander" and change it to the desired default type. The type name is case sensitive.

- Incidentally, the game loads a Kerbal into the first "Lander" or "Ship" that it comes to in the Vessel's hierarchy, regardless of priority.

The short answer about docking is that whatever ship has the highest priority type, it becomes the parent and the newly combined craft retains that type. It will, however, also remember the type of the child ship in that case for when it becomes undocked later.

You can find more docking rules here: http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/79594-Docking-and-Vessel-Type-Rules-%280-23-5%29

[Git]

Thanks a million Claw. Excellent explanation!

[Claw]

Thanks a million Claw. Excellent explanation!

You are quite welcome.

Fly safe,

-Claw

[Pecan]

At the risk of hijacking the thread - I'm much less interested in whether a vehicle is an unmanned 'probe' or a crewed 'ship', as I am in whether it needs attention or not. All the other designations are fine but I 'mis-use' ship to mean a vehicle in-flight that will need attention (KAC'll remind me what/when), probes are only unmanned, in the right place/orbit, doing whatever it's meant to be doing (eg; RT2/SCANSat satellites) so can safely be ignored.