Docking tiny module without RCS

[luckyhendrix]

Hello,

I have a made a plane to explore Duna (link : https://www.dropbox.com/s/y0qn9s1qxppsgno/Capture%20d%27%C3%A9cran%202014-06-04%2018.26.32.png

), because of it's huge wingspan I can't put it atop of a rocket (also because I like to complicate things ).

So I planned the thing so that the plane is separated in three sections with docking ports, I'll send this up individually and assemble in orbit.

But how can I assemble these ? weight of the plane must be low , so I can't add RCS to the modules.

I thought about making a tiny tug ( basicaly a RCS fuel tank + probe core + RCS with a docking port on each side, but I won't be able to complete the plane because I can't grad the last module.

So how can I dock these ? can a kerbal push in EVA while holding a ladder? an ideas ?

Edited June 4, 2014 by luckyhendrix

[nli2work]

if you have KAS mod, you can attach RCS ports and tank to parts, then dock it with a command seat, and remove the RCS ports, tanks and command seat afterward

[Greenfire32]

if you have KAS mod, you can attach RCS ports and tank to parts, then dock it with a command seat, and remove the RCS ports, tanks and command seat afterward

Mod list is in his sig.

Hello,

I have a made a plane to explore Duna (link : https://www.dropbox.com/s/y0qn9s1qxppsgno/Capture%20d%27%C3%A9cran%202014-06-04%2018.26.32.png

), because of it's huge wingspan I can't put it atop of a rocket (also because I like to complicate things ).

So I planned the thing so that the plane is separated in three sections with docking ports, I'll send this up individually and assemble in orbit.

But how can I assemble these ? weight of the plane must be low , so I can't add RCS to the modules.

I thought about making a tiny tug ( basicaly a RCS fuel tank + probe core + RCS with a docking port on each side, but I won't be able to complete the plane because I can't grad the last module.

So how can I dock these ? can a kerbal push in EVA while holding a ladder? an ideas ?

Best thing I can think of is a tiny tug like you're thinking (so you'll need to add a service docking port if a tug will block construction) or you'll have to line your orbits up so closely that a torque-assisted rendezvous can happen...and those are very very hard to pull off.

[michaelhester07]

Space tugs with the ARM claw are what you need. They can grip onto anything. Put the RCS on those, attach 4 of em to your plane parts and use em to combine everything. Then leave them behind once you go to Duna, or dock em at a space station for future use.

Space tug parts:

1x 1.25m battery, 1x ARM claw, 1x probe core of choice, 1x RC-25 RCS tank, 4x RCS 4 way rcs port.

build goes top to bottom

Claw, battery, core, rcs tank, rcs ports (radial on the tank). You can strut from the RCS tank to the battery if you want some more strength.

My spacedocks use those to maneuver heavy machinery around what doesn't have its own RCS ports.

[Epthelyn]

Send up a tug (with RCS thrust capability) with the Advanced Grabbing Unit (AKA The Klaw), grab a part you need to assemble, push it into the other part. That's the easiest way without docking ports anyway; for the parts that DO have docking ports accessible, a 'standard' tug would work fine.

The tug can then return to Kerbin

[Claw]

That doesn't look like it has propulsion on each section, so docking without some sort of external helper won't really be feasable.

Besides, unless each part has more than one docking port, you will have a problem in that the tug will be in the way during docking operations.

If you don't want to add another docking port to the last section, then doing the claw tug (as recommended above) is your best bet. Although I would say you do not need 4 of them. You can get away with 1. Or use 2 at the most if docking an unbalanced system is too troublesome for you. If you have 4, it might be wildly uncontrollable at that size. I only use two when docking 40 ton modules to my station.

However, your real problem with orbital assembly is that you will not be able to get those docking ports lined up well enough. It's going to cause you control issues in flight, because the canards, wings, and tail will likely be misaligned. You might have an easier time later if you can figure out a way to get that thing into orbit as one whole piece. (There are lots of ways to do that.)

Bear in mind that if weight is your concern, RCS thruster blocks are massless in flight. Also, monopro does not require fuel lines. So you can attach some monopro tanks onto decouplers on the first section you launch. Do all of the docking with that first section as the maneuvering module. Then decouple the tanks after docking operations are complete.

Edited June 4, 2014 by Claw

[luckyhendrix]

Thanks for all the suggestions, I didn't know the claw could attach to everything,and the idea of using KAS might be feasible as well.

also for the alignement of docking port , I use the docking washer of infernal robotics to line up everything after docking

[luckyhendrix]

Little update, I have constructed a tiny rcs space tug with a claw in front, I have touched part of my ship in every way possible , but not grabbing :/ ? are you supposed to come in slow or fast when using the calw ?

[cantab]

Arm the claw (so that you see the grabby bits), come in slowly like you would for a docking, and be sure the claw is pointing at the surface it's going to be clawing, not angled.

[Padishar]

You need to be going fairly slowly but, more importantly, I believe that all 4 points of the claw need to touch the target for it to grab hold.

[Claw]

For a ship that small, I would actually recommend keeping the speed up just a little so the claw makes full contact. The target needs to snuggle up to the post in the center of the claw's teeth.

If you are grabbing an angled surface or a round part (like a fuel tank), then you need to hit as perpendicular to the surface as possible.

[luckyhendrix]

Thanks I finally made contact, You effectively had to have the 4 grips roughly in contact with the target