A silly observation about decoupler test contracts

[numerobis]

I had two "test decoupler at launch" contracts. These normally are money-losers: you get about 100-200 roots reward but the parts cost 400-600.

So I put a pod on both ends of the stack decoupler, and pulled the trigger. One side I recovered just the pod. The other, I recovered both the pod and the decoupler.

Works with a radial decoupler too, though I needed a surface-attach part for that. I attached an SRB to the radial decoupler, and a pod to the SRB (under it, and put Jeb in it, because reasons). One side recovered just the pod, the other recovered radial decoupler, SRB, and pod.

[Moesly_Armlis]

And I used to just angle the radial decoupler towards the flagpole and fire at it (because reasons). Did you know its an absurd amount of roots (15,000) to replace it.

Good idea to save roots!

[Greep]

Well if it's landed at kerbin and a stack decoupler, if you put it on top of the pod the decoupler doesn't go anywhere :/ Flying over kerbin... well... you still have to account for the fuel cost

[merendel]

For stack decouplers just put it on top of the pod (without fliping the decoupler) and it will stay attached to pod. the arrow points away from the part it will stay stuck to. can just load it up fire and recover the pod. For radials you can attach a couple girder segments at various angles. They not only reduce the distance the part flys but also absorb the impact protecting the more valuable part. you wont get a popup for the recovery but you still get the roots back if you recover it. 2 or 3 girders should be enough to keep the decoupler on the launchpad for full recovery.

[Bill Phil]

Just put the decouplers on backwards...

[Damien_The_Unbeliever]

You can get the radial attached to a single craft as well with some creative construction:

1. Start the craft with, say, a fuel tank
   
2. Add the radial decoupler to it
   
3. Add another fuel tank to the far side of the decoupler
   
4. Add a pod on top of this second fuel tank
   
5. Re-root the craft to the pod
   
6. Delete the first fuel tank
   
7. ...
   
8. Profit?
   

[numerobis]

You wont get a popup for the recovery but you still get the roots back if you recover it.

Oh, I didn't know that! Thanks!