Help with undocking my first lander

[cindersash]

i'm really new to the game so sorry if somethings going completely over my head. i just made my first ship that was able to take me to Minimus, and as i was in orbit i was ready to detach my lander, which was my first one ever, but i watched videos to make sure it had everything it needed. after i transferred the crew member taking it down to the surface to the pod the lander was attached to, i right clicked the docking port and it didn't even pop up as undock, nor did the main ships docking port. I got it to undock once but i can't seem to get it to do it again.

So is there something I'm missing or is it just like the bug where the undock button doesnt work, except it's not showing up at all?http://www./view/q4qvub5vaw3wvdl/uno_lander_master is the file to the ship for anyone who'd like to check it out and help me. Thanks!

Edit 1: also, it let me undock once, but i had to quick load back to where I am in orbit now. also ive tried right clicking both docking ports and both give the same menu beside the disable crossfeed option on the other

Edited January 9, 2015 by cindersash

[livefree75]

Try right-clicking the other docking port and see if that works. If not, try the "Decouple Node" button.

[AlexinTokyo]

"Decouple node" is the option you need.

Basically, as far as I understand, docking ports which are connected in the VAB (rather than in-flight docking) are actually attached as decouplers, not docking nodes. I don't know if this makes any difference to anything at all, but you have to 'decouple' instead of 'undock'.

[Cornholio]

If you have not already, try right clicking on each docking node. The option to decouple or undock usually only shows up on one of them.

Also, there was/is a bug (I haven't seen it in a while, since .23 I think) where the options to undock or decouple are not present for either part. There is a method to go into the save file and edit it back to normal, but that requires more attention and work than launching the same craft again. I hope it is not the bug, because that can get very frustrating.

[Guest]

"Decouple node" is the option you need.

Basically, as far as I understand, docking ports which are connected in the VAB (rather than in-flight docking) are actually attached as decouplers, not docking nodes. I don't know if this makes any difference to anything at all, but you have to 'decouple' instead of 'undock'.

Thats right. The first time you want to undock two ports that were connected in the VAB, you have to use "Decouple Node".

[-Velocity-]

Thats right. The first time you want to undock two ports that were connected in the VAB, you have to use "Decouple Node".

And there is no difference in my experience between two parts docked and two parts connected with a docking port that is "coupled".

[match]

Another possibility I can think of is if one of the docking ports is inverted, or if the two ports are not connected to each other (like if you attached one port to a Cubic octagonal strut, but connected it to the inside node of the strut, leaving the outside node of the strut available for the next part, or port, in this case)

edit:Your design is ok (fairly certain you could grab some groceries from Moho on the way back from Minmus ), but do avoid things like this:

[spoiler=]

Edited February 11, 2015 by match