Multiple claws attached to the same asteroid?

[Tassyr]

So I'm trying to increase the grip of a structure on an asteroid: This thing.

I got a class E asteroid into orbit and plan to make it into a massive station. That'd be a hab module. Catch is I can't ever get more than one of the claws to engage; is it possible to get all four? is there a secret?

[Superfluous J]

Once one of them grabs on, the asteroid is part of your ship so the others clip through. Unlike docking ports (which will still grab each other if they are *perfectly* lined up) the just simply won't do it.

You *can* hook the multiple hab modules to it if they are each a separate ship when they attach. They won't be all perfect and together but they WILL be attached. See that pic in my signature? There are 4 separate claws attaching those to that asteroid.

[Tassyr]

Well, I guess that's it. It was worth a shot though, right?

[RainDreamer]

You can try linking each of those Klaw with docking ports to the main craft. Once you latch on with one of them, undock the others one by one and hope they attach to the asteroid just the right way, and hope you can redock properly to the newly attached Klaws. Or the other way around, grab to asteroid with one of them and then undock that one, trying to grab asteroid again with others in a way that keeps you still aligned with the first one for redocking.

Either way, it is going to be a pain. XD

You can however try to use struts and landing legs for more stability.

[Fearless Son]

I wish that one could strut a craft to an asteroid after attachment, but we know that to be impossible.

I have considered using landing legs that will (hopefully) be flush with the asteroid surface. They would probably just clip through like the extra claws do, but the aesthetic effect would be nice for looking like everything is semi-stable.

[Laie]

What raindreamer said: put docking ports on the bottom of those hab modules (and on top of the vessel below them, of course. Once your first claw has made contact in a good spot, decouple one of the other's ports; with any luck, it's claw will immediately attach to the asteroid. Use the claw's pivot to bring it around so the docking port is facing your ship again. Then saveload; the docking port should re-attach without you having to back off first.

Two should be easy, but it will take a very flat surface to make it work with three or more; and that spot still has to be in the right place so it will line up with your eventual center of thrust / center of mass.

Docking port magnetism is strong, and claws can be quite flexible; I can imagine that things will be pulled together even when they're not perfectly aligned. However, there's a host of claw-related bugs; and what you're trying is bound to summon all of them. Save often, use named saves, and be prepared to restart KSP -- *a lot*.

[Deadpangod3]

I wish that one could strut a craft to an asteroid after attachment, but we know that to be impossible.

I have considered using landing legs that will (hopefully) be flush with the asteroid surface. They would probably just clip through like the extra claws do, but the aesthetic effect would be nice for looking like everything is semi-stable.

you can probably use KAS to attach struts,

the second part youd probably be creating a kraken drive with an asteroid...

[smjjames]

you can probably use KAS to attach struts,

the second part youd probably be creating a kraken drive with an asteroid...

Yep, should be able to with KAS.

You MAY also be able to use KAS and the anchor or grabber to harpoon the asteroid, only problem is that the cables range is only 50m, so, probably more useful for keeping a craft on the asteroid and not float off if you accidentially bump it.