Contracts: Launch a new probe/station/base?

[StrandedonEarth]

So it's well known that with the satellite, station, and base/outpost contracts you need to launch a new spacecraft after accepting the contract. It's also well-known that you can move said spacecraft from place to place to complete multiple contracts, as long as all the contracts were accepted before launch. I've read some posts where an old craft could have a new part docked to it to complete a new contract, although that seemed to be a hit-and-miss, case-by-case basis as to whether or not it would work. But I haven't seen any mention of this:

I launched a 5-seat lander attached to a lab/transfer stage craft, with a small satellite attached, to Duna, completing various contracts along the way, including landing a small outpost on Duna. After all those contracts were complete, I accepted another slew of contracts for Duna and Ike bases and satellites, which would go up at the next launch window. In the meantime, I went back to my old 5-man outpost on Duna and launched it over to Ike to plant a flag and do EVA surveys there, docking at the lab to refuel on the way. I'm sure most players have noticed that the mission clock resets after docking and undocking a vessel, as it did this time. Imagine my surprise when after landing on Ike (ending up on its side; stupid EVA surveys were on a slope; see 'Like a Badass' in my sig) I noticed that I had completed a contract: for the 5-man outpost on Ike that I had just accepted!

I checked this by taking the small sat that I had hauled along and left in the contracted orbit, and docking it to the lab. After undocking I saw that the "Launch a new..." line in the new contracts was checked. Too bad my sat and outpost only met the other requirements for one contract each.

Has anyone else noticed this, or had this happen? I'll have to make sure future satellites have a full slate of science gear and a docking port!

Edited January 18, 2015 by StrandedonEarth
I tried to find one of the other contract threads to post this in but couldn't find one

[katateochi]

I've not had this happen but I had been wondering if this existed. It sort of bugs me that I can't have a bank of satellites, launched as a single craft and parked in LKO, waiting for satellite contracts. So what I was thinking was launching a craft that carries a load of satellite bodies with docking ports and then when I need to do a contract I just bring up a probe-core with the relevant sci attachments and dock it to one of the satellite bodies. From what you've said it sounds like that might be possible, but could be unpredictable.