Ability to ignite the first stage of control-module less vessels while still on the launchpad

[Ghost2027]

Clarification:

Vessels without control modules of any kind (no crew pod or probe body) would be minimally controllable while the vessel has not moved from it's starting position. This would essentially only allow the player to ignite the first stage at which point the vessel would be rendered completely uncontrollable (as it naturally was). Alternatively it could be set up so that the vessel is still controllable as long as the docking clamps are connected.

Pros:

1. Allows players to build even more minimal vessels then they previously could, which fits in nicely with the announced barn tier.

2. It would be fun to spend the first hour of the game launching what are essentially giant uncontrolled model rockets.

3. Shouldn't be extremely difficult to implement (I am not familiar with the code, so this is just a guess; It could be much more difficult then it sounds)

Cons:

1. This can already pretty much be done with control modules and decouplers.

2. There may be some U.I. difficulties with communicating to the player why they had control and why they suddenly lost it as soon as they staged.

3. This would be rather similar to simply including one of the low tier, torque-less probe bodies on the vessel.

4. All suggestions take time to implement, and time is valuable (especially at the current stage of development).

[Bill Phil]

I can see this being needed.

I mean, it's what the early rockets did, right?

[RocketPilot573]

This is a really good idea, I believe the devs didn't like unlocking probe cores before manned flight first because of how far you can go without Kerbals. But this sounds much better, having absolutely no control at all in the begining.

[razark]

Add in some minor science equipment that triggers on reaching apoapsis, some smaller boosters, and a parachute that automatically opens a a certain altitude, and you've got a simple sounding rocket, which makes the barn thing make sense.

[mattinoz]

The Sounding Rockets mod is almost what you describe.

The nose cone can hold coarse somewhat but no real steering, but you can build stages and fire them.

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/102502-0-90-Sounding-Rockets!-Start-small-Dream-big!-0-1-1-2014-12-24

Makes for a fun hour or two in the early game and would make great stock addition. ;-) ;-)

Seeing as roverDude is doing a bit of hanging around with Squad it seems.

[cicatrix]

Use launch stability enhancer and attach a command pod/probe to it. Once it is launched the rocket will be uncontrollable. I fail to see any point in this, but this can be done even now.

[Sean Mirrsen]

You know, this could be done like... something like an alternate launch stability enhancer. Instead of one that attaches to the side of a rocket, this would be something that attaches to a node under the engine(s), intended as a "launch stand". It'd be a drone pod on its own, and available early on - you can stage it to fire the engine and decouple it. The point of it compared to "something that can be done even now" is for Career. Launch stability enhancers are fairly late down the tech tree.

[AbacusWizard]

This might work well with a simplified version of the kOS programming language.

[SaturnV]

A kerbal walks near the rocket then manually turn on the valve of liquid fuel line? Sounds very...Kerbal