Difference between revisions of "Command module"

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A '''Command Module''' is a part which allows you to control a vessel.  
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A '''command module''', '''cockpit''', '''command pod''', or '''probe core''' is any part that allow a player to control a vessel. While it is no longer required to choose a command module before building, there must be at least one command module operational for a ship to be controllable.
  
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Command Modules play a central role during both construction and flight. In order to build a rocket or plane, the player is first required to choose a command module. The chosen module acts as a basic fixture during vessel construction and cannot be retroactively exchanged in-game.
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== Naming ==
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Various names are used for this type of part. The term command module is, in general, anything that allows a player to control a vessel. Cockpits and command pods can be manned by Kerbals, with cockpits usually placed on [[plane]]s, and command pods normally placed on [[rocket]]s. Crew pods or capsules might be also used instead of a command pod. Command modules which cannot be manned are sometimes called [[Probe#Probe cores|probe cores]] but usually are called command modules as well. The name of a separated stage with a command module will get amended by "Lander" for lander cans, "Probe" for unmanned probe cores, "Rover" for the EAS-1 External Command Seat, and "Ship" for everything else.
  
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Vessels can only be controlled as long as the command module is operational. Manned command modules need at least one crew member to be functional. Probe command modules consume [[Electric Charge]] and cease to function when the energy of the vessel is depleted.  
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== Control ==
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All vessels can only be controlled as long as at least one command module on board is operational. Manned command pods need at least one crew member to be functional, but do not drain any [[electric charge]]. Probe command modules consume electric charge and cease to function when the energy of the vessel is depleted. As of [[1.2]] probe command modules can hibernate, which greatly reduces their consumption of electric charge but provides only partial control (probes can only lock to available SAS axis and throttle at 0 or 100%) even if the vessel is connected to [[CommNet]].
  
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All command modules provide torque for manual control, but no real [[SAS]] functionality. There are ten different pods in the game. Three of them are crew pods designed for use with rockets, three are cockpits designed for [[Spaceplane]]s and four are probe modules designed for unmanned probes. The main difference between the different command pods is their outer form, their mass and their crew capacity.  
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All unmanned command modules have [[SAS]] except for the [[Probodobodyne Stayputnik]]. The probe cores have different level of [[direction selector|direction holding]] ability.  
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== List of Command Modules ==
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Torque is generated using [[reaction wheel]]s which drain additional power to operate them. The following probes '''have''' a build-in reaction wheel:
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* Probodobodyne HECS
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* Probodobodyne OKTO
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* Probodobodyne HECS2
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* RC-001S Remote Guidance Unit
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* RC-L01 Remote Guidance Unit
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* MPO Probe
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* MTM Stage
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* MK2 Drone Core
  
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{{Template:Stats Table Command Pods}}
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{{directions available|cm=yes}}
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On manned modules stability assist is only by [[kerbonaut]]s available which are pilots. The direction holding capabilities depend then on the [[experience]] of the most experienced kerbonaut.
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Prior to [[0.20]] a command module was always the [[root part]], but since that update, it is possible to build vessels without one. In this case the game will warn the player that the craft is not controllable.
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== Manning ==
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At the beginning of a flight, only the primary command module will be manned. Since 0.21 the player can change which command pods and passenger compartments are manned before launch. The available crew is selected from the [[astronaut complex]]. In earlier versions the only way to get additional crew for a ship was by manually moving Kerbals from another vessel using [[EVA]]s.
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Each command pod which can be manned and except the seat has a small amount of [[monopropellant]] on board to allow refilling EVA suits.
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Manned pods cannot be launched without at least one astronaut aboard, which makes unmanned testing a bit more difficult, as it requires a probe to be attached to the pod.
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== List of command modules ==
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There are twenty-three different command modules in the game. Four of them are crew pods designed for use with rockets, five are cockpits designed for [[plane]]s, eleven are probe modules designed for unmanned probes, one for unmanned Mk2 craft, one is a cupola intended for space stations, and one is an external seat for rovers.
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The main difference between the different command modules is their outer form, their mass, and their crew capacity, create or store science reports, or be the first part of a craft.
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Although manned, [[habitation module]]s from the "Utility" section, like the [[PPD-10 Hitchhiker Storage Container]] and the crew cabins, are not command modules and cannot be used to control a craft even if they are occupied.
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{{Stats Table Command Pods}}
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[[Category:Command modules]]

Latest revision as of 01:06, 17 January 2023

A command module, cockpit, command pod, or probe core is any part that allow a player to control a vessel. While it is no longer required to choose a command module before building, there must be at least one command module operational for a ship to be controllable.

Naming

Various names are used for this type of part. The term command module is, in general, anything that allows a player to control a vessel. Cockpits and command pods can be manned by Kerbals, with cockpits usually placed on planes, and command pods normally placed on rockets. Crew pods or capsules might be also used instead of a command pod. Command modules which cannot be manned are sometimes called probe cores but usually are called command modules as well. The name of a separated stage with a command module will get amended by "Lander" for lander cans, "Probe" for unmanned probe cores, "Rover" for the EAS-1 External Command Seat, and "Ship" for everything else.

Control

All vessels can only be controlled as long as at least one command module on board is operational. Manned command pods need at least one crew member to be functional, but do not drain any electric charge. Probe command modules consume electric charge and cease to function when the energy of the vessel is depleted. As of 1.2 probe command modules can hibernate, which greatly reduces their consumption of electric charge but provides only partial control (probes can only lock to available SAS axis and throttle at 0 or 100%) even if the vessel is connected to CommNet.

All unmanned command modules have SAS except for the Probodobodyne Stayputnik. The probe cores have different level of direction holding ability.

Torque is generated using reaction wheels which drain additional power to operate them. The following probes have a build-in reaction wheel:

  • Probodobodyne HECS
  • Probodobodyne OKTO
  • Probodobodyne HECS2
  • RC-001S Remote Guidance Unit
  • RC-L01 Remote Guidance Unit
  • MPO Probe
  • MTM Stage
  • MK2 Drone Core
Name Cost SAS level & capabilities
0 1 2 3
Stability
Assist
(Level) 		Prograde/
Retrograde
(Prograde/Retrograde) 		Normal/Radial
Hold
(Normal/Anti-normal) 		Target
Tracking
(Target prograde/Target retrograde) 		Maneuver
(Maneuver prograde)
Probodobodyne RoveMate 800 Funds Yes No No No No
Probodobodyne Stayputnik 300 Funds No No No No No
Probodobodyne QBE 360 Funds Yes No No No No
Probodobodyne HECS 650 Funds Yes Yes No No No
Probodobodyne OKTO 450 Funds Yes No No No No
Probodobodyne OKTO2 1 480 Funds Yes Yes Yes No No
Probodobodyne HECS2 7 500 Funds Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
RC-001S Remote Guidance Unit 2 250 Funds Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
RC-L01 Remote Guidance Unit 3 400 Funds Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
MK2 Drone Core 2 700 Funds Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
MPO Probe 9 900 Funds Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
MTM Stage 21 500 Funds Yes Yes Yes No No


On manned modules stability assist is only by kerbonauts available which are pilots. The direction holding capabilities depend then on the experience of the most experienced kerbonaut.

Prior to 0.20 a command module was always the root part, but since that update, it is possible to build vessels without one. In this case the game will warn the player that the craft is not controllable.

Manning

At the beginning of a flight, only the primary command module will be manned. Since 0.21 the player can change which command pods and passenger compartments are manned before launch. The available crew is selected from the astronaut complex. In earlier versions the only way to get additional crew for a ship was by manually moving Kerbals from another vessel using EVAs.

Each command pod which can be manned and except the seat has a small amount of monopropellant on board to allow refilling EVA suits.

Manned pods cannot be launched without at least one astronaut aboard, which makes unmanned testing a bit more difficult, as it requires a probe to be attached to the pod.

List of command modules

There are twenty-three different command modules in the game. Four of them are crew pods designed for use with rockets, five are cockpits designed for planes, eleven are probe modules designed for unmanned probes, one for unmanned Mk2 craft, one is a cupola intended for space stations, and one is an external seat for rovers.

The main difference between the different command modules is their outer form, their mass, and their crew capacity, create or store science reports, or be the first part of a craft.

Although manned, habitation modules from the "Utility" section, like the PPD-10 Hitchhiker Storage Container and the crew cabins, are not command modules and cannot be used to control a craft even if they are occupied.

Image Part Radial size Cost
(Funds)		 Mass
(t)		 Max. Temp.
(K)		 Tolerance
(m/s)		 Tolerance
(g) 		Torque
(kN · m) 		S.A.S.
level 		Required Crew/
Power 		Capacity
(⚡)
MK1COCKPIT.png
 Mk1 Cockpit Small 1 250
(1 241) 		1.28
(1.25) 		2 000
(1 100) 		40 50 10 Crew[Note 1] Crew 50 ⚡
7.5 Units of fuel MP
Mk1 Inline Cockpit.png
 Mk1 Inline Cockpit Small 1 600
(1 591) 		1.03
(1.00) 		2 000
(1 100) 		40 50 10 Crew[Note 1] Crew 50 ⚡
7.5 Units of fuel MP
Mk2 Cockpit.png
 Mk2 Cockpit Mk2 3 500
(3 482) 		2.06
(2.00) 		2 500
(1 400) 		45 50 15 Crew[Note 1] Crew + Crew 150 ⚡
15 Units of fuel MP
Mk2 InlineCockpit.png
 Mk2 Inline Cockpit Mk2 3 500
(3 470) 		2.10
(2.00) 		2 500
(1 400) 		45 50 15 Crew[Note 1] Crew + Crew 150 ⚡
25 Units of fuel MP
Mk3 Cockpit.png
 Mk3 Cockpit Mk3, Small 10 000
(9 880) 		3.90
(3.50) 		2 700
(1 500) 		50 50 40/40/20[Note 2] Crew[Note 1] Crew + CrewCrewCrew 500 ⚡
100 Units of fuel MP
Mk1CommandPod Dark.png
 Mk1 Command Pod Small, Tiny 600
(588) 		0.84
(0.80) 		2 200
(1 200) 		14 50 5 Crew[Note 1] Crew 50 ⚡
10 Units of fuel MP
Mk1-3CommandPod.png
 Mk1-3 Command Pod Large, Small 3 800
(3 764) 		2.72
(2.60) 		2 400
(1 400) 		45 50 15 Crew[Note 1] Crew + CrewCrew 150 ⚡
30 Units of fuel MP
LanderCanMK1.png
 Mk1 Lander Can Small 1 500
(1 482) 		0.66
(0.60) 		2 000
(1 000) 		8 50 3 Crew[Note 1] Crew 50 ⚡
15 Units of fuel MP
Mk2canN.png
 Mk2 Lander Can Large 3 250
(3 202) 		1.515
(1.355) 		2 000
(1 200) 		8 50 15 Crew[Note 1] Crew + Crew 100 ⚡
40 Units of fuel MP
Cupola.PNG
 PPD-12 Cupola Module Large, Small 3 200
(3 188) 		1.80
(1.76) 		2 000
(1 000) 		8 50 9 Crew[Note 1] Crew 200 ⚡
10 Units of fuel MP
Commandseat.png
 EAS-1 External Command Seat Radial mounted 200 0.05 1 200 6 50 — Crew[Note 1] Crew —
RoveMate White.png
 Probodobodyne RoveMate Small 800 0.15 1 200 12 50 — 0 2.4 ⚡/min
(144 ⚡/h) 		120 ⚡
QBE.png
 Probodobodyne QBE Tiny 360 0.07 1 200 15 50 — 0 1.5 ⚡/min
(90 ⚡/h) 		5 ⚡
HECS.png
 Probodobodyne HECS Tiny 650 0.1 1 200 12 50 0.5 1 1.5 ⚡/min
(90 ⚡/h) 		10 ⚡
OKTO.png
 Probodobodyne OKTO Tiny 450 0.1 1 200 12 50 0.3 0 1.2 ⚡/min
(72 ⚡/h) 		10 ⚡
OKTO2.png
 Probodobodyne OKTO2 Tiny 1 480 0.04 1 200 12 50 — 2 1.8 ⚡/min
(108 ⚡/h) 		5 ⚡
Stayputnik.png
 Probodobodyne Stayputnik Tiny 300 0.05 1 800 12 50 — — 1.67 ⚡/min
(100 ⚡/h) 		10 ⚡
HECS2.png
 Probodobodyne HECS2 Small 7 500 0.2 2 000 8 50 10 3 3.0 ⚡/min
(180 ⚡/h) 		1 000 ⚡
Probestack.png
 RC-001S Remote Guidance Unit Small 2 250 0.1 2 000 9 50 0.5 3 3.0 ⚡/min
(180 ⚡/h) 		15 ⚡
Probehuge.png
 RC-L01 Remote Guidance Unit Large 3 400 0.5 2 000 9 50 1.5 3 4.8 ⚡/min
(288 ⚡/h) 		30 ⚡
MK2 Drone Core.png
 MK2 Drone Core Mk2 2 700 0.2 2 500 20 50 15/3/3[Note 2] 3 3.0 ⚡/min
(180 ⚡/h) 		250 ⚡
MPO.png
 MPO Probe Small 9 900
(9 854) 		0.895
(0.395) 		2 200 9 50 6 3 3.0 ⚡/min
(180 ⚡/h) 		1 000 ⚡
45 Units of fuel LF
55 Units of fuel O
MTM.png
 MTM Stage Small 21 500
(6 300) 		0.795
(0.415) 		2 200 12 50 12 2 1.8 ⚡/min
(108 ⚡/h) 		4 000 ⚡
3 800 Xenon unit XE
  1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 In the "Career" mode in manned command modules, the performance and functionality of the SAS is determined by the presence of at least one kerbonaut with the specialization "Pilot" and the level of his specialization. In the "Science" and "Sandbox" modes, a kerbonaut with any specialization can use all the functionality of the SAS on board the manned command module without restrictions.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Torque differs between axes. These numbers are for pitch/yaw/roll respectively.
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