Template talk:Infobox/Part/command module

SAS

My understanding: Command pods do not have an integrated SAS. They provide torque (rotPower and linPower in the configs), but don't auto-stabilize. SAS torque is named maxTorque in the configs. If I understand this correctly, I'd remove the torque and rotforce params and add the ones from the configs, rotPower and linPower. (Just wanna make sure that I don't mess up the template for nothing, so I'm asking) --dgelessus ^{(talk · logs)} 12:06, 7 June 2013 (CDT)

As I don't know how SAS exactly worked, I simply copied the infos from the old types. What does rot-/linPower even mean? — xZise [talk] 13:22, 7 June 2013 (CDT)

rotPower specifies how strong the rotation power of the pod is, and linPower is probably for linear shifting (IJKL HN keys), although I've just recently noticed the linPower and haven't confirmed it yet. Regarding the SASes, they have their own param in the configs, called maxTorque. That one is only used by the SAS (not ASAS) to determine how well it can stop ship rotation. Unlike command modules' torque, the SAS's torque cannot be directly controlled using WASDQE. --dgelessus ^{(talk · logs)} 13:44, 7 June 2013 (CDT)

Okay I see the following problems:

1. How does a command pod modify the linear shifting? This depends on the number/thrust of the RCS thrusters and the mass of the craft.
2. Probes does seems like they have SAS. At least I'm able to lock my craft in a certain direction when using probes.
3. How can't SAS's torque not be controlled by WASDQE?

— xZise [talk] 11:42, 8 June 2013 (CDT)

1. I really have to check this. If you look in the configs, the comment for rotPower and linPower is something like "pod/rcs values", meaning that both pods and RCS thrusters can rotate and shift the ship. So the pod's linPower will just be added to the thrusters' linPower.
2. Which probe core did you use? I'll check as well, but I don't see SAS values in the OKTO2 config for example.
3. Put a pod on decoupler on 4 SASes (not ASASes) and attach a seat to SASes. Separate the pod, get kerbal in seat. You won't be able to rotate the ship a bit. That means that SAS torque is "private". (seat because it has no rotPower)

--dgelessus ^{(talk · logs)} 16:10, 8 June 2013 (CDT)

Okay, here come the test results:

1. I hacked gravity and couldn't shift a standalone pod, so the linPower might just be there because of the similarities to RCS (regarding torque).
2. I put a Mk1-2 pod on a BACC booster, launched once with SAS on, once without. The trajectory was the same, so a pod on its own can't hold the course. If you have an ASAS that's possible of course.

--dgelessus ^{(talk · logs)} 16:50, 8 June 2013 (CDT)