Command module
A Command Module is a part which allows you to control a vessel.
Command Modules play a central role during both construction and flight. In order to build a rocket or plane, the player is no longer required to choose a command module first, but there has to be at least one pod for a ship to be usable. The chosen module no longer has to be the first part, and also if chosen as the first part can now be exchanged without scrapping the ship and starting over.
Vessels can only be controlled as long as at least one command module on board 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.
At the beginning of a flight, only the primary command module will be manned. Since version 0.21 the player can man additional command pods and passenger compartments before launch in the VAB. The 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.
All command modules provide torque for manual control, and a very weak SAS.
There are fifteen different pods in the game. Four of them are crew pods designed for use with rockets, three are cockpits designed for Spaceplanes, six are probe modules designed for unmanned probes, one is an external seat intended for manned rovers and can't actually be the base part of the ship due to its radial attachment, and one is a cupola intended for space stations. The main difference between the different command pods is their outer form, their mass and their crew capacity.
List of Command Modules
| Image | Part | Radial size | Cost (  ) |
Mass (t) |
Max. Temp. (K) |
Tolerance (m/s) |
Tolerance (g) |
Torque (kN · m) |
S.A.S. level |
Required Crew/ Power |
Capacity (⚡) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Mk1 Cockpit | Small | 1 250 (1 241) |
1.28 (1.25) |
2 000 (1 100) |
40 | 50 | 10 |  [Note 1]
|
|
50 ⚡ 7.5  MP
|
 |
Mk1 Inline Cockpit | Small | 1 600 (1 591) |
1.03 (1.00) |
2 000 (1 100) |
40 | 50 | 10 | [Note 1]
|
|
50 ⚡ 7.5 MP
|
 |
Mk2 Cockpit | Mk2 | 3 500 (3 482) |
2.06 (2.00) |
2 500 (1 400) |
45 | 50 | 15 | [Note 1]
|
+
|
150 ⚡ 15 MP
|
 |
Mk2 Inline Cockpit | Mk2 | 3 500 (3 470) |
2.10 (2.00) |
2 500 (1 400) |
45 | 50 | 15 | [Note 1]
|
+
|
150 ⚡ 25 MP
|
 |
Mk3 Cockpit | Mk3, Small | 10 000 (9 880) |
3.90 (3.50) |
2 700 (1 500) |
50 | 50 | 40/40/20[Note 2] | [Note 1]
|
+
|
500 ⚡ 100 MP
|
 |
Mk1 Command Pod | Small, Tiny | 600 (588) |
0.84 (0.80) |
2 200 (1 200) |
14 | 50 | 5 | [Note 1]
|
|
50 ⚡ 10 MP
|
 |
Mk1-3 Command Pod | Large, Small | 3 800 (3 764) |
2.72 (2.60) |
2 400 (1 400) |
45 | 50 | 15 | [Note 1]
|
+
|
150 ⚡ 30 MP
|
 |
Mk1 Lander Can | Small | 1 500 (1 482) |
0.66 (0.60) |
2 000 (1 000) |
8 | 50 | 3 | [Note 1]
|
|
50 ⚡ 15 MP
|
 |
Mk2 Lander Can | Large | 3 250 (3 202) |
1.515 (1.355) |
2 000 (1 200) |
8 | 50 | 15 | [Note 1]
|
+
|
100 ⚡ 40 MP
|
 |
PPD-12 Cupola Module | Large, Small | 3 200 (3 188) |
1.80 (1.76) |
2 000 (1 000) |
8 | 50 | 9 | [Note 1]
|
|
200 ⚡ 10 MP
|
 |
EAS-1 External Command Seat | Radial mounted | 200 | 0.05 | 1 200 | 6 | 50 | — | [Note 1]
|
|
— |
 |
Probodobodyne RoveMate | Small | 800 | 0.15 | 1 200 | 12 | 50 | — | 0 | 2.4 ⚡/min (144 ⚡/h) |
120 ⚡ |
 |
Probodobodyne QBE | Tiny | 360 | 0.07 | 1 200 | 15 | 50 | — | 0 | 1.5 ⚡/min (90 ⚡/h) |
5 ⚡ |
 |
Probodobodyne HECS | Tiny | 650 | 0.1 | 1 200 | 12 | 50 | 0.5 | 1 | 1.5 ⚡/min (90 ⚡/h) |
10 ⚡ |
 |
Probodobodyne OKTO | Tiny | 450 | 0.1 | 1 200 | 12 | 50 | 0.3 | 0 | 1.2 ⚡/min (72 ⚡/h) |
10 ⚡ |
 |
Probodobodyne OKTO2 | Tiny | 1 480 | 0.04 | 1 200 | 12 | 50 | — | 2 | 1.8 ⚡/min (108 ⚡/h) |
5 ⚡ |
 |
Probodobodyne Stayputnik | Tiny | 300 | 0.05 | 1 800 | 12 | 50 | — | — | 1.67 ⚡/min (100 ⚡/h) |
10 ⚡ |
 |
Probodobodyne HECS2 | Small | 7 500 | 0.2 | 2 000 | 8 | 50 | 10 | 3 | 3.0 ⚡/min (180 ⚡/h) |
1 000 ⚡ |
 |
RC-001S Remote Guidance Unit | Small | 2 250 | 0.1 | 2 000 | 9 | 50 | 0.5 | 3 | 3.0 ⚡/min (180 ⚡/h) |
15 ⚡ |
 |
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 | Mk2 | 2 700 | 0.2 | 2 500 | 20 | 50 | 15/3/3[Note 2] | 3 | 3.0 ⚡/min (180 ⚡/h) |
250 ⚡ |
 |
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 LF55 O
|
 |
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  XE
|
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Torque differs between axes. These numbers are for pitch/yaw/roll respectively.
