Launch stages out of order in build

[Insaneous]

Fairly new to this game. When I build a new ship, the game automatically sets the launch and rocket stages based on what I have build. However it seems these are the wrong way around?

My understanding is that higher the number stage is the first to go, with stage 0 being the final stage. So if i built a multistage rocket with a capsual and parachute, the parachute should be stage 0. However, in the builder, it automatically orders the stages but makes the parachute the highest number, and the first rocket as stage 0. WHich means i have to manually re-order all the stages.

I've also added the MechJeb mod, and if i reorder the stages to how they should be (highest first , 0 last) then I lose all the interstage information.

Any help?

Cheers,

[Ottomic]

Lowest stage is the first one. Highest is the last. I don't exactly remember the number order, but stages go bottom to top, both in VAB and on mission.

If Mechjeb gives you 0 delta-v on a stage that should have some, your stages are not properly arranged.

[Insaneous]

yeah thats right, on the screen, the physically lower stage (higher number) is first to go and physically higher stage is the last (number 0). So i'm not sure why my kerbal program is defaulting the stage order the wrong way around.

If i click reset on the stage list, it makes my parachute stage at the bottom of the list, while the first stage rockets are at the top...

[Ottomic]

It's... weird. Usually the game automatically sets staging order depending on the Y position along the rocket's longitudinal axis, but it sometimes messes it up.

Just make sure Mechjeb is showing the Delta-V. So far it has never failed me, even when I was pretty sure there was nothing wrong with the rocket.

[Ragequit Inc.]

ALWAYS check your staging before launch. Especially with bigger rockets, as it tends to mess some things up along the way.

[Insaneous]

hmm every time i try, either in career or sandbox mode, as I add new stages to the top of the rocket, it adds this stage to the bottom of the 'staging list'. Meaning once i get to the parachute stage, it is at the very bottom and the first to deploy :(.

then I have to manually reverse all the staging, but it would be nicer if it did it automatically like it should.

[Ragequit Inc.]

Originally posted by insaneous844:

hmm every time i try, either in career or sandbox mode, as I add new stages to the top of the rocket, it adds this stage to the bottom of the 'staging list'. Meaning once i get to the parachute stage, it is at the very bottom and the first to deploy :(.

then I have to manually reverse all the staging, but it would be nicer if it did it automatically like it should.

I'd assume that if you're adding things to the TOP of the rocket, it gets all confuzzled and messes it up. Like I said, in any case, check your staging before launch. Not much of an issue in my book. :)

[Insaneous]

Originally posted by Ragequit Inc.:

I'd assume that if you're adding things to the TOP of the rocket,

aha! thats it

I was starting with the rocket engine at the bottom as the first piece of equipment i put on the screen. Which meant I was building from the bottom up. This obviously confused the system, and insead wants you to build from the top down, starting with the final stage.

[koimeiji]

It depends on how you're connecting things.

If you connect something directly to a part, like the command pod, it will put the something in the same stage as the part you connected to, UNLESS it's a decoupler.

A decoupler will automatically create a new stage, so a rocket design like

Parachute
Pod
Booster

will all be on one stage while something like

Parachute
Pod
Decoupler
Booster

will be parachute and pod in stage 0, decoupler in 1, and booster in 2.

[duanevp]

Staging seems to get screwed up most easily when you're making changes during assembly. As you pull parts off, insert new bits, reattach old bits, it no longer understands what you're doing compared to if you start with a capsule and just build your way straight down. The larger the rocket the more complicated the staging. I've reverted flights SO many times because I keep forgetting to go back to assembly and fix mixed up staging. - and only realize it's screwed up when I hit that spacebar.