I'd like to refute the idea that my suggestion would necessarily devolve into grinding. What if the research value of a flight depended upon the distance you went with it (or flight time), and some measure of the success of the flight? Early technologies could be unlocked with single, relatively small launches, and later technologies would require more research value. It could easily be arranged so that, as you naturally ventured further outward for more science points, you would also be accruing more rocket research because your flights would be going longer and farther. You wouldn't be launching 10 rockets to unlock your mainsail unless that was specifically your goal. You'd launch a small rocket to unlock some science points and some simple rocket parts. Then you'd use those better rocket parts and larger budget to launch a better rocket, which would get you more science points and more advanced rocket parts. That doesn't sound grindy at all. "So then, wait. How would it differ from the current system?" one might well ask. In two important ways: First, the particular new parts you unlocked would depend on which ones you've actually been using. This adds realism because it reflects the nature of research -- we don't learn much about a technology unless we're actually using it! I'd also argue that it'd add fun because if you had a goal technology you wanted to unlock, you'd have to be creative when building a rocket, because it might require you to use some parts you wouldn't have used otherwise. Second, you could make advancements separately. This is a greater creative freedom than the game currently has. If you want to play it as a rocket research company, you can! Grab a few early science points and then focus solely on test flights for unlocking rocket parts. Want to focus on scientific inquiry? Unlock the rocket parts you really need and go to all the planets! Build big and simple and ignore the technologies you deem unnecessary. Feeling completionist? Make every new launch an opportunity to get both science and rocket research. Spend a little more fuel to put something experimental in orbit, or bring an experimental engine along on your mission to Duna! I wasn't trying to make suggestions specifically to reduce the grindiness of Science. Rather, I thought of something I believe would make the game both more fun and more realistic. Done right (with some good balance), I think it could add depth and creative freedom to the game. And if the grindiness doesn't get significantly worse, so much the better.
