Purchasing research

[VoxTM]

Hello. I have just come back to KSP in 1.02 and started new career. I wanted to speed things up with unlocking key parts with money but I'm not sure how that works i.e. the prices are greyed out for me and clicking on the part does nothing. Also, is it just me or do the prices seem too low?

[KerbMav]

You have to unlock the node in the tech tree with science first and pay then pay for the parts with money again.

[VoxTM]

You have to unlock the node in the tech tree with science first and pay then pay for the parts with money again.

Ah, so it's just the part price Thank you. I was thinking you could pay for research.

[KerbMav]

You can do this indirectly by going to the administration building and starting "Outsourced R&D" and/or "Unpaid Research Program" - but they add only marginally to your science income and are rather insignificant compared to gathering reports in polar orbits around Kerbin, Mun, Minmus from all their different biomes, let alone doing experiments in different locations of the moons.

(Just to be clear: You unlock the node with science, pay for the development of the contruction plans (roleplaying rationalization) and then pay for the production of each single part you use in building vessels.)