Question on satellite contracts

[jkool702]

When it indicates that the satellite must be a "new unmanned probe built for the agency after this contract is accepted", what EXACTLY do they mean by "new"? Does this literally mean "has not been launched yet," or is it some less strict definition?

Edited June 30, 2015 by jkool702

[Randazzo]

When it indicates that the satellite must be a "new unmanned probe built for the agency after this contract is accepted", what EXACTLY do they mean by "new"? Does this literally mean "has not been launched yet," or is it some less strict definition?

It must be launched after the contract was accepted, as tracked by the MET in the upper left corner. If the timer began before the time the contract was accepted, it will not count. (assuming this mechanic has not changed)

Doing things like docking with other ships/stations can break this tracking.

[FancyMouse]

I thought it is fully tracking launchID of each parts now so that undocking will not count - meaning that even if MET of at least one of them would count from the point of undock event, both will be counted as old as the original one, so that you can't trick the system by performing actions like undocking.