Which experiments are repeatable? Which devices can take multiple readings?

[Neufusion]

I've read that multiple experiments can be done at each biome/situation so I started launching rockets and planes that carry 4 goos, 4 thermometers, 4 barometers, and 4 science Jr to make sure I get everything. Apparently, some of them are not repeatable.

Here's the science outputs of my first flyby of minimus:

(4 goo/thermo/baro, 1 science jr)

(High above minimus)

CrewReport 25

EVA40

Goo150

Goo211.5

Goo32.7

Goo40.6

Pressure160

Pressure2-4 0

Temp140

Temp2-4 0

MaterialStudy 125

Which experiments/EVAs/Surface Samples/Crew Reports are repeatable in the same biome/situation and which ones are only able to run once for a certain biome/situation?

[Belphegor]

you can only claim a max. amount of points for each experiment in every situation (1 full green bar) no matter how many of the same experiments you run. EVA reports and gravity scans can be done for every biome while in a low orbit, if a planet has an atmosphere you can also get temperature readings, crew reports, EVA reports and atmospheric scans for every biome while flying high and low inside the apmosphere, and ofcourse you can do every experiment while landed in each biome. i suggest if you're going to land on minmus that you upgrade the R&D facility to gain the ability to take surface samples as they are worth a lot of science

also, there is no need to carry multiple of each, all data can be collected by an EVA kerbal by right clicking the science equipment and the data will be stored in the command pod so you can run the same experiment in different situations. only the material bay and mystery goo need a scientist or science lab on board to be reset so you can run the same module again.

there is also the possibility to take a science lab with you, if you put scientists in it they can process the data and send it back to kerbin for more science than you would get by simply taking the results back to kerbin. but it takes a lot of time and the amount of science you get depends on the level of your scientists

[Alshain]

It's not necessary to be completionist. It's diminishing returns (the first gets you the most), and there is way more science in the solar system than you need.

[Superfluous J]

Very true Alshain. It's like the "depth" vs "breadth" they've been talking about in the devnotes with contracts.

Currently there is so much breadth of science that there is really no need to go deep. Just bring every experiment you can and do each one once and you'll have more than enough return for your investment. Just make sure you get your scientist* out there to grab each experiment every time you take them, so you can take your readings in multiple places.

*Scientist not needed if you skip the Goo and Jr experiments, but those return a lot so I suggest you bring one of each and the scientist.

[Vorg]

My understanding is, once an experment has been added to the study pool in a lab, you can take it out and ether turn it in OR put it in another lab to have it restudy it. Soooo, when collecting science, get 2 copies. One copy to turn in for the one time raw science, and the other copy to move from lab to lab.

[tomf]

If you have a manned ship then you only ever need to carry 1 of the smaller experiments (thermometer, barometer etc) as any kerbal can remove the result and store it in a pod. If you have a scientist they can reset the other experiment too

When I get to a new biome I normally run the experiment once and transmit the result in order to get some science immediately, then if the craft is ever going to go back to Kerbin I run the experiment again and store the result. That is enough to get the maximum points for any experiment in any situation.

[Neufusion]

you can only claim a max. amount of points for each experiment in every situation (1 full green bar) no matter how many of the same experiments you run.

If this is true, why did 4 goo experiments ran at the same time return 50, 11.5, 2.7, and 0.6 science?

[monstah]

My understanding is, once an experment has been added to the study pool in a lab, you can take it out and ether turn it in OR put it in another lab to have it restudy it. Soooo, when collecting science, get 2 copies. One copy to turn in for the one time raw science, and the other copy to move from lab to lab.

Based on your own first sentence, the following doesn't make much sense. Take just 1 reading, process it in the lab, then take it out and return it!

Besides, 2 repeated readings are a pain in that you need to store them in different containers, so either you have two pods, or you leave some experiments 'unrecycled'.

[Ripper2900]

If this is true, why did 4 goo experiments ran at the same time return 50, 11.5, 2.7, and 0.6 science?

The diminishing returns. The first is the most valuable, second is less and so on. I've set up a routine to do two of each when I explore. After that, it's pretty much useless, as your numbers confirm. But you can only store one instance of each in a pod. Therefore, I transmit the first experiment back, then use a scientist to reset the goo and matlab, and do run the experiments once more, this time taking the data, store it in the pod and bring them home to ksc.

A trick is to assign a action group key to do all data and also the crew report of your pod. Also try to build it so your scientist can reach all the equipment when eva'ing, without having to leave the stairs of the pod - much less hazzle! Then your scientist can also do eva reports, reset the experiments and take the data in one go.

You only ever need to let go of the capsule to plant flags and take surface samples and eva reports from the surface.

[Korthan]

My standard trick for mun and minimus is to park a station in Orbit, with a big fuel tank and a science lab on it. Build a lander that just does station to surface and back trips. Put every experiment I can on lander. Land at each biome, pick up science, return to station, drop off experiments in lab, reset goo and science Jr, refuel. Then a small separate vessel for returning a kerbal and all the science to kerbin. Just a capsule with chutes and heat shield, small fuel tank, and engine.

I usually hit all the biomes except maybe poles (takes a lot of delta-v) and mun canyons/minimus slopes (pain to land on).

I usually go to mun first, so I generally have science Jr, goo, thermometer, crew report, Eva report, surface sample. By the time I get to minimus I usually also have barometer and seismic scanner.

Clearing mun and minimus usually gets me enough science to unlock all the key elements of the tree.

This method can also be combined well with contracts - build minimus station, land on minimus, get science from space around minimus, get science from, surface of minimus, etc.

[problemecium]

As of 1.0.4, this is the number of times an experiment must be recovered in order for all of the Science points for it, in that place, to be used up - not accounting for transmissions:

1: Crew Report, EVA Report

2: Barometer, Thermometer

3: Gravioli, Seismometer

4: Goo, Materials Bay, Atmosphere Analysis, Sample

After this point, no Science is gained from transmitting or recovering the same experiment from the same place again (although sometimes Seismometers will claim they have a little more left). Transmitting, as mentioned above, does not change the total points available, but will cut the individual Science returns into smaller pieces.

These figures can be used to determine how many instruments to bring aboard a craft. Say I want to drive to the Admin building and scrub it clean of gravioli readings. I can keep one in the command pod, so I'd subtract one from the above chart and thus bring two gravioli detectors. I'd take one reading, move it to the command pod, and then use the other two, for a total of three in the ship. After I recover it, any future attempts to measure the graviolis at the Admin building will yield 0.0 Science.

Edited August 30, 2015 by parameciumkid

[Vorg]

I have been hearing and reading that you can keep running data through labs for more points. You need a fresh lab each run and it seems you need a fresh sample, but you can keep generating science data from the same spot.