Kerbol orbit - disappointing science return

[uncle_jew]

I am a KSP beginner playing in the career mode. Just did my first short (crewed) venture out to the Kerbol orbit and back to Kerbin.

Somehow I got a lot less science return from the Kerbol orbit than I hoped for. I did a materials study, a temperature scan, Mystery Goo, EVA and crew reports. KSP reported the situation as "while in space high over the Sun". The experiments were brought back to Kerbin, so there should be no transmission losses.

For the materials study, I gut 50 science points (data amount:25, data value: 2.0). For comparison, a materials study done when landed on Kerbin produced 7.5 science points.

According to this table, following science multipliers apply:

• Landed on Kerbin: 0.3x
  
• High in space over Kerbol: 6.5x
  

This means that the same research done "high in space over Kerbol" is supposed to produce 6.5 / 0.3 = 21.6x more science than on the surface of Kerbin. But I only got 50.0 / 7.5 = 6.66x more science - a shortfall by a factor of 3.

Any ideas why? Or did I miscalculate the expected return?

While aerobraking, I accidentally turned the capsule the wrong way and overheat(?) bars at some parts showed around 50%. Could overheating during reentry have diminished the science return?

Also, I didn't upgrade my R&D complex yet and it lists "Research Science Limit 100", but I assume this limit only applies when exchanging science points for technologies? And my total science return from the flight was 183 points, so clearly, I don't see a 100-point limit applied anywhere.

Thanks!

Edited October 24, 2015 by uncle_jew

[KerikBalm]

did you already do a materials bay high over Kerbol once before?

Diminishing returns and all that...

[G'th]

I believe the multiplier applies to the actual total science you return. So in reality you are getting that 6.5x science multiplier, its just you're applying it too early. If you earn 7.5 on Kerbin's surface, you'll earn 6.5x that high above Kerbol.

[UmbralRaptor]

The table was* out of date. The high Kerbol orbit science multiplier was decreased from 6.5 to 2 around 0.90.

You are correct about the research limit being the most expensive (in terms of science points) technology you can buy.

*not is -- I just fixed that bit in response to your question.

[Snark]

Also, in answer to your other questions:

Heat doesn't cause damage, at least not partially. KSP doesn't have any concept of "damaged", only "destroyed" (well, except for engineer-fixable items like wheels and lander legs). As long as a component doesn't overheat to the point of exploding, it's none the worse for wear.

And the 100 science limit on the science facility only applies to the highest level of tech that you're allowed to research. It has no effect on the gathering or retrieving of science. The worst that can happen to you if you keep accumulating science without upgrading the science facility is that eventually you'll end up with a pile of unspendable science points that will just sit around until you upgrade the facility so you can spend them.