Scientists in the Lab- do they 'stack'

[FlyingPete]

So I've just landed a research base on Minmus, within easy access of the Greater Flats, Slopes, Lowlands and Midlands biomes. Plenty of data to be had there. Kimdie Kerman (Scientist level 1) is busy aboard the lab, while her colleague, Agagie Kerman (Pilot, level 1) does all the running around collecting results.

Once Bob Kerman reports back from his excursion into Kerbol orbit, I guess he'll have reached level 2, so I'll probably be sending him off to Minmus Base to help. The question is, what happens to the research rate/efficiency? Does having two scientists (of differing levels) have any effect on the science generated? Or should I just bring Kimdie home once Bob's arrived.

Edited October 31, 2015 by FlyingPete

[Snark]

Yes, you'll generate more science with two scientists in the lab.

[Callmedave]

I think the Science lab needs at least 2 scientists in order to run. - Im not aware of any 'stacking' bonus. Ive always run with 2 scientists.

[Champ]

> Once Bob Kerman reports back from his excursion into Kerbol orbit, I guess he'll have reached level 2, so I'll probably be sending him off to Minmus Base to help.

Beware, without a mod you will have to bring Bob back to kerbin for him to get the XP, then send him to space again.

[CrashTestDanny]

Yes they stack. There is a mod that makes seats available on the top and bottom levels of the lab, expanding its capacity to six. Running this mod and six level three scientists, I am getting 15+ science per day.

Danny

[FlyingPete]

Beware, without a mod you will have to bring Bob back to kerbin for him to get the XP, then send him to space again.

That's the plan- I've sent the original three (Bill's really just along as a passenger for the experience) to fly out of Kerbin SOI and gather science. The data needs returning to Kerbin anyway, and it lets all three level up at KSC.

I think the Science lab needs at least 2 scientists in order to run. - Im not aware of any 'stacking' bonus. Ive always run with 2 scientists.

I believe it may have been changed fairly recently to allow operation with just 1 scientist- at least, that's what I have manning my lab at the moment and it's working.

[capi3101]

Yes, the lab will run with only a single scientist. And you can process data (i.e. add data to a lab's buffer) with any old Kerbal manning the lab - I've had Jeb do it before a couple of times. You need scientists to convert the data back into science, though.

If you've landed Bob on both Mun and Minmus AND if he's planted a flag on both bodies, he should upgrade to Level 3 once you bring him back from Kerbolar orbit. That's true of any Kerbal.

[Tex_NL]

Scientist don't only stack in the lab, they stack in the entire ship. Of course you'll get the best results when they are in the lab but additional scientists in other parts also contribute.

... I am getting 15+ science per day. ...

Only 15 per day? I average around 50 to 80 with just 4 3star scientists.

(But I did edit the lab to hold 5000 data/science instead of just 500.)

[FancyMouse]

Only 15 per day? I average around 50 to 80 with just 4 3star scientists.

(But I did edit the lab to hold 5000 data/science instead of just 500.)

Rate scales with current amount of data (hence exponential decay), so your 50-80 will become 5-8 if you restore the original cap

[Laie]

I think the Science lab needs at least 2 scientists in order to run.

Last time I tried (1.0.2 methinks) one was enough to start working, and he didn't need to be in the lab. As long as (s)he was onboard of a lab-equipped vessel, it didn't matter if the scientist was in the lab, the cockpit, or some crew container.

Scientist don't only stack in the lab, they stack in the entire ship.

Can confirm. Just as any scientist being anywhere on the vessel is enough to make the lab work, more scientists on the same vessel make it work better.

[GeneralVeers]

Only 15 per day? I average around 50 to 80 with just 4 3star scientists.

(But I did edit the lab to hold 5000 data/science instead of just 500.)

Per 24 hours, or per Kerbin day? When you right-click on the mobile lab to bring up the info window, and it tells you it's producing "X science per day", I think "per day" is per six game hours, because a Kerbin day is six hours long.