Asteroid Science? - My first encounter!

[GarrisonChisholm]

Good morning- I have laboriously managed to maneuver to 60m off a Class E asteroid with a simple probe, a deed for which I am quite tickled to have succeeded. The mission is to follow it through Kerbin re-entry to observe an asteroid's re-entry characteristics. However, I was expecting to be able to get some science from it, and I cannot. The probes 3 experiments (Temp/Bar/Grav) are only reading Kerbin-sphere data.

I know asteroids do not have an SOI, however I was expecting to get Some science. Does one have to be in contact with it, or how does one otherwise go about collecting Asteroid Science? Edited November 25, 2015 by GarrisonChisholm

[Streetwind]

EVA a Kerbal, float him right up close to that there space boulder, and rightclick it for a sample :)

[BenCushwa]

Since Asteroids don't have their own Sphere of Influence (SOI), they won't provide any "in space" results from experiments. As Streetwind mentioned, a Kerbal can collect a surface sample from one. I've never tried it, but I wonder if a ship that uses a grappling arm to physically attach to an asteroid can get any "landed" science results? Anyone know?

[Goomblah]

When you Klaw to an asteroid, it becomes classified as a docked ship. You can't get landed science, sadly.

[GarrisonChisholm]

Mm, that's too bad then- I guess this mission is just for pictures and the light show then. :)

Thank you for the info all!!