How to save science from being lost

[Jimbodiah]

Hi,

On a lot of missions I collect data with a lot of science value, but sometimes it will not let me store the data in the capsule/pod for some reason and I have my Kerbal stuck outside with 300-400 science that will get lost. Now I take one or two extra pods with me (cupola or hitchicker etc) to store them there. Is there any way to maximize science storage on missions?

 

NB: I get that of I run six of the same science test at the same location that I will only be able to take 1 of those and the rest will have 0 value or not fit on board.

Edited December 29, 2015 by Jimbodiah

[Snark]

What do you mean, "stuck"?  Do you mean you try to enter the capsule and you get a message saying something along the lines of, "This capsule already has science result X, so you can't enter while carrying another copy of X, and it will be lost if you do"?

If that's what you mean:  Just go ahead and enter, and don't worry about the "lost" science.  Reason:  You can't get multiple credit for multiple copies.  If you take a temperature reading from space high over the Mun, you get a certain number of science points for that.  Once you've done that, taking another temperature result from high Mun space doesn't get you anything else.

[Jimbodiah]

Stuck, figuratively. If I board then I lose the data (which I do as I want to get back).

I don't think it is the same science, and it happens quite often. As I am about to go to Duna etc, I want to figure out if I am doing anything wrong before I miss out on a lot of science.

[FancyMouse]

That's why my science vessel always have two pods. Good to collect two copies of things like surface samples.

What does the upper-left corner message say? If a science is dumped, it tells you why it's dumped there.

[Snark]

It's also worth noting that the science lab allows infinite storage. It's not limited to one copy for each result, like command pods do.