Getting the maximum science from each biome requires many of the same devices on my craft?

[THX1138]

If I want to get the maximum science from an experiment in a biome do I need to send a separate device for each biome and bring it back to Kerbin without overwriting it or can I send a scientist to remove the data from a device and reuse the same equipment, sending the scientist back home with the data?

 

Edited August 27, 2019 by THX1138

[overkill13]

Scientists can reset Goo and Science Jr experiments to allow them to be run again but they need to remove the experiment first.  A command/passenger pod can only contain 1 of a particular experiment run in one situation in one biome.  That is to say only one of something like "Science Jr in space low over minmus".  It could also carry the same experiment done in a different altitude range "SciJr space high over minmus", and the same experiments in different biomes like "SciJr landed at minmus flats", and "SciJr landed at minmus crater" and other experiments performed in the same locations "Temperature reading in space low over minmus" but no more than one of each.  So include more passenger modules for a pilot or engineer or the science storage module or two to store the additional experiments.  If you can empty and reset experiments you will only need one of each experiment device which will save on mass and launch costs.

Two notes

First; In the stock game the Goo canister and Science Jr are the only experiments that give partial returns and are also the only experiments that require a scientist to reset them.  The remaining experiments give full return on a single running, but need to have the science removed before being re run for a different situation.  This can be accomplished by any class of Kerbal, except Tourists who cannot exit the craft, or the science storage modules allow you to collect all science from all experiments from their right click menus.

Second; I find it only useful to collect, at most, three of a particular experiment, unless you need an extra for a science lab to process.  Beyond this, or even arguably two, leads to significantly diminishing returns.

Edited August 28, 2019 by overkill13

[bewing]

Scientists can collect data, reset experiments, and transfer data on EVA between anything that acts as a science container. Miniscience Containers cannot reset experiments, but they can gather copies of experiments from anywhere on a craft into themselves, using the "Collect Data" button.