Actual Use for space stations

[kspnerd122]

Currently, space stations are sorta useless, and the only reason why they get built is for fun/contracts

I feel like a good addition would be LONG TERM science experiments, which can be run on a planet, or in space, but need kerbals to do them, e.g, a solar wind reader or a chemistry analasys machine as well as effects of microgravity, these are not instant, we need to be able to make a space station usefull, or at least, allow us to TRANSMIT SCIENCE TO OTHER CRAFT WITHOUT LOSING ANY SCIENCE(it would be unfair if you had to settle for less science, because your return probe used a bit too much fuel.

[Mikenike]

Isn't this already a thread??

[kerbiloid]

6 hours ago, kspnerd122 said:

Currently, space stations are sorta useless, and the only reason why they get built is for fun/contracts

That's exactly the problem which they are trying to solve irl...

[kspnerd122]

Seriously, just letting you transmit science between crafts is SERIOUSLY important, it makes your station around kerbin actually useful, because interplanetary missions can have data reseacrched in labs there, or, it means that you need to haul the ship back for all the science, I feel like if you send it to another ship, you should not lose any data, because it would be a way to avoid having to physically trasfer science between 2 ships that are docked/close to each other

[jimmymcgoochie]

There are several mods to add new station-related science- including station science, NEOS and even Kerbalism (though that does a lot more)- and to transmit science between ships, although that one might be out of date and I can’t remember the name. 

[Fraktal]

1 hour ago, jimmymcgoochie said:

to transmit science between ships, although that one might be out of date and I can’t remember the name. 

Science Relay and CKAN says it hasn't been updated since 1.8, but it still works as of 1.10.

Edited December 1, 2020 by Fraktal

[The Aziz]

20 hours ago, kspnerd122 said:

LONG TERM science experiments, which can be run on a planet, or in space, but need kerbals to do them

So basically what the mobile lab is for. It just doesn't say anything about these experiments (I mean, technically you use them there anyway), but works in the same way.

[Fierce Wolf]

Some experiments should be exclusive to an orbiting/base lab.

[paul_c]

Isn't there a science bonus for "doing" the research (I think its technically, transferring the data from the instrument to the experiment storage area on the Science Lab) whilst in that biome? For example, say you sent a space station to orbit Minmus. If you make a gravioli/gravity reading while over the lowlands, sending it to the lab (pressing the science beaker-shaped button) while over that biome, earns more science than if it had moved to another.

Similarly, if the science lab were a base station on the surface, let's say on Minmus Greater Flats, an astronaut returning from an EVA with a surface sample from Greater Flats will earn more science than a surface sample from Lowlands, all else being equal (ie you've not already processed one, or returned one to Kerbin). This makes things a bit awkward to maximise science, you'd need to move your base station around onto the eg Lowlands to process the science to the max there.

Without a science lab on it, a space station is limited use, but if it has crew on it (for "crew reports" - which count as science) or instruments eg thermometer, pressure, then it is useful for the contracts "gather science from space around xxxxx". Also if it has fuel, or you're lucky with its position; or put it in an orbit which covers all of the surface over time; it can do "crew report from space above Sector xxxx" contracts.

Personally I've not docked to or expanded any of mine. But in theory, if it had lots of fuel, you could use it as an intermediate post for trips to-from the surface and/or returns to Kerbin too (given the right type of small lander/returner with the appropriate equipment).

[The Aziz]

Don't think the bonus is restricted to biome, but it is for sure connected to SOI the lab is in. You'd get less data from Minmus experiment if you processed it in Kerbin orbit.

[Guest]

7 hours ago, jimmymcgoochie said:

There are several mods

I think he is requesting it to be stock. Of course I would love it to be stock too. It just tends to be (not always like for example Parallax or Near Future Technologies,) that the stock version of something has higher quality than the mod. Of course, I would love to do long term science in my stations. And maybe be able to go thru them in IVA. Of course that would be hard to do with space stations that are more offsetting and such.

[kspnerd122]

All I want is science that takes time, instead of being instant, like all other science, I also feel like maybe there should be contracts to add an experiment to the station or rotate the crew.

[paul_c]

* Keep the science lab "topped up" with as near to 750 data as possible
* Have 2 well-qualified scientists in it

 

[JIMMY_the_DOG]

Also if you put fuel tanks you can have a refueler station to help give your craft get some extra delta-v

[kerbiloid]

The orbital station may fly around the Earth edge and observe the peripheral regions of the planetary disk.

[Pds314]

Basically this is "add Kerbalism" with extra steps. Make science experiments that take a long time and can run in timewarp and under specific conditions.

[jastrone]

when playing science mode space stations are overpowered. if you use the science lab you can get all tech without going to any other planet system. got 1000 science with one small station by getting experiments from both the mun and kerbin.