Scientific mapping equipment

[Fermentation]

With the push for science, I think scientific equipment to build cartographic satellite probes would be a nice feature. When you want to first go explore a celestial body or scout out a new landing site, you could send up a space probe with mapping cameras or equivalent to check it out.

(1) Mapping a planet would allow you to plan landing missions from your space center by assigning landing zones ( which would be visible from orbit, like a flag )

(2) Mapping a planet would let you see the terrain on the dark side of the planet. ( Because who likes to land completely blind? )

(3) Landing in a mapped area would give you an accurate elevation from the surface.

(4) Mapping a planet could unlock the ability to name surface features, like Bob's crater, or "Gale's flats", etc and whatever.

What does everyone think? Are there killer cartographic features that I am not thinking of?

[Spacemarine658]

o.O i love the idea

[NoMrBond]

Features beyond basic image capture showing interesting sites which are not regularly visible surface features but would be picked up by ground penetrating systems, such as shallow underground deposits which can be drilled to and/or sampled etc (would add to (1) I guess, flagged as interesting landing zone)

Atmospheric (don't land in the tornado zone etc), compositional and magnetic (magnetosphere) measurements (some areas could interfere with electronic equipment etc), deflection (or capture) of charged particles (i.e. auras), surface activity (volcanism/seismic/tectonic activity)

[Spacemarine658]

Features beyond basic image capture showing interesting sites which are not regularly visible surface features but would be picked up by ground penetrating systems, such as shallow underground deposits which can be drilled to and/or sampled etc (would add to (1) I guess, flagged as interesting landing zone)

Atmospheric (don't land in the tornado zone etc), compositional and magnetic (magnetosphere) measurements (some areas could interfere with electronic equipment etc), deflection (or capture) of charged particles (i.e. auras), surface activity (volcanism/seismic/tectonic activity)

i like that too

[Beeman]

I'd really like to see something like ISA Mapsat in the vanilla experience. Just 'cause it'd add something to do in space. More things to do is always beneficial to the KSP experience XD

Especially if they expand the functionality of it in ways this thread discusses or otherwise. It's all good.

More science, more data, more functional parts, more customization! I'll always approve of such suggestions @.,@

Edited September 2, 2013 by Beeman

[Joel Dryden]

Would be sweet in conjunction with R&D to expand mapping radius, maybe not even get the data until the communutron onboard comes within a certain distance from the rest of your sats, or the KSC, unless you happen to upgrade that things range through R&D or something. Really like the idea of both together, would maybe even give the rovers a chance to map things/document things, would be cool if there are different points for how close you are when transmitting data+the qaulity of data, being, a sample is always good unless you find a rich zone, photos of things work better during the day and reward more points or maybe if you land closer to a "targeted" area for science, etc.

Like all those ideas though dude. Hopefully the stock game lets you see (without going to map mode) your current height off terrain + Ap/Pe when applicable, so you can descend with greater ease, naming things would be awesome too, maybe extra points for returning Jeb to his very own crater or some such.

Completely missed the .22 preview, wonder how the new science parts are going to work. Like the distortion from that Mars Rover game Scott Manley did on Youtube, when with less gear/power video/audio becomes distorted and ruined, would be nice if similar things happen to the data/transmissions. As well as something similar to the "Warp drive" mod in regards to beaming power and such, maybe not the warp drive/anti matter collector (which is awesome) but the ability to send energy from a sat to another, but within a distance, so you make relays/sats which you can upgrade the range of, or even "turbo charge" it using more power, for a little range, if you want to control something unmanned that's a bit too far away, would increase the difficulty factor, whilst also, allowing for greater ease into the game, because you couldn't (Well you could, but a lot of people wouldn't) willy nilly shoot for Jool or Duna, without it even appearing on your orbital area, let alone having such a terrible signal, you would either gather science until you were able to upgrade your range to make it easier, or deploy some sats between you and said planet in some form of grid to be able to see/do things with ease and have all the numbers available. You probably wouldn't even be able to see the thing unless you were looking for it. That would be nice, any who.

The possibilities with R&D and the Career :3

Wonder how much more freedom modders and the Dev's will have after it's implemented and shortly after (hopefully) they make the change to the new Unity? Pretty keen, already amazed by this game/community.

[Sochin]

I would add a further level to this and scan for metals and water, this being a pre-requisite for a permenant base and manufacturing facilities. This is exactly what NASA is looking into using any resources with 3D printers.

[Sir_Tramalot]

I think that another idea would be a laser beam, that points at the surface, and shows you how high you are from the ground, not sea level.

[el_coyoto]

With the push for science, I think scientific equipment to build cartographic satellite probes would be a nice feature. When you want to first go explore a celestial body or scout out a new landing site, you could send up a space probe with mapping cameras or equivalent to check it out.

(1) Mapping a planet would allow you to plan landing missions from your space center by assigning landing zones ( which would be visible from orbit, like a flag )

(2) Mapping a planet would let you see the terrain on the dark side of the planet. ( Because who likes to land completely blind? )

(3) Landing in a mapped area would give you an accurate elevation from the surface.

(4) Mapping a planet could unlock the ability to name surface features, like Bob's crater, or "Gale's flats", etc and whatever.

What does everyone think? Are there killer cartographic features that I am not thinking of?

I think that these are very nice suggestions : they would add a rich new layer to the game, without depending on unimplemented/unplanned features, which is nice from a dev point of view.

Landing zones defined by the KSC as goals would be great for scenarios and Mission Controller packs!

Of course, I would *looove* to see surface activity ("Better than crashing on a mountain : landing in a volcano!") and atmospheric effects, but these features might take a very long time to implement IF they are even possible in Unity Engine.

Also, mapping and geology activities in EVA would play nice with the planned resource system and/or the Astronaut building : it would be cool to be able to train Kerbals in "specialised" skills like geology (or cartography?) to discover resources on the surface of the explored body.

[deiwy]

This is a great idea! It would be nice if all mapped planets and moons are browsable in, for example, the mission control building. You should be able to mark places on the map, which you can later 'Set as target' during the game.

It can also be used in career mode, where mapping a moon/planet is (one of the) first mission, after which new missions appear on the map in mission control.

All in all, this is a great feature which I hope will be added to the game.

[Rolf]

Awesome idea.

[SuperWeegee4000]

I like the idea of the landing zones.

[LeadMagnet]

This is a great idea! It would be nice if all mapped planets and moons are browsable in, for example, the mission control building... *snip*

ISA MapSat inclusion, gotta have it. Browsing maps in Mission Control.....I have now reached euphoria and can assend to the next state of being! This would be cool if it looked like the Prometheus alien navigation center!!!

http://www.badhaven.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/prometheus-viral-image.jpg

To cool!

[Fermentation]

On 9/2/2013 at 9:29 AM, el_coyoto said:

Also, mapping and geology activities in EVA would play nice with the planned resource system and/or the Astronaut building : it would be cool to be able to train Kerbals in "specialised" skills like geology (or cartography?) to discover resources on the surface of the explored body.

This is a very cool idea