Science outside of/after tech tree

[dlrk]

I think science should still be usable, or serve some function in a sandbox game, or after the tech tree has been completed.

Some ideas:

Finding resources.

Finding out information about planets, etc.

Anyone else have ideas?

[iLlama]

the information you get reading the description of the various planets could be unlocked afther experimentation, like surface gravity, atmosphere, radius, ..., and even the description itself

[dlrk]

^ exactly!

[adios_1984]

Yeah! We could discover details like density, mass, chemical structure etc. I'm thinking about space station with science eq. It would have to "gather" science for longer period of time to reveal some small detail about celestial body (or the solar system itself?).

[Sirrobert]

Yea, no info on the planets until you research them. It's a little weird that Kerbals can't figure out how to put a flashlight on a rocket, but know the exact makeup of another planet

[Papa_Joe]

Another use is commercial.

Once you have gained the capability to gather certain data, you could sell it. This would help fund your program. Also commercial data needs could drive missions to gather more data.

Good examples are mapping, imagery, and KPS (Kerbal Positioning System)

Edited October 22, 2013 by Papa_Joe

[Sirrobert]

I agree very much. You shouldn't know that much about other plannets you can only see as dots in the sky (well, Kerbals shouldn't)

Until it's implented, I'm just roleplaying it. No landers until I had a probe in orbit

[Pulstar]

There was talk of a prestige mechanics once I think (my memory could be wrong). Doing experiments and in particular reaching new places should grant it. I mean honestly, NASA still gets respect for putting people on the Moon or for the Voyager's and the mars rovers. There's more to exploration than unlocking parts, it's about getting out there in the unknown and learning more about it.