is multiple Mun land-and-return missions the easiest way to max the tech tree?

[lammatt]

since there are so many biomes on Mun.

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or, flying by the moons of Jool faster?

[SkyRender]

Theoretically, the Mun is very much your best choice. The only caveat is that you need to unlock docking ports so you can run a more efficient series of missions (and as many science parts as possible that actually work on the Mun). If you milk the Mun dry of all of its science, it will give you about 500 science shy of what's necessary to unlock the entire tech tree. Minmus and Kerbin are more than capable of picking up the slack there, and are good choices for getting the science necessary for docking ports and science parts for your big Mun mission.

[lammatt]

i did a Jool system probe, and transmit a couple times of everything i got, and it gave me like ~2000science

but then one land-and-return from Mun gives me 500ish

[Crowdpleaser]

But again i have to ask: When you are so keen on maxing out your Science and Tech Tree so quickly, why not play Sandbox instead?

[lammatt]

But again i have to ask: When you are so keen on maxing out your Science and Tech Tree so quickly, why not play Sandbox instead?

well....

isnt the only use of the tech tree is to let you unlock things?

[Crowdpleaser]

well....

isnt the only use of the tech tree is to let you unlock things?

Correct, but i think the point is to learn the Game and the Parts. I fail to see the Point of Filling the Tech Tree with the least Missions possible.

[SkyRender]

Correct, but i think the point is to learn the Game and the Parts. I fail to see the Point of Filling the Tech Tree with the least Missions possible.

It's a challenge, of course. We vets really have no problem with flying missions with any old parts. Basic and General Rocketry combined pretty much give us everything we need to run large-scale missions to the Jool system. By and large the tech tree is irrelevant to us. So we find ways to unlock everything as fast as possible just for kicks.

[Crowdpleaser]

It's a challenge, of course. We vets really have no problem with flying missions with any old parts. Basic and General Rocketry combined pretty much give us everything we need to run large-scale missions to the Jool system. By and large the tech tree is irrelevant to us. So we find ways to unlock everything as fast as possible just for kicks.

Fair enough

[lammatt]

actually a jool system flyby is very manageable with the first parts. (to maintain a stable ascend is the only hard part, and the returning is not guaranteed)

[Troberg]

I did a Mun landing (with return), a Minmus landing (with return) then sent an unmanned one way mission to Duna with three parts (one orbiting satellite, two small landing probes, for Duna and Ike).

Not quite maxed out yet, but I plan to repeat the Duna mission on Eve and Gilly, and it will more than max out. Should be easier than Duna.

The Duna mission alone brought me about 4000 science (just make sure you have all sensors and plenty of power).