Kerbal Science Checklist

[Doc Anderson]

Like many of you, doing science mostly involves blasting off, going to a location, doing some science reports, and then either transmitting or recovering the vessel to get the science. Then it occurred to me that I was potentially leaving a lot of science points on the table by not having a clear idea of what experiments could be done where and when. Using the info on the KSP Wiki, I put together a "science checklist" by location and biome of all the different science reports that could be collected for JUST Kerbin and the Mun. I was stunned at how much science there was to be had.

Thoughts?

-- Science Checklist --

Kerbin (One-time reports)

Lower Atmosphere

[ ]Mystery Goo

[ ]Science Pod

[ ]Barometer

Upper Atmosphere

[ ]EVA

[ ]Crew Report

[ ]Mystery Goo

[ ]Science Pod

[ ]Thermometer

[ ]Barometer

Near Space

[ ]Crew Report

[ ]Mystery Goo

[ ]Science Pod

[ ]Thermometer

Outer Space

[ ]EVA

[ ]Crew Report

[ ]Mystery Goo

[ ]Science Pod

-----

Kerbin Biome Reports

Launch Pad

Ground

[ ]Surface Sample

[ ]EVA

[ ]Crew Report

[ ]Mystery Goo

[ ]Science Pod

[ ]Thermometer

[ ]Barometer

[ ]Gravoli Detector

[ ]Accelerometer

[ ]Nose Cone

Lower Atmosphere

[ ]EVA

[ ]Crew Report

[ ]Thermometer

[ ]Nose Cone

Upper Atmosphere

[ ]Nose Cone

Near Space

[ ]EVA

[ ]Gravoli Detector

[ ]Accelerometer

Outer Space

[ ]Gravoli Detector

-----

Runway

Ground

[ ]Surface Sample

[ ]EVA

[ ]Crew Report

[ ]Mystery Goo

[ ]Science Pod

[ ]Thermometer

[ ]Barometer

[ ]Gravoli Detector

[ ]Accelerometer

[ ]Nose Cone

Lower Atmosphere

[ ]EVA

[ ]Crew Report

[ ]Thermometer

[ ]Nose Cone

Upper Atmosphere

[ ]Nose Cone

Near Space

[ ]EVA

[ ]Gravoli Detector

[ ]Accelerometer

Outer Space

[ ]Gravoli Detector

-----

KSC

Ground

[ ]Surface Sample

[ ]EVA

[ ]Crew Report

[ ]Mystery Goo

[ ]Science Pod

[ ]Thermometer

[ ]Barometer

[ ]Gravoli Detector

[ ]Accelerometer

[ ]Nose Cone

Lower Atmosphere

[ ]EVA

[ ]Crew Report

[ ]Thermometer

[ ]Nose Cone

Upper Atmosphere

[ ]Nose Cone

Near Space

[ ]EVA

[ ]Gravoli Detector

[ ]Accelerometer

Outer Space

[ ]Gravoli Detector

-----

Grasslands

Ground

[ ]Surface Sample

[ ]EVA

[ ]Crew Report

[ ]Mystery Goo

[ ]Science Pod

[ ]Thermometer

[ ]Barometer

[ ]Gravoli Detector

[ ]Accelerometer

[ ]Nose Cone

Lower Atmosphere

[ ]EVA

[ ]Crew Report

[ ]Thermometer

[ ]Nose Cone

Upper Atmosphere

[ ]Nose Cone

Near Space

[ ]EVA

[ ]Gravoli Detector

[ ]Accelerometer

Outer Space

[ ]Gravoli Detector

-----

Ice Caps

Ground

[ ]Surface Sample

[ ]EVA

[ ]Crew Report

[ ]Mystery Goo

[ ]Science Pod

[ ]Thermometer

[ ]Barometer

[ ]Gravoli Detector

[ ]Accelerometer

[ ]Nose Cone

Lower Atmosphere

[ ]EVA

[ ]Crew Report

[ ]Thermometer

[ ]Nose Cone

Upper Atmosphere

[ ]Nose Cone

Near Space

[ ]EVA

[ ]Gravoli Detector

[ ]Accelerometer

Outer Space

[ ]Gravoli Detector

-----

Tundra

Ground

[ ]Surface Sample

[ ]EVA

[ ]Crew Report

[ ]Mystery Goo

[ ]Science Pod

[ ]Thermometer

[ ]Barometer

[ ]Gravoli Detector

[ ]Accelerometer

[ ]Nose Cone

Lower Atmosphere

[ ]EVA

[ ]Crew Report

[ ]Thermometer

[ ]Nose Cone

Upper Atmosphere

[ ]Nose Cone

Near Space

[ ]EVA

[ ]Gravoli Detector

[ ]Accelerometer

Outer Space

[ ]Gravoli Detector

-----

Mountain

Ground

[ ]Surface Sample

[ ]EVA

[ ]Crew Report

[ ]Mystery Goo

[ ]Science Pod

[ ]Thermometer

[ ]Barometer

[ ]Gravoli Detector

[ ]Accelerometer

[ ]Nose Cone

Lower Atmosphere

[ ]EVA

[ ]Crew Report

[ ]Thermometer

[ ]Nose Cone

Upper Atmosphere

[ ]Nose Cone

Near Space

[ ]EVA

[ ]Gravoli Detector

[ ]Accelerometer

Outer Space

[ ]Gravoli Detector

-----

Badlands

Ground

[ ]Surface Sample

[ ]EVA

[ ]Crew Report

[ ]Mystery Goo

[ ]Science Pod

[ ]Thermometer

[ ]Barometer

[ ]Gravoli Detector

[ ]Accelerometer

[ ]Nose Cone

Lower Atmosphere

[ ]EVA

[ ]Crew Report

[ ]Thermometer

[ ]Nose Cone

Upper Atmosphere

[ ]Nose Cone

Near Space

[ ]EVA

[ ]Gravoli Detector

[ ]Accelerometer

Outer Space

[ ]Gravoli Detector

-----

Desert

Ground

[ ]Surface Sample

[ ]EVA

[ ]Crew Report

[ ]Mystery Goo

[ ]Science Pod

[ ]Thermometer

[ ]Barometer

[ ]Gravoli Detector

[ ]Accelerometer

[ ]Nose Cone

Lower Atmosphere

[ ]EVA

[ ]Crew Report

[ ]Thermometer

[ ]Nose Cone

Upper Atmosphere

[ ]Nose Cone

Near Space

[ ]EVA

[ ]Gravoli Detector

[ ]Accelerometer

Outer Space

[ ]Gravoli Detector

-----

Ocean

Ground

[ ]Surface Sample

[ ]EVA

[ ]Crew Report

[ ]Mystery Goo

[ ]Science Pod

[ ]Thermometer

[ ]Barometer

[ ]Gravoli Detector

[ ]Nose Cone

Lower Atmosphere

[ ]EVA

[ ]Crew Report

[ ]Thermometer

[ ]Nose Cone

Upper Atmosphere

[ ]Nose Cone

Near Space

[ ]EVA

[ ]Gravoli Detector

Outer Space

[ ]Gravoli Detector

-----

Highlands

Ground

[ ]Surface Sample

[ ]EVA

[ ]Crew Report

[ ]Mystery Goo

[ ]Science Pod

[ ]Thermometer

[ ]Barometer

[ ]Gravoli Detector

[ ]Accelerometer

[ ]Nose Cone

Lower Atmosphere

[ ]EVA

[ ]Crew Report

[ ]Thermometer

[ ]Nose Cone

Upper Atmosphere

[ ]Nose Cone

Near Space

[ ]EVA

[ ]Gravoli Detector

[ ]Accelerometer

Outer Space

[ ]Gravoli Detector

-----

Shores (Landed)

Ground

[ ]Surface Sample

[ ]EVA

[ ]Crew Report

[ ]Mystery Goo

[ ]Science Pod

[ ]Thermometer

[ ]Barometer

[ ]Gravoli Detector

[ ]Accelerometer

[ ]Nose Cone

Lower Atmosphere

[ ]EVA

[ ]Crew Report

[ ]Thermometer

[ ]Nose Cone

Upper Atmosphere

[ ]Nose Cone

Near Space

[ ]EVA

[ ]Gravoli Detector

[ ]Accelerometer

Outer Space

[ ]Gravoli Detector

-----

Shores (Splashed down)

Ground

[ ]Surface Sample

[ ]EVA

[ ]Crew Report

[ ]Mystery Goo

[ ]Science Pod

[ ]Thermometer

[ ]Barometer

[ ]Gravoli Detector

[ ]Nose Cone

Lower Atmosphere

[ ]EVA

[ ]Crew Report

[ ]Thermometer

[ ]Nose Cone

Upper Atmosphere

[ ]Nose Cone

Near Space

[ ]EVA

[ ]Gravoli Detector

[ ]Accelerometer

Outer Space

[ ]Gravoli Detector

-----

Mun (One-time reports)

Near Space

[ ]Crew Report

[ ]Mystery Goo

[ ]Science Pod

[ ]Thermometer

Outer Space

[ ]EVA

[ ]Crew Report

[ ]Mystery Goo

[ ]Science Pod

-----

Mun Biome Reports

Canyons

Ground

[ ]Surface Sample

[ ]EVA

[ ]Crew Report

[ ]Mystery Goo

[ ]Science Pod

[ ]Thermometer

[ ]Gravoli Detector

[ ]Accelerometer

Near Space

[ ]EVA

[ ]Gravoli Detector

[ ]Accelerometer

Outer Space

[ ]Gravoli Detector

-----

East Crater

Ground

[ ]Surface Sample

[ ]EVA

[ ]Crew Report

[ ]Mystery Goo

[ ]Science Pod

[ ]Thermometer

[ ]Gravoli Detector

[ ]Accelerometer

Near Space

[ ]EVA

[ ]Gravoli Detector

[ ]Accelerometer

Outer Space

[ ]Gravoli Detector

-----

East Farside Crater

Ground

[ ]Surface Sample

[ ]EVA

[ ]Crew Report

[ ]Mystery Goo

[ ]Science Pod

[ ]Thermometer

[ ]Gravoli Detector

[ ]Accelerometer

Near Space

[ ]EVA

[ ]Gravoli Detector

[ ]Accelerometer

Outer Space

[ ]Gravoli Detector

-----

Farside Crater

Ground

[ ]Surface Sample

[ ]EVA

[ ]Crew Report

[ ]Mystery Goo

[ ]Science Pod

[ ]Thermometer

[ ]Gravoli Detector

[ ]Accelerometer

Near Space

[ ]EVA

[ ]Gravoli Detector

[ ]Accelerometer

Outer Space

[ ]Gravoli Detector

-----

Highland Craters

Ground

[ ]Surface Sample

[ ]EVA

[ ]Crew Report

[ ]Mystery Goo

[ ]Science Pod

[ ]Thermometer

[ ]Gravoli Detector

[ ]Accelerometer

Near Space

[ ]EVA

[ ]Gravoli Detector

[ ]Accelerometer

Outer Space

[ ]Gravoli Detector

-----

Highlands

Ground

[ ]Surface Sample

[ ]EVA

[ ]Crew Report

[ ]Mystery Goo

[ ]Science Pod

[ ]Thermometer

[ ]Gravoli Detector

[ ]Accelerometer

Near Space

[ ]EVA

[ ]Gravoli Detector

[ ]Accelerometer

Outer Space

[ ]Gravoli Detector

-----

Midland Craters

Ground

[ ]Surface Sample

[ ]EVA

[ ]Crew Report

[ ]Mystery Goo

[ ]Science Pod

[ ]Thermometer

[ ]Gravoli Detector

[ ]Accelerometer

Near Space

[ ]EVA

[ ]Gravoli Detector

[ ]Accelerometer

Outer Space

[ ]Gravoli Detector

-----

Midlands

Ground

[ ]Surface Sample

[ ]EVA

[ ]Crew Report

[ ]Mystery Goo

[ ]Science Pod

[ ]Thermometer

[ ]Gravoli Detector

[ ]Accelerometer

Near Space

[ ]EVA

[ ]Gravoli Detector

[ ]Accelerometer

Outer Space

[ ]Gravoli Detector

-----

Northern Basin

Ground

[ ]Surface Sample

[ ]EVA

[ ]Crew Report

[ ]Mystery Goo

[ ]Science Pod

[ ]Thermometer

[ ]Gravoli Detector

[ ]Accelerometer

Near Space

[ ]EVA

[ ]Gravoli Detector

[ ]Accelerometer

Outer Space

[ ]Gravoli Detector

-----

Northwest Crater

Ground

[ ]Surface Sample

[ ]EVA

[ ]Crew Report

[ ]Mystery Goo

[ ]Science Pod

[ ]Thermometer

[ ]Gravoli Detector

[ ]Accelerometer

Near Space

[ ]EVA

[ ]Gravoli Detector

[ ]Accelerometer

Outer Space

[ ]Gravoli Detector

-----

Polar Crater

Ground

[ ]Surface Sample

[ ]EVA

[ ]Crew Report

[ ]Mystery Goo

[ ]Science Pod

[ ]Thermometer

[ ]Gravoli Detector

[ ]Accelerometer

Near Space

[ ]EVA

[ ]Gravoli Detector

[ ]Accelerometer

Outer Space

[ ]Gravoli Detector

-----

Polar Lowlands

Ground

[ ]Surface Sample

[ ]EVA

[ ]Crew Report

[ ]Mystery Goo

[ ]Science Pod

[ ]Thermometer

[ ]Gravoli Detector

[ ]Accelerometer

Near Space

[ ]EVA

[ ]Gravoli Detector

[ ]Accelerometer

Outer Space

[ ]Gravoli Detector

-----

Poles

Ground

[ ]Surface Sample

[ ]EVA

[ ]Crew Report

[ ]Mystery Goo

[ ]Science Pod

[ ]Thermometer

[ ]Gravoli Detector

[ ]Accelerometer

Near Space

[ ]EVA

[ ]Gravoli Detector

[ ]Accelerometer

Outer Space

[ ]Gravoli Detector

-----

Southwest Crater

Ground

[ ]Surface Sample

[ ]EVA

[ ]Crew Report

[ ]Mystery Goo

[ ]Science Pod

[ ]Thermometer

[ ]Gravoli Detector

[ ]Accelerometer

Near Space

[ ]EVA

[ ]Gravoli Detector

[ ]Accelerometer

Outer Space

[ ]Gravoli Detector

-----

Twin Craters

Ground

[ ]Surface Sample

[ ]EVA

[ ]Crew Report

[ ]Mystery Goo

[ ]Science Pod

[ ]Thermometer

[ ]Gravoli Detector

[ ]Accelerometer

Near Space

[ ]EVA

[ ]Gravoli Detector

[ ]Accelerometer

Outer Space

[ ]Gravoli Detector

-- End Checklist --

Edited November 5, 2013 by Doc Anderson

[Cal'Mihe]

That's an impressive list.

There's actually one missing: The shores count as two different biomes depending on if you are landed or splashed down (eg, in the water)

[Doc Anderson]

Excellent! Thank you. (Added to list)

Edited November 5, 2013 by Doc Anderson

[Rainbow-Dashie]

Wait!? The thermometer and gravity thinga-mabobs give you science!? 0_0 My mind has just been opened to this greatness!

[relin]

Thanks for compiling this. Hopefully something like it will come with v0.23.

[Doc Anderson]

Thanks for compiling this. Hopefully something like it will come with v0.23.

The devs just posted something about just that kind of thing. They said:

Collecting scientific data isn’t just about advancing the tech tree. The Science Archives will be a new section on the R&D Facility, which lets you review all the data you’ve accumulated to date. This is your library to view all the knowledge you’ve gathered for Kerbalkind. Also, this overview should help plan future missions.

So keeping track of the science you've already done should be easier.

[relin]

The devs just posted something about just that kind of thing. They said:

So keeping track of the science you've already done should be easier.

That's actually what I was referring to. I hope the interface is more akin to a checklist, as opposed to a list of what one has found. I'm not sure what to think, based on what was said in the post you quoted.

[MythicLionMan]

That's actually what I was referring to. I hope the interface is more akin to a checklist, as opposed to a list of what one has found. I'm not sure what to think, based on what was said in the post you quoted.

I actually prefer a list of what's been found and where to a checklist of all available science. I like 'discovering' science and part of that is the mystery of knowing what is and isn't science. A checklist of science would make it seem very mechanical like I was just collecting farmed crops. Science is after all about discovery and exploration, not about checking items off of a list.

Since there's plenty of science around there's no need to collect it all, and it's more interesting (and more realistic) if after several missions I discover a new 'reservoir' of science to tap. Maybe I didn't realize that I could take the goo canister to different biomes or I didn't know that I could perform experiments or crew reports in LKO.

That said, the game needs to provide better hints about where to look for science, and when I do science in an area the results should nudge me towards additional science. Implementing maps of science results and ensuring that the lists are informative will help with this and I assume that the developers have other ideas for the future.

Right now since science and the tech tree are all we have in career mode and the temptation is to try to maximize science extraction, but eventually there will be other tasks to accomplish that I expect will be better suited to checklists. There will probably be checklists of missions that will come later in the development of career mode. Stuff like 'land two Kerbals on Laythe' or 'build a space station'. It would even make sense if there were some science based missions such as 'observe the gravity of Jool'. I don't think that all available science should be known so that there's always be the possibility of discovering a new source of science.

[Geoff-AU]

I actually prefer a list of what's been found and where to a checklist of all available science. I like 'discovering' science and part of that is the mystery of knowing what is and isn't science. A checklist of science would make it seem very mechanical like I was just collecting farmed crops. Science is after all about discovery and exploration, not about checking items off of a list.

Agreed, I don't want a checklist because then you're just grinding for science points. I have used the forum for help figuring out what is and isn't science though, since the game doesn't really indicate what to do (yet).

Since there's plenty of science around there's no need to collect it all, and it's more interesting (and more realistic) if after several missions I discover a new 'reservoir' of science to tap. Maybe I didn't realize that I could take the goo canister to different biomes or I didn't know that I could perform experiments or crew reports in LKO.

Yep, this is good and I've done similar too, I didn't realise you can take EVA reports on the ground on Kerbin and that there were different layers (ground, atmosphere, near space, far space) as well as biomes. It's a good learning experience - the only thing is making sure you're not repeating missions too often to collect 1 new type of science. But at the moment there seem like enough places to get science from that this isn't an issue.

That said, the game needs to provide better hints about where to look for science, and when I do science in an area the results should nudge me towards additional science. Implementing maps of science results and ensuring that the lists are informative will help with this and I assume that the developers have other ideas for the future.

Right now since science and the tech tree are all we have in career mode and the temptation is to try to maximize science extraction, but eventually there will be other tasks to accomplish that I expect will be better suited to checklists. There will probably be checklists of missions that will come later in the development of career mode. Stuff like 'land two Kerbals on Laythe' or 'build a space station'. It would even make sense if there were some science based missions such as 'observe the gravity of Jool'. I don't think that all available science should be known so that there's always be the possibility of discovering a new source of science.

Agreed, Career mode should give you missions as well that point you in the right direction. In addition to a science tree you should have a mission tree that has science-related goals eg "take a sample from Kerbin's grasslands/highlands/ocean" or "report on the goo characteristics in orbit". This prompts you to discover how to take the sample, so you get your Kerbal out in the open and start clicking on stuff and then go "Ah! Here's an option for taking a sample". Once you unlock the early missions you get missions like "report on the different biomes from Munar orbit" and you need to use your science points to build a suitable spaceship to get there.

[relin]

I actually prefer a list of what's been found and where to a checklist of all available science. I like 'discovering' science and part of that is the mystery of knowing what is and isn't science. A checklist of science would make it seem very mechanical like I was just collecting farmed crops. Science is after all about discovery and exploration, not about checking items off of a list.

Since there's plenty of science around there's no need to collect it all, and it's more interesting (and more realistic) if after several missions I discover a new 'reservoir' of science to tap. Maybe I didn't realize that I could take the goo canister to different biomes or I didn't know that I could perform experiments or crew reports in LKO.

That said, the game needs to provide better hints about where to look for science, and when I do science in an area the results should nudge me towards additional science. Implementing maps of science results and ensuring that the lists are informative will help with this and I assume that the developers have other ideas for the future.

I'm a perfectionist at heart so it really bothers me to know there are experiments I haven't completed. That said, I get the impulse to steer clear of grinding.

Maybe a middle ground approach would be interesting: offer a checklist and hide most of it until you discover new ways to conduct your experiments. Unlock the Goo Cannister and your checklist tells you to take experiments on the surface of each planet/moon; if you conduct the experiment mid-flight, it reveals the atmospheric tests; conduct the experiment over a second biome and it unlocks that biome tests.

Above all, there are different types of players. Adding a completion list doesn't really hurt those that want to explore on their own, but leave out the list and people like me are out of luck.

[magnemoe]

Outside of Kerbin and Mun I have only found that ocean and land are two different biomes on Eve and Laythe.

Is it other biomes?

[Smidge204]

Being landed on a Biome is not the same as flying over a biome. For example, scanning things from the coast near the launchpad gives "____ from KSC" but if you fly even just off the ground at that point you get "___ from above Kerbin's shores"

Similar things happen even in orbit; the biome on the planet directly below you can count as something new.

This significantly complicates your list, I think.

=Smidge=

[shuttle099]

That is a huge list.

[Doc Anderson]

Being landed on a Biome is not the same as flying over a biome. For example, scanning things from the coast near the launchpad gives "____ from KSC" but if you fly even just off the ground at that point you get "___ from above Kerbin's shores"

Similar things happen even in orbit; the biome on the planet directly below you can count as something new.

This significantly complicates your list, I think.

=Smidge=

Yeah, the list isn't perfect. I just listed the combinations possible with the locations, biomes and experiments. And I don't know if it is even practical as a checklist per se, but when I saw the shear number of possible experiments it kind of stopped me in my tracks for a moment. So I thought I would post it for whatever use it might be to anyone else.

Make of it what you will.

[Smidge204]

Maybe a matrix would be better suited to the task? Much like the table on the wiki page but with the biomes expanded. One table per planet/body.

Just trying to organize the data a bit better.

=Smidge=

[Doc Anderson]

Maybe a matrix would be better suited to the task? Much like the table on the wiki page but with the biomes expanded. One table per planet/body.

Just trying to organize the data a bit better.

=Smidge=

Absolutely! Actually, I used the table on the wiki to break out the list. This was just my first attempt to break the data out to look at it (and be gob smacked at how big it was). It could be organized MUCH better. The only thing that I do like is breaking it out by biome because getting TO a given biome is going to be the biggest job. So once you get there you want to make sure you get the most out of the delta v expenditure.

Personally, I like the idea of a matrix or grid because I am really visual. But others may have other ideas. I'd love to se 'em all.

It occurs to me a separate matrix for each biome may be a useful way to organize and access the data.

Edited November 6, 2013 by Doc Anderson

[MarQan]

Hey!

Thanks for the list!

Although I haven't been able to do the Runway Surface Sample and EVA report. Also any other than ground observations seem impossible for KSC, Launchpad and Runway. Everytime I try it says Kerbin's Shores.

Any ideas?

[0235]

ok necro thread, but been using this checklist, and you can use the barometer when landed on the MUN in each biome