Transfer science between science parts.

[gendalf]

for example:

- Duna's lander's science parts take samples and either send that data to satellite with tiny % loss, which sends it further to kerbin's satellite for less % loss, and Kerbin's satellite to Kerbin's surface - lower loss because it doesn't send data directly from the surface to the surface (basically dynamic % loss, which is more efficient - when you have less distance to the next node, no atmosphere in between, etc..).

(maybe even have different types of antennas: ones that work short distances but don't lose as much through the atmosphere compared to others that send long but lose through the atmosphere)

or you can go recovery route:

- This lander returns to the station (which orbits Duna), docks to it, transfers data without loss (part per part (like manual tranfering fuel): goo on the lander->goo on the station, pod data -> one of station's pods, thermometer->station's thermometer, etc..), station sends a vessel (with some or all of the data) to Kerbin's station, it refuels and transfers data to the station and goes back to Duna, while the data being transfered to landers that will land and recover at Kerbin.

something like that

Edited November 11, 2013 by gendalf

[Luis]

I really like this. I'd also like the electricity cost for tranmitting to increase with the square of the distance, to further incentivise relay stations.

[Wallace]

They already have EVA transfer for Pod data planned. so you can pick up the eva report and surface samples from one pod and a kerbal can carry them to another pod.

I think for Goos and science bays the data shouldn't be transferable, because the goo canister is supposed to contain an actual physical living goo, and those canister don't have doors on, I think the goo is stuck in there, likewise with the materials, I assume they are fixed in the lab, the kerbals can't more them all through EVA, so you have to bring the part back to get the full data.

There's also the new science lab planned, so it seems that bringing the goo pods and bays to the science lab will give a better score than transmitting, so seems having a station in Duna orbit would help.

I'd like to see the different antenna have different ranges though, at the moment there doesn't seem to be any advantage to using the big antenna, it is a bit faster that's all.

[Kerbart]

Surface samples should definitely be transferable. There's an annoying discrepancy now: you really want to bring your surface samples home but it either means re-entry with lander cans (not realistic, even in the Kerbal universe) or totally dismissing the lander cans and doing expeditions with regular capsules. Both are not satisfying.

[Kerbart]

A suggestion could be that a science station can transmit data (after "analysis") with only half the losses (or some factor applied) to regular transmission. So, if transmitting a surface sample delivers only 40% of returning the sample to earth kerbin (60% loss) than doing the same through a science station would deliver 70% (30% loss)

This would also be an incentive for adding more complexity to your missions, docking, etc.