A few questions concerning Science

[Johno]

Hey all, a few quick questions.

1) If you observe a particular experiment multiple times in a mission (as you would in real life) do you get more science? Or is it just one observation (therefore make sure you keep your best one for landing)?

2) If you transmit from an experiment and then get the experiment home, do you still get the same number of points for bringing it home, or is a percentage extracted from that and given when you transmit?

3) Supposing I have two goo cannisters. Do I get double the points, or does it only count as one experiment?

Thanks in advance. I've tried to answer these questions on my own, but I'm mathematically challenged.

[Umlüx]

1) you can observe a experiment as often as you like, but you have to transmit the result every time.

2) you can observe - transmit - observe again and get home, but you get a little less science for it (the amount transmitted)

3) two goo canisters at the same time is the same als one goo canister observed twice. you get less for the second one.

[KerbMav]

Every experiment has a fixed pool of science points. Every time the data is returned to KSC (by transmitting or by recovering the craft) science points are awarded and subtracted from this pool. It does not matter (in version .22) if you transmit x times or recover x times, when the science points are "empty" in the end, you will have gotten the exact same amount either way.

The amount is the same whenever you open the Goo container (in the same location/biome) as long as you do not transmit or return. You can open and close it as many times as you like, the numbers only change if the data is transmitted/recovered to KSC.

If you open up 10 Goo containers in a row, they will show you the same ("high") amount of science points. That is because KSC does not know about the results of the experiments yet and so the first container to transmit its data will gain you more then the next and the next after that. The same happens when you recover the craft on Kerbin - just imagine that the scientists open up each container one after the other and every next container will give less data/science.

Recovery is only "faster" in that you need fewer recoveries than transmissions to deplete the pool (-> transmission "loss"). But you will have to fly back and land safely for this.

So while it might be easier to launch a probe with 10 thermometers to deplete the pools of the upper atmosphere and lower orbit quickly, but hauling 10 material bays to the Mun and land them safely back on Kerbin ... might pose an engineering challenge - and imagine doing this on an exploration mission to Jool and all his moon!

Edited November 22, 2013 by KerbMav

[Supernovy]

Moved to Gameplay Questions and Tutorials.

RE: 2, as it stands you don't lose any science permanently by transmitting instead of recovering, it'll just take more transmissions to get all the science points. Transmitting then recovering will get you more than either, but less than recovering twice.

[Lohan2008]

Hey all, a few quick questions.

1) If you observe a particular experiment multiple times in a mission (as you would in real life) do you get more science? Or is it just one observation (therefore make sure you keep your best one for landing)? experiments go down per transmission 100/ 50/ 25 %

2) If you transmit from an experiment and then get the experiment home, do you still get the same number of points for bringing it home, or is a percentage extracted from that and given when you transmit? experiments only have the last value but you get more points if your rescue data probe/ Kerbal, use space centre when they land.

3) Supposing I have two goo cannisters. Do I get double the points, or does it only count as one experiment?

one experiment but having two cannisters will make probe more balanced.

Edited November 22, 2013 by Lohan2008

[keoki]

What I do is set up a science platform, usually attached to a lander/rover. As I approach any new situation, I observe all of my science expiraments. Any that yield useful science, I hit over and over, until the yield is low enough to stop(or flying is eventful itself). I usually draw the line at .4 units of science. I can have missions that yield 2000 units of science... it keeps going up as I add devices to my science platform.

I group the equipment so that it is convenient to keep clicking. Also, for manned missions, your men can contribute crew reports, eva reports, and surface samples. Keep working your crew and your equipment until the science gains are no longer worth the effort. But be aware that the science yield can increase whenever conditions change. So check on your equipment often.

Keep in mind that each transmission requires quite a bit of power, so plan for renewable power as soon as you have it, and plan for backups. If you start driving with a solar panel open, it will shatter. That could end your mission if you have no contingency. I put small fixed panels on convenient surfaces, have a couple folding panels tucked in good places, and also pack several different kinds of rechargable batteries in different locations. When you roll your rover, or hit a good size bump, you will loose some components. Your spares will keep the mission alive.

And I have found that having multiple goo containers and thermometers doesn't seem to help, but it may be a sequencing thing. I'll try not transmitting until I read the high-point data and see if that does anything. I have noticed that they tend to be a fixed percentage yield, so if you were promised 70 points, but you had 10 of them before you transmitted, I don't know if your yield is discounted more than the standard 40%, but I'm sure KerbMav knows what he's talking about... I have carried spare science equipment, but my sequencing was different, I transmitted after each read, so I didn't get a chance to observe what Kerb did. If you have the room for spare science gear, it doesn't hurt to have it along. If it helps you get your science readings faster, such as during a aerobraking maneuver, where time is limited, then having a bunch of experiments lined up for a sequence of quick reads for later transmission makes a lot of sense.

You get 100% science credit for returning your science home, but you can gather 400 times more science if you transmit it each time you gather it, at a much lower rate of return (usually around 40%). So you can observe your goo, come home and get 70 points. Or you can fly around into 10 different situations, and read the goo 15 times in each situation, only get 40% credit for your observations, and come back with 2000 points. You decide.

A good mission is to make a close pass to every moon of Jool, running the heck out of your science as you do, then land on Laythe. The goo gets points rich every time you are near something new or are doing anything new. So don't forget to check it often. Same is true for the other gadgets.

I'm ready to try and feed the kracken some goo, I bet the goo scores some points then.... If I can figure out how...

Edited November 22, 2013 by keoki