Have the Cupola give more science for Crew Reports than other pods

[CaptRobau]

To give the Cupola more of a use, I suggest having it give a little bit extra science when doing Crew Reports compared to other pods. The rationale behind this is that its large windows make it easier for the Kerbals to make their observations than in the other pods, whose small windows limit the science that can be done. Would give people a reason, other than role-playing, to add a Cupola Module to your space station.

[Skyler4856]

This is a great idea!

[FlamingPotatoes]

I like it! adds a use other than just looking incredibly damn cool to the cupola!

[TheBadAstronomer]

Great idea! The crew reports now aren't exactly detailed, so with the cupola it could be more detailed, and therefore give more science.

[Skyrunner27]

Maybe if it has its own separate science report like Observations, and make the observations biome based. That way once you get the cupola you have something else to do science with without having to bring it out all the way to Duna or Jool.

[Kasuha]

I don't see much reason for that. Crew reports are indoor science, something like experiments in zero gravity in current ISS. EVA reports are for observations what's around the ship.

If something, pods could be the more effective in digging science the more crew is in them because that, rather than large windows, can allow them making more observations.

Cupola pod could allow EVA report without going EVA. That might be quite useful for atmospheric research.

[CaptRobau]

Almost every Crew Report blurb is about observations of the terrain, etc. outside of the pod:

The mountains rise up from the ground of kerbin. They seem so much smaller from way up here.

You look down at the cold gray surface. It looks really beat up with craters.

EVA Reports on the other hand deal more with how the EVA feels (the gravity, the surface texture, etc.):

You're having a bit too much fun with the low gravity.

When you look closely at the ground, you can see there are many different types of deposits mixed together.

IRL you'd do a lot of experiments inside the spacecraft, but in KSP this is all externalized through the science parts that you place on the sides of your ship.

Edited December 15, 2013 by CaptRobau

[Tidus Klein]

Actually the cupola already has a big advantage to other capsules when used Right, if you mount the cupola upside down on the bottom of your lander and don't block it by engines, it becomes very easy to land in eva, in fact it becomes almost child's play do land period do to the fact that you have an awesome almost 3rd person view of the ground and you now have the radar altimeter telling you your exact height. its almost cheating.

[tntristan12]

Actually the cupola already has a big advantage to other capsules when used Right, if you mount the cupola upside down on the bottom of your lander and don't block it by engines, it becomes very easy to land in eva, in fact it becomes almost child's play do land period do to the fact that you have an awesome almost 3rd person view of the ground and you now have the radar altimeter telling you your exact height. its almost cheating.

And when you land your kerbal is hanging upside down from their seat. Not saying the imagery isn't hillarious, but I prefer some realism to my landers even if it makes them more challenging. Now back to the topic: I agree with the OP in principle, but I imagine that making special cases like that is a slippery slope to development hell.