Experiments docked to a capsule or lab should not need EVA to move the data.

[boolybooly]

The way its set up encourages multi use probes to dock with the lab and for data to be collected by EVA and not transmitted.

Actually doing this turns out to be grindy.

It is unjustified for instruments.

Where it might just be justified like materials and goo the range to enable the Kerbal to act is too small, this gameplay is disappearing up its own obsession, the point of this game is to have fun not rub peoples noses in how boring data gathering can be. If you can reset materials without EVA then I dont see why you can't collect the experiment as well.

IMHO EVA should be reserved for samples gathering and moving and the rest should be easy to do. I think EVA should also be useful ie make and break things.

I think you should be able to dock a science probe to a capsule or lab and move the experiment data to either through one button. So they should both have a collect data button which should attract all data to that capsule or lab. I think the only exception should be samples which should always be treated as physical items to enhance the immersion.

[Athanasius]

Agreed.

I've just gotten to the stage of putting down an independent lander on Mun, doing basic science (crew report, surface sample, EVA report), then taking off and docking back with my 'command module'.

But I can't see any way in which to move the data from the lander into the command module. Thus I seem to need to bring the lander back with me. In the case of such docked ships and a 'mere' surface sample shouldn't you be able to transfer all the data/samples between the docked ships ?

[Superfluous J]

I agree, OP. Other than surface samples, goo reports, and materials bays all experimental data should just go into the capsule automatically once read. Kerbals can later take them out and transfer to another capsule if they want. If there's no capsule, THEN they stay in the experiment.

I've just gotten to the stage of putting down an independent lander on Mun, doing basic science (crew report, surface sample, EVA report), then taking off and docking back with my 'command module'.

But I can't see any way in which to move the data from the lander into the command module. Thus I seem to need to bring the lander back with me. In the case of such docked ships and a 'mere' surface sample shouldn't you be able to transfer all the data/samples between the docked ships ?

You can move things with your Kerbals. Get them next to the science device and right click it, and you'll have an option to "take" the data. Some of the things give you warnings, but in this case (you're dumping the lander) you can ignore them. Once your guy has taken all the data from the devices, right click on the command pod and you can "take" all the crew reports and eva reports and surface samples. Then go up to the capsule on the return vehicle and either get in or right click and "store" the data there. I've brought almost 100 experiments back at once in one Mk1 capsule before.

[Athanasius]

Weird, I looked and looked for some way on right-click of the lander pod to transfer the data and couldn't see it. I'll have another look later today (I saved the quicksave.sfs file from that point).

[Athanasius]

OK, I swear last night that I tried right-clicking on the lander pod whilst in EVA, but clearly not as indeed I just tried it and can take the data along that way. Thanks for the prod .

[UberFuber]

On one hand, I agree with this.

On the other, the fact that there's some sort of Transmission Lost means that some of those data measured are physical in nature, and cannot be transferred purely by electronics (interconnection between probe and the instrument).

[CaptainArchmage]

If the data is solely digital then it should be possible to move the data to a capsule just by having the module attached to your ship somehow. If the material is physical stored in a command module, it should be possible to transfer as IVA movement would allow.

There are a few experiments which are exposed to space and have more than just digital data, and I think you should probably need to EVA to recover that. This would probably apply to the goo canister and materials bay, but not the other experiments.

[Zad Fnark]

Currently, I use an assembly of Science Jr with docking ports on each end. Goo, instruments and transmitter are fixed to the back. I just transfer the whole package between lander and command module and haul the whole thing back to Kerbin.

ZF-

[jordanjay29]

If the data is solely digital then it should be possible to move the data to a capsule just by having the module attached to your ship somehow. If the material is physical stored in a command module, it should be possible to transfer as IVA movement would allow.

There are a few experiments which are exposed to space and have more than just digital data, and I think you should probably need to EVA to recover that. This would probably apply to the goo canister and materials bay, but not the other experiments.

The Materials Bay and Mystery Goo, I can see requiring physical movement of the specimen. But the sensors are just that, sensors. They record data just like their equivalent sensors do on Earth, data from a barometer, thermometer, accelerometer and gravity sensor should be completely digital.