Look here! I found a use for the lab!

[-Velocity-]

But when you process the results and transmit them back, you only get a fraction of the science than if you actually return them.

Or are you guys using some kind of trick with EVA and science results that I don't understand? I keep seeing references to this, but I don't know what it is or how it's done. What can be transferred? Only the surface samples?

[I_Killed_Jeb]

Are there parts (stock or otherwise) that give you a "ring" to stuff things inside, without having to have an engine in the center? Unsure what this would be called.

People often hide modules inside ASAS and decoupler parts, if that's what you mean

Maybe I just read the dev blogs too much, but isn't that is the whole reason it was designed and implemented?

Yep

[Snarfster]

But when you process the results and transmit them back, you only get a fraction of the science than if you actually return them.

Or are you guys using some kind of trick with EVA and science results that I don't understand? I keep seeing references to this, but I don't know what it is or how it's done. What can be transferred? Only the surface samples?

1. Take the science out of the experiment whilst on EVA, store everything in the capsule that is going home.

2. Reset/Clean the experiments with the lab.

3. send the capsule home, send the lander to the next biome.

[ThirdHorseman]

Or are you guys using some kind of trick with EVA and science results that I don't understand?

You have a ship in orbit around Minmus that has two components:

a) An orbiter, which consists of a lab module, solar panels, batteries, etc and a bunch of extra fuel storage

A lander, which consists of a command module, material bay, goo container, seismic scanner, thermometer, gravioli scanner.

1) Undock lander and land in a biome

2) Do SCIENCE! (Crew report, mat bay, goo, seismic, thermometer, gravioli)

3) EVA your Kerbal. Do an EVA Report and get a surface sample

4) While on EVA, remove the data from all the SCIENCE! devices (walk up to device, right click, and remove data)

5) Re-enter the capsule. This stores all the data that your Kerbal had on him (from steps 3 and 4)

6) Take off and dock with your orbiter

7) Refuel the lander, and use the lab to scrub the mat bay and goo container

8) Repeat steps 1-7 for each biome

9) Return to Kerbin. Land your command module and recover to get SCIENCE! The lab and everything else can be discarded.

[-Velocity-]

1. Take the science out of the experiment whilst on EVA, store everything in the capsule that is going home.

2. Reset/Clean the experiments with the lab.

3. send the capsule home, send the lander to the next biome.

What does this work on? ALL science experiments?!

[ThirdHorseman]

Are there parts (stock or otherwise) that give you a "ring" to stuff things inside, without having to have an engine in the center? Unsure what this would be called.

There is a part mod out there that has in-line pods that look just like fuel containers, but they have doors that open and you can mount stuff inside. I did a quick search and couldn't find it, sorry.

You can also use KAS to store parts in storage containers.

[boolybooly]

Absolutely true KvickFlygarn87 took me a few missions to figure it out first play through. This is my current version taking on the Mun, I am doing all 15 biomes, 2 per landing with a hop between, then moving on to Minmus and maybe there will be enough fuel for Duna or even Jool. This is the second mission in a new career game in which I am trying to complete the tech tree in two missions (first got approx 2485 from Mun orbit, Minmus landings and minimal Kerbol SOI transit, enough to get nuke, gravitometer and docking but had to forego barometer). What you are seeing here is a nuclear lander with boosters and an optional skycrane module attached to a skylab and a load of fuel. The optional skycrane allows the lander to take more fuel along for demanding landings like (hopefully) Laythe or Duna or the Muns N pole from equatorial orbit. It also has two atmo sensors built in but for most Mun landings the nuke engine allows the lander to start without the skycrane and with two lateral small tanks empty, to save fuel.

Edited January 4, 2014 by boolybooly

[Mighty1]

For those who use mods a question. What about thinking out of the box? Why use stations? I have launched a lander with a crew capsule, science stuff, lab and kethane mining and refining equipment. All in one. But after one try I realized that kethane is not in all of the biomes so what did I do? Replace landing legs with wheels. Yea, now that is Kerbal

Edited January 4, 2014 by Mighty1

[likke_A_boss]

Are there parts (stock or otherwise) that give you a "ring" to stuff things inside, without having to have an engine in the center? Unsure what this would be called.

Sure is! http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/61040-0-23-6S-Service-Compartment-Tubes-Design-smooth%21

[ThirdHorseman]

Replace landing legs with wheels

Ug, I hate driving around on the Mun. 9 times out of 10 I end up flipping around when I get to any speed that is decent. I designed a few rovers that can be driven in any orientation, but it just takes FOREVER to get anywhere since you can't time warp at a decent amount. I prefer getting up into orbit and then dropping back down. So much faster and easier, and with Kethane mining I don't worry about fuel too much.

[Aragosnat]

Teh one main prtoblem with the science lab is you need docking ports unlocked before you get the lab. Not really. But, it helps. Yeah the Mün driving speed is really slow. 20 m/s or less most of the time with 10 m/s being the overal safest speed. We need walkers. I know there was a mod that had them legs.

[Puck Man]

I prefer landing a Lab somewhere and then sending rovers to the nearest biomes to collect data, then return it all to the lab and return the lab back to Kerbin. It works well for Mun and Minmus, if you plan your Lab's landing spot carefully you can cover 2-3 biomes with one trip. For other planets it is not the best option though since a lander is lighter than a lab and you only need one trip. As far as the Mun and Minmus are concerned though it reduces the number of flightssignificantly. However they are replaced by low g driving which is tedious and frustrating. In the future however, when money will be involved, the rovers will prove to be the better choice. Use manned rovers for best results.

[Hyomoto]

I didn't see it literally posted so in case anyone is still scratching their heads, you can clear experiments out of the science capsules and use the lab to reset the experiment. Then you just send a tiny lander back to Kerbin packed full of science. I often build my landers to just leave the experiments behind, but that's obviously no good on a reusable setup.

The needless part of the lab is transmission since there appears to be a cap on how much can be transmitted. If you want to get max science, you can process the results, send it back over the wire and colllect the physical experiments but I don't think you'd receive significantly more than just bringing a round of goods back to Kerbin, but you could max out your science that way (since a single experiment always has a little left over).

Edited January 6, 2014 by Hyomoto

[draeath]

Sure is! http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/61040-0-23-6S-Service-Compartment-Tubes-Design-smooth%21

Got it, and I can't figure out how to get things inside it without them clipping through such that corners and such stick out. Also, can't get any panels or such inside with any sense of symmetry or centering that I'd be able to put things on.

I don't like using the debug features and as such I won't use part clipping in my builds...

[TMS]

Take it with you!

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[SkyRender]

I was doing the "mobile cleaning facility for micro-science-lander" gig almost before 0.23 came out. Modifying my 0.22 Mun-scanning craft for 0.23 required very little effort in the form of just sticking a science lab on it and a bit more fuel. I had it launched up to the Mun and cleaning out its many biomes back on release day.

[Umlüx]

just hauled a lab to low munar orbit and had my first landing+return to the lab.

i have to say i am a little bit disappointed, the transmit value after processing is not that great...

30 science instead of 100 even after processing? that is still very very low.. i think i'll just fly several big missions and return everything to kerbin and never use the lab again...

[thiosk]

I'm currently hauling a lab to Jool for a Joolian tour. I've got a tylo lander AND a second lander for the other moons. I forgot to bring my joolian atmo probe, though :*(

just hauled a lab to low munar orbit and had my first landing+return to the lab.

i have to say i am a little bit disappointed, the transmit value after processing is not that great...

30 science instead of 100 even after processing? that is still very very low.. i think i'll just fly several big missions and return everything to kerbin and never use the lab again...

Don't process from the lab.

I have set up my lab as a return ship. Its meant to go back to Kerbin at the end of the mission. My last couple runs I had 25+ expts saved up in it-- the duna exploration was quite effective, as was my mun trip (I did the minmus hop with a single large vessel because its so big). Massive gains. I expect that from the lab you can transfer the experiments to a seperate lander for the return and thus save the lab, but Ive already got a nice setup that returns the lab, and my jool mission will finish out the tree, so there won't be much reason NOT to return it.

I expect in the future keeping the lab in orbit may be more cost effective, but for now, money is literally not an object.

Edited January 6, 2014 by thiosk

[Javster]

Launching a space station with the lab cos it looks cool.

[draeath]

Question: I thought only Kerbin and Mun had "biomes" - is there a point to doing "science" elsewhere? I've not touched career mode, yet.

[FenrirWolf]

Other planets have science to be extracted, but it's the same no matter what part of the planet you are on.

[Snarfster]

Question: I thought only Kerbin and Mun had "biomes" - is there a point to doing "science" elsewhere? I've not touched career mode, yet.

If I am not wrong, you could go to Duna, do experiments on the surface, in the atmosphere, in space just above Duna and in space high above Duna. That would mean at least 4 "biomes" to do about 8 experiments on. (That is without EVA and surface samples.)

[I_Killed_Jeb]

I'm getting a bit cold on biomes these days, I don't really see the challenge in it and it feels very grind-y

[Caelib]

If I am not wrong, you could go to Duna, do experiments on the surface, in the atmosphere, in space just above Duna and in space high above Duna. That would mean at least 4 "biomes" to do about 8 experiments on. (That is without EVA and surface samples.)

The seismic and atmospheric science equipment don't work in all areas/biomes.

[stevism]

I'm getting a bit cold on biomes these days, I don't really see the challenge in it and it feels very grind-y

agreed, it definitely feels grindy as it is. although it's obvious they have much more in mind for it.

it would be cool if certain tech tree elements couldn't be unlocked until a certain biome had been reached. so like, no nuclear engines until 3 mun biomes and 3 minmus biomes have been explored (to some stated extent), etc.

anyway i use the mpl as a part of a orbital refueling station as well...seems great for that so far and makes for more interesting roleplaying. definitely glad it got me to stop spamming transmissions...which was boring