I just realized I've been doing Science all wrong

[NavyFish]

Any idea what happens if a kerbal on EVA clicks 'Take Data' on a lab with multiple copies of the same data? Will he only take one copy of each?

If that's the case, then instead of having to land the heavy mobile lab back at kerbin, it could be placed in a parking orbit and several shuttle craft or SSTOs could be used to ferry the data down for recovery. Also, if built properly, the lab could remain in orbit and be docked to the next science expedition, saving precious mass on the next launch.

Edited April 15, 2014 by NavyFish

[Superfluous J]

Any idea what happens if a kerbal on EVA clicks 'Take Data' on a lab with multiple copies of the same data? Will he only take one copy of each?

If that's the case, then instead of having to land the heavy mobile lab back at kerbin, it could be placed in a parking orbit and several shuttle craft or SSTOs could be used to ferry the data down for recovery. Also, if built properly, the lab could remain in orbit and be docked to the next science expedition, saving precious mass on the next launch.

"Take data" will take all the data in a module. You can only store one of each type of data in any module at the same time. You can have 20 temperature readings so long as they're all from different biomes, but you can't have 2 from the same biome.

[NavyFish]

You can only store one of each type of data in any module at the same time. You can have 20 temperature readings so long as they're all from different biomes, but you can't have 2 from the same biome.

That's in direct contradiction to what GoatRider just posted. Who's right? I'll test tonight and post my findings if no one beats me to it...

Another lesser use is that Sci Labs can take more than one of the same kind of data. Some experiments you need to repeat up to 4 times to get 100% credit, you can do all of them in one go if you store them in the lab.

[Superfluous J]

That's in direct contradiction to what GoatRider just posted. Who's right? I'll test tonight and post my findings if no one beats me to it...

I may be wrong about the science labs. I was sure I tried it but now I'm not so sure. I AM sure that every other thing capable of storing science in the game (except Kerbals) has such a restriction.

[GoatRider]

I just went to the VAB and pulled out a lab, put Bill and Bob in it, and put it on the launch pad. Did 4 EVAs to get 4 samples, here's the result.

Last one didn't count because I had already done the launch pad before, back in the beginning of this career.

[cantab]

AFAIK, there's no limit to the amount of unique data a pod can store (so long as none are duplicates. You can't, for instance, have two 'goo reports from Minmus poles surface' at once in one pod). The best thing to do is actually visit the same biome twice, and on the first time there, transmit it (after boosted by the lab) and then return the second set.

You can, however, have two copies of the experiment in two different pods. In terms of science return this can be a practical option before unlocking the science lab, especially if you use destination orbit rendezvous. A Mun mission might have a two-pod orbiter and a one-pod lander. Put two Goo Cans (and if possible two Sci Jrs) on the lander (on the ascent stage if you drop anything!). Once you've rendezvoused back with the orbiter after landing, EVA, take results from one Goo Can and one Sci Jr, put them in one pod in the orbiter, go back to the lander and take the others, put them in the other pod in the orbiter, go home. Edited April 16, 2014 by cantab

[HeadHunter67]

After you take the data and put it in a capsule, you get the option "clean out experiments" which makes them re-usable.

How does this work? does the craft with the goo cans or mat bays just have to be docked with the lab? The wiki was not clear, and I can't imagine it'd be very useful to require them to be an integral part of the same ship.

Another lesser use is that Sci Labs can take more than one of the same kind of data. Some experiments you need to repeat up to 4 times to get 100% credit, you can do all of them in one go if you store them in the lab.

Thanks, that's very useful to know!

[cantab]

Two ships docked are treated by the game in every way as one ship. So yes, docking an experiment to the Science Lab will let you clean out the experiment.

[thereaverofdarkness]

I like to start any career mission off with a nice Kerbin and Moon equatorial orbit. You can pop a Kerbal out of the orbiter and get several EVA reports just floating above various biomes, and you don't have to change your inclination at all. It's an easy way to get enough science to unlock the parts you need for decent landing missions, especially if you plan to make reusable bases or landers that can take off again. I hate leaving junk behind, so EVA reports help me to avoid turning early missions into space junk.

[Callmedave]

I had a problem with this last night.

Took a small lander to the Mun (done a text book landing, right bang in the middle of the north east crater! ) done all the experiments, goo, materials, siesmic, temp, then i EVA'd grabbed all the experimemnts, i built the lander a little high and had to hover with RCS (tapping shift) to get close enough to take the experiments, after i took them all, i could not do anything with the materials bay, It would highlight, but no options would come up (i could get the options for the temp etc) The material bay doors were still open, but i could not close them, the kerbal could not interact with it at all.

I was hoping to 'hop' out the crater and repeat experiments, but without use of the material bay there was little point, so i returned home with ~400 science.

Did i do something wrong? is this a bug? has anyone else had the same?

Maybe i selected the wrong option when i was hovering....

Any idea guys?

[Superfluous J]

...done all the experiments ... then i EVA'd grabbed all the experimemnts ... after i took them all, i could not do anything with the materials bay

That's normal. Materials bay (Science Jr) and the Goo canister are one-use items. If you have the large science lab with 2 Kerbals in it, you can clean the science bay and goo containers for more uses, but if you don't have one, that's it.

[BudgetHedgehog]

I had a problem with this last night.

Took a small lander to the Mun (done a text book landing, right bang in the middle of the north east crater! ) done all the experiments, goo, materials, siesmic, temp, then i EVA'd grabbed all the experimemnts, i built the lander a little high and had to hover with RCS (tapping shift) to get close enough to take the experiments, after i took them all, i could not do anything with the materials bay, It would highlight, but no options would come up (i could get the options for the temp etc) The material bay doors were still open, but i could not close them, the kerbal could not interact with it at all.

I was hoping to 'hop' out the crater and repeat experiments, but without use of the material bay there was little point, so i returned home with ~400 science.

Did i do something wrong? is this a bug? has anyone else had the same?

Maybe i selected the wrong option when i was hovering....

Any idea guys?

Someone wasn't listening when we said you needed to dock to a Mobile Processing Lab in order to reset the experiments after data removal, were they?

[X-SR71]

The best way to use a lab is to "clean out" Goo and Materials bays. After you take the data and put it in a capsule, you get the option "clean out experiments" which makes them re-usable. Transmitting a higher percent of experiments is pretty useless.

Another lesser use is that Sci Labs can take more than one of the same kind of data. Some experiments you need to repeat up to 4 times to get 100% credit, you can do all of them in one go if you store them in the lab.

Ack! I knew about being able to reset, but did not know about being able to store more than a single experiment of the same type. I have been doing one biome at a time - sending a lander, doing the experiments, collecting data, then separating the materials bay along with the goo canister on the surface and returning only the command pod.

To me that's a major feature of a lab! Now I must consider leaving a lab in orbit and doing and resetting experiments in as many biomes as possible in a single mission..

[NavyFish]

I've added the information about a lab being able to store multiple copies of the same data on the wiki: http://wiki.kerbalspaceprogram.com/wiki/Science

The Mobile Processing Lab MPL-LG-2 can also store multiple copies of scientific data - even those from the same experiment in the same situation & biome. For example, a lander could conduct three material studies with separate SC-9001 Science Jr. units, rendezvous and dock with a ship containing a Mobile Processing Lab MPL-LG-2, then have a Kerbal on EVA "Take Data" from each SC-9001 Science Jr. and place it in the lab. This must be done once per piece of data, as a Kerbal can only store one type of unique data at a time. Most experiments can be 'maxed out' in a single trip by recovering three or four samples.

This is such incredibly useful information!

[Othuyeg]

I am now playing a new career and have yet to even touch minmus (I have unlocked everything, as I have been to other planets and captured plenty of asteroids) and I am now trying to see how much science I can bring back in one science lab.

Edit: Quick question, does processing data move the processed data from their equipment to the lab?

Edited April 18, 2014 by Othuyeg

[GoatRider]

Edit: Quick question, does processing data move the processed data from their equipment to the lab?

No, you have to EVA a Kerbal to pick it up and bring it into the lab or capsule.

By the way, I sent a lander with a Sci Lab and full stock instruments to Minmus, and was able to land on 7 Biomes and do Science!® I had already done the EVA over every Biome without landing on a previous mission, otherwise it would have been more. Here's the results:

Edited April 18, 2014 by GoatRider