Multiple command pod sample return?

[Stickyhammy]

I took the time and effort to get a space station to mun orbit. It has a science lab for boosting transmit research. As it turns out that's useless as the total amount of science you can send is still way short of returning it via a pod.

So I am wondering if it would be possible to bring a 4 command pod craft to my mun station in order to store four sets of surface samples for return all at once. Keep in mind the pods have to return in one piece and I have found multiple pods dropping at once causes pod deaths if your not controlling each one.

I would guess that that you could keep all four command pods docked in a line and give plenty of radial chutes to slow down the chain enough to survive impact in the ocean. Has anyone tried this and made it work?

Edited May 11, 2014 by Stickyhammy

[sal_vager]

You can stack surface samples and other science too as long as it's from different biomes, stuff like crew reports can just be transmitted at no loss

So you should only need one pod.

[Stickyhammy]

You seem to be right. I looked at the wiki wrong. It says "Most modules have only a limited capacity; typically, command pods can only take "one of each": one surface sample from here and one from there is possible," I missed that part. Thats too bad. I was going to name my command pod chain the Pod Train. Might make one just to see if it works even though I dont need it.

[GoatRider]

Also keep in mind that a science lab can carry more than one of a sample from each biome, as well as reset the goo and science jr pods.

[Claw]

You can use multiple pods if you want to return more than one sample from each location. It sounds like you figured that much out with the rest of this post.

What I will also say is be aware that in v0.23.5 there is a bug that occurs when you decouple multiple manned pods at the same time. If you were to separate all four pods, say at the last minute, then the game will not allow you to quicksave/quickload/revert/recover or return to the space center. You would have to land them all together, or separate them one at a time.

[Laie]

What I will also say is be aware that in v0.23.5 there is a bug that occurs when you decouple multiple manned pods at the same time.

Thanks for telling me. I just tried that and wondered what happened.

As to the original topic, Command Pods survive impacts up to 12m/s. Four a stack of four, two radial chutes should suffice even if you land in the highlands. Toss in one more small parachute on the topmost pod and you'll be safe.

[daniu]

So I am wondering if it would be possible to bring a 4 command pod craft to my mun station in order to store four sets of surface samples for return all at once.

Do yourself a favor and install the Radial Experiment Storage Container Mod instead.

I attached those to minimal drones I send back so I can reuse my actual experimental craft.

[KerbMav]

You could also copy the MODULE that enables pods to store science from the part.cfg and paste it into a small radial part.

Also keep in mind that a science lab can carry more than one of a sample from each biome, as well as reset the goo and science jr pods.

I keep forgetting about this - and we still do not know if this is intended or a bug - it is one more reason (in a stock game without the mod part I linked) to bring the lab along, but it still requires landing the lab back on Kerbin.

How does it even store multiples of the same experiment? Is the MODULE in its part.cfg different? (Not at home right now.)

[rtxoff]

You could also copy the MODULE that enables pods to store science from the part.cfg and paste it into a small radial part.

I keep forgetting about this - and we still do not know if this is intended or a bug - it is one more reason (in a stock game without the mod part I linked) to bring the lab along, but it still requires landing the lab back on Kerbin.

How does it even store multiples of the same experiment? Is the MODULE in its part.cfg different? (Not at home right now.)

Science Lab:

MODULE

{

name = ModuleScienceContainer

reviewActionName = Review Data

storeActionName = Store Experiments

collectActionName = Take Data

evaOnlyStorage = True

storageRange = 2

allowRepeatedSubjects = True

}

CommandPod:

MODULE

{

name = ModuleScienceContainer

reviewActionName = Review Stored Data

storeActionName = Store Experiments

evaOnlyStorage = True

storageRange = 1.3

}

[KerbMav]

So, that is why - and it is intentional, thank you.