Satellites

[Mister Kerman]

Hey guys. I'm fairly new to KSP and don't have a lot of time to play, but I really enjoy the game. I just had a couple questions about satellites and remote command pods in general.

From what I can tell, any situation you would use a probe, a manned return trip mission is always a better choice is it not?

Also, if that's the case, what are the best uses for probe style command pods?

All I can think of to use them for is getting less valuable data from places you either don't properly know how to get to/ don't wish to plan a return trip/ don't wish to risk crew.

Are they particularly useful for science data boosts to advance your space program? Or is it better to just wait and send a manned mission?

[Tery215]

Manned return trip isn't really the better choice (early on).

Remote Guidance Units provide control, at a lack of the ability to contain Kerbals, the requirement of constant electricCharge (not really a big deal), and they are smaller.

That said, you should use RGU's when you lack the technology to carry Kerbals at a reasonable cost.

What are you waiting for? The Science Fairy to grant you more science points?

[rabidninjawombat]

You'll get more data by returning stuff to Kerbin. For most reports you suffer a penalty for transmitting the Data instead of returning it.

You are right in your assumption, that in Stock KSP, manned missions are always more valuable for science sake =)

There are various mods that chance how pods work and increase their usefulness ( I.E. Better than Starting Manned Mod, and remote tech2)

[Tortoise]

I mainly use satellites to scan for kethane, and transmit remotetech data.

And also other types of satellites here and there, like science data collection or maybe a hullcam telescope.

It all differs.

But I like to do things realistically and send things unmanned first.

First I send an unmanned satellite, then I send an unmanned rover (With mods where I can collect science on the ground: Surface samples, etc. Just like kerbals can). Then after that, I get ready to send kerbals.

The point of all of this is to keep things more realistic, and plus with TAC Life Support, I can't risk keeping kerbals places for too long on another celestial body, as their life resources may start to deteriorate.

[MadChris48]

If you are going for maximum science then a manned mission is the way to go. The crew and EVA reports alone make the manned science mission gains well worth it. That said, there is way more science in the Kerbol system than the tech tree can support, so manned missions aren't needed for anywhere really (unless you want the crew/eva reports). It's a little easier to design a probe vs manned lander, but not there isn't very much difference. Also, there is a huge amount of satisfaction of sending a Kerbal to another body, doing all the fun stuff there, and then bringing him home.

[cantab]

A return mission will always give significantly more science than a transmitting mission - though for unmanned return missions you may need to carry multiple small instruments. A kerballed mission will give somewhat more science than an unkerballed one (since EVA reports and Surface Samples are exclusive to Kerbals, and Crew Reports need a command pod though it doesn't have to be occupied). These factors are independent: there's no reason you can't make a probe return mission. The bigger benefit is from returning rather than going one-way.

However a kerballed ship will be several times heavier than an ultralight probe, and a return mission will need to be a few times heavier than a one way (how much by depends on destination).

As regards specific cases for one-way missions, well an Eve lander is the obvious one. The easiest place to land and the hardest to come back from, with a big science multiplier to boot.

[tychochallenge]

unfortunately, the stock game doesn't have much use for satellites other than gaining science but there are a handful of mods that adds more functionality to the game Ex: RemoteTech 2, ScanSat, Kethane, Kethane Plus, KSP Interstellar, ProbeControlRoom, HullCamera, and a couple of telescope mods out there.

[timsfitz]

I hope Squad adds more of a point for probes in the stock game. As it stands they're not very useful. It's kinda strange given how important they are IRL. I think satallites and probes will be part of the contract system though so they will probably be useful for easy kerbucks in the next update.

[MasterSounis]

With the coming budgets update, satellites and probes get a whole new plus: lower cost.

Probes are in most cases smaller is size and mass, as well as being cheaper than large crew pods, ladders, etc. Less delta-V is required to lift them. I think that many of the new contracts could be more easily completed unmanned than manned.

[Pecan]

...From what I can tell, any situation you would use a probe, a manned return trip mission is always a better choice is it not?...

That is an artefact of the current career mode. As noted by others, it is soon to be replaced. When it is, and any progress you've made so far is redundant, you'll be glad of all the practice you put in trying the different parts available in sandbox ;-0

[Mister Kerman]

Thanks for the responses guys; I just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing some important application. I should have mentioned that I play stock KSP as well.

I might do an unmanned probe mission if I'm headed somewhere new just to make sure some poor kerbal doesn't foot the bill for my inexperience. Right now I've got my plate more than full with just the Mun and Minmus.

Also when the new version of KSP comes out I'll definitely start a new campaign. I'm leaving a little too much space junk and would like to be more mindful of that in the future.

[magnemoe]

You'll get more data by returning stuff to Kerbin. For most reports you suffer a penalty for transmitting the Data instead of returning it.

You are right in your assumption, that in Stock KSP, manned missions are always more valuable for science sake =)

There are various mods that chance how pods work and increase their usefulness ( I.E. Better than Starting Manned Mod, and remote tech2)

however its no problems returning a probe.

Probes has tree downsides gathering science, you can not get surface samples or eva reports, neither crew reports unless you bring a pod, mods helps here.

An kerbal can move data to pod so you can reuse instruments.

Probes is nice to do an second Mun or Minmus trip to get seismic and gravitational data, just be sure to bring lots of the sensors, one for each biome for seismic, 3x for gravitional if you also want to collect data from high and low orbit.

One way probes is nice for an early Eve mission,

[magnemoe]

Thanks for the responses guys; I just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing some important application. I should have mentioned that I play stock KSP as well.

I might do an unmanned probe mission if I'm headed somewhere new just to make sure some poor kerbal doesn't foot the bill for my inexperience. Right now I've got my plate more than full with just the Mun and Minmus.

Also when the new version of KSP comes out I'll definitely start a new campaign. I'm leaving a little too much space junk and would like to be more mindful of that in the future.

Note that its always a good idea to put a small probe core on your spaceship, this allows it to operate unmanned. smart if kerbal is outside, essential if he is outside and low on jetpac fuel

Also very nice to launch an unmanned ship with a capsule for a rescue mission.

[AlexinTokyo]

Probes are also a nice way to get (if you don't look it up out-of-game) or check data on what the conditions are like on other bodies.

For example - what altitude does the atmosphere start; how strong is the local gravity compared to Kerbin; is it mostly flat and easy to land on, or is it mountainous.

As has already been mentioned though, for science purposes a manned mission is basically always superior.

[Frank_G]

I use probes for mapping purposes, as i like to play with the ScanSAT mod installed which is useful and fun. They are also essential to test out the necessary delta V needed to land on worlds, if you dont like to use the calculator too frequently.

Sending a kerbaled mission will always give you more science in return and the option to react to changing mission conditions. And kerbaled missions add to the tension of the situation if you like to keep your guys alive.

[Wallace]

Well, they are lighter, and you don't need to bring them back, so you can send one off to somewhere you don't have a big enough rocket to get to yet, and transmit some science points back so you can advance enough for the manned mission.

When the munny and reputation come in, there will be more reason as it will be cheaper and no risk of poor lil kerbals being squashed flat.

[JDCollie]

If you're running TAC Life Support, or any life support mod really, RGU's become much more attractive (especially on long deployments) because they have a very light logistical profile. I.E., it is a lot easier to provide electrical charge than it is to provide food, water, oxygen, and waste storage.