Multi-Part Explore Contracts - Must all parts be accomplished at once?

[AndrewBCrisp]

While working through my .24 career, I've noticed something about the Explore Mun mission I'm unsure about.

The Explore Mun mission is in four parts - orbit the Mun, send science data from Munar orbit, land on the Mun, and collect science data from the Mun's surface. Each part has individual rewards and there is a final reward for the entire mission.

Now clearly one can accomplish all of these in one go - an Apollo-style mission would do that easily. But suppose one can't - or chooses not to - accomplish all four parts in one mission. Say one wants to take a more leisurely approach, such as putting an object into Munar orbit one mission, doing science a second mission, and so on. (Think of the unmanned path to the Moon in our history, for example).

While all four parts are needed for the final reward, can one accomplish one part only and get the reward for just that part, or does the game hold onto the individual rewards until the entire contract is completed?

Thanks in advance.

Edited August 7, 2014 by AndrewBCrisp

[RexKramer]

No, you don't need to complete each section with a single ship, all at once.

As for how the payout is distributed if you split it up, I haven't paid attention.

The science portion does not need to be transmitted right away either. Most of the contracts you are referring to specify science be transmitted or recovered. If you choose to recover instead of transmitting, you won't complete the science part until you recover the vessel on Kerbin.

[Ruthgar]

as far as the multipart contracts go, you get a reward for EACH part you complete. Upon completion of the final part of the contract, you get a reward for the part completion PLUS the overall contract reward.

[Kryxal]

Do note that orbit requirements call for a higher periapsis than you might expect ... settling into a low orbit straight from a hyperbolic trajectory may not work, aerocapture without raising your periapsis afterwards WILL not work.

[NecroBones]

Do note that orbit requirements call for a higher periapsis than you might expect ... settling into a low orbit straight from a hyperbolic trajectory may not work, aerocapture without raising your periapsis afterwards WILL not work.

Each planet/moon has a certain minimum periapsis altitude to fulfill the contract. I think it's a bit of an oversight that the requirement isn't in the contract description.

[AndrewBCrisp]

Thanks to everyone for the answers; this helps me with my planning considerably. Kryxal and Necrobones, thanks also for the note about the minimum periapsis requirement; I think I would have missed that one entirely!