Science Collection Over Time (On missions)

[LT Alter]

I did not find this particular idea on the already suggested list, though there is one similar to it that I don't particularly like, if this has been suggested before I apologize. Anyway simply put is I think there should be more gain for placing something in space and leaving it there for extended periods. Currently you rarely ever have more than one active mission at a time, because once you launch something and finish the goal you had in mind you leave it/return it and move on, because it has no value anymore. The idea is simple and non-game breaking.

To start I would like to say all the current aspects of science should stay, they are good and I like them, this idea adds to it rather than changes it. I feel there should be modules you can launch that when activated start to accumulate science over time, not an unlimited amount and not at a constant rate. There should be an estimated amount of time for the experiment to run, and this should put you in a position where you want to put something in orbit for an extended amount of time rather than launch it, orbit once, and land or forget. As time passed I think the experiment could be tied to 'Discoveries', a chance based phenomena that gives a good amount of science and possibly unlocks a new module/s and/or increases the efficiency of others.

The effects of this would be, extended missions, also you may have to plan around personnel (For instance, placing your best scientist on an extended research mission rather than taking him on the mission to dune), as well as giving you a reason to keep space craft active after their primary objective is completed.

That's the majority of the idea, but there are some ideas that could add to it below.

For one, launching a survey mission to study the terrain of a planet would be a good example of a long term science mission. I like the idea of sending not being able to see the terrain clearly until a survey probe has photographed and mapped it.

Another small idea would be that there could be contracts associated with certain research missions. For instance, a group giving you a part they want you to launch in to space for a set amount of time or attach to your 'official' space station for research.

I feel this idea would add a lot of game play and put a lot more into running your space program

[Joonatan1998]

What would prevent us from just time warping?

You can't have elements that give you something over time if there isn't something to punish doing nothing for long periods of ingame time.

Time doesn't matter in stock, if you don't have contracts active you can just timewarp 1000 years.

For something like this to be added more time based elements would be needed. Life support, upkeep cost for the space centre, reputation decay if you don't do anything...

[Capt Snuggler]

What would prevent us from just time warping?

life support.

make science gains fixed term with "contracts".

Sustain a colony of 6 Kerbals on Duna for X months. green house/snack farm, resource processor, gas collector, ect ect.

[LT Alter]

What would prevent us from just time warping?

You can't have elements that give you something over time if there isn't something to punish doing nothing for long periods of ingame time.

Time doesn't matter in stock, if you don't have contracts active you can just timewarp 1000 years.

For something like this to be added more time based elements would be needed. Life support, upkeep cost for the space centre, reputation decay if you don't do anything...

"...accumulate science over time, not an unlimited amount and not at a constant rate."