Science Stuff- Low-tech science/ general brainstorming

[Mechtech]

so I've been very into how all the Science stuff works, especially given the number of mods that add more Science Stuffâ„¢, but it seems like most of the mods I've seen and used focus more on high-tech, cool gadgets for mid-to-late game, which, while cool and all, is something that is irritating for me as someone who has difficulty getting enough Science early in the game.

I was wondering if you might point out mods like the Banana Pod that offer low-tech, early game Science stuff, as well as tossing around ideas for parts in that vein. a sort of general brainstorm for people to look for ideas- and to point out real Science Stuffâ„¢ that we'd like to see Kerbalized. I for one would be interested in kinetic tests, AKA "dropping things from really high up and observing the splash patterns/craters/explosions," which is both a Real Thing and something I could see Kerbals doing.

also some more long-term experiments would be cool, too- like a variant on the Materials Bay that operates for a long time, or stuff that feeds a small trickle of Science over a long period rather than instant globs of one-shot data.

telescopes would be the obvious ploy for that one, as well as things like the effects of long-term zero-g on Kerbals (I know Bob's been on my orbital construction dock for something like two-odd years now, bossing around a cadre of Scientists and Engineers to build my damn rockets) and things of that nature.

[RainDreamer]

We have a mod for space telescope: Cacteye 2 Orbital telescope

[hab136]

Bargain Rocket Parts and Station Science have some early-career science parts. Station science also has long-duration experiments, and trickle-science (2 science/day as long as you have supplies from the Zoology Bay, for example)

[Mechtech]

god, Bargain Rockets parts is HILARIOUS.

anyway, I am using station science, which is cool. that's what inspired ideas for more long-term and trickle experiments- I'm quite fond of them.

also, I really need to get around to cleaning up my "Make Sense Damnit" modifications for some of the stock science parts (thermomiters that magically stop working after one reading? wut? simple numerical data that can't be transmitted for full value? GAHHH! stop being dumb!) into an actual plugin/mini-mod. that and the Micro-Goo Pod.

aaannyway, has anyone done things like ACE or WIND that take solar-wind measurements? or a camera mod?

[smjjames]

I know B9 has a camera in it for multimonitor stuff or IVA.

[RainDreamer]

Hullcam VDS will give you the cameras you need. Though I am not sure if they works as scientific instrument.

[SAI Peregrinus]

Sounding Rockets adds small, incredibly cheap, rockets with 4 possible experiments. The 2.0 beta (linked further down the thread) enhances it quite a bit. Very nice for starting science.

[Mechtech]

ohhhh, that Sounding Rockets thing looks neato!

anyway, I was thinking that there's another bit of Science Stuff that's been neglected, namely, getting your science Stuff to the ground without going splat. yes, yes, mechjeb, but I'd like other instruments- things like height-from-surface or distance-from-target, and more kinetic experiments, (AKA 'hitting the groundreally hard on purpose) and some general 'utility' doodads like sample bins for rovers and such. anyway, anyone else have some ideas on real-life Science Stuff that'd be cool to see in KSP?

[Louella]

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/53813-0-24-0-L-Tech-Scientific-Industries-V2-20

this mod, has camera modules, both a film camera (with limited amount of film), and an unlimited use digital camera. The cameras give science when you activate them. More science for more exciting pictures. Think you also get even more if you can take pictures of really interesting things, like the Mun arches.

the mod needs updating, I think, but the cameras in it work with the current version of KSP, as do the rest of the science things.