Do transmission losses affect future science recovery?

[cpast]

If I transmit scientific data from a part at less than 100% value, can I later send another mission to do the experiment again, recover that mission, and get the science I missed out on when transmitting the first time? Or do transmission losses permanently reduce the science I can get from a situation?

Edited January 25, 2015 by cpast

[Norpo]

The reduction isn't permanent, no. You can still get 100% recovery later.

e.g if you have an experiment, and you only get 75% recovery from transmitting it, the remaining 25% is still there, though you'll probably have to physically recover data to get it.

[LethalDose]

Like Norpo said, you'll probably have to physically return an experiment to get full values.

There's basically a total value for each experiment in each situation (e.g. Gravioli high over Kerbin), the reduced returns only really affect how you get the data back to the KSC.

[FlyingPete]

There's a cap on how much you can get back through transmission, but if you run the experiment again later and bring the results back to Kerbin, you'll get the remaining science. So whether you bring all the data back to Kerbin, or transmit some now and bring the rest back later shouldn't affect the total.

[maltesh]

Like Norpo said, you'll probably have to physically return an experiment to get full values.

There's basically a total value for each experiment in each situation (e.g. Gravioli high over Kerbin), the reduced returns only really affect how you get the data back to the KSC.

Many experiment locations will also have more total science available to an experiment than a single return will bring back.

So, often, Transmit + Return > Return Alone > Transmit Alone .

[cpast]

OK, thanks all!

[FlyingPete]

I explore Minmus with a science lab in orbit and a reusable lander with 2 of each experiment. That way, you can bring science from a biome to the station, process and transmit one set to get some science now, and send the rest back later when refuelling/rotating crews. Gets the maximum science and is quite efficient.

You can take this approach with the Mun as well but it doesn't make quite as much of a difference due to the closer proximity to Kerbin. Now that there's biomes everywhere, it's certainly worth it for Duna and the Jool system.