Difference between revisions of "Science"

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m (Added info about disabling module after data from the module been transmitted)
m (→‎Science activities: *sorted alphabetically; *for EVA/Surface Samples an command pod is not really necessary; +only one report necessary;)
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|+Possible activities in different locations
 
|+Possible activities in different locations
 
! rowspan="2" | Location
 
! rowspan="2" | Location
 +
! rowspan="2" | Crew Report
 +
! rowspan="2" | EVA report
 
! rowspan="2" | Surface Samples
 
! rowspan="2" | Surface Samples
−
! rowspan="2" | EVA report
 
−
! rowspan="2" | Crew Report
 
 
! colspan="7" | Experiments
 
! colspan="7" | Experiments
 
|-
 
|-
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|-
 
|-
 
! style="text-align:right;" | Lower [[atmosphere]]
 
! style="text-align:right;" | Lower [[atmosphere]]
−
| —
 
 
|Biome
 
|Biome
 
|Biome
 
|Biome
 +
| —
 
|Once
 
|Once
 
|Once
 
|Once
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|-
 
|-
 
! style="text-align:right;" | Upper atmosphere
 
! style="text-align:right;" | Upper atmosphere
−
| —
 
 
|Once
 
|Once
 
|Once
 
|Once
 +
| —
 
|Once
 
|Once
 
|Once
 
|Once
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|-
 
|-
 
! style="text-align:right;" | Near space
 
! style="text-align:right;" | Near space
 +
|Once
 +
|Biome
 
|—
 
|—
−
|Biome
 
−
|Once
 
 
|Once
 
|Once
 
|Once
 
|Once
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|-
 
|-
 
! style="text-align:right;" | Outer space
 
! style="text-align:right;" | Outer space
−
|—
 
 
|Once
 
|Once
 
|Once
 
|Once
 +
|—
 
|Once
 
|Once
 
|Once
 
|Once
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The game only considers a ship to be in the atmospheric region if it is on a sub-orbital trajectory. Trying to take upper atmosphere readings while [[aerobraking]], for example, will return data for "near orbit" instead, even if the ship is within the atmosphere.
 
The game only considers a ship to be in the atmospheric region if it is on a sub-orbital trajectory. Trying to take upper atmosphere readings while [[aerobraking]], for example, will return data for "near orbit" instead, even if the ship is within the atmosphere.
  
−
=== Surface Samples ===
+
=== Crew Reports ===
  
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
|-
 
|-
 
! Requires
 
! Requires
−
| any command pod, one Kerbal
+
| A manned command pod
 
|-
 
|-
 
! Base value
 
! Base value
−
| 30
+
| 5
 
|-
 
|-
 
! Maximum value
 
! Maximum value
−
| 40
+
| 5
 
|-
 
|-
 
! Data scale
 
! Data scale
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|-
 
|-
 
! Transmission efficiency
 
! Transmission efficiency
−
| 50%
+
| 100%
 
|}
 
|}
  
−
Surface samples can be taken by Kerbonauts when performing an EVA on the ground (or in the oceans) of a celestial body. The results vary by biome.
+
Crew reports can be created in every manned [[command pod]]. Each command pod can only store one report at a time ([[Kerbonaut]]s seem to be unable to memorize more than one at a time), but they can be sent home with an [[antenna]] without penalty allowing the crew to create a new one.
 +
 
 +
Crew reports differ between current [[celestial body]], altitude, and at low altitudes also between different [[biome]]s. Only one crew report per biome is necessary and additional reports won't yield any more results. Because the transmission efficiency is also 100% only one transmission is necessary too.
  
 
=== EVA Reports ===
 
=== EVA Reports ===
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|-
 
|-
 
! Requires
 
! Requires
−
| any command pod, one Kerbal
+
|
 +
* One kerbonaut
 +
* A command pod (if not on Kerbin)
 
|-
 
|-
 
! Base value
 
! Base value
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|}
 
|}
  
−
EVA reports are done by Kerbonauts on an [[EVA]]. Like crew reports they give different results depending on altitude and biome if performed low enough. The easiest way to take a low atmosphere reading is to jump while at the surface.  
+
EVA reports are done by Kerbonauts on an [[EVA]]. Like crew reports they give different results depending on altitude and biome if performed low enough. Also only one EVA report is necessary. The easiest way to take a low atmosphere reading is to jump while at the surface or by only exiting but not letting loose after landing.
  
 
In contrast to crew reports and experiments, a Kerbonaut can memorize a different report for each condition he performed an EVA in during the mission.
 
In contrast to crew reports and experiments, a Kerbonaut can memorize a different report for each condition he performed an EVA in during the mission.
  
−
=== Crew Reports ===
+
=== Surface Samples ===
  
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
|-
 
|-
 
! Requires
 
! Requires
−
| any command pod
+
|
 +
* One kerbonaut
 +
* A command pod (if not on Kerbin)
 
|-
 
|-
 
! Base value
 
! Base value
−
| 5
+
| 30
 
|-
 
|-
 
! Maximum value
 
! Maximum value
−
| 5
+
| 40
 
|-
 
|-
 
! Data scale
 
! Data scale
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|-
 
|-
 
! Transmission efficiency
 
! Transmission efficiency
−
| 100%
+
| 50%
 
|}
 
|}
  
−
Crew reports can be created in every manned [[command pod]]. Each command pod can only store one report at a time ([[Kerbonaut]]s seem to be unable to memorize more than one at a time), but they can be sent home with an [[antenna]] without penalty allowing the crew to create a new one.
+
Surface samples can be taken by kerbonauts when performing an EVA on the ground or in water of a celestial body. The results vary by biome.
−
 
 
−
Crew reports differ between current [[celestial body]], altitude, and at low altitudes also between different [[biome]]s.
 
  
 
=== Experiments ===
 
=== Experiments ===

Revision as of 20:13, 1 January 2014

The first few stages of the Tech tree, showing the unlock system

Science, sometimes called science points, is needed to unlock new parts in the tech tree. It is obtained by performing different scientific activities at different locations and then either returning to Kerbin and recovering the craft or sending your scientific analysis home through an antenna.

Science activities

This is an overview of all science activities which can be performed. Most activities are restricted to certain heights. Currently[outdated] the planet Kerbin and its moons Mun and Minmus are divided into different biomes. On some heights, some experiments return different results per biome.

Possible activities in different locations
Location Crew Report EVA report Surface Samples Experiments
Mystery Goo™ Containment Unit SC-9001 Science Jr. 2HOT Thermometer PresMat Barometer GRAVMAX Negative Gravioli Detector Double-C Seismic Accelerometer Sensor Array Computing Nose Cone
On the ground Biome Biome Biome Biome Biome Biome Biome
(if atmosphere exists) 		Biome Biome
(only solid ground) 		Biome
(if atmosphere exists)
Lower atmosphere Biome Biome — Once Once Biome Once — — Biome
Upper atmosphere Once Once — Once Once Once Once — — Biome
Near space Once Biome — Once Once Once — Biome — —
Outer space Once Once — Once Once — — Biome — —

The game only considers a ship to be in the atmospheric region if it is on a sub-orbital trajectory. Trying to take upper atmosphere readings while aerobraking, for example, will return data for "near orbit" instead, even if the ship is within the atmosphere.

Crew Reports

Requires A manned command pod
Base value 5
Maximum value 5
Data scale 1
Transmission efficiency 100%

Crew reports can be created in every manned command pod. Each command pod can only store one report at a time (Kerbonauts seem to be unable to memorize more than one at a time), but they can be sent home with an antenna without penalty allowing the crew to create a new one.

Crew reports differ between current celestial body, altitude, and at low altitudes also between different biomes. Only one crew report per biome is necessary and additional reports won't yield any more results. Because the transmission efficiency is also 100% only one transmission is necessary too.

EVA Reports

Requires
  • One kerbonaut
  • A command pod (if not on Kerbin)
Base value 8
Maximum value 8
Data scale 1
Transmission efficiency 100%

EVA reports are done by Kerbonauts on an EVA. Like crew reports they give different results depending on altitude and biome if performed low enough. Also only one EVA report is necessary. The easiest way to take a low atmosphere reading is to jump while at the surface or by only exiting but not letting loose after landing.

In contrast to crew reports and experiments, a Kerbonaut can memorize a different report for each condition he performed an EVA in during the mission.

Surface Samples

Requires
  • One kerbonaut
  • A command pod (if not on Kerbin)
Base value 30
Maximum value 40
Data scale 1
Transmission efficiency 50%

Surface samples can be taken by kerbonauts when performing an EVA on the ground or in water of a celestial body. The results vary by biome.

Experiments

Experiments require parts like the Mystery Goo™ Containment Unit and behave similar to crew reports. They can be performed in different flight phases and on different celestial bodies returning different results. Just like crew reports, each experiment part can only store one result at a time, but a result can be sent home with an antenna to allow the experiment to be performed again under the same or under new conditions. There is a penalty for sending it home instead of recovering the performed experiment. Since 0.23, transmitting data renders scientific module disabled, so only one experiment per module can be obtained during single mission. The Mystery Goo Observation and Materials Study also need a lab to reset them.

Experiment Mystery Goo Observation Materials Study Temperature Scan Atmospheric Pressure Scan Seismic Scan Gravity Scan Atmosphere Analysis
Required part (tech tree lvl) Mystery Goo™ Containment Unit (2) SC-9001 Science Jr. (4) 2HOT Thermometer (5) PresMat Barometer (6) Double-C Seismic Accelerometer (7) GRAVMAX Negative Gravioli Detector (8) Sensor Array Computing Nose Cone (8)
Base value 10 25 8 12 20 20 20
Maximum value 12 30 8 12 21 21 21
Data scale 1 1 1 1 2.5 3 10
Transmission efficiency 40% 20% 60% 60% 60% 60% 90%
Processing Transmission Bonus +15% +10% +25% +?% +?% +20% +?%

Craft recovery

Recovering a craft after it landed on Kerbin also yields science points by itself. Its value depends on how far the craft flew. Recovering a craft after a suborbital flight returns less valuable (but different) results than one which orbited the Mun, for example. The returned value appears to be 5 * (surfaces visited + bodies orbited).

Celestial body multipliers

Celestial body On the surface Atmosphere Altitude Space Altitude [note 1]
Sun N/A N/A 11 1 Gm
Moho 9 N/A 8 80 km
Eve 12 7 ~20 km 7 400 km
Gilly 9 N/A 8 6 km
Kerbin 0.4 0.7 18 km 1 250 km
Mun 4 N/A 3 60 km
Minmus 5 N/A 4 30 km
Duna 8 7 12 7 140 km
Ike 9 N/A 8 50 km
Dres 8 N/A 7 25 km
Jool N/A 7 ~118 km 7 4000 km
Laythe 10 9 ~10 km 9 200 km
Vall 10 N/A 9 90 km
Tylo 11 N/A 10 250 km
Bop 9 N/A 8 25 km
Pol 9 N/A 8 ~21 km
Eeloo 9 N/A 8 60 km
  1. ↑ Many of these altitudes are taken from users reporting on the forum and not from game data itself.

Each celestial body has different multipliers applied to the collected scientific data, based upon where it is taken in relation to that body. Biomes do not affect these multipliers. The only exception is Kerbin on the surface for the KSC, runway, and launch pad where the multiplier is 0.3 instead of 0.4.

The altitudes given in this table determine the altitude above mean sea level of the boundary between lower and upper atmosphere and between near and outer space. The upper atmosphere extends to the atmospheric height and the outer space extends up to the end of the sphere of influence.

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