Difference between revisions of "Mobile Processing Lab MPL-LG-2"

Revision as of 01:24, 4 May 2015

Mobile Processing Lab MPL-LG-2
Laboratory by Integrated Integrals
Radial size		Large
Cost	(total)	4 070.00
	(dry)	4 000.00
Mass	(total)	3.598 t
	(dry)	3.410 t
Drag		0.3-0.2
Max. Temp.		2200 K
Impact Tolerance		6 m/s
Research		Advanced Exploration
Unlock cost		10 400
Since version		0.23
Part configuration		largeCrewedLab.cfg
Crew capacity	(max)	2
Crew capacity	(maximum)	2
	(required)	1
Researching energy		5 ⚡/s
Processing energy		10 ⚡/s
Field of View	(min)	17 °
	(max)	63 °
Anomaly detection		0 %
Enhanceable		No
Modes		Terrain
		Biome
Inventory Slots		2 slots
Volume limit		200 l

The Mobile Processing Lab MPL-LG-2 allows scientific data to be transmitted with higher efficiency, to store experiments and to reuse the Mystery Goo™ Containment Unit and SC-9001 Science Jr. after transmitting their result.

The module needs its full capacity of two Kerbals to process and clean experiments (but can store them even when unmanned). Note that it is not a command module; any craft it's a part of will need a probe body or command pod to be piloted. It starts unmanned by default, but crew members can be added in the Crew tab before launch. The Lab does provide portraits and IVA as of the 1.0 update. Using the module also consumes electricity. As of 1.0, the lab can generate science over time.

Usage

Processing

The lab can process science from any attached science part including those on docked vessels. Once processed, experiments will yield 50% more Science Points compared to unprocessed data: for example, if the standard Transmit Value for a given experiment is 30%, the Lab pushes this by 15 percentage points to 45%. Processing consumes electricity.

Storing

While the transmission boost is quite substantial, it cannot replace recovery of science results. The Lab has no immediate effect on data kept, but it can store 500 science worth of scientific results. It is the only part which allows even multiple copies from the same experiment in the same situation and biome. This won't happen automatically, though: Kerbals have to go on EVA and make the rounds, manually collecting the data from every instrument.

The Lab is quite fragile, withstanding only impacts up to 6 m/s. It takes ridiculous amounts of parachutes to land it safely. Other approaches to the problem trade in a few chutes for lander legs, or tiny engines and a minuscule fuel supply to pull dampen the impact. If the lab doesn't store any experiments and crew, it is of course possible to simply ditch it and let it crash.

Generating Science over time

Processed data can be kept in the lab to generate science over time. 0.2835% of the processed data will be consummed every day to produce 5 times its value in science. This process required the module to be crewed.

Cleaning

Once their science has been either taken or transmitted, the Mystery Goo™ Containment Unit and SC-9001 Science Jr. modules can be reset for reuse by cleaning out these experiments.

Energy requirements

For each Mit of scientific data, the lab requires 10 E. The scientific data is determined by the base value multiplied by the data scale which is for most experiments 1. Cleaning requires the same amount as processing it. Although the total amount of electric charge required is high, the lab only slowly requires that energy. Only a few solar modules are required and batteries can buffer most of the energy. It will also only require energy while cleaning and processing.

For example cleaning out three of each will require 1050 E over the course of about two minutes. As there will usually be long idle times between two clean-outs, you probably need mostly batteries and only a few solar modules.

Usage scenarios

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Docking Space-Lab

A lander performs all experiments as usual, but rather than returning home, it docks with a Laboratory in orbit; EVA over all experiments, take/collect data, board Laboratory. The data is now safely stored in the Lab. You may clean out the experiments and re-use the same lander. Return the lab to Kerbin when done.

It's recommended to have ladders (at least) on the Materials Containers: the margin of error between "close enough to take the data" and "bouncing off" is rather small. It'd be nice if you could touch off all instruments while climbing a single ladder, though this would make for a tall assembly.

Lab Lander

Integrate the Lab in the Lander, do the data gathering and instrument cleaning on-site. No risk of poor kerbals drifting off into space. You may bring enough fuel in order to make several small hops and visit different biomes before you need to re-orbit and dock with a filling station. While convenient, such landers tend to be rather bulky and heavy, though.

Product description

Trivia

• The COSPAR designations and names of both the International Space Station and Mir (in Cyrillic script) are printed on the laboratory's hull.

Changes

1.0

• Added possibility to generate Science over time
• Added IVA models

0.90

• Transmission boost reduced from +50% to +15%

0.23

• Initial release