Mobile Processing Lab MPL-LG-2
| 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 generated and transmitted based on experimental data, to store experiments and to reuse the Mystery Goo™ Containment Unit and SC-9001 Science Jr. after transmitting or removing their result.
For the full data processing capability, the module needs to be staffed by two experienced scientists (see below), but can be used with just one scientist at half the processing rate. 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. While processing, the module also consumes a lot of electricity.
Contents
Usage
Storing
The lab module can store experiment results like any other manned part. It does not need any Kerbals on board to do this. It is unique in that it can store multiple copies of the same experiment, which is not possible on command pods.
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
Any science result stored anywhere on a vessel with a lab can be used to produce data. Up to 500 units of data can be stored in a lab module. If the buffer of data is full, the lab will fail to process the experiments but the results are not lost. If one or more scientists are on board the vessel, the lab may be used to perform research, which will consume a small percentage of the processed data every day to produce 5 times its value in science. This process drains a significant amount of electric charge while active. The rate at which the data is converted into science is determined by the amount of stored data, the number of scientists on the craft, and their respective levels. The process continues in the background even when the vessel with the lab is not in focus. Up to 500 units of science can be stored before the results must be manually transmitted back to Kerbin. If the buffer storage of science fills up, work stops until transmission. Stored science cannot be claimed if the lab is recovered, it must be transmitted, and as such a lab is useless without an antenna. An experimental result that has been used to produce data can still be transmitted or recovered on Kerbin in the conventional way, and it can be processed again in a different lab to produce more data.
To generate data, right-click the lab or pod where the experiments are stored and select Review Data, then select the Process Data option until the lab's data capacity is full. At this point the experiment results can be removed for later recovery, they are no longer needed to process the data and generate science in the lab.
Data Value
An experimental result produces an amount of data based on its own relative value and the location of the lab at the time the data is generated. A lab on the surface of a body produces more data per experiment than one in orbit, and if the experiment is from the same body as the one the lab is orbiting or landed on the data value is greater. The exception to this is Kerbin, a lab landed on Kerbin produces less data than one in orbit of Kerbin.
Each unique experiment result can produce data for a given lab module only once, but the same result can be taken to another lab and processed again. Multiple labs on a single vessel don't function as expected as of 1.0.2, it is recommended that each lab should be on a unique vessel. Even after the experiment has been used to generate data, it can be transmitted or returned for its usual science yield.
The lab can store an arbitrary number of experiment results, but only 500 data and 500 generated science. Thus if there are a lot of high-value results stored on the vessel with the lab, not all of them can be processed into data. If the attempt fails due to lack of space, the opportunity is not lost, the result stays in the pod/experiment and it can be processed for data when there is space available.
Data Processing Rate
While the lab is active, the data stored in it is slowly converted into usable science. The amount of science converted per day is proportional to the amount of data stored in the lab. Each scientist on board the vessel contributes to research, including those outside of the lab. The higher a scientist's level, the more research it contributes. The data conversion rate supplied by each level of a given scientist are as follows:
| Level | Multiplier | Rate (Percentage/Day) |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 1x | 0.0135% |
| 1 | 5x | 0.0675% |
| 2 | 9x | 0.1215% |
| 3 | 13x | 0.1755% |
| 4 | 17x | 0.2295% |
| 5 | 21x | 0.2835% |
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. This can be done in bulk for any such experiments docked to the lab, and saves the trouble of sending a scientist on EVA to manually reset the experiments.
Usage scenarios
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.
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.
Lab Base
A landed lab can create data from experimental results from all over the same body. Using rovers, landers or EVAs results can be gathered into a stationary lab from multiple nearby biomes. A lab on the surface yields the most data from experiments conducted on that body. The lab needs to sit in place for a long time to generate science, and keep in mind (for the Mun especially given its slow rotation) that it's going to be in the shade half the time and have no available solar power.
Product description
| “ | The mobile processing lab was developed to help increase the amount of science we're able to do in the field. Instead of needing to haul samples all the way back to Kerbin, the mobile lab will allow you to process these samples on site! This model is guaranteed to spontaneously combust less often than the previous models, and also has the equipment necessary to clean out and restore functionality to inoperable experiments. | ” |
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
- Added possibility to generate Science over time
- Removed old transmission boost function. Clean experiments function retained.
- Added IVA models
- Transmission boost reduced from +50% to +15%
- Initial release
