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

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(Major rewrite to describe the new functionality of the lab and remove the old.)
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{{:Mobile Processing Lab MPL-LG-2/Box}}
 
{{:Mobile Processing Lab MPL-LG-2/Box}}
The '''Mobile Processing Lab MPL-LG-2''' allows [[Science|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 '''Mobile Processing Lab MPL-LG-2''' allows [[Science|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.
  
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.
+
The module needs its full capacity of two Kerbals to function, and both must be [[Scientist|scientists]] to produce science. 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]].  
  
 
== Usage ==
 
== 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===
 
===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 [[Science#Recovering the results while leaving the equipment: Taking and Storing Data|collecting]] the data from every instrument.
+
The lab module can store experiment results like any other manned part. It does not need any Kerbals on board to do this.
  
 
The Lab is quite fragile, withstanding only impacts up to 6 m/s. It takes ridiculous amounts of [[parachute]]s 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.
 
The Lab is quite fragile, withstanding only impacts up to 6 m/s. It takes ridiculous amounts of [[parachute]]s 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.
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===Generating Science over time===
 
===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.  
+
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. 0.2835% of the processed data will be consumed every day to produce 5 times its value in science. This process required the module to be crewed by two scientists and drains a significant amount of electric charge. The process continues in the background even when the vessel with the lab is not active. 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.
 +
 
 +
===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.
  
===Cleaning===
+
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.
  
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.
+
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.  
  
=== Energy requirements ===
+
===Cleaning===
For each [[Mit]] of scientific data, the lab requires 10 [[Electric charge|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 module]]s are required and batteries can buffer most of the energy. It will also only require energy while cleaning and processing.
 
  
{| class="wikitable"
+
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.
|-
 
! Experiment
 
| [[Surface Sample]]
 
| [[Mystery Goo Observation]]
 
| [[Materials Study]]
 
| [[Temperature Scan]]
 
| [[Atmospheric Pressure Scan]]
 
| [[Seismic Scan]]
 
| [[Gravity Scan]]
 
| [[Atmosphere Analysis]]
 
|-
 
! Processing energy (E)
 
| 300
 
| 100
 
| 250
 
| 80
 
| 120
 
| 500
 
| 600
 
| 2000
 
|-
 
! Processing bonus
 
| +12%
 
| +15%
 
| +10%
 
| +25%
 
| +25%
 
| +22%
 
| +20%
 
| +17%
 
|}
 
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 ==
 
== Usage scenarios ==
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===Docking Space-Lab===
 
===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.
+
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.
 
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===
 
===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.
 
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 ==
 
== Product description ==
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;[[1.0]]
 
;[[1.0]]
 
* Added possibility to generate Science over time
 
* Added possibility to generate Science over time
 +
* Removed old transmission boost function. Clean experiments function retained.
 
* Added IVA models
 
* Added IVA models
 
;[[0.90]]
 
;[[0.90]]

Revision as of 15:31, 5 May 2015

Mobile Processing Lab MPL-LG-2
Part image
Laboratory by
Integrated Integrals

Radial size Large
Cost (total) 4 000.00 Funds
Mass (total) 3.50 t
Drag 0.2-0.3
Max. Temp. 2200 K
Volume  ?
Impact Tolerance 6 m/s
Research Advanced exploration.png Advanced Exploration
Unlock cost 10 400 Funds
Since version 0.23
Part configuration largeCrewedLab.cfg
Laboratory
Crew capacity (maximum) Crew
(required) Crew
Researching energy 5 ⚡/s
Processing energy 10 ⚡/s
Inventory Slots 2 slots
Volume Limit 200 l
KerbNet
Field of View (min) 17 °
(max) 63 °
Detection 0 %
Enhancable No
Modes Terrain
Biome

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.

The module needs its full capacity of two Kerbals to function, and both must be scientists to produce science. 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.

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.

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. 0.2835% of the processed data will be consumed every day to produce 5 times its value in science. This process required the module to be crewed by two scientists and drains a significant amount of electric charge. The process continues in the background even when the vessel with the lab is not active. 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.

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.

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

This article is a stub. You can help KSP Wiki by expanding it.

section

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

Changes

1.0
  • Added possibility to generate Science over time
  • Removed old transmission boost function. Clean experiments function retained.
  • Added IVA models
0.90
  • Transmission boost reduced from +50% to +15%
0.23
  • Initial release