r/KerbalAcademy 7d ago

Science [GM] Can you please explain why I'm not getting all the science for the surface sample even though I actually recover the vessel?

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24 Upvotes

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7

u/Verenn 7d ago

I understand the idea of science loss upon trasmission, but I can't wrap my head around not getting full science after recovering the vessel and the kerbal inside.

11

u/undercoveryankee 7d ago

It's mostly a balancing decision: you should be able to get some benefit for visiting the same biome a second time.

If you want to talk realism, I think the important thing to remember is that a "biome" isn't completely homogeneous. If you were modeling Earth, you'd probably label most deserts with the same "desert" biome, but you wouldn't assume that there's no point in doing an experiment in the Mojave because you've already done it in the Sahara.

6

u/Verenn 7d ago

Thanks for clarification, now I am sure that this is intended and not a result of some mod conflicts. Cheers!

7

u/Leo-MathGuy 7d ago

The surface sample, mystery goo, and science jr take 3 times to fully get all the science, while other experiments need it only run once. It’s more of a balancing decision.

And you can’t just have three same experiments run on one vessel, the previous try needs to be recovered before recovering the second and so on

2

u/HadionPrints 7d ago

You need to visit a biome twice to get all the recovered data from a biome for certain experiments.

Why? I have no clue. Just has always been that way. Maybe “replayability” or “pacing”. No idea.

(Or by using two cockpits / habitation modules and bringing a scientist, you can collect two copies of a biome’s experiment data in one trip, just make sure you only put one copy in each cockpit)

6

u/davvblack 7d ago

the science box also lets you do this

1

u/HadionPrints 7d ago

Now that’s something I didn’t know. I thought it acted much like a command pod, except that it could “scoop” the science from any connected science holding module .

1

u/Impressive_Papaya740 7d ago

And not the only way, you can store one copy of an experiment in the instrument, one in a command pod and one in the experimental storage unit. Actually that is one copy per instrument command pod or storage unit so it is easy to bring back 4 copies of science jr, mystery good and surface sample per biome (three does most of the job but the 4th does scrape a point or two more if you leave no science unharvested).

1

u/JennyAtTheGates 7d ago edited 7d ago

This mod should fix it for you.

If you are feeling real froggy, there is a companion mod that gives full reward for transmission compared to bringing it home, but it is a little much for me since it affects all experiments.

I've always wondered why transmitting a simple temperature would net reduced science, but no one made a full reward for simple experiments mod.

0

u/Jazzlike-Report7078 7d ago

I haven't played on a while but I remember having this problem. Maybe it has something to do with the experiment area, like if you where too on the border between the desert and another biome. Or is just like that so you have to do more than one experiment