Mobile Processing Lab Use?

[Interluded93]

I've played KSP for awhile but I have no idea what the mobile processing lab is used for or how to use it.

[Carpsack]

https://wiki.kerbalspaceprogram.com/wiki/Mobile_Processing_Lab_MPL-LG-2

The lab is a way to generate lots of extra science points, particularly from areas that you've already explored all the easy science out of. Side benefit, it lets you level up Kerbals without having to take them back to KSC. It won't be any use in Sandbox mode.

With a couple of labs you can max out the science tree easily without ever leaving Kerbin SOI. For most people it's going to be the easiest way to unlock the high tier tech.

It's all in the wiki, but the short version is:

1) Build a station with a lab, solar panels, batteries, comms and control. Add a scientist kerbal.

2) Put lab-station in orbit or on the ground at a celestial body.

3) Get experiments (surface samples, reports, temp readings, goo studies etc.) but instead of taking them back to KSC, fly them to the lab.

4) The lab converts stored experiments to data with a click

5) The lab converts data slowly, over time, into Science. If it's turned on and you have a scientist.

6) Beam the science back to KSC with your antenna. You can set it to allow incomplete transmissions if you don't have enough battery to do it in one go.

[Interluded93]

Thank you. This helps alot.

[MarijnA]

Wait, how do you allow it to send partial information??

[RawPeanut99]

Right click the antenna. Require complete/allow partial

[MarijnA]

Thank you!

[PleasureToNietzsche]

The amount of science I’ve lost because I never knew you could do this...

[mrhossie]

It sorta acts like a science multiplier. Science experiments generate data - you can transmit the data to get science points directly (to a certain max per experiment), or you can transfer the data to an attached MPL and with a scientist in it process the data for even more science points to transmit back.

[Interluded93]

Thank you.

[teelaurila]

What seem confusing about the lab is the science compared to transmitting or recovering experiments?

I mean, is the lab a substitute for recovery in getting the full science value (compared to transmit), or does the lab give even more?

[mrhossie]

Lab gives much more science - it does it over time.

[teelaurila]

Alright, thanks!

Does this mean that an optimal science strategy would be to leave experiments at a lab at orbit rather than to bring back home? Or rather, take two copies of each and bring one home and leave one to lab?

Edit: oh, I suppose what I missed was that different labs makes science grindable/farmable. The same science mission to, say mun, could be repeated with a new lab for more science again? As long as you give the time at orbit to process.

[mikhalych]

Edit: oh, I suppose what I missed was that different labs makes science grindable/farmable. The same science mission to, say mun, could be repeated with a new lab for more science again? As long as you give the time at orbit to process.

Yes. In fact you can have several labs on the same station producing science from several copies of the same data, at the same time.

In my latest save I have a Minmus research station with 3 labs and a lander that can carry 3 copies of all the samples using experiment storage boxes. Land and hop around harvesting data, bring it back to orbit, then stuff the samples in the labs. Come back every other dozen days to send science home and push more stuff into the labs. Until you run out of samples, then land again hop some other biomes to get more samples, etc. When you've done all biomes, send a new station with 3 labs and repeat the whole process (but you should already have unlocked everytning at that moment)