Earning Science Points in Kerbal Space Program (KSP) Career mode is crucial for unlocking new technologies and progressing through the game. For beginners, the initial steps to gather science can seem daunting. However, with a strategic approach, you can efficiently accumulate a wealth of science right from the start. This guide will walk you through a series of early launches focused on maximizing your science gain around Kerbin, the Mun, and Minmus, setting you up for a successful career in space exploration.
Launch 1 & 2: Kerbin Science Rush
Your initial launches should concentrate on exploiting the readily available science around Kerbin. These missions are designed to be simple and cost-effective, providing a quick boost to your science pool and unlocking essential early technologies.
Launch 1: Kerbin’s Surface and Lower Atmosphere
This first launch is all about grabbing easy science from Kerbin itself. Focus on experiments you can perform right at the launchpad and in Kerbin’s lower atmosphere.
- Experiments:
- Goo Experiment: Launchpad, Flying Low
- Crew Report: Launchpad
- EVA Report: Launchpad, Flying over Launchpad
- Thermometer: Launchpad, Flying Low Shores
- Barometer: Launchpad, Flying Low
By performing these experiments, you’ll gather valuable science points right away. This initial science haul will be crucial for unlocking your first technology nodes.
Launch 2: Kerbin’s Upper Atmosphere and Space
The second launch should aim higher, reaching Kerbin’s upper atmosphere and low space to collect even more science. This mission will require a simple rocket capable of reaching space and returning safely.
- Experiments:
- Goo Experiment: Upper Atmosphere, Low Space
- Crew Report: Flying Low, Upper Atmosphere, Low Space
- EVA Report: Upper Atmosphere, Low Space, Flying over Launchpad
- Thermometer: Upper Atmosphere, Low Space, Flying over Launchpad, Flying Low Shores
- Barometer: Flying Low, Upper Atmosphere, Low Space
- Materials Bay: Launchpad, Flying Low, Upper Atmosphere, Low Space
Alt text: A Kerbal astronaut performing a spacewalk to collect science data from experiments attached to a spacecraft in low Kerbin orbit.
These two launches alone will provide a substantial amount of science, typically enough to unlock the first five science nodes in the technology tree. This unlocks crucial parts like the accelerometer, which will be very useful for more advanced missions.
Launch 3: Mun and Minmus Expedition
With your initial Kerbin science secured, it’s time to venture beyond Kerbin’s atmosphere and target the Mun and Minmus. This third launch will be your first interplanetary mission, designed to orbit both celestial bodies and gather a wealth of science from space.
- Experiments (Orbiting Mun and Minmus):
- Materials Bay: Low Space, High Space, Mun Low Orbit, Mun High Orbit, Minmus Low Orbit, Minmus High Orbit, Kerbol Orbit (Sun)
- Goo Experiment: High Space, Mun Low Orbit, Mun High Orbit, Minmus Low Orbit, Minmus High Orbit, Kerbol Orbit
- Crew Report: High Space, Mun Low Orbit, Mun High Orbit, Minmus Low Orbit, Minmus High Orbit, Kerbol Orbit
- EVA Report: High Space, Mun High Orbit and all 17 Mun Low Orbit Biomes, Minmus High Orbit and all 9 Minmus Low Orbit Biomes, Kerbol Orbit
- Thermometer: High Space, Mun Low Orbit, Mun High Orbit, Minmus Low Orbit, Minmus High Orbit, Kerbol Orbit
- Barometer: High Space, Mun Low Orbit, Mun High Orbit, Minmus Low Orbit, Minmus High Orbit, Kerbol Orbit
Alt text: A spacecraft orbiting the Mun in Kerbal Space Program, showcasing the lunar surface and a Kerbal astronaut preparing for an EVA.
To maximize science from Mun and Minmus orbits, aim for polar orbits. Utilize biome maps available online to ensure you collect EVA reports from every biome while in low orbit. Transferring between Mun and Minmus requires relatively little Delta-V, making a combined mission efficient.
By the end of this third launch, you should have collected almost all orbital science available from the Mun and Minmus (excluding Gravioli Detector experiments, which come later in the tech tree).
Launch 4 and Beyond: Landing and Further Exploration
With the science from the first three launches, you’ll have a strong foundation to unlock the technologies required for landing on the Mun and Minmus. While landing on your first Mun or Minmus trip is tempting, it’s often more efficient to prioritize orbital science first. The science gained will allow you to unlock parts like landing legs and more efficient engines, making subsequent landing missions much easier and more productive.
Your fourth launch can then be dedicated to landing missions on the Mun and Minmus, utilizing the accelerometer and other advanced parts unlocked by your previous science gains. Consider planning a flyby of Duna and Ike after your Mun and Minmus landings on this fourth mission to collect even more science and potentially complete the technology tree.
Contract Management is Key
Remember to return to the Kerbal Space Center between launches to check for new contracts. “Plant Flag” contracts are particularly common and can be easily completed during your Mun and Minmus landing missions, providing additional funds and reputation.
Conclusion
By following this launch sequence, you can rapidly accumulate science in Kerbal Space Program Career mode. Focusing on efficient early science gathering around Kerbin, followed by orbital missions to the Mun and Minmus, sets you up for a successful and scientifically rich career. This approach allows you to unlock crucial technologies early, making your subsequent exploration and landing missions more effective and enjoyable. Happy launching!
