Saved Reports Not Received On Recovery

[Pr1m3]

Hi All,

I tried searching with different keywords and I didn't see anything related. I built my first actual Mun lander (previously I've been landing a full ship) which I deployed with a Docking Port Jr.

My lander is very basic, built around the M.E.M. lander pod. I had one Kerbal do an EVA report and a surface sample, and once they boarded again it said the data was loaded to the M.E.M. or something like that. I didn't put an antenna on the lander (the internal was out of range) so I figured I'd recover the data.

For reasons I'm not entirely sure of, once my lander rendezvoused with the main ship, the docking ports didn't interact (this is my first attempt and docking ports). Eventually I EVA'd my crew to the main ship, and returned to Kerbin. When I recovered the vessel I did not receive any science for those reports/samples from the surface of the Mun.

So my question is actually a few questions:
1. Does the lander need to be recovered to retrieve the data once it says it "loaded" to the M.E.M.?

2. Do the docking ports need to "click" into a position during building to make them valid? I placed the port on top of the M.E.M. so I could have engines on the bottom, but it hadn't clicked into a position, I just placed it on top.

3. Is there a way to transfer data without actually transmitting it (and suffering the "transmit data" loss)?

[koimeiji]

you left the data on the MEM lol


data is a physical thing, except not, except is. metaphysical? eeh.

basically
report is created (from goo canister, scijr, eva kerbal, etc) and is stored on what created it

a kerbal on EVA can take the science out of what created it and store it somewhere else; on their person, in a capsule, in a storage part.

if a kerbal holding science enters a pod, the science is stored on that pod

science can be taken out of whatever is storing it the same way you extract it from the experiment


the key thing to take away here is that the science is only ever stored in specific parts. if those parts are not recovered, the science is not recovered...because, well, you never recovered the science.

next time make sure to take the science out of the MEM and put it in your return pod. alternatively, you could go and try to rendevouze with the MEM you left and get the science out of it.



as far as docking ports go, it'd be helpful to see the craft you built. im thinking you just put the docking ports the wrong way; there's two difference faces. one is the actual docking port, the other is where the ship goes.

[Pr1m3]

Thanks for the reply, that definitely answers my question about the science data.

Regarding the docking ports, I loaded the craft up and once I separated the two docking ports it became clear the port on the lander was upside down so the docking face was facing inward inside the M.E.M.

Thanks again for the help.