Why use a satellite over a manned mission for science?

[TheSandwich]

What are the benefits of sending a satellite to collect scientific data rather than a manned mission? I am playing on default normal difficulty.

[funkynutz]

Less weight, which means easier to launch to orbit, and less cost (generally).

Provided you bring enough storage with you, you could have one Kerbal collecting data from 100 satellite experiments (you get more science points for returning experiments instead of transmitting them).

[The_Mell]

One way mission with smaller, lighter vessel can be achieved way easier especially with a target far away and/or difficult to return from.

[FourGreenFields]

It also doesn't tie up a kerbal (or several) for years. Which cuts down on recruitment cost (or means you don't have to do as many "Rescue X from LKO" missions).

Put a sat in orbit, congratulations, any "recover or transmit science from space around..." mission now means free credits. Add a relay antenna and you have another relay. Either way you'll likely leave the sat there forever.

[Arathir]

Additional reasons depending on used mods & your relationship with kerbals:

• If you are using life-support mod, you do not need to bring additional resources with you (or risk kerbal's life if you are not sure how long the mission will last)
  
• If you are trying to not kill your kerbals, satellites provide risk free way to test new fly profiles, landings and other risky maneuvers.

[GunsForBucks]

For me the main reason is that once you send a kerbal there then you get tourist contracts for those places. I prefer to limit tourist jobs to kerbin and Minimus only until I get up a boatload of cash to expand out further.

It is more about controlling the job AI than anything else.

Also the first time out to the other planets I had no idea what to expect there or how to build a ship for landing a crew. All I knew was what I took as readings when I got there and observations of orbit etc to judge how to build a lander. Had some of the most exciting moments in the game finding out if my plans were enough or not ha ha. Never used a guide or looked anything up online so all I had was what I could glean from going there.

[Elementus]

1. The satellite can be used as a relay
2. no need to launch new missions every time you receive the transmit science contract

[morlor_8]

If you are playing Career or Science mode, you might have the tech to get a small probe to other worlds, but lack the tech for bigger/better/more efficient engines to get a much heavier payload to those planets. (Little alone to have the fuel to return safely to Mother Kerbin)

[Event_Horizon]

Simplest reason: You won't kill Jeb.

[funkynutz]

Originally posted by FourGreenFields:

Add a relay antenna and you have another relay. Either way you'll likely leave the sat there forever.

While I totally agree... Relays only really serve a purpose if you're using satellites.

[FourGreenFields]

Originally posted by FunkynutZ:

Originally posted by FourGreenFields:

Add a relay antenna and you have another relay. Either way you'll likely leave the sat there forever.

While I totally agree... Relays only really serve a purpose if you're using satellites.

Transmitting science is also usefull for manned missions (not as usefull, especially because you rarely need to transmit something at any specific point, but still). Can also help with ground-based science.

[funkynutz]

You don't actually need relays for that though do you? I thought regular antennas could manage the transfer of data over the network, and that relays were just for controlling remote vehicles... (I'm willing to admit I could be wrong on this, as I tend to have a bunch of relay sats up and running as early as I can anyway).

You know what, I'm just going to go ahead and start a new game running manned missions and skip relays... For science!

[FourGreenFields]

Originally posted by FunkynutZ:

You don't actually need relays for that though do you? I thought regular antennas could manage the transfer of data over the network, and that relays were just for controlling remote vehicles... (I'm willing to admit I could be wrong on this, as I tend to have a bunch of relay sats up and running as early as I can anyway).

You know what, I'm just going to go ahead and start a new game running manned missions and skip relays... For science!

Yes. However, relays prevent (or: may prevent) loss of signal due to planets getting in the way. Which doesn't usually matter, but might be usefull in some cases (and is just nice to have even if it's not necessary).

[ulzgoroth]

Originally posted by FunkynutZ:

You don't actually need relays for that though do you? I thought regular antennas could manage the transfer of data over the network, and that relays were just for controlling remote vehicles... (I'm willing to admit I could be wrong on this, as I tend to have a bunch of relay sats up and running as early as I can anyway).

Relays have exactly the same relation to probe control as they do to science transmission.

It's true, though, that the former tends to be more important because for science transmission you can usually just wait until your orbit or planetary rotation takes you back into a position where you can transmit.

A side advantage of relays is that they may let you use small antennas on other vessels. If you've got a couple large relay antennas around Eve or Duna, then your landers can use the smallest antennas, because those antennas only need to reach from the ground to the relay. (If you want to ensure total uptime, you could have a constellation of little short-range relays that bridge from anywhere on the surface to the long-range interplanetary relays. Still need two of the big relays for full uptime...unless you've got big relays around enough different planets, in which case you might be safe with just the one.)

[seve]

mental

[chezplez3]

Lmfao good question