Kerbal Space Program

Let's set up the terminology first to prevent confusion.

Let's call 'measurement' a result of science tool work. It can be collected by a Kerbal, transferred, transmitted, and so on. 'Take data' option on right-clicking a pod collects these measurements.

Let's call 'data' the unit processed by a lab into science points. Data is generated by processing measurements in a lab.

Scenario is as follows:

• park a scientific lab in Mun orbit
• send a lander down to the surface
• collect scientific measurements
• return the lander to orbit
• transfer measurements to the lab
• start the lab processing, generating data from acquired measurements

Now, the lab capacity is 500 data. With a decent bunch of measurements, the limit is exceeded before you run through all measurements delivered in one batch. At that point there is essentially two kinds of measurements: measurements already processed, and measurements still wait for being processed once the lab has free capacity.

There is good reason to keep unprocessed measurements to generate more data units for the lab after it finishes processing its current data load.

There is no reason to keep processed measurements in the lab since these cannot be used again.

The problem is missing option to collect just processed measurements, leaving unprocessed in place so they can be processed later. The only option allowing to separate them is to select some for transmission during review process, but transmission generates significantly less science points than delivery in most cases. The other option is to wait until all measurements are processed which delays delivery of science points to R&D and disturbs flow of gameplay.

The suggestion is to add an option 'take processed data' to command pods and other science containers whenever there is a lab connected to the ship. This option would only take measurements already processed by the lab, leaving unprocessed measurements in place. Standard 'take data' would stay in place allowing the player to collect all measurements including unprocessed ones.