Year 23, Day 415 (Seeker-1 Crew Launches Crew Vehicle to Investigate Mysterious Satellite!)

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For the past month, Space Center Tracking Stations have been detecting an unknown signal in Kerbin orbit! Engineers have a strong suspicion that it is one of the many spacecrafts or satellites that were launched before KSEA was created by the Kerbal States!

While not technically an Aurora mission (those are missions specifically for Mun and Minmus) the mission still needed a name, and Seeker was chosen!

Seeker-1 will utilize Aurora and Crew Vehicle hardware to discover whatever it is that’s in orbit of Kerbin! Malcolm, Gillian, and Lobert get ready for launch!

“There’s only one way to be sure what’s up there – we’ll have to send a crew! This should be a good test of the new Mk3 Crew Vehicle!”
-Gene, at Mission Control

“I’ve got lots of repair kits packed up! Snacks too!”
-Gillian

“Hold on everyone… launch in 3…2…1!”
-Malcolm

“Systems looking good… we are approaching maximum dynamic pressure on the spacecraft… “
-Malcolm

The solid rocket boosters detach…

…and once orbit is achieved the Crew Vehicle detaches!

“Mission Control has good comms with the N-8 booster… sending the landing signal now!”
-Gene, at Mission Control

While the Seeker-1 crew prepares for a mission to the mysterious satellite, the N-8 Booster starts it’s descent!

“Uh oh. Telemetry is off. Emergency everyone! Hold on tight!”
-Gene, at Mission Control

Everyone in the Space Center gets to emergency positions – the booster’s trajectory is off and it’s heading right toward the VAB!

There isn’t enough thrust to slow the craft down! The VAB shakes violently as the booster rockets overhead, just meters away from the Vehicle Assembly Building!

With a mighty explosion, the Nebula III Booster N-8 detonates right next to the path used to move vehicles to the launchpad! Bits of the rocket go flying in every direction!

“Status report people! Get damage control and repair crews out there! Seeker 1 are you stable? Can you standby?”
-Gene, at Mission Control

“Everything on Seeker 1 is nominal – we are good waiting – break out the snacks everyone!”
-Malcolm

Year 23, Day 408 (DSV-6 Odyssey Launches to Orbit!)

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After a very long wait, construction and stack integration of DSV-6 Odyssey is complete and the truly massive rocket is rolled out to the launch pad! Nova launches are rare, and large crowds turned up at the space center to watch!

“All right people… this might be the biggest and most expensive rocket ever launched but you’re professionals and you know what to do!”
-Gene supervising the launch at Mission Control

“I can’t wait to fly Odyssey.. I hope the launch goes OK!”
-Malcolm

As the countdown approaches launch the space center gets silent in anticipation. Finally, the count reaches zero and…

The Space Center shakes as the massive Nova Rocket takes off!

“Go Odyssey!  Woohoo!“
-Glenica, watching with the rest of the Spacedock crew in orbit!

As the Nova Rocket carrying Odyssey rises into the sky ground crews carefully track the launch!

In orbit, the fairing ejects and the spacecraft fires its orbital stage engines to circularize the orbit!

“Communications good, telemetry good… Odyssey is right where she is supposed to be! Nice work team!”
-Gene supervising the launch at Mission Control

The enormous cost, complexity, and danger of launching these mega-spacecraft from the space center has been quite a strain!

Besides the fantastic costs, the space center itself was tied up for almost a year building Odyssey.  

“The Nova Rocket itself costs almost a million to launch!  With the cost of each DSV approaching 2 million!”
-Gillian, watching from Spacedock

Serious consideration is now being given to constructing an orbital assembly yard! 

KSEA projects a need for the construction of at least one new DSV every year, which includes possibly retiring some ships in the current fleet! 

“Not sure how to do it, but we need to find a way to get more Kerbals into deep space – the Space Center can’t handle this many super-duper-heavy launches!”
-Gene

DSV-6 Odyssey

  • Vessel Mass: 177.916 t
  • DSV Cost: 1,968,922
  • Nova Rocket Cost: 751,858
  • Total Cost: 2,720,780

Year 23, Day 406  (Crew Vehicle Mk3 Announced!)

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With the construction of the latest Crew Vehicle 8 (CV-8) KSEA engineers took  the opportunity to overhaul and refine the spacecraft!

With the Mk3 Crew Vehicle KSEA is retiring the “Nebula” name to avoid confusion with other similarly named systems.  Going forward the craft will simply be called a “Crew Vehicle” with differentiations indicated with the “mark” number!

“We have some missions coming up that are simply going to need more range – we think the mk3 Crew Vehicle is going to provide that!”
-Gene, speaking at the Space Center

Kerbal States History: Year 2

sayburstuff Kerbal States History

Celebrating two decades of space exploration!

To celebrate the September Anniversary of Kerbal States KSEA will be highlighting each year of Kerbal States history!

Year 2

Year 2 saw the first Kerbals landed on Mun and Minmus! Probes were launched to explore the reaches of the star system and the first Space Stations were launched and assembled in orbit!

Key Events:

  • Mitster flew the X-4 Jetplane – one of the first crafts used to explore Kerbin!
  • Discovery 2 orbited Mun!
  • The first Mun communications network was established!
  • The first space stations, Spacelab 1 and 2 are launched – ongoing assembly paved the way for more complicated missions!
  • The first Aurora mission launches!
  • Aurora 6 (Mitster, Bob, and Chrisnic) launch to Mun, and Mitster and Bob become the first Kerbals to set foot on Mun!
  • The Explorer 1 probe arrives at Eve!
  • The X-5 jet is developed – paving the way for future spaceplanes!
  • Aurora 7 (Bob, Val and Robart) launch to Minmus! Val and Bob become the first Kerbals to set foot on Minmus!

Kerbal States was originally published in September and October of 2016!

To read Year 2 from the start click: HERE

Year 23, Day 405 (Mobile Resupply Vehicle Arrives at Aurora Base on Mun!)

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The Mobile Resupply Vehicle arrives at Mun, and achieves orbit!

Aurora Base (Mun) Mission Summary

  • Crew: Mission Commander: Orlas. Science Team: Orlas and Luly. Engineering Team: Dunwin, Bill.
  • Mission: Prototype off-world research habitat. Designed to train KSEA crews, test KSEA equipment and procedures for future bases and some day colonies.

The MRV detaches from the transfer stage, and drifts until…

… the engines fire, starting a decent to Aurora crater!

“I think I see the MRV! Its firing its final burn to decent!”
-Dunwin, watching from Aurora Base

The MRV sets down safely, landing on its wheels!

The sun rises over the horizon, illuminating Aurora Crater! After confirming good communications, the MRV maneuvers toward the base!

Getting closer and closer, the supply vehicle lines up for its final docking position…

… and connects to the base!

“Finally – fresh snacks! Let’s get into that supply vehicle!”
-Orlas, at Aurora Base

Year 23, Day 402 (Resupply Mission to Aurora Base on Mun!)

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Oxygen reserves and snacks at Aurora Base on Mun are running low!

“I think we have about a month left of supplies – hopefully there is a rocket ready to deliver something soon!”
-Dunwin

Aurora Base (Mun) Mission Summary

  • Crew: Mission Commander: Orlas. Science Team: Orlas and Luly. Engineering Team: Dunwin, Bill.
  • Mission: Prototype off-world research habitat. Designed to train KSEA crews, test KSEA equipment and procedures for future bases and some day colonies.

Thankfully – there is! With the construction of the Neidon III rockets and their very fast turnaround, multiple Sarnus-class payload capable rockets are ready. The Mobile Resupply Vehicle that was developed (and sat in storage) until now is loaded onto N-4!

“Don’t worry everyone – we’ve been preparing for this and have a rocket on standby!”
-Gene, enjoying a refreshing beverage at Mission Control!

Later in the day, N-4 blasts off from the launch pad!

The re-usable Neidon rockets with their upgraded landing systems are anticipated to overtake the Sarnus-V rocket as record holder for “most launched!” They regularly break records for re-usability!

N-4 continues to rise, reaching an apoapsis of 100k – then continuing on to a near circular orbit!

The protective fairing detaches…

… and the Mobile Resupply Vehicle detaches!

“OK – let’s land that rocket!”
-Gene

N-4 streaks through the atmosphere!

Ground telescopes capture the re-entry heading toward the space center!

Finally the rocket slows down just above the landing site, and slowly descends!

“A little too close to the space center! Landed in one peice though – that’s good!”
-Lobert, watching the landing from the VAB roof!

In orbit, the Munar transfer stage shows full power and communications…

… the engines fire!

“Hold on Aurora Base – your resupply is on the way!”
-Gene

Year 23 Day 400 (Construction Update on Odyssey!)

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DSV-6 Odyssey’s hull has been fully assembled, and its nuclear reactors have been integrated!

“Looking good everyone! The Nova Rocket is nearly complete too! This is gonna be one big rocket when it launches!”
-Gene, visiting the VAB floor where Odyssey is under construction

Despite its massive size Odyssey’s construction consists of several well tested components: The engines, reactors, and radiator assemblies are the same design as the Discovery and Horizon class DSVs.

The central fuel hull is the same octo-hull components that are used in the Refueling barges, and the cargo bay is an extended version of the existing Cargo Bays used in the Horizon DSVs! The only completely new component is the crew and command section!

Full system integration and testing should be done by the end of the year!  

Year 23, Day 344 (Aurora 29 Returns Home From Mun!)

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Orbiting Mun, Aurora 29 Crew Vehicle and its VINCENT lander undock!

“Docking clamps show clear… reverse thrusters firing!”
-Summer

Aurora 29 drifts away from its lander!  Once they are a few hundred meters away Summer begins plotting the return course to Kerbin!

Aurora 29 Mission Summary

  • Crew: Mission Commander Summer, Mission Scientist Gilian, Mission Engineer, Lobert .
  • Mission: Crewed mission to Mun. Land near Polar Mun Crater on Mun, perform scan with large scanning arm, return data to Kerbin.

“We are clear of the lander!  Course input to the computer – Gilian can you verify that? Should be a 100km approach before circ…”
-Summer

Gilian, the mission Science Specialist, double checks Summer’s planned maneuver!

“Calculations look good!  Looks like a close approach at 100km – fuel levels are good to circularize the orbit!”
-Gillian

Lobert thinks about the conversation he just heard, and asks a question!

“Wouldn’t it save fuel and time to just calculate the re-entry so we approach directly into the atmosphere, and skip the circularization burn?”
-Lobert

Summer nods and shows Lobert how the math works for that!  After a few minutes…

“See? It takes a long time, and it’s really complicated!  Fuel is cheap so we usually don’t bother with it!”
-Summer

“That makes sense! I suppose that it’s a little safer too since we can can maneuver to Spacedock if needed too!”
-Lobert

As the spacecraft approaches Kerbin the crew prepares for the circularization burn!

At an altitude of 100km Aurora 29’s engine fires!

“Engine burn is good. Temperatures nominal!”
-Lobert

“Burn complete! Orbit looks good – Mission Control we have arrived in Kerbin Orbit – verify you are good for craft re-entry?”
-Summer

“We have you on radar! Ground crews are standing by for recovery – you are good for landing!”
-Gene at Mission Control

Summer fires the engines again, and then detaches the CRV’s command module!

“Hold on!  It gets a little bumpy from here!”
-Gillian

Ground telescopes track Aurora 29’s re-entry – it looks like a big ball of fire and plasma! The engine and fuel module of the CRV can be seen burning up in the atmosphere as well!

After the firey re-entry, the parachutes deploy from the CRV!

“Almost home!  All we have to do now is wait until we touch down!”
-Summer

After the firey re-entry, the parachutes deploy from the CRV!

“Hey I can see the VAB out the window!  What a great ride!”
-Lobert

The CRV sets down just west of the Space Center!

“Welcome home Aurora 29!  Recovery crews are the way!”
–Gene at Mission Control

Year 23, Day 340 (Aurora 29 Lander Departs Mun Surface!)

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On the surface of Mun, Summer and Lobert are nearly done with their scientific research! Their mission has lasted almost 10 days – nowhere near any records but for Lobert’s first mission – a pretty long time!

“I still can’t believe I got to go to Mun! It’s a shame we have to go back to Kerbin so soon!”
-Lobert

“Don’t worry – there is always another mission! Maybe you’ll be selected for one of the Deep Space missions to Jool or Sarnus! “
-Summer

Aurora 29 Mission Summary

  • Crew: Mission Commander Summer, Mission Scientist Gilian, Mission Engineer, Lobert .
  • Mission: Crewed mission to Mun. Land near Polar Mun Crater on Mun, perform scan with large scanning arm, return data to Kerbin.

After everything is prepared, the new VINCENT lander blasts off!

“Rocket firing – we have good readings on sensors… telemetry is nominal… “
-Summer

Lobert notices something amazing as the lander blasts off – the view out his window!

“Ooo!  Look look!”
-Lobert

As the VINCENT lander rises from the surface, Kerbin starts rising above the Munar horizon! Lobert quickly snaps a photo!

Both Kerbals are quiet as they take in the impressive sight – their home, Kerbin, rising in the sky above the magnificent desolation of Mun’s surface…

“Oh! That is beautiful! Sometimes my eyes are so fixed on the instruments I forget to look out the window! ”
-Summer

“Space is awesome!“
-Lobert

“Yea… it sure is!”
-Summer

After capturing some breathtaking shots of Kerbin rising over the horizon, Summer circularizes lander’s orbit, matches planes with the Aurora 29 Crew Vehicle, and plots an intercept course to rendezvouses!

Gilian has been keeping busy taking scientific readings and also eating snacks and playing solitare!

“Aurora Lander this is Gillian – read you loud and clear – instruments look like you are on a good approach! It’ll be nice to have some company over here too!”
-Gillian

The two spacecraft move closer and closer, until…

“OK – starting final docking maneuver. Approach nominal. Angle nominal. We are in the pipe, five by five… ”
-Summer

Connection! Everyone moves over to the Crew Vehicle, and prepares for the return trip to Kerbin!

“I show a good connection – we should be good to start moving over all the boxes of science!“
-Lobert