The core of the Harmony Space Station launches on top of a Sarnus V Heavy Launcher early in the morning of Day 148! As soon as the launch is complted, work starts refurbishing the launchpad for Resolute’s launch!
Automated guidance systems carry the station up to a 100k orbit… Much as simulations predicted, the station sits in orbit, with plenty of fuel to carry it (and its future modules) to Minmus!
The Frontier 6 probe to Duna is a mere 2 weeks away from encountering the distant red world of Duna! No one’s ever seen what it looks like up close… the sensors on Frontier are relatively old, but the science gained from the mission should be invaluable!
Scientists hope to get atmospheric, temperature, and pressure readings from both Duna and it’s small moon, Ike!
It’s a busy day at the Space Center!
After some debate, scientists decide on the assembly method of the Minmus Space Station, Harmony.
First, a Sarnus V Heavy rocket will carry the Station Hub into orbit. Then, two Heavy Cargo Shuttle launches will carry Harmony’s two modules into orbit. Once there, the payloads will separate, and attach remotely to the orbiting Station Core. (Resolute has already proven itself as a efficient method of carrying cargo into orbit, and since it’s the only Heavy Cargo Shuttle, engineers start work at once on getting the craft ready!)
Finally, the Station Core, still attached to the Sarnus V orbital stage, will carry the assembled station to Minmus orbit.
Initially, the plan was to launch three separate assembly missions, followed by a final crew mission. This new method should be more efficient, and save time too!
Jeb, Bob, and Shepley head up in the Intrepid!
“Those new Cargo Shuttles are impressive, but I missed the the handling on these crew shuttles – good little ships!”
-Jeb
Intrepid arrives at the KSS! 
Once docked, Edan, Robary, and Kimmy hop onto Adventure, and leave the station! Meanwhile, space novice Shepeley with veterans Jeb and Bob, take command of the Station! 
Adventure heads down to the surface… fast!
“Ok – I see the runway! Lining up for landing!”
-Edan
Thankfully, Edan sets the craft down (right before they run out of safe runway!) Another successful crew rotation of the KSS
An exact replica of the Mun Surveyor, Minmus Surveyor is launched from Cape Kerman! The probe will arrive at Minmus in 9 days!
KSEA announces plans for a new space station- for Minmus! This station should provide long term habitation for a small team of scientists to perform multiple landings and other research on Kerbin’s very small neighbor!
3 separate Discovery Rocket launches should accomplish the mission, with the planned Aurora 16 launch delivering both the crew and the lander! Should the mission go well, a similar station is planned for Mun! Once funding is available, construction on the Station’s core will begin!
The Heavy Cargo Shuttle Resolute is ready for its first launch! Since this is a prototype, and the vehicle doesn’t have a computer controlled navigation system, KSEA wants to be cautious and only launch one Kerbal.
Jeb and Val argue for sometime about who will get to be the first pilot, but Jeb wins “rock paper scissors” and will be the first pilot!
Resolute blasts off!
“Going good so far… just like the simulations!”
-Jeb
Everyone at the Space Center is tense as the launch continues! Resolute glides through its gravity turn, and moves to circularize!
The Launcher separates, and heads back down to Kerbin to get recovered!
“That was quite the kick! Circularizing orbit now!”
-Jeb
“At desired orbit – 70k! Leaves me with about 500 d/v for orbital maneuvering!”
-Jeb
Jeb begins burns to rendezvous with the Kerbin Space Station!
Success! Once at the station, Resolute’s cargo doors open…
and the Docking Module leaves the shuttle – guided remotely!
The Docking module moves away from Resolute, toward the station… 
…and docks!
Jeb pilots Resolute in to test out the new docking module!
“Yikes! You get an idea of how big this Shuttle is when you get close to the Station!”
-Jeb
Everyone at the Space Center cheers! Resolute takes a ride around Kerbin, docked to the Space Station. Jeb says hi to everyone – and prepares for the next, and probably most dangerous part of the mission… reentry and landing! 
The Heavy Cargo Shuttle undocks…
Then Resolute closes its cargo bays!
“Mission Control – this is Resolute! I’m coming down!”
-Jeb
Resolute heads through the atmosphere, then starts its approach to the Space Center!
“I’m in the pipe… five by five!”
-Jeb
Jeb poses in front of the Heavy Cargo Shuttle Resolute. Well done – mission success! Resolute will be brought in and refurbished for its next flight!
Originally purposed to be a mapping satellite for Kerbin, the previous launches have proven quite adequate at that task! So instead the craft that was planned for the Surveyor 3 launch will be re-purposed for surveying the surface of Mun! 
Surveyor launches using an automated system called Ascent Guidance – no satellite has been launched before using this system, so engineers are eager to see how well it performs the orbital burn! 
Amazingly, it seems to go very well!
It’ll be nice to have the computer be able to launch these more routine missions!
-Val
Mun Surveyor reaches… Mun! A polar orbit is set for the scan, at an altitude of roughly 300k – an altitude ideal for multi-spectral biome scanning!-
Two relay satellites are launched into polar orbits around Kerbin. KerbStar 1 is launched into a northern polar orbit, and KerbStar 2 into a southern.
KerbStar 2 blasts off!
The Relay Satellites will (hopefully) provide for increased range for upcoming deep space missions (as well as increasing communications coverage in the Kerbin region.)
The launches go well, and the two relay satellites sit in high orbit.,.. just waiting to relay interesting science from future spacecraft!
Kerbal States | Kerbin Space Exploration Administration 