Author: sayburstuff

Year 4, Day 162 (Frontier 6 Arrives at Duna)

sayburstuff Year 4

screenshot847.pngThe Frontier 6 probe, launched nearly a year ago, enters Duna’s sphere of gravitational influence! The probe is not as sophisticated as a spacecraft launched today would be – but it should still provide a great deal of information to scientists on Kerbin! The onboard computer is given its instructions to circularize the craft’s orbit!

Thankfully, the Frontier probes were all launched with a lot of fuel reserves, to deal with any unforeseen needs, or try to at least.

A new generation of Surveyor Probes are being planned for exploring the other worlds of the Kerbol Star System!

In the meantime, researches back on Kerbin will need to wait a few more weeks as Frontier 6 travels to the periapsis of its orbit of Duna, where the craft will circularize its orbit!

 

Year 4, Day 152 (Harmony Design Changes)

sayburstuff Year 4

After some consideration, engineers have decided to remove the cupola from the Harmony Space Station planned for Minmus.   A fairly unpopular decision for certain, but sadly necessary.

With the original design, an lander would have to undock and remain nearby the station anytime another spacecraft arrived, such as an Aurora Crew Vehicle.

By removing the cupola, and replacing it with a docking port the station will be able to have both craft docked at the same time.

Perhaps the next Space Station will improve on the design – but for now, with Harmony almost entirely ready to go in orbit, this will be the best solution.  The science lab will still have large windows… hopefully the Kerbals will be happy with that!

Additionally, construction begins on two new rockets – Aurora 16, bound for Minmus, and an Aurora Crew Vehicle – to be used as a backup / emergency rescue vehicle!

Year 4, Day 151 (Resolute Delivers Harmony Habitat Module)

sayburstuff Year 4 , ,

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Val will pilot Resolute to its next mission – delivery of the Habitat Module for the Harmony Space Station!  screenshot823.pngThe launch goes well, and Val circularizes… screenshot834.png

then moves in to rendezvous with the waiting Harmony Space Station core!

“I need to be careful with my maneuvers… Harmony is being assembled near the upper limit of Resolute’s operating parameters.. just a bit over 90k!… I see the station out the window.  Moving in!”

-Val

Should Resolute run out of fuel, the shuttle does have enough solid maneuvering propellant to de-orbit and return to Kerbin… however everyone hopes that won’t be necessary!screenshot839.png

Resolute‘s payload detaches… screenshot841.pngthen docks with Harmony!  Success!

“Ok – job done!  Heading home!”

-Val

Val sits in orbit, waiting for the sun to rise above the Space Center.  Night landings are generally not preferred ! Thankfully, Resolute has enough fuel to de-orbit!

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Resolute’s moving pretty fast… deploying airbrakes!

-Val

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Resolute swoops down for a landing!screenshot845.png

Almost there…

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“Got it!  There was a loud “crushing noise when the gear set down, and the Master Alarm sounded!  Looks like I lost one of the ventral Air Brakes!”

-Val

Thankfully, there was no damage to the rest of the craft.  The Air Brakes aren’t designed to be deployed during a landing, just during the approach to the air strip.  This should be an avoidable mistake for the future!

“Maybe we can set the Authority Limiter on those Air Brakes to a lower extension… how about 60 percent of their regular extension?”

-Bob

Everyone agrees that’s a good idea, and the changes are made at once!

Resolute is recovered, and refurbishments start immediately!  The Harmony Science Module will go up in the next Heavy Cargo Shuttle launch… and then Harmony Station will be ready to go!

There is already talk of constructing an additional Cargo Shuttle – it would have been useful for Harmony Station to launch both modules right away to get things rolling faster!  If the Harmony Station design looks viable, future stations may use similar layouts… so an additional Cargo Shuttle will probably be in the works!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year 4, Day 148 (Harmony Core Launches!)

sayburstuff Year 4

screenshot813.pngThe 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!screenshot815.png

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!

Year 4, Day 147 (Frontier 6 Update – Journey to Duna!)

sayburstuff Year 4 , ,

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!

 

Year 4, Day 133 (Harmony Update)

sayburstuff Year 4 ,

It’s a busy day at the Space Center!

  • Construction starts on Harmony Space Station, and the Sarnus V Heavy launcher that will take it to orbit… and beyond!
  • Likewise, work begins on the payload for the Heavy Cargo Shuttle Resolute, the Habitat Module for Harmony Station!
  • The Crew Shuttle Adventure is refurbished, and undergoes a minor retrofit – improved solar panels are added to the craft.

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  • Finally, the Minmus Surveyor arrives at Minmus! Scouting Minmus ahead of time will make the Harmony Station team’s difficult job that much easier!

Year 4, Day 129 (Harmony Space Station Planning)

sayburstuff Year 4 , , , ,

 

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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!

Year 4, Day 129 (KSS Crew Rotation)

sayburstuff Year 4 , ,

screenshot796.pngJeb, 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

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Intrepid arrives at the KSS!  screenshot800.pngOnce 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! screenshot805.pngAdventure heads down to the surface… fast!

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“Ok – I see the runway!  Lining up for landing!”

-Edan

screenshot808.pngThankfully, Edan sets the craft down (right before they run out of safe runway!)  Another successful crew rotation of the KSS

 

Year 4, Day 125 (Harmony Space Station Announced!)

sayburstuff Year 4 , ,

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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!