Construction begins on the first Heavy Cargo Shuttle, Resolute! Resolute’s first mission will be to bring up a new docking port assembly to the KSS!
As the vehicle is experimental, the first flight will have a minimal crew… just Jeb! Resolute isn’t capable of flying automated, engineers promise that will be an available upgrade… soon!
The second attempt at the Cargo Supply Vehicle is launched!
The first vehicle didn’t have enough onboard power to maneuver on the dark side of Kerbin. This time will be different! The vehicle easily reaches orbit…
“You know, the CSV has enough fuel in orbit to easily reach Mun and Minmus, and return. We should keep this design in mind for future research and resupply in orbit of those worlds!”
-Bob
The mission goes along well… however the CSV does prove a bit difficult to manuever at times… perhaps adding a reaction control wheel will help….?
The CSV arrives at the Kerbin Space Station! Kimmy and Robart, the resident scientists, begin research at once on the plant sample.
Mitster makes a small course correction to Explorer’s Reentry path. Explorer should move into a 80k encounter with Kerbin, at which point the LARC will seperate, and provide enough fuel for actual re-entry of Kerbin.
“Who would have thought transfering between planets was so tricky!”
-Mitster
After several years of development and many setbacks KSEA excitedly announces that design testing of the Heavy Cargo Shuttle is complete! Now it’s time for ‘real-world’ testing of the prototype vehicle, HCS-1 Resolute.
Construction begins on the Resolute and its launcher!
With multiple rockets under assembly at KSC, most Kerbals are having trouble remembering exactly which project is coming up next!
Multiple Surveyor vehicles are almost complete, as is a new expansion to the KSS – a new Habitat and Docking module. The new module will replace the current docking module on the KSS, to make room for an upgraded habitat/cupola module that engineers promise will be ‘super cool.”
In the meantime, the next Surveyor rocket launches! This new satellite should provide unparalleled looks at the surface of Kerbin… in really great details!
One of the new Cargo Supply Vehicles launches. The launch is fraught with problems, as the vehicle continually runs out of power.
“Probably doesn’t have enough onboard batteries. There’s plenty of room in the cargo bay… we’ll just stuff some batteries in there! We’ll have to get that upgraded before we send up another one!”
-Bill
Engineers start working on the next Cargo Supply Vehicle at once! In the meantime however… the CSV continues its difficult journey to the KSS.
The vehicle proves to be fairly difficult to control, prone to random spins and other anomalies… however the vessel eventually is remotely docked to the KSS, where scientists begin working on the Plant Science module at once!
While the new CSV will likely be able to be converted to a supply vehicle for moving food materials, an upgraded vehicle is clearly preferred!
Orlas, Mitster, and Chrisnic finish their research on Gilly, and head back up to dock with Explorer!
They were able to visit every biome on Gilly, and gathered a phenomenal amount of data on the seismic properties, atmospheric properties, and temperature of this small moon. After all the excitement, the heads back to Kerbin. The burn trip home will take roughly 200 days, and require just under 1700 d/v of fuel… sadly Mitster’s conclusion was correct, the Explorer will not have enough fuel to be saved. The LARC will eject from Explorer and head home, while Explorer goes into a solar orbit!
Meanwhile on Kerbin, three more Kerbin Surveyor vehicles are built.
The Explorer spacecraft finishes its journey from Eve to Gilly, circularizing an orbit around the small planetoid.
“Fuel keeps getting lower and lower guys… let’s try to be careful!”
-Mitster
For the first time all three crew of a spacecraft will abandon their vessel and head down in a lander. It’s a bit risky… but no one wants to be left behind on such a momentous occasion!Chrisnic, Mitster, and Orlas climb into the LARC… and detach!
The LARC slowly moves away from Explorer.. and heads down to Gilly!
“”I’m so excited! ”
-Orlas
The LARC sets down, and Chrisnic climbs out…
Once he lets go of the ladder, the slightest step sends him flying across the surface
“Whoa! The low gravity here is… very low! Be careful!”
-Chrisnic
Mitster is next… expertly piloting his rocket pack over to Chrisnic!
“You weren’t kidding! It’s almost like we’re in space, and not even on a moon!
-Mitster
Orlas jumps out next!
“Wheeeeee!”
-Orlas
After having a good deal of fun playing on Gilly, the crew of Explorer gathers to take a landing portrait…. when Orlas notices something…
“Wow! What a sight to behold!”
-Orlas
The crew pose for their portrait… the first Kerbals to land on Gilly! What a day! The crew will spend about 4 days on the surface of Gilly collecting important data before returning to the Explorer, high above the small moon… empty… waiting for its crew!
Kerbin Surveyor alters it’s course slightly to gain a better angle at Kerbin! Similar designs based on the Surveyor are being developed by KSC scientists to better explore and map the other worlds of the Kerbin system!
KSEA may launch more Surveyor sattelites in the future, most likely dual-purpose communication / mapping designs to increase coverage of Kerbin.
Construction begins on two new rockets… a KSS Science Mission to test the effects of loiw gravity on plants, and a life support resupply mission to the KSS.
Both payloads will launch on Discovery Rockets!
Kerbal States | Kerbin Space Exploration Administration 