Author: sayburstuff

Year 4, Day 124 (Resolute’s First Launch!)

sayburstuff Year 4 , ,

screenshot740.png

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.screenshot739.png

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!

screenshot741.png

Resolute blasts off!

“Going good so far… just like the simulations!”

-Jeb

screenshot743.png

Everyone at the Space Center is tense as the launch continues!   Resolute glides through its gravity turn, and moves to circularize!

screenshot746.pngThe Launcher separates, and heads back down to Kerbin to get recovered!

“That was quite the kick!  Circularizing orbit now!”

-Jeb

screenshot748.png

“At desired orbit – 70k!  Leaves me with about 500 d/v for orbital maneuvering!”

-Jeb

screenshot749.png

Jeb begins burns to rendezvous with the Kerbin Space Station!

screenshot753.pngSuccess!  Once at the station, Resolute’s cargo doors open…

screenshot754.png

and the Docking Module leaves the shuttle – guided remotely!screenshot757.png

The Docking module moves away from Resolute, toward the station… screenshot760.png…and docks!

screenshot762.pngJeb 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

screenshot764.png

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! screenshot767.png

The Heavy Cargo Shuttle undocks…

screenshot768.pngThen Resolute closes its cargo bays!

screenshot773.png

“Mission Control – this is Resolute!  I’m coming down!”

-Jeb

screenshot775.pngResolute heads through the atmosphere, then starts its approach to the Space Center!

screenshot778.png

“I’m in the pipe… five by five!”

-Jeb

screenshot781.png

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!

Year 4, Day 123 (Mun Surveyor Launched!)

sayburstuff Year 4 ,

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! screenshot734.png

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! screenshot736.png

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!-

screenshot738.png

Year 4, Day 121 (KerbStar Relay Satellite Network Launched)

sayburstuff Year 4

screenshot730.pngTwo relay satellites are launched into polar orbits around Kerbin.  KerbStar 1 is launched into a northern polar orbit, and KerbStar 2 into a southern.

screenshot729.png

KerbStar 2 blasts off!

screenshot731.pngThe Relay Satellites will (hopefully) provide for increased range for upcoming deep space missions (as well as increasing communications coverage in the Kerbin region.)

screenshot733.pngThe launches go well, and the two relay satellites sit in high orbit.,.. just waiting to relay interesting science from future spacecraft!

Year 4, Day 91 (Second Attempt at KSS Science Mission Launches)

sayburstuff Year 4

screenshot714.pngThe second attempt at the Cargo Supply Vehicle is launched!

screenshot715.pngThe 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.

 

Year 4, Day 77

sayburstuff Year 4 , ,

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.”

screenshot707.pngIn the meantime, the next Surveyor rocket launches! This new satellite should provide unparalleled looks at the surface of Kerbin… in really great details!

 

Year 4, Day 73 (KSS Science Mission)

sayburstuff Year 4 ,

screenshot699.pngOne 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

screenshot702.pngEngineers start working on the next Cargo Supply Vehicle at once!  In the meantime however… the CSV continues its difficult journey to the KSS.

screenshot703.png

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!

screenshot705.png

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!

Year 4, Day 71 (LARC returns to Explorer, Return to Kerbin)

sayburstuff Year 4 , , ,

screenshot696Orlas, 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.