Year 4, Day 39 (Explorer Updates)

screenshot585.pngThe crew takes some time to relax, celebrating the success of the probe landing on Eve!  Everyone takes a quick spin outside the craft! screenshot590.png

After the successful landing of the Atmospheric Probe on Eve, Explorer moves on to the next phase of its mission the exploration of Eve’s small moon, Gilly. screenshot600.png

Explorer changes it’s inclination to match that of Gilly!

“Won’t be too long now … we’ll see how well the new lander works!”

-Orlas

WeYear 4, Day 37 (Eve Atmospheric Probe Transmits First Data From Eve!)

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Morning comes, and with it, the sun!  The Explorer Atmospheric Probe is recharged, and starts relaying information about the surface!  screenshot582.pngThe images relayed back show an eery, purple surface, with a strange sea, glowing green from the Eve sunrise!

Instruments show Eve is as beautiful as it is dangerous… Atmospheric pressure is extreme, as is the gravity.

“Landing, once we get past the heat of reentry, should be easy. Taking off from the surface is going to be very difficult… A fully assembled Aurora Rocket launched from the surface of Eve would have trouble making orbit!”

-Orlas

Year 4, Day 36 (Explorer Arrives At Eve!)

screenshot556.pngExplorer circularizes its orbit above Eve, achieving an orbit of 122k!  As Explorer finishes its orbital burn, Mitster checks out the fuel gauges.

“Getting Explorer back into Kerbin orbit is going to be a real trick.  I’m starting to think that we’ll have to use the LARC as a lifeboat when we get back!”

-Mitster

Everyone is a little disappointment that Explorer may not be able to be re-used… However the concern about fuel is exactly why the LARC was developed!

screenshot569.pngIt’s time to send the first atmospheric probe down to the surface!  The probe disconnects…

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Then the small solid rockets drop it out of orbit… and toward Eve!  Sensors indicate that the parachutes deployed, and the craft touched down… just as battery power runs out!  Thankfully, there was time to order the solar panels deployed.  The crew onboard Explorer (and everyone back on Kerbin) wait anxiously to see if the little probe survives the night on Eve!

 

 

Year 4, Day 34

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Construction begins on Kerbin Surveyor 2 – an advanced planetary scanner.  This mission is a joint venture between the KSGS (the Kerbal States Geological Survey) and KSEA!

Launched into an inclined polar orbit, the sattelite should allow a good look at Kerbin’s surface.

Year 4, Day 33 (Explorer Arrives At Eve)

screenshot516.pngMitster and Chrisnic transfer to the command module, while Orlas looks out the windows excitedly – it’s Eve Day – the day Kerbals arrive at Eve for the first time… ever!!!

“It’s so… purple!”
-Orlas

screenshot526.pngThe NERV Nuclear Engines fire… and fire… and fire.. the long but very efficient burn lasts nearly 4 minutes, as Explorer’s orbit is slowly circularized around Eve.

“Hang in there everybody… this will be a long burn, but it’s going exactly as simulations said it would!”

-Mitster

Indeed – DSV-1 Explorer eventually does circularize it’s orbit… and becomes the first vessel carrying Kerbals to orbit Eve!  The orbit has an apoapsis of 14,831 km, and periapsis of 122 km.  The burn took so long that Explorer will need to swing around Eve once more before arriving at the Periapsis again… and that’s when the atmospheric probe will be launched!

 

 

 

Year 3, Day 465 (KSS Crew Rotation)

screenshot486Jeb, Bob, and Samner head up in the Intrepid to rotate the KSS crew!

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Jeb pilots the Intrepid to a nice, stable orbit – entirely in the dark!

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Success!  Intrepid docks and joins the Adventure at the KSS!  screenshot499.pngKimmy, Robart, and Val board the Adventure… and head back to Kerbin!screenshot500.png

Once the shuttle is at a safe distance, Val fires the rentry rockets!screenshot506.png

“We’re coming in a little hot! I’m going to have to burn off some heat! Hopefully it won’t be a water landing!”

-Val

Thamkfully, despite overshooting the runway Val is able to set down on the Auxillary runway on the small island across from the Space Center!

Year 3, Day 425 (Aurora 16 Launches for MunBase One!)

screenshot459.pngAurora 16 is rolled out to the launch pad, carrying Edan, Sean and Glenica… and blasts off!screenshot467.png

After orbit is achieved, the docking and transposition maneuver completed, course is set for Mun where orbit is easily achieved!

“We’re all getting pretty good at this!”
-Edan

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The lander goes down… this is the first test of the automated landing systems!

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Success!  Sean and Glenica hop out and say hi to Bill on MunBase One!  Meanwhile in orbit, Edan prepares to head back to Kerbin!

“It really is weird heading back to Kerbin by myself!  ”
-Edan

Year 3, Day 419 (First MunBase Expansion)

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MunBase One’s first Expansion, Module A, is launched!  The automated Sarnus V launch takes the expansion into Kerbin orbit, then transfers to Mun!

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Mission Control remotely pilots the craft down …

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The transfer stage ejects, and the module’s onboard rockets glide down to the surface.

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Small wheels on the outside of the module steer closer and closer to MunBase One!

LOOK OUT FOR THE FLAG!”
-Bill Kerman

Thankfully even with the time delay from Mun to Kerbin, Mission Control avoids smashing the module into the flag pole outside the Base!

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Success!  The module connects… after quite a bit of tricky steering.

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Looking good!  It’ll be nice to have some proper rooms!  And check out this great surface cupola! What a neat view!

-Bill

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Indeed – what a view!  Back on Kerbin, Aurora 16 gets ready to launch, for delivering the next crew to MunBase One!