Author: sayburstuff

Year 3, Day 142 (Changes To Explorer Program, Aurora 12 Construction)

sayburstuff Year 3 , , , , ,

512x64-7.pnghe next Aurora Mission, Aurora 12, is nearly complete.  Orlas is very excited to be chosen as the scientist for the mission – it will be his first trip beyond Kerbin!  Chrisnic will be the crew engineer (who will be staying on the Command Vehicle), and the Mission Commander will be Edan (the commander of Aurora 3, Minmus.) he Mission Commander,

In other news, Initial plans for Explorer had been to launch a test craft, however administrators have decided to move ahead with a crewed mission they’re confident that if any systems fail on the transit burn a rescue will still be possible.  The mission will be quite dangerous though… however many eager Kerbals have been clamoring to get a chance for the first crewed mission to another world!!  The final crew roster hasn’t been released yet, but KSEA is working hard to get as many Kerbals trained as possible!

Year 3, Day 139 (Explorer Spacecraft Development)

sayburstuff Year 3 , , , , ,

Development begins on Explorer  (not to be confused with the Explorer Space Probe.) Explorer is the prototype vehicle for a future Eve mission!  While the actual mission to Eve will likely be several components, Explorer’s first mission will consist of just the main spacecraft.

Explorer will be launched without a crew, which will arrive via a Crew Shuttle!  This is necessary given the new design.

Once the crew arrives, the vehicle will leave Kerbin’s orbit, entering interplanetary space, in orbit of the Sun, then return.

If all goes well Explorer will be the basis for future crewed planetary missions!  A full working mockup of the Explorer’s Habitat Section will be launched soon as an upgrade to the KSS – this should allow ‘real world’ testing of the crew module.

Additionally, construction begins on the next Aurora Mission, Aurora 12!

Year 3, Day 125 (Frontier 4 Probe To Urlum Launches)

sayburstuff Year 3 , ,

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Frontier 4 launches!  This time, Urlum is the target!  Each of these probes are a calculated risk.. but an important one. Before more advanced missions to the outer planets can be conducted, simple questions like “Will the solar panels get enough power?” and “Will the radio actually reach that far” need to be answered firmly, not just on graph paper! Frontier 4 will reach Urlum at the start of Year 7… in 3 years and 200 or so days!

 

Year 3, Day 120 (Frontier 3 Probe to Neidon Launches)

sayburstuff Year 3 , ,

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Frontier 3, bound for Neidon, is rolled out of the VAB and launched!  Frontier 4 will be done shortly, and will itself head to Urlum!

“These probe launches are expensive!  It’s taking all of our budget to launch them!”
-Jeb

 

“We have to!  The launch windows won’t be ideal for much longer… then we can get back to Mun launches!”
-Orlas

The trip to Neidon is a long one!  The estimated encounter date will be Year 9, Day 270… in nearly 6 years!

Year 3, Day 118 (Shuttle Intrepid’s First Flight)

sayburstuff Year 3 , ,

screenshot132.pngThe third shuttle, Intrepid, takes off on its first flight!  Mitster pilots the craft up to the KSS.  It’s time for a crew rotation!  Unusually, one shuttle will fly up and take the crew that’s returning, and a second will launch and remain docked to the station.  This will allow for evacuations in case of emergencies!  The plan is to cycle shuttles docked to the KSS every time there is a crew rotation.

After the Intrepid docks with the station, Endeavor blasts off, piloted by Jeb!

For the first time, two shuttles are docked at the KSS!

Not for long though… Mitster stays behind to keep an eye on the station, while Jeb, Orlas, Robart, and Samner head back to Kerbin! Endeavor will remain docked at the station.

Year 3, Day 117 (Aurora 11 Mun Mission)

sayburstuff Year 3

screenshot36Aurora 11’s mission is to explore the Mun’s Northern Basin, as well as the Midland Craters located north of the Northwestern Crater, and after surveying them to investigate an anomaly located in the Northwestern Crater itself, spotted by the Mun Surveyor probe!

Onboard systems start checking the surrounding area… amazingly the seismic scanner indicates a minor quake occuring… Mun is still geologically active. Amazing!

Kimmy climbs out of the lander…

and tries to go for a stroll!  Unfortunately, the hill the lander set down on is extremely steep, and she goes tumbling down the hill!

“Ahhhhhh!!!”
-Kimmy

Thankfully, Kimmy recovers.

“Careful out here Val… that hill’s pretty treacherous!  Better use your EVA jets only!”
-Kimmy

Eventually, both Val and Kimmy make it out to plant a flag, then quickly head back in.  But not before Val has her own chance falling down the hill!

“Note to self:  look for flatter landing sites next time!”
-Val

The lander takes off, and heads down into the nearby crater.

This time – things go much better!   After collecting the necessary science, Val launches, and heads back to a stable orbit to rendevous with the Aurora 11 spacecraft! Unfortunately, there wasn’t enough fuel to check out the anomaly.  Maybe next time!

 

Year 3, Day 107 (Frontier 2 probe to Sarnus Launches!)

sayburstuff Year 2

screenshot103.pngFrontier 2 launches!  Unlike the first Frontier Probe, “2” will take a less direct and more fuel efficient journey to Sarnus.  If calculations are correct, it will enter the Sarnus system with nearly 4,000/dv of fuel remaining… hopefully enough for plenty of maneuvering in the distant planetary system!  The cost is time: the journey will take much longer than Frontier 1: nearly 2.5 years!

In a fit of excitement, KSEA authorizes the construction of 4 more Frontier Probes!  The massive expenditure will be occupy most of the funding for quite some time, however several promising transfer windows are opening up soon: Neidon and Urlum!  The other two probes will remain in a parking orbit of Kerbin, and are tenatively planned to survey Eve and Duna!

Year 3, Day 104

sayburstuff Year 2

mscreenshot95.pngThe Mun Surveyor is launched, and heads to Mun!  Engineers are hopeful the probe will help find a good location for a permanent ground base on Mun!screenshot93.pngThe Surveyor is on it’s way!screenshot95.png
Upon arriving at Mun, the Surveyor begins… surveying!  Results should be in soon for a good colony site on Mun!