Author: sayburstuff

Year 3, Day 44 (CTS Adventure Testing & Upgrades)

sayburstuff Year 3 , , , ,

screenshot13.pngAfter some slight adjustments to Adventure’s wing alignment to correct the rollimg/control issues the craft was having, the craft takes off again!

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This time, Jeb, Bill, and Bob head up – the mission is solely to test Adventure’s systems before construction of additional Crew Shuttles to service the KSS!  This will be the first flight with the craft’s new solar panels – so far, they don’t seem to be affecting aerodynamics. screenshot14.png

“OK – the Station is right where it should be! Heading in to dock!” -Jeb

Jeb pilots the Adventure closer, and closer to the Space Station!

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Almost there…

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Success!  Adventure makes a good seal with Docking Port 1. Everyone heads over to the station to check things out!

“Wow!  This place sure looks different than last time!”
-Jeb

Does it?  Must be a slight case of space madness…

Year 3, Day 15

sayburstuff Year 2 , , , ,

The Crew Shuttle Adventure blasts off from the Space Center!   Mitster and Jeb both pilot the craft.  This will be a mission of many “firsts”:the first orbital mission of the Crew Shuttle, the first docking with the Space Station, and the first crewed re-entry of the shuttle!screenshot815.png

Because the Crew Shuttle doesn’t have any solar or other power generation methods, it can’t remain in orbit for too long before docking. Future upgrades will likely include better onboard power.screenshot818.png

Adventure achieves orbit, and manuevers to the KSS! Meanwhile on Kerbin, sea vessels recover the orbital launch vehicle.  As before, the craft is recovered for almost all of its construction costs!screenshot820.png

Adventure docks with the KSS!  The two crews say hello, then the shuttle detaches.  Everyone is a bit nervous.. this is the first time a crewed shuttle will re-enter Kerbin’s atmosphere!screenshot826.png

Rentry goes very well… But as the craft gets close to landing, it starts rotating strangely – tests will need to be done to determine why the craft partially lost control!    Thankfully Mitster is able to correct for the rotation.

Adventure sets down at the space center! While the mission wasn’t perfect, it was a success!

Year 3, Day 12 (First Crew Shuttle Test Flight)

sayburstuff Year 3 ,

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KCS Adventure is readied for launch at the Primary Launch site! screenshot797.png

The automated systems carry it up easily!

“Wow! Look at it go!”
-Jeb

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The Launch Vehicle detaches, and Adventure’s engines carry it the rest of the way!  screenshot801.png

A normal Crew Shuttle flight would head to orbit at this point, but instead Adventure fires its engines to simulate a very high speed re-entry to Kerbin’s atmosphere. screenshot805.png

As the shuttle comes in for reentry, it performs a bit of a “belly flop” as it slows down. screenshot810.png

Eventually Adventure slows down enough to attempt a landing.  A green field across the sea from Cape Kerman is selected for the test landing. screenshot811.png

Almost there…. screenshot813.png

A perfect landing!  Adventure glides to a complete stop, and crews are dispatched to investigate the Crew Shuttle for any stresses or damage incurred in the flight!

The KCS-LV is recovered 250km from the Space Center!  Engineers estimate it can be recovered for about 85% of its total construction cost.  Not bad!

Year 3, Day 6 (Crew Shuttle Revealed!)

sayburstuff Year 3 , , , , ,

After exhaustive modeling and testing, KSEA scientists and engineers excitedly unveil their new space vehicle – the KSS Crew Shuttle!KCS.pngConstruction begins at once, with an automated launch scheduled immediately after the first vehicle is made.

Unlike previous spacecraft, the KCS is, hopefully, entirely re-usable. The first stage (the KCS-Launch Vehicle, or KCS-LV, is a massive, automated space plane that carries the shuttle nearly to orbit.  After the Launch Vehicle’s fuel is exhausted, the Crew Shuttle detaches and heads into orbit!

The test vehicle will be named Adventure – some remain skeptical about the practicality of a space plane for moving crew between the station and Kerbin, but KSEA is always willing to try the next big thing… even if it’s a tiny shuttle!

Year 3, Day 2

sayburstuff Year 3 , , ,

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“Uh… KSC… We have a problem!”
-Samner

Samner, aboard the KSS, reports that the  original station core has a leak! In order to save the entire station, the affected area is evacuated, and the module is ejected!

“Jeez, as this thing gets older, more and more parts keep breaking!  We may need to think about getting an engineer up here or we might have to replace the whole thing!”
-Glenica

Indeed, the KSS has been having multiple problems lately. KSEA engineers start work on a systems upgrade to the station! With the myriad of problems on the station it’s not clear exactly what can be done to save the KSS.

Year 2, Day 422

sayburstuff Year 2 , , ,

screenshot770.pngThe X-5 blasts off, carrying Mitster and Robart to the next anomaly detected by the overhead satellites.

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“Huh – readings indicate it’s down in that mountainous valley – this landing will be tricky!”
-Mitster

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“Whew!  Close one!”
-Mitster

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“Huh. Look at that!”
-Bob

The two head back to KSC to share their findings – some Kerbals want to build research centers around the planet to study these strange anomalies!