Year 1

Year 1, Day 75

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After days and days of experiments and simulations, KSEA’s best and brightest think they have a good design… the Horizon-A rocket, which has even MORE solid boosters.  Thankfully, the upgraded launch platform should be able to withstand the awesome explosive power of the rocket’s engines! Construction begins on two of the rockets, tentatively to be named Horizon 3 and 4.  Jebediah will take the first one up, followed by Valentina!

If things go well planning can begin on even bigger missions!

Meanwhile, another new pilot has been found that just might have the right stuff!  Mitster is welcomed to the team!

Year 1, Day 50

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Engineers begin major upgrades on the Space Center launch facility. Meanwhile, scientists begin testing larger and more powerful rockets and components.  Clearly to get to orbit we’re going to need a bigger rocket!

It’s not clear yet if this is the end for the Horizon missions, or if the existing launch vehicle design can be upgraded somehow!

Year 1, Day 49

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The newly built Horizon 2 is launched!  This time rookie pilot Valentina will be in command.  The goal is still orbit! 

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It’s getting toasty!  Before firing the next stage Val had to let the craft coast a short time to avoid overheating.

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Horizon 2 reaches a new record altitude… 82km!  Sadly the Horizon just doesn’t seem to have the power to get much beyond the initial apoaspsis. screenshot23

Val sets down safely, and the Horizon 2 pod is recovered.  KSEA engineers start working out how to get past this obstacle!

Year 1, Day 35

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The Horizon Rocket is carefully rolled out to the launchpad, and Jebediah climbs up it to the cockpit. 

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Blast off!  The rocket soars through the clouds!

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After the first two stages eject, the command module fuels the rest of the burn, reaching an apoapsis of 70,100 – a new record!  The curvature of Kerbin is clearly evident at this height, and Jeb reports that his lungs and eyes still function – quite a relief to some of the scientists at the space program!

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After coasting the remaining fuel is spent to ensure a smooth re-entry angle!

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Eventually Jeb (and gravity) take the Horizon 1 capsule back to Kerbin’s surface, where the pod is rescued and all the wonderful science is scooped out of the collectors!

Year 1, Day 12

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After the successful flight of the X-1, construction starts on the Horizon Rocket – KSEA engineers hope that this mostly solid-fuel rocket based design should be able to (hypothetically) reach low Kerbin orbit!

The flight will be entirely manual, including orbital calculations! Always one to volunteer for a deadly flight, Jebediah signs upfor the risky flight…

Year 1, Day 1

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The Congress of the Kerbal States had previously voted unanimously to found a new organization, the Kerbin Space Exploration Administration, or KSEA.  The stated mission is to boldy go where no Kerbal has gone before!

KSEA Director Gene Kerman has promised that Kerbals should start flying soon! Like many of the emblems used by the Kerbal States, the format of the KSEA logo is similar to those found in the ruins of the crashed probe!