Jeb and Bill transfer over to Discovery… while Bob makes sure that every bit of science is taken on board!
“That should be the last of it! Let’s head out!” -Bob
“Moorings are clear… Discovery is clear of the Spaceport!“ -Jeb
Discovery fires it’s three atomic engines, and the massive spacecraft rockets away from Jool!
The journey back to Kerbin will take a little over 2 years – longer than Discovery’s life support reserves will last – so Jeb, Bill, and Bob transfer over to the Cryonic chamber to survive the long trip!
“See you soon Discovery!” -Gene, at Mission Control
With the transfer window back to Kerbin rapidly approaching, Jeb decides it’s time to take Endurance back to orbit!
“Pack up all the science and snacks! It’s time to take off!” -Jeb
Endurance lifts higher and higher…
… eventually reaching orbit!
“That loud pop noise was Endurance running out of primary fuel! Just in time too, we should have enough monopropellant to slow down the final leg of the rendezvous with Laythe Spaceport!” -Jeb
Thankfully, there’s enough monoprop for both slowing down, and maneuvering!
Jeb docks with Laythe Spaceport!
“You know… these missions have all been really close, let’s call it good and not try a water landing this time?” -Bill
“I dunno, I’m down for it! What’s the worst that could happen!?” -Jeb
“Hmmm… maybe Bill’s right – let’s get ready to head back to Kerbin… we can try a water landing next time!” -Bob
The X-10 Wanderer is done, and having passed basic safety tests is ready for a test flight! Val, Glenica, and Dunwin prepare to take the plane on a test flight – first to test basic landing systems, then to test a water landing! This will also be a good training flight for future crew to Laythe!
The VTOL Aerospikes work well enough on Kerbin to provide vertical thrust, however the plane can only maintain vertical flight for a short time!
“Let’s head over to the pyramids, that should be an interesting place to land!” -Val
Val sets Wanderer down right next to the pyramids! Unlike Endurance, Wanderer has much bigger parachutes to deal with the higher gravity of Kerbin!
Val, Dunwin, and Glenica all get out…
…and have a good look around the pyramids!
“Wow, these are right near the Desert Site! Hey, we should call it the ‘Pyramid’ Launch Complex!” -Glenica
After everyone has a good look around, Wanderer takes off!
“Everyone keep hold of your life preservers! We should set down slow enough, but I have no idea if Wanderer is going to even float!” -Val
All horizontal thrust is cut, and Wanderer slowly drifts down to the water!
With a loud “kursplursh!” the X-10 sets down in the water!
“Oh wow! I can’t believe it worked! If the X-10 sets down slow enough, it’s just fine!” -Dunwin
Indeed – Val gets out and confirms the space, er, watercraft, is just fine!
After a little VTOL blast to get out of the water, Wanderer heads back to the Desert Site… now called the Pyramid Launch Complex!
“Pyramid Launch Complex… I’m in the pipe, five by five!” -Val
Wanderer touches down, right where it took off! KSEA relays the information back to Laythe, however engineers are divided on actually trying this stunt on Laythe!
A Mk4 Surface Scanner/Relay Probe leaves Kerbin, heading to Sarnus! The best case scenario is that KSEA will finally get to scan the surface of Slate! The less optimal scenario will be Sarnus will gain a high power communications relay, which wouldn’t be all that bad either!
Jeb, Bill, and Bob board LCV-1 Endurance and head down for another landing! The discovery that Laythe has a breathable atmosphere has caused a bit of a commotion back on Kerbin – talk of a permanent colony on Laythe has begun!
“Ok – hold on! We’re setting down right by the coast so if we overshoot the landing site, we’ll need to be ready to blast off back into orbit… this plane isn’t rated for a water landing!” -Jeb
It looks like the approach was spot on! Endurance activates it’s landing parachute, and the VTOL Aerospike bays open!
Endurance slowly sets down, aided by the VTOL system and the parachute!
“Endurance has landed! Let’s get out and see what’s out there!” -Jeb
Jeb and Bill climb out and take in the sights, with Bob right behind them!
“Hey guys! What’re you standing there looking at!?” -Bob
“Oh! The Sagen sea is so pretty! You’d almost think it’s Kerbin!” -Bob
After being launched to orbit by a Jool Va rocket, the latest expansion of the Spaceport has arrived! The docking port expansion was needed due to the congestion at the spaceport – mostly caused by the new centrifugal ring taking up so much space!
The docking port is brought in closer and closer…
…unit it connects! The station’s engineers head over to make sure everything is safe!
“Looks good! I think we’re ready to start using this for docking procedures!” -Dunwin, on board Kerbin Spaceport
KSEA launches a new SENTINEL satellite to look for asteroids near Kerbin! Built on the Mk4 probe design, it’s hoped that eventually an asteroid can be captured and returned to Kerbin Orbit for study! A Sarnus Va rocket carries the probe into a high orbit!
Construction begins on the next Aurora Mun mission, Aurora 21!
Construction also begins on an expansion to the Kerbin Spaceport – to be located opposite the new Habitat Ring, the expansion will provide a safe docking area for arriving and departing spacecraft!
KSEA launches a Mk4 Scan/Relay Satellite to orbit! This probe is intended to travel to the Sarnus system, to hopefully investigate the Sarnusian moon of Slate.
The transfer window to Sarnus won’t be available for a few months however!
Kerbal States | Kerbin Space Exploration Administration 