After a very long design and simulation phase, the final X-5 design is released! The new design will hopefully allow KSEA to explore the far reaches of Kerbin’s surface. The first flight will be a test flight to the airfield, then a longer mission to the rumored pyramids in the deserts, west of the Space Center!
Year 2
Year 2, Day 348 (Explorer Probe 1 Orbits Eve)
The Explorer 1 probe reaches Eve! Mission Control has some spotty communications issues at first, but a slight readjustment of the Kerbin LongSat allows uninterrupted communications. 
At a 100k orbit, the probe is instructed to ciruclarize orbit – success! Onboard equipment begins testing – initial readings indicate that Eve is big, and quite purple!
Year 2, Day 338 (First Mun Landing!)
Aurora 6 arrives at Mun! After a few short maneuvers, the craft is brought into a fairly close 40k orbit.
Mitster and Bob move into the Lander, and separate!
The lander moves lower, and lower…
Almost there!
Mitster hops out!
Followed by Bob!
Mitster plants the flag!
The two pose, then start collecting some rocks and other scientific data. 
After several difficult but exciting hours collecting Mun-stuff, Mitster and Bob blast off, and head to a rendezvous with the Aurora 6 Spacecraft! 
After docking, Mitster and Bob transfer over, being sure to take all their vaulable science with them!
“That exterior illumination sure proved valuable – docking on the dark side of Mun would have been a real trick without ’em!”
-Chrisnic
Mitster makes a small course correction on the way back to Kerbin…
“If these numbers are right, I think we’ll set down just outside of the Space Center! Really!”
-Mitster
The Aurora Spacecraft is designed with a fairly large “reserve” fuel pool, to allow corrections for… imprecise maneuvers. This extra fuel lets Mitster correct a rather wide departure from Mun into a fairly precise return maneuver for Aurora 6!
The crew makes it to the surface – welcome home guys! 
The crew returns to KSC, and shakes lots of Mun-dust out of their boots!
Year 2, Day 355
Blast off! Aurora 6 carries Mitster, Bob, and Chrisnic into orbit! All of Kerbin watches and waits as the crew chosen for the first Mun Landing rocket away!
Once in orbit, the scheduled burn for Mun goes well, and the Munar Insertion Stage is ejected. 
Mitster successfully completes the docking and transposition maneuver!
The crew settles in for the trip to Mun!
Year 2, Day 331 (KSS Research Launch)
A KSS Support Vehicle blasts off, and carries a cargo of plants for the researches on the KSS to study growing in orbit! A previous launch of the same payload seemed ineffective… The KSS crew wonders if they got baked during launch. If this experiment is successful, it will be the first time a Support Vehicle has attempted returning to Kerbin. 
The Service Vehicle moves in for a rendevous with the KSS… and docks!Mena
Meanwhile, it looks like the previous Plant Science mission has actually had some results! The plants have in fact grown!
“Well… let’s send it down and see what the scientists on the surface have to say!”
-Glenica
Good idea Glenica! The Service Vehicle detaches, and begins its attempt to de-orbit. KSEA hopes to set the pod down as close to the Space Center as possible. Let’s hope the results survive re-entry!
The Service Vehicle begins its descent!
Surviving the fire of re-entry, the pod heads for a touchdown in the fields at the base of the mountains west of the Space Center.
“Sensors indicate a clean landing! Let’s get a team out there asap!”
-Bob, Head Scientist
Year 2, Day 320 (Explorer 1 Update)
It’s now just 40 days until the Explorer probe encounters Eve! No one is quite sure what they’ll find, but the probe’s sensors are ready to transmit its findings back to Kerbin! Meanwhile on Kerbin, work starts on Aurora 6’s construction. KSEA is hopefuly a Kerbal can set foot on Mun before the end of the year!
Year 2, Day 317 (Aurora 5 Launch)
The Aurora 4 Crew is reunited for Aurora 5… hopefully this time goes better! The rocket is rolled out in the early morning. What a sight!
Blastoff! The Sarnus V takes the Aurora 5 Spacecraft into orbit… Where the crew trains with docking and transposition. Things don’t go smoothly at first, but eventually Mitster gets the hang of it!
Docking is achieved! It’s essential this be performed well, as the maneuver for the actual mission to Mun will be done on the way to Mun, after the insertion burn has been completed! 
The Aurora Capsule sets down just off the coast of the old runway. Time to head home… Good job guys! The Aurora 5 Lander is left in orbit. The mission is deemed a complete success… Aurora 6 will be the next launch, and will (with any luck) head to Mun!
Year 2, Day 307
Mitster, Robart, and Chrisnic are chosen to be the first crew to take the Sarnus V Launch Vehicle up to orbit!
The launch goes perfectly! However during the orbital maneuvers, sensors indicate the Oxidizer on the Aurora Spacecraft is leaking! Good thing this just a test in orbit!
For safety, the mission is scrubbed, and the crew returns home. Sorry guys! Thankfully a second Sarnus V Launch Vehicle has been under construction and should be ready to go, for another test.
“We’ll get this right! Just hang tight everyone!”
-Bill, Senior Engineer
Year 2, Day 305 (1st KSS Resupply Mission)
As supplies begin to run a bit low on the KSS, the first Automated Re-Supply Mission is launched! Based on the same design as the Science Payload launches, this supply mission will dock with the station, transfer supplies, and can then return to Kerbin for refurbishment and another launch!
The supply vehicle docks at the lower docking pylon, and the crew starts unloading the food and other supplies! With this launch KSEA has demonstrated that the KSS can hopefully be maintained for a long period with a full crew. Nice!
Year 2, Day 302 (KSS Auxillary Science Lab Launched)
The KSS Auxillary Science Lab is launched! These frequent KSS missions using the Sarnus Rocket hardware is getting our scientists and engineers very familiar with them – should be useful when the Aurora Program uses them to visit Mun!
The launch has some serious problems once in orbit. The very top heavy module proves very difficult to control! From the ground, Val does her best to help.
“This thing steers terribly! I’ll do my best to save it – no promises though!”
-Val
Once Val is able to successfully navigate a rendevous, Jeb EVAs over to the module…and hops inside!
“I’ve got it from here, Val!”
-Jeb
Jeb pilots the unwieldy module closer and closer to the station…
Success! The new module docks with the KSS.
“Just need to move this Escape Vehicle over to the habitat section of the station!”
-Jebape vehicle over to the habitat section…”
-Jeb
“There we go! Station looks great!”
-Jeb
Kerbal States | Kerbin Space Exploration Administration 