Year 2

Year 2, Day 290

sayburstuff Year 2 , , ,

screenshot484.pngKerbSat 2, an additional communications satellite, is launched.  It is identical to KerbSat 1, except for a longer range communications dish similar to the one on Explorer 1.  KSEA engineers realized only too late that by the time Explorer 1 reached Eve, the antenna on board the probe would reach Kerbin, but the relay satellite wouldn’t be able to transmit back!  The launch goes well, and the satellite is put into a high polar orbit over Kerbin.

Additionally initial construction work begins on a Aurora 4 – the first test of the full Mun-mission Sarnus V rocket stack.  The current thought is to launch, test the docking and transposition maneuver, then re-enter to test the Aurora Spacecraft.  If all goes well Aurora 5 should be set to go to Mun!

Year 2, Day 281 (Sarnus Launch Vehicle Announced!)

sayburstuff Year 2 , ,

sarnusVlaunchvehicle.png

KSEA excitedly releases the plans for the Sarnus V launch vehicle!  The Sarnus Rocket itself has been through several trial runs while construction the Kerbin Space Station, and with just a few modifications to the basic lifter design a Mun Mission should be quite possible!

The Launch Stage blasts off, firing the primary engine as well as the two (recoverable) solid rockets.  The solid rockets detach, and the main engine carries the rocket to an altitude of about 90k.  Along the arc of the launch (once the primary engine stops firing) the Orbit/Munar Insertion Stage fires as the Luanch Stage detaches and falls back to Kerbin.  Once orbit is achieved, the same stage carries the Aurora Spacecraft and the Mun Lander toward Mun!  Along the way the craft performs a docking and transposition manuever.  The Aurora Spacecraft itself will then orbit Mun, and the Lander will head down.

That the plan, anyway!  A test launch will be done as soon as funds can be found to build one of the things!

Year 2, Day 280 (KSS Science Hub Launches)

sayburstuff Year 2 ,

screenshot465.pngThe new Science Hub blasts off on top of the massive Sarnus V-H!

screenshot466.png
The craft is guided automatically into orbit, and sets course to rendeavous with the KSS.

“I can’t wait to get out there and fly something!  There’s not much to pilot on a Space Station!”-Jeb

screenshot471.pngJeb EVA’s over to the Science Hub’s Emergency Escape Vehicle, and uses it to pilot the new section into place. screenshot474.png

Almost there… screenshot476.png

Contact!  The Station is now ready to receive additional science modules, and generate what KSEA hopes will be more than enough power for future needs.  Additionally, two more Cupolas provide some really amazing views of Kerbin!

“Wow!  This place is getting really roomy!”
-Glenica

screenshot479.png

“This is quite the view!”
-Samner

Year 2, Day 254 (Mun Lander Announced)

sayburstuff Year 2 , , ,

AuroraMunLander.png

KSEA unveils the design for the Mun Lander!  A prototype is being built to experiment with on Kerbin, and allow crews to practice the vehicle!   The lander itself is designed to operate in the very low gravity of Mun and Minmus… the practice lander will be built with a heavier engine to allow more thrust, simulating the Munar environment.

Once training is complete, the Aurora Program will have a Crew Vehicle, a Lander, and the powerful Sarnus V-Heavy rocket to carry them both to Mun and beyond!  All of Kerbin is abuzz with excitement!

Year 2, Day 252 (Explorer 1 Announced)

sayburstuff Year 2 , , ,

Explorer1Probe.png

Construction begins on the Explorer 1 Space Probe.  The design is heavily based on the KerbSat Long Range Communications Satellite, launched earlier in Year 2.

The probe has sensors and a Mission Plaque to say “hello” to any friendly creatures it may encounter!   The probe will be launched on a Discovery 5, and should be ready quite soon.

The planned mission is a flyby of Duna and Eve, and anything else it might encounter along the way!  If the initial launch is successful, and communications are maintained, current plans are to launch multiple Explorer Probes to investigate many of Kerbin’s neighbors!