Year 23

Year 23, Day 165 (DSV-5 Intrepid Leaves Moho for Kerbin!)

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“All the science from the lander is stowed – experiments are safe and ready for return to Kerbin!”
-Bob

Once the science is safely secured, the lander separates and drifts to a safe distance!

“Let’s get that reactor powered up so we can leave orbit!”
-Carson

“You got it! Reactor showing 100 percent – you are go for full thrust!”
-Sondo

The DSV engine fires, pulling a massive amount of energy from the reactor….

… until Intrepid soars away from Moho, heading home to Kerbin!

The three Kerbals climb into the Cryo-chamber to make the trip back to Kerbin!

“Cryo-systems are good… I’ll go first!”
-Sondo

The liquid glykerol flows from the storage unit into Sondo’s cryo-vault… safely freezing him for the journey!

“Brr! It’s always so cold in here – let’s get this freezing over with!”
-Bob

Bob is safely frozen, and Carson transmits one more message back to Kerbin!

“Mission Control… handing over control to you, starting Cryo-Freeze!”
-Carson

Intrepid will take just 100 days to reach Kerbin – the DSV program has allowed trips that used to take almost a year take mere months!

Year 23, Day 162 (Kerbin Spacedock 2 Habitat Ring Deployed!)

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In orbit of Kerbin, the Spacedock 2 crew deploy the habitat ring module! Veteran engineer Sean and new-hire Pholie spend the morning deploying the rotating habitat ring!

Pholie and Glenica, watching from the Orbital Cupola supervise the deployment!

“Now that the station is functional we can start getting some real scientific work done up here! I can’t wait for the next DSV arrival!”
-Glenica, Senior Station Scientist

“Habitat rings have locked – and we are good to start rotation!”
-Sean, chief engineer on the station

“Deployment looks good from here!”
-Edbert, viewing from the Crew Vehicle docked at the station!

With the station now fully functional, mission planners prepare to eject the orbital boost stage, and then dock the Lithium Fuel depot to the station, completing the new Spacedock!

Year 23, Day 161 (Advanced V.I.N.C.E.N.T Lander Announced!)

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The Kerbin Space Exploration Administration is excited to announce the next-generation of crew landers: The Variable Inclination New Crew Exploration & Telemetry (VINCENT) Lander!

“Not only does this new lander have more capability than any crew lander we’ve made yet, we designed it to take advantage of the DSV cargo bays! “
-Gene, Speaking at the VAB Lander Research Labs

Year 23, Day 160 (First Spacedock 2 Crew Launches!)

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Crew Vehicle 2 is blasts off, carrying the first crew to the new Spacedock! Edbert will be piloting the crew to the station, while senior engineer Sean will be working with rookie engineer Pholie to bring the station online! Senior scientist Glenica is onboard to inspect the station’s science departments and make sure everything is ready for DSV arrivals!

“Remote sensors and camera systems show systems nominal up there… but I don’t want to loose science from across the Kerbol system just because we didn’t double check!”
-Glenica

“All systems nominal… we are on track for the Spacedock! Hang on everyone, we’ll be there in no time… “
-Edbert, piloting Crew Vehicle 2

After detaching from the Neidon booster, Edbert maneuvers the spacecraft to rendezvouses with Spacedock, while the booster returns to Kerbin!

“RCS reverse thrust. Speed slowing to station-keeping. Docking systems ready…”
-Edbert, piloting Crew Vehicle 2

“Station-keeping confirmed… we are lined up!”
-Sean

Slowly, the spacecraft moves in to dock, until….

… a loud series of ‘clunks’ indicate they are docked!

Year 23, Day 160 (Power Upgrade for Aurora Mun Base!)

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A small payload is being prepared to expand Aurora Base on the Mun! The expansion is simply two RTG reactors to keep the base warm overnight and an exterior lighting system, but the Mun crew is really looking forward to it!

“We’re all hoping the power and lighting expansion makes nights a little brighter and less spooky! Hopefully safer too, we all keep stubbing our toes at night! “
-Dunwin

Year 23, Day 157 (Neidon Rocket Updates!)

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The Neidon Rocket has entered full production, with 5 total rockets ordered. Two are being refurbished for their next launch, and the other three will be completed within a few months. To help keep track of which rocket is which, they will be labeled X-1 through X-5 !

Neidon is being devolved to be compatible with the existing Sarnus Va expansion options, including upper stage boosts and the THK Solid Fuel Boosters for heavier payloads!

“These rockets are so much easier to recover and refurbish than the Nebula Rockets… we might transition to Neidon Rockets for every Crew Vehicle launch!”
-Gene, supervising recovery and refurbishment at the VAB

Year 23 Day 154 (Spacedock 2 Launches!)

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A good crowd of Kerbals gather in Mission Control to watch the launch of Spacedock 2! 

“Look at it go!  It is so LOUD!”
-Gillian, watching from outside

The massive Nova Rocket blasts off from Mission Control – the largest (and most expensive!) launch system available to KSEA!

“Boards show a good launch – all systems nominal… watch those readings people… “
-Gene, directing the launch from Mission Control

The first stage takes the rocket up to the Station’s new altitude,100k above Kerbin….

…then separates, allowing a short second stage to finish the circularization!

Spacedock 2 should be in its final orbit, however engineers want to wait before ejecting the orbital stage just in case there are any last minute changes to the station’s final orbit!

“Let’s get that launch pad cleaned up and get a Crew Vehicle ready to launch the first Spacedock 2 crew! Should be a good first crewed launch of a Neidon Rocket too! “
-Gene

Year 23, Day 135 (Crew Launch to Investigate Fuel Depot!)

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Malcolm and Sean hop into Crew Vehicle 1 and launch with a Nebula Rocket!

“Pre-Flight checks good.  We are GO!”
-Malcolm

The Nebula rocket blasts off!

“Wohoooooo!
-Sean

The latest generation Crew Vehicle design has become the primary method of getting Kerbals to orbit and back!

“We are at 200k… detaching Booster!”
-Malcolm

“Everything looks good on our boards… We have remote control of the Nebula Booster!  Good luck up there crew!”
-Gene, at Mission Control

Remotely piloting the craft from the surface of Kerbin, the booster does a ‘reverse burn” to allow landing closer to the Space Center!

“Malcolm, try to get us pretty close to the Fuel Depot, I’ll ned to EVA for a while to do a close inspection of both craft!”
-Sean

Malcolm pilots the craft into a circular orbit, then begins the rendezvous process!

The Crew Vehicle arrives at the Fuel Depot and moves closer, and closer!

“We are stationary at 50 meters – controls are locked.  You’re good to EVA!”
-Malcolm

Sean suits up, and exits the craft!

“These Fuel Depots are HUGE!  First impressions, everything appears good.  Crazy that this is the only surviving bit of the original Spacedock!”
-Sean

Doing a complete inspection Sean checks that power systems, communications are good, and most importantly the docking mechanisms are intact!

“OK… good news! Everything looks nominal.  Communication systems are good… Docking port is solid and engaged. RCS systems between the two craft appear fully integrated.  When Spacedock 2 launches I think we should be good to remotely control the Depot and dock it with the station!”
-Sean

Completing the inspection, Sean returns to the Crew Vehicle and the spacecraft re-pressurizes its life support system, and the craft starts its descent!

“We’re heading home!”
-Malcolm

“Chutes deployed!”
-Sean

Crew Vehicle 1 sets down next to the Space Center, and crews head out to do recovery!

Year 23, Day 130 (Neidon Rocket Launches Fuel Depot Mover!)

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With the upcoming launch of the new space station Spacedock 2, plans have been made to utilize the existing Lithium Fuel depot that survived the (original) Spacedock disaster!  A Multi Payload Vehicle (MPV) has been configured to be a “Depot Mover” to grab the Lithum Tanks and move them to a lower orbit for the station!

“This should be a good test of the Neidon Rocket!”
-Gene, at Mission Control

The Neidon Booster lifts off the launchpad!

The aerospike engine easily lifts the 20 ton payload up and out of the astmosphere…

…the fairing detaches, and the orbit is circularized!

With the MPV in a stable orbit, the booster uses its RCS thrusters to get in position, and fires its engine!

With the MPV in a stable orbit, the booster starts its descent!

“Hmm, reentry angle seems off, tracking is showing the booster landing a good deal west of the Space Center!”
-Gillian, at Mission Control

“We’ll have to get some movers over there to pick it up… hope it doesn’t land on a tree! 
-Gene, at Mission Control

The booster’s hydraulic landing system engages, and the rocket sets down in the idyllic green woods outside the Space Center!

Touch down!  The engine stops firing and the rocket is safe!

“Not quite where it should be… but it’s in one piece!”
-Gillian, at Mission Control

Year 23, Day 100 (Neidon Reusable Rocket Test!)

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The new Neidon Prototype is transported to the launch site! Everyone is excited to see the new Aerospike engine perform! Smaller aerospikes are already used on the Laythe Spaceplanes, however they have never been a core rocket stage before!

In Mission Control, the project lead Gillian is working with Gene on testing this new hardware!

“Fire the engines! Nice… the toroidal aerospike is working! Fuel flow – nominal… I think we are good to release the clamps and proceed with the landing test!”
–Gillian

The Neidon rocket blasts off the launchpad! The prototype is only fueled with what the ‘expected’ fuel amount would be from a return from orbit!

After angling off to the south a bit, the rocket is programmed to begin its descent sequence! Air-brakes at the top of the rocket deploy….

And at the last second, the engine performs a terminal burn maneuver, firing at the last possible moment!

The hydraulic landing gear deploy and lock in place…

…and the rocket touches down safely!

“It worked! It worked!”
–Gillian

The Kerbals cheer in Mission Control, and Gene happily exclaims:

“Congratulations team! I think we are OK to go on producing the second Neidon and scheduling an upcoming orbital payload!”
-Val