Year 4, Day 129 (Harmony Space Station Planning)

 

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After some debate, scientists decide on the assembly method of the Minmus Space Station, Harmony.

First, a Sarnus V Heavy rocket will carry the Station Hub into orbit.  Then, two Heavy Cargo Shuttle launches will carry Harmony’s two modules into orbit.  Once there, the payloads will separate, and attach remotely to the orbiting Station Core.  (Resolute has already proven itself as a efficient method of carrying cargo into orbit, and since it’s the only Heavy Cargo Shuttle, engineers start work at once on getting the craft ready!)

Finally, the Station Core, still attached to the Sarnus V orbital stage, will carry the assembled station to Minmus orbit.

Initially, the plan was to launch three separate assembly missions, followed by a final crew mission.  This new method should be more efficient, and save time too!

Year 4, Day 129 (KSS Crew Rotation)

screenshot796.pngJeb, Bob, and Shepley head up in the Intrepid!

“Those new Cargo Shuttles are impressive, but I missed the the handling on these crew shuttles – good little ships!”

-Jeb

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Intrepid arrives at the KSS!  screenshot800.pngOnce docked, Edan, Robary, and Kimmy hop onto Adventure, and leave the station!  Meanwhile, space novice Shepeley with veterans Jeb and Bob, take command of the Station! screenshot805.pngAdventure heads down to the surface… fast!

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“Ok – I see the runway!  Lining up for landing!”

-Edan

screenshot808.pngThankfully, Edan sets the craft down (right before they run out of safe runway!)  Another successful crew rotation of the KSS

 

Year 4, Day 125 (Harmony Space Station Announced!)

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KSEA announces plans for a new space station- for Minmus!  This station should provide long term habitation for a small team of scientists to perform multiple landings and other research on Kerbin’s very small neighbor!

3 separate Discovery Rocket launches should accomplish the mission, with the planned Aurora 16 launch delivering both the crew and the lander!  Should the mission go well, a similar station is planned for Mun! Once funding is available, construction on the Station’s core will begin!

Year 4, Day 124 (Resolute’s First Launch!)

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The Heavy Cargo Shuttle Resolute is ready for its first launch!  Since this is a prototype, and the vehicle doesn’t have a computer controlled navigation system, KSEA wants to be cautious and only launch one Kerbal.screenshot739.png

Jeb and Val argue for sometime about who will get to be the first pilot, but Jeb wins “rock paper scissors” and will be the first pilot!

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Resolute blasts off!

“Going good so far… just like the simulations!”

-Jeb

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Everyone at the Space Center is tense as the launch continues!   Resolute glides through its gravity turn, and moves to circularize!

screenshot746.pngThe Launcher separates, and heads back down to Kerbin to get recovered!

“That was quite the kick!  Circularizing orbit now!”

-Jeb

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“At desired orbit – 70k!  Leaves me with about 500 d/v for orbital maneuvering!”

-Jeb

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Jeb begins burns to rendezvous with the Kerbin Space Station!

screenshot753.pngSuccess!  Once at the station, Resolute’s cargo doors open…

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and the Docking Module leaves the shuttle – guided remotely!screenshot757.png

The Docking module moves away from Resolute, toward the station… screenshot760.png…and docks!

screenshot762.pngJeb pilots Resolute in to test out the new docking module!

“Yikes!  You get an idea of how big this Shuttle is when you get close to the Station!”

-Jeb

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Everyone at the Space Center cheers!  Resolute takes a ride around Kerbin, docked to the Space Station. Jeb says hi to everyone – and prepares for the next, and probably most dangerous part of the mission… reentry and landing! screenshot767.png

The Heavy Cargo Shuttle undocks…

screenshot768.pngThen Resolute closes its cargo bays!

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“Mission Control – this is Resolute!  I’m coming down!”

-Jeb

screenshot775.pngResolute heads through the atmosphere, then starts its approach to the Space Center!

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“I’m in the pipe… five by five!”

-Jeb

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Jeb poses in front of the Heavy Cargo Shuttle Resolute.  Well done – mission success!  Resolute will be brought in and refurbished for its next flight!

Year 4, Day 123 (Mun Surveyor Launched!)

Originally purposed to be a mapping satellite for Kerbin, the previous launches have proven quite adequate at that task!   So instead the craft that was planned for the Surveyor 3 launch will be re-purposed for surveying the surface of Mun! screenshot734.png

Surveyor launches using an automated system called Ascent Guidance – no satellite has been launched before using this system, so engineers are eager to see how well it performs the orbital burn! screenshot736.png

Amazingly, it seems to go very well!

It’ll be nice to have the computer be able to launch these more routine missions!

-Val

Mun Surveyor reaches… Mun!  A polar orbit is set for the scan, at an altitude of roughly 300k – an altitude ideal for multi-spectral biome scanning!-

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Year 4, Day 121 (KerbStar Relay Satellite Network Launched)

screenshot730.pngTwo relay satellites are launched into polar orbits around Kerbin.  KerbStar 1 is launched into a northern polar orbit, and KerbStar 2 into a southern.

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KerbStar 2 blasts off!

screenshot731.pngThe Relay Satellites will (hopefully) provide for increased range for upcoming deep space missions (as well as increasing communications coverage in the Kerbin region.)

screenshot733.pngThe launches go well, and the two relay satellites sit in high orbit.,.. just waiting to relay interesting science from future spacecraft!

Year 4, Day 91 (Second Attempt at KSS Science Mission Launches)

screenshot714.pngThe second attempt at the Cargo Supply Vehicle is launched!

screenshot715.pngThe first vehicle didn’t have enough onboard power to maneuver on the dark side of Kerbin.  This time will be different!  The vehicle easily reaches orbit…

“You know, the CSV has enough fuel in orbit to easily reach Mun and Minmus, and return.  We should keep this design in mind for future research and resupply in orbit of those worlds!”

-Bob

The mission goes along well… however the CSV does prove a bit difficult to manuever at times… perhaps adding a reaction control wheel will help….?

The CSV arrives at the Kerbin Space Station!  Kimmy and Robart, the resident scientists, begin research at once on the plant sample.