Year 6, Day 329 (Explorer 4 Mission Announced, Crew Selected!)

Explorer 4.pngThe next Explorer mission is green-lit, Explorer 4!   This will be the first exploration craft to Dres, and will also be testing the Explorer Crew Vehicle, the successor to the Duna Crew Vehicle, with greater range and more advanced life support systems.

Explorer 4’s mission will be to reach and orbit Dres, land on the surface, return to the Crew Vehicle, then return to Kerbin!   For fuel purposes the lander will remain in orbit of Dres.

Val has been chosen as Mission Commander, Orlas will be the Engineering Specialist, and Robart will be the Mission Science Specialist!

Another awesome patch is commissioned for the crew:

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Year 6, Day 328 (Kerbol 1 Manuever)

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Kerbol One fires its engines to maneuver for its approach to the sun!

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While the fate of the Kerbol 1 probe is almost certain, the exact time communications will be lost, and at what proximity to the star is unknown. KSEA hopes that a lot of interesting science can be transmitted before the probe is lost!

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The final boost stage is ejected, and the probe hurdles toward the sun! In roughly 90 days we should know if the probe is successful!

Year 6, Day 312 (Kerbol 1 Launches!)

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Kerbol 1 blasts off! Unlike most KSEA launches, Kerbol 1 will skip orbiting Kerbin and blast on a course directly toward its target. This means an early morning launch is required, to line up the sun with the launch path!

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“Wow, look at it go!”

-Val, watching from KSC

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The protective fairing ejects, and Kerbol One will coast for 12 days until it is free of Kerbin’s gravity, then the interception with Kerbol will start!

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Year 6, Day 299 (Explorer 2 Crew Blasts Off From Midlands Sea!)

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After a few days on the surface at the Midlands Sea, Kimmy and Mitster head back to orbit and dock with Duna Spaceport!

“The new lander modifications seem to have fixed all the problems we were having – nicely done Dunwin!”

-Mitster

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The next Explorer 2 landing won’t be for another week, to give the crew time to analyze the data from their landings and most importantly to rest up for the next!

Year 6, Day 297 (Second Explorer 2 Mission!)

screenshot111.pngMitster and Kimmy head down in the upgraded lander that was painstakingly upgraded by Dunwin using extra parts from Duna Spaceport!

You should be set to go!  I’ll monitor things from up here!

-Dunwin

LandingMapDuna.pngKSEA has chosen the Midlands Sea as the next landing site!

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The lander retracts its antenna and solar arrays for the entry into Duna’s atmosphere. screenshot118.png
The lander touches down, and the solar arrays are deployed!

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Kimmy climbs out of the lander, then Mitster – who pose for the traditional flag portrait!  Kimmy and Mitster are the first Kerbals to ever set foot on the Midlands Sea!