Year 18, Day 371 (DSV-3 Crew, Mission Patch Announced!)

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The mission patch for Horizon Crew Mission 1 is announced, and it looks like Mitster, Chrisnic, and Kimmy will be the lucky FIRST Kerbals to visit the Sarnus system!

Because of Horizon’s launch to high orbit (800k) – the next Aurora Rocket, Aurora 23) originally destined for Mun, will be used to launch the crew! This will also allow the delivery of a modified Mun Lander, with increased fuel and power systems, to land on Slate! The stack will also include a relay satellite that will be left in a high equatorial orbit of Slate, to assist the polar-orbit survey/relay satellite that is already at the moon.

The crew will be launching tomorrow!

Year 18, Day 370 (DSV-3 Horizon Launches!)

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The massive Nova-1 Rocket is rolled out to the launchpad, carrying the most expensive, and most capable spacecraft KSEA has ever built – DSV-3 Horizon!

Horizon has been under construction for much longer than anticipated, as engineers and scientists kept adding new technologies and features to the spacecraft, slowing down it’s completion!

“Well – it’s finally done! Let’s see how it flies!”
-Gene

The plume from the rockets almost reach the space center!

Slowly, the Nova-1 carries Horizon higher and higher…

Eventually escaping Kerbin’s atmosphere!

Next, the 6 solid rockets eject!

“Solid rocket ejection is complete – rockets are clear of the spacecraft!”
-Sean, at Mission Control

The core of the Nova-1 carries Horizon to it’s 800k orbit, running out of fuel in the orbital stage just in time!

Finally, the fairing deploys, and Horizon is free!

“All instruments show Horizon is intact… systems slowly coming online… main antenna dish has deployed successfully!”
-Kimmy, at Mission Control

Horizon sits in orbit, waiting for it’s crew!

“Good job everyone! Let’s get our crew together!”
-Gene

Year 18, Day 366 (KSEA Releases Blueprints for Deep Space Vehicle ‘Horizon’!)

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KSEA is excited to announce the final design for Horizon! Building upon the successes of DSV-2 Discovery, the Horizon is the largest, most advanced spacecraft ever – and will be launched on a new rocket designed just for it, the Nova Rocket… The largest rocket ever launched!

The most striking new feature of Horizon is the massive cargo bay allowing a variety of payloads to travel with the spacecraft!

Construction will be completed soon, and even more exciting, should be done in time for the launch window to Sarnus!

The crew will be announced soon, as will the mission specifics!

Year 18, Day 300 (DSV-3 Horizon Construction Update!)

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Construction of the next Deep Space Vehicle, Horizon, is nearly 90% complete! Progress has been slower than expected however, as new features and upgrades continue to be devised and then incorporated into the design.

These features keep creeping in, and slowing down development of the spacecraft!

“We’ve gotta stop adding stuff and get this thing built!

–Gene

While Horizon shares the same basic construction of Discovery, the most notable new feature is a massive cargo bay, designed to allow Horizon to carry a Lander or other payloads to its destination!

KSEA promises that blueprints will be available soon!

There is no word yet on the destination of Horizon… With the window for Sarnus closing soon, many Kerbals speculate Moho will be the likely target!

Year 18, Day 299 (Retriever 2 Launches!)

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Retriever 2 launches to a 400k orbit! It’s mission is to bring the asteroid Retriever 1 captured into an orbit close enough that an Aurora Crew Vehicle can intercept, and Kerbals can investigate it!

“We should really redesign that second stage! There’s way too much power there!”
-Gene

After many attempted plots, an intercept with the asteroid is finally resolved!

Finally, Retriever 2 arrives at the Asteroid and docks!

It’s decided to let Retriever 1 go, so as not imbalance the asteroid for movement!

The asteroid mover pushes and pushes until it runs out of fuel! The asteroid’s orbit is still inclined, but not as severely! Another Retriever will be built, and hopefully finish the job!

Year 18, Day 274 (Explorer 7 Launches, Heading to Duna!)

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Malcolm, Dunwin, and Shepley all board Explorer 7! Outside the rocket, the loudspeakers count down to launch!

“10… 9…8…7…6…ignition sequence start….5…4…3…2…1…IGNITION!”
-Gene

“We have liftoff!”
-Gene

The powerful Sarnus Va rocket lifts Explorer 7 higher and higher!

Until orbit is reached! Then, with just 3 minutes to spare until the transfer window, Malcolm fires the engines!

“Engines firing…. We’re on course!”

-Malcolm

Explorer 7 soars past Mun on its way out of Kerbin’s SOI!

Hours later, the Advanced Duna Lander departs for Duna! The two spacecraft will arrive at Duna in 208 days!

“Ok, we’re on our way! Mission Control, we’re handing over vehicle control to KSC! “

-Malcolm

“That means it’s time to head over to the Cryo Section… And take a little nap!”

-Shepely

The 3 Kerbals prepare to head over to the Cryo Module to enter Cryo-Stasis! The mission schedule has them starting suspension tomorrow!

Year 18, Day 272 (Malcolm, Dunwin, and Shepely Selected for Explorer 7 Duna Mission!)

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KSEA announces that Malcolm, Dunwin, and Shepely have been selected as the crew for Explorer 7! Explorer 7 itself is rolled out to the launchpad, and the crew will board tomorrow! In the meantime, everyone’s talking about how colorful the new patches are!

Malcolm and Shepely have never been to Duna, however Dunwin, the mission engineer, is a veteran!

The Advanced Duna Lander is already in orbit, and will leave a day after Explorer 7!

The Explorer 7 Duna Mission will make use of the Advanced Duna Lander’s capabilities to target landing sites that were out of range of previous missions. Additionally, many of the new surface experiments deployed and tested on Mun by the Aurora 18, 19, 20, and 21 crews will be deployed on Duna!