Mission Planners are excited to announce that Kerbals will be returning to Mun for the first time in years! The early Aurora missions to explore Mun and Minmus were done before some of KSEA’s more advanced scientific equipment was developed. This return to Mun is intended to test new surface science equipment and a new rover that will allow exploration of terrestrial worlds!
The Kerbin Space Exploration Administration is very pleased to announce a complete upgrade for all of KSEA’s cameras!
Going forward all historical records should appear higher resolution with greater levels of detail and clarity! in fact, the upgrades are so extensive that they will even allow previously launched space assets to deliver higher quality images!
“How’s that even possible!?”
-Orlas
KSEA had initially been hoped that Pathfinder 6 would have enough deltaV to orbit Plock – however the craft was simply going too fast for the nuclear engine to slow it down! Additionally, the Kerbin Deep Space Network is barely able to communicate with Pathfinder 6… upgrades to the network are clearly needed!
Pathfinder 6 still transmits some amazing images of Plock and its moon Karen! Gravitational, pressure, and temperature readings are all taken and the science is beamed back to KSC!
Engineers are already at work on the next generation of probe that will be able to reach Plock and Karen!
The Aurora Crew Vehicle docked at the Kerbin Spaceport undocks – this fully fueled vehicle has been at the station for quite a while, and was intended as an emergency lifeboat for the station crew in a crisis. Mission Control has decided the spacecraft will be remotely piloted and docked to the stranded Explorer 6 crew – marooned in an eccentric orbit around Kerbin!
The ACV activates it’s engine and blasts away from the station – changing it’s inclination to match Explorer 6!
After the rendezvous maneuver is complete, the ACV is within sight of Explorer 6!
“I see it! We’re saved!”
-Sean
The Aurora Crew Vehicle docks with Explorer 6!
“Looks like a solid connection! Let’s get that hatch open and transfer over! Don’t forget all the science!”
-Mitster
Glenica does a thorough search to make sure they haven’t left anything behind – then is the last one to head over to the Crew Vehicle!
The Crew Vehicle detaches from Explorer 6, and heads back to Kerbin!
“Explorer 6 was a good ship! Maybe someday we can refuel it for another adventure!”
-Mitster
“I’m just eager to get back to train for the next Deep Space mission!”
-Glenica
The Aurora Command Module heats up as it burns through Kerbin’s atmosphere!
Until it finally splashes down in the ocean – just east of the Space Center!
“Rescue boats are on the way! Just sit tight and we’ll get you home in no time!”
-Gene
Explorer 6’s crew finally returns home! Not quite like they expected, but they proved KSEA’s equipment and crew were ready for the very long duration missions to Jool – and beyond!
Explorer 6 enters Kerbin’s gravitational sphere of influence, and fires it’s engines to circularize its orbit!
“This is the first time a crewed vessel.. or really any vessel, has returned ot Kerbin orbit from Jool! Fuel will be a little tight, but I’m sure we’ll make it to orbit!”
-Mitster
“Hmmm. that fuel guage is getting pretty low Mitster!”
-Glenica
“E stands for ’emergency supply’… right?”
-Sean
Suddenly, Explorer 6’s fuel shuts off!
“Well… good news and bad news! We made orbit! The bad news is we don’t have enough fuel to dock with the Spaceport, and the orbit is fairly eccentric!”
-Mitster
My calculations show we’re still in range of a rescue from one of the Aurora Crew Vehicles! What do you think Mission Control?”
-Glenica
We need to do a little mission planning, but we agree that’s the best rescue plan we have! We’ll be in touch!
–Gene, at Mission Control
Discovery undocks from Kerbin Spaceport!
“OK – I’m backing Discovery away from the Spaceport… nice and slow!”
-Jeb
“Reactors are powering up – looks like full power should be available!”
-Bill
Jeb activates the three Magneto-Plasma-Dynamic thrusters and Discovery takes off!
“Everything looks good! We should be ready for the Cryo-Chambers!“
-Bill
Jeb hops in…
Then Bill and Bob!
“Freezing in 3….2…1…. “
-Bill
With a “ding!” the Discovery crew is frozen in stasis…when they wake up, they should arrive at Jool!
Discovery sails away from Kerbin – radio systems will allow for remote piloting, and monitoring of the crew!
“See you guys in a few years!”
-Gene
The three components of Discovery’s mission should all be in place by Year 17!
Intrepid blasts off from the Space Center, carrying Jeb, Bill, and Bob! Veteran KSEA pilot Edan is piloting!
The launch stage ejects, and Intrepid enters orbit!
“Almost there! Just a few more more manuevers and we’ll be at the Spaceport!”
-Edan
“We’re there! Switching to rear view… taking us in!”
-Edan
Edan pilots the Crew Shuttle closer and closer to the station! This isn’t the easiest task, as the craft actually pilots in reverse, as the docking bay is at the aft of the ship!
“Almost there… almost….”
-Edan
The connection is made! Intrepid arrives at Kerbin Spaceport! Jeb, Bill, and Bob gather their equipment and head out to the Spaceport! As they head to the Discovery docking hatch, Bill catches a look at the ship from the Crew Habitat Cupola!
“Wow! That’s one big ship!”
-Bill
The crew for Discovery’s mission to Laythe is announced: Jeb, Bill, and Bob!
The original three applicants to KSEA will be together again for the biggest mission in Kerbal history!
The crew shuttle Intrepid is rolled out to the launchpad, while Jeb, Bill, and Bob get outfitted to leave!
KSEA is relieved to announce that the Laythe Spaceplane ‘Endurance‘ transfer went much better than the first Laythe Spaceport! The interplanetary Spaceplane is headed (quite fast) to Laythe/Jool!
“The only thing left to do now is get a crew up to Discovery and send them to Jool too! It was just about as complicated when we first sent crews to Duna Spaceport. Hopefully this gets a bit less hectic!”
-Gene
The second attempt at launching a Laythe Spaceport is underway… this time on a Jool DS-2 Rocket! This absurd rocket straps several Jool Rockets together in an attempt to create a rocket with a lot of deltaV, and a lot of punch!
“I sure hope this works… we don’t have any more parts to build another one in time for the Jool transfer window!”
-Jeb
The launch stage exhausts it’s fuel and then ejects the protective fairing over the station!
With no time to spare, the transfer stage fires!
Laythe Spaceport flies away from Kerbin heading to a Jool/Laythe encounter!
Kerbal States | Kerbin Space Exploration Administration 