After the disaster at Kerbin Spacedock in Year 22, KSEA has been hard at work planning a replacement for the facility.
The mission of this new Spacedock is the same as its predecessor:
Provide a central location for Crews to arrive from the surface
Refuel and Resupply of Deep Space Vehicle Fleet
Provide long-term habitat for Kerbals in orbit
In addition to providing a new docking are for MPV (Multi-Payload-Vehicles) to dock and resupply the station, the new facility provides a dedicated DSV dock, a dedicated Crew arrival area and an centrifugal ring for artificial gravity!
The facility borrows several design elements from Sarnus Station, launched in Year 22.
“We think this new design corrects the structural defects of the previous Spacedock… the inline Fuel storage should prevent accidents like the old Spacedock! “ -Gene, at Mission Control
As the Kerbal Space Exploration Administration (KSEA) prepares to ramp up operations after a short break, it’s time for a KSEA Mission Update!
Far Horizons – Plock Mission
Leaving in around 100 days, the Far Horizons mission will head to Plock and it’s moon Karen! The mission will require phenomenal acceleration to reach Plock in about 3 years! The probe will leave in just 12 days!
DSV-5 Intrepid – Moho Orbit
Having just arrived at Moho, the crew is preparing a mission to the surface any day now!
Laythe Spaceplene ‘Resolute’ – Heading to Laythe
The second Laythe Spaceplane is a slightly improved design that will provide a second SSTO Crew vehicle for Laythe! It should arrive at Laythe Year 23, Day 195
DSV-2 Discovery – Returning Home from Duna!
The Discovery Crew are on the way home from a successful mission to Duna! They should arrive at Kerbin on Year 23, Day 239!
Laythe Spaceport – Jool/Laythe Orbit
Laythe Spaceport is currently hosting the DSV-4 Endeavor crew! They’ve taken the Laythe Spaceplane, Resolute, to the surface and back for science and are preparing to return home!
DSV-3 Horizon Returning to Kerbin from Sarnus/Eeloo
The DSV-3 Horizon is on it’s way back home after landing a crew on the Sarnusian moon of Eeloo! Kimmy, Mitster and Chrisnic are in cryosleep onboard. They are due back Year 25, Day 387!
Duna Spaceport – Duna Orbit
Currently unoccupied – the Duna Spaceport is awaiting the next crew to arrive and explore the Red Planet! The next DSV mission will likely carry a new lander design as well!
DSV Fuel Depot – Kerbin Orbit
The only surviving component of Old Kerbin Spaceport, this massive Lithium Fuel depot is awaiting a yet-designed addition to provide refueling services!
DSV-1A Explorer – En Route to Sarnus
The newest Deep Space Vehicle Explorer is en-route to Sarnus with an arrival scheduled for Day 20, Year 25!
Sarnus Space Station
Sarnus Station will provide a home base for crews exploring Sarnus and its moons! The station is expected to arrive Year 24, Day 276!
Aurora Base – Mun Surface
Ongoing research mission at the Mun’s surface! Current crew: Bill, Luly, Dunwin, Orlas
KSEA also has several vehicles on standby, ready to launch within an hour:
Nebula Crew Vehicles (6)
All 6 Nebula Crew Vehicles are on Kerbin, but only 1,4,5 and 6 are on standby to launch. The other crew Vehicles are undergoing repairs!
Crew Shuttle Program (2)
Both Crew Transport shuttles are on standby to launch – CTS-1 Adventure and CTS-2 Pioneer! Pilots would like a third Shuttle built, however the main hold up is what to name it!
Several vehicles are under development/construction as well:
Experimental Nuclear Waste Barge – designed to service the DSV Fleet. As the fleet ages, the Deep Space Vehicles will slowly build up dangerous amounts of nuclear waste. Collecting this in orbit should be a safe way to dispose of this hazardous material!
Duna Communication Relay Mission – a mission to provide full communications coverage to Duna.
Edbert, Edan, Rozer, and Samner blast off from KSC – launching both Crew Vehicle 1 and a Lander that (should) be rated for Tekto!
“Hold on everyone – the Nebula Heavy has a real kick!”
-Edan
At a 200k altitude, the Crew Vehicle and the Lander separate, and the bottom boosters turn around and burn to get as close as possible to KSC.
“Separation good… firing orbital stage for rendevous…”
-Edbert
Edbert rendezvouses the Crew Vehicle with Explorer, bring the craft within 50 meters!
“Got us lined up… moving in for final docking maneuver!”
-Edbert
Success! Edbert docks with Explore! Next – the lander is remotely navigated into the docking bay – but first, the new crew (Edan, Rozer, and Samner) transfer over to Explorer – and Edbert detaches, and returns to Kerbin!
After a few minutes, the lander breaks through the clouds…
… and lands just outside of the Space Center!
Back in orbit, the lander is remotely piloted into the cargo bay!
“Mission Control… we show a good connection – let’s get this ship started up!”
Mission Planners have decided to try a landing at Tekto, a moon of Sarnus! Very little is known about this moon, so a Mini Scanner/Lander (that conveniently has been under development!) will be launched to attach to the nose of Explorer.
If a landing is possible the crew will attempt it, if it looks like the landing is too dangerous, Explorer will transition to a different moon to attempt a landing.
Edan, Samner and Rozer will launch to orbit along with a lander to dock with Explorer in orbit!
“Clocks ticking everyone.. let’s get this mission going!”
Leaving in around 100 days, the Far Horizons mission will head to Plock and it’s moon Karen! The mission will require phenomenal acceleration to reach Plock in about 3 years!
DSV-5 Intrepid – Moho Orbit
Having just arrived at Moho, the crew is preparing a mission to the surface any day now!
Laythe Spaceplene ‘Resolute’ – Heading to Laythe
The second Laythe Spaceplane is a slightly improved design that will provide a second SSTO Crew vehicle for Laythe! It should arrive at Laythe Year 23, Day 195
DSV-2 Discovery – Returning Home from Duna!
The Discovery Crew are on the way home from a successful mission to Duna! They should arrive at Kerbin on Year 23, Day 239!
Laythe Spaceport – Jool/Laythe Orbit
Laythe Spaceport is currently hosting the DSV-4 Endeavor crew! They’ve taken the Laythe Spaceplane, Resolute, to the surface and back for science and are preparing to return home!
DSV-3 Horizon Returning to Kerbin from Sarnus/Eeloo
The DSV-3 Horizon is on it’s way back home after landing a crew on the Sarnusian moon of Eeloo! They are due back Year 25, Day 387!
Duna Spaceport – Duna Orbit
Currently unoccupied – the Duna Spaceport is awaiting the next crew to arrive and explore the Red Planet! The next DSV mission will likely carry a new lander design as well!
DSV Fuel Depot – Kerbin Orbit
The only surviving component of Kerbin Spaceport, this massive Lithium Fuel depot is awaiting a yet-designed addition to provide docking and a small Crew habitat. The new docking module will ideally be reused as future Lithium fuel components are launched!
DSV-1A Explorer – Kerbin Orbit
The newest DSV is in Kerbin Orbit awaiting a crew and a mission payload for it’s next mission (to be announced!)
Sarnus Space Station
A new station design, Sarnus Station will provide a home base for crews exploring the distant ringed world of Sarnus! It is expected to arrive in Sarnus Orbit Year 24, Day 276!
Aurora Base – Mun Surface
Ongoing research mission at the Mun’s surface! Current crew: Bill, Luly, Dunwin
KSEA also has several vehicles on standby, ready to launch within an hour:
Nebula Crew Vehicles
All 6 Nebula Crew Vehicles are on Kerbin, but only 1,4,5 and 6 are on standby to launch. The other crew Vehicles are undergoing repairs! The mission to supply Explorer-A will use one of the Crew Vehicles in a Sarnus Rocket stack!
Crew Shuttle Program
Both Crew Transport shuttles are on standby to launch – CTS-1 Adventure and CTS-2 Pioneer! Pilots would like a third Shuttle built, however the main hold up is what to name it!
Several vehicles are under development/construction as well:
Experimental Nuclear Waste Barge – designed to service the DSV Fleet.
Duna Communication Relay Mission – a mission to provide full communications coverage to Duna.
The most far-flung mission ever attempted is ready to launch – the Far Horizons mission to Plock! While there is some debate about whether or not Plock is actually a planet or maybe an asteroid, most Kerbals do agree that it is quite interesting regardless!
The powerful Nova Rocket carries the probe off the launch pad!
“Wow -look at it go!” –Edan, watching from Mission Control
The Nova Rocket’s first stage detaches, falling toward Kerbin…
… while the second stage lifts the probe to a very high orbit of 900k!
The protective fairing ejects right before the orbital circularization manuever begins!
“Looks like a good launch people! Now let’s start systems checks… make sure we’re ready for Plock!” –Gene, at Mission Control
Mission Control will spend the next week testing subsystems and ensuring that Far Horizons is ready for it’s trip! Departure is expected by the end of the year!
Kerbal States | Kerbin Space Exploration Administration 