Year 9 , Day 14 (X-9 SSTO Announced!)

sayburstuff Year 9 , ,

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KSEA releases designs for their new aircraft, the X-9 SSTO Crew Vehicle!  The X-9 is the first aircraft to utilize the revolutionary R.A.P.I.E.R. engines, a dual mode engine that uses liquid fuel for atmospheric flight and can switch over to standard rocket fuel once the altitude makes the rocket mode more efficient.

Designed to succeed the current Crew Shuttles, this sleek jet has been designed to reach orbits up to 100k, dock, then return safely to Kerbin.

Production has already begun, and crews will begin testing soon!

Year 9, Day 14 (Explorer 4 Returns Home!)

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After a very, very long mission, the Explorer 4 crew enters Kerbin’s sphere of influence!

Hold on everyone, we’re going to be going in pretty fast!!

-Val

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Indeed, Explorer 4 is going so fast that Robart and Orlas blackout during re-entry!  Thankfully Val is one tough Kerbal, and keeps conscious through it all!

“We’re OK! Just very very hot!”

-Val

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Splash!  Explorer 4 sets down in the water for a night landing – a few hours later rescue craft pick up the crew and return them to the space center.

Well done everyone, that’s one for the books!

-Gene, KSEA Mission Control

 

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Year 8, Day 363 (Explorer 3 Returns to Duna Spaceport!)

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The lander retracts its solar panels and the crew prepares to return to the Duna Spaceport after a successful mission exploring the Western Canyon!

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Launch is a go!  So far so good… hold on everyone!

-Edan

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Edan pilots the lander into orbit…

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and rendezvouses with Duna Spaceport!

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Almost got it… waiting for the docking clamp to lock!

-Edan

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Success!  The Explorer 3 crew returns form their second mission to the surface of Duna!

Year 8, Day 361 (Explorer 3 Crew Explore Duna’s Western Canyon)

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Since she didn’t get a chance to go on the first Explorer 3 landing, Glenica gets to climb out first!

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Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

-Glenica

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After everyone has some fun jumping around in the low(er) gravity of Duna, Glenica picks a good spot for the flag.

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“This looks like a good spot… here we go!”

-Glenica

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The crew poses for their landing portrait!

Great picture everyone, that’s the best one yet!

-Gene, KSEA Mission Control

The crew will rest before their next EVA, then return to Duna Spaceport for the next mission!

 

 

 

Year 8, Day 360 (Explorer 3 Sets Down at Duna’s Western Canyons!)

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After the Explorer 3 crew have had enough rest, KSEA gives the green light for the next mission!

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The AAL detaches from Duna Spaceport!

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Edan starts the descent through the atmosphere – the target landing site is the Western Canyons… no Kerbal has ever been there!

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Hold on everyone!  We’ll be entering the atmosphere fast and hot!

-Edan

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Once things cool down, the aero-brakes deploy…

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…then the landing parachute!  The abrupt slow-down causes Sean and Glenica to black out, but only briefly!

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“We’re down!  Great job everybody… we made it!”

-Edan

Year 8, Day 276 (Explorer 3 Lands on Duna!)

sayburstuff Year 8 , , , , , ,

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With the landing site selected the Explorer 3 crew is ready for their first mission down to Duna!

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Edan detaches the Super Duna Lander from the Spaceport!

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Air brakes deployed… we’re on track for a good landing!

-Edan

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The lander’s parachute deploys!

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The Super Duna Lander touches down on Duna, and Edan climbs out…

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Followed by Sean!  After the landing portrait, they start work on gathering samples and determining where to go next!