Year 3, Day 78 (Development Begins on Frontier Probes)

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Work begins on developing Frontier 1 & 2, the first probes being sent to Sarnus!  Appropriately enough, the probes will each be launched atop the Sarnus V rocket.

The probes are an entirely new design and due to the enormous distances, will require more DeltaV than any craft yet launched!

256x256-11Each probe will carry on it a plaque that will attempt to explain where the Kerbals came from… hopefully some signs of the Ogres, the creatures believed to have sent that first probe that crashed on Kerbin so long ago, may see it!

Construction also begins on a new Surveyor probe… this time for Mun.  The craft, cleverly named “Mun Surveyor” should be ready soon!

Additionally, construction begins on Aurora 11, the next Mun Mission!  This time Glenica and Kimmy are at the front of the line!

Year 3, Day 63 (Endeavor’s First Flight, KSS Crew Rotation)

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It’s time to rotate the crew on the KSS!  Jeb, Bill, Samner, Robart, Bob, and Orlas all pile into the second Crew Shuttle… The Endeavor, and it blasts off!screenshot69.png

After circularizing, the Endeavor starts its rendeavous to the KSS.  KSEA is a little nervous about this flight… this is the Endeavor’s first flight… and it’s also the most crew ever launched into space on one vessel!screenshot70.png

Endeavor closes in on the station…. screenshot71.png

Almost…. screenshot73.png

Almost….

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Docking achieved!  Jeb docks at at Docking Port 4 of the KSS.  Glenica and Kimmy transfer over to the Crew Shuttle, while Bill, Bob, Orlas, Robart, and Samner all head over to the the Station.

screenshot76.pngAfter everyone says their ‘hellos’ and ‘goodbyes’ – Jeb, Kimmy, and Glenica head back to Kerbin!screenshot80.png

“Space Center spotted… starting final approach!”
-Jeb

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Another great landing – nice work!

“Next stop – Mun!”
-Kimmy

“You said it Kimmy! Time for some deep space Science!”
-Glenica

 

Year 3, Day 60 (Mission to Sarnus Planned)

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While doing some math (maths? Math.) at the KSC break room, a group of KSEA engineers have a sudden realization.  A launch window for Sarnus is coming up… in nearly 30 days!  Engineers work quickly to throw together a probe that can get there in time.

“We’re not sure if we can get it in orbit – but we can definitely use the body of the Kerbin Surveyor probes as a starting point… we’ll get right to work!
-Bill, Senior Project Engineer

Year 3, Day 56 – Kerbin Exploration

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screenshot29.pngThe newly launched Kerbin Surveyor begins scans of Kerbin – right away several anomalies are detected!  The X-5 is sent to investigate! Mitster and Bill fly there…. quite fast!screenshot63.png

Sadly… they can’t find anything at the site indicated!

“We’re gonna need some more precise readings if we hope to find anything here!  It might help to put a sensor package on the X-5 itself! ”
-Bill

Mitster returns the X-5 to base for refurbishment and the crew for refreshments!

Meanwhile, construction begins on two new crew shuttles – the Endeavor and the Intrepid! Along with Adventure this will raise the number of crew shuttles to three!

Year 3, Day 51 (Aurora 10 Launch)

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The mighty Sarnus-V carries Aurora 10 to orbit!screenshot33.pngThe original 3 astronauts; Jeb, Bill, and Bob will fly to Mun!

Bill is quite excited – even though he’s been with the space program since it’s early days, he’s only done missions in low Kerbing orbit. This will be his first Mun mission!

 After some basic orbital manuvering, Jeb fires the engines for the transfe to Mun!screenshot34.pngAfter the docking and transposition maneuver, the crew gets comfy for the short journey to Mun!

screenshot35.pngAurora 10 arrives at Mun!screenshot41.png

Jeb sets the lander down… and Bill hops right out!

“Wow!  It’s great here! The low gravity makes it feel like you’re flying!”
-Bill

screenshot43.pngThe two pose for their landing portrait, and start collecting scientific data! Aurora 10 set down in the Mun’s Northwest Crater – a first for Kerbals!screenshot52.png

After several hours gathering Science, Bill and Jeb blast off in the lander, headed back to the Aurora 10 spacecraft! A short rendeavous and docking later, and the three are on a return trip to Kerbin!  Setting down in the plains of Kerbin at night, the crew is rescued.  Good work everyone!

 

Year 3, Day 44 (CTS Adventure Testing & Upgrades)

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screenshot13.pngAfter some slight adjustments to Adventure’s wing alignment to correct the rollimg/control issues the craft was having, the craft takes off again!

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This time, Jeb, Bill, and Bob head up – the mission is solely to test Adventure’s systems before construction of additional Crew Shuttles to service the KSS!  This will be the first flight with the craft’s new solar panels – so far, they don’t seem to be affecting aerodynamics. screenshot14.png

“OK – the Station is right where it should be! Heading in to dock!” -Jeb

Jeb pilots the Adventure closer, and closer to the Space Station!

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Almost there…

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Success!  Adventure makes a good seal with Docking Port 1. Everyone heads over to the station to check things out!

“Wow!  This place sure looks different than last time!”
-Jeb

Does it?  Must be a slight case of space madness…

Year 3, Day 15

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The Crew Shuttle Adventure blasts off from the Space Center!   Mitster and Jeb both pilot the craft.  This will be a mission of many “firsts”:the first orbital mission of the Crew Shuttle, the first docking with the Space Station, and the first crewed re-entry of the shuttle!screenshot815.png

Because the Crew Shuttle doesn’t have any solar or other power generation methods, it can’t remain in orbit for too long before docking. Future upgrades will likely include better onboard power.screenshot818.png

Adventure achieves orbit, and manuevers to the KSS! Meanwhile on Kerbin, sea vessels recover the orbital launch vehicle.  As before, the craft is recovered for almost all of its construction costs!screenshot820.png

Adventure docks with the KSS!  The two crews say hello, then the shuttle detaches.  Everyone is a bit nervous.. this is the first time a crewed shuttle will re-enter Kerbin’s atmosphere!screenshot826.png

Rentry goes very well… But as the craft gets close to landing, it starts rotating strangely – tests will need to be done to determine why the craft partially lost control!    Thankfully Mitster is able to correct for the rotation.

Adventure sets down at the space center! While the mission wasn’t perfect, it was a success!

Year 3, Day 12 (First Crew Shuttle Test Flight)

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KCS Adventure is readied for launch at the Primary Launch site! screenshot797.png

The automated systems carry it up easily!

“Wow! Look at it go!”
-Jeb

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The Launch Vehicle detaches, and Adventure’s engines carry it the rest of the way!  screenshot801.png

A normal Crew Shuttle flight would head to orbit at this point, but instead Adventure fires its engines to simulate a very high speed re-entry to Kerbin’s atmosphere. screenshot805.png

As the shuttle comes in for reentry, it performs a bit of a “belly flop” as it slows down. screenshot810.png

Eventually Adventure slows down enough to attempt a landing.  A green field across the sea from Cape Kerman is selected for the test landing. screenshot811.png

Almost there…. screenshot813.png

A perfect landing!  Adventure glides to a complete stop, and crews are dispatched to investigate the Crew Shuttle for any stresses or damage incurred in the flight!

The KCS-LV is recovered 250km from the Space Center!  Engineers estimate it can be recovered for about 85% of its total construction cost.  Not bad!