Year 2, Day 331 (KSS Research Launch)

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A KSS Support Vehicle blasts off, and carries a cargo of plants for the researches on the KSS to study growing in orbit!  A previous launch of the same payload seemed ineffective… The KSS crew wonders if they got baked during launch. If this experiment is successful, it will be the first time a Support Vehicle has attempted returning to Kerbin.  screenshot529.png

The Service Vehicle moves in for a rendevous with the KSS… and docks!Menascreenshot530.png

Meanwhile, it looks like the previous Plant Science mission has actually had some results!  The plants have in fact grown!

“Well… let’s send it down and see what the scientists on the surface have to say!”
-Glenica

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Good idea Glenica!  The Service Vehicle detaches, and begins its attempt to de-orbit.  KSEA hopes to set the pod down as close to the Space Center as possible.  Let’s hope the results survive re-entry!screenshot532.png

The Service Vehicle begins its descent!

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Surviving the fire of re-entry, the pod heads for a touchdown in the fields at the base of the mountains west of the Space Center.

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“Sensors indicate a clean landing! Let’s get a team out there asap!”
-Bob, Head Scientist

 

Year 2, Day 317 (Aurora 5 Launch)

screenshot516.pngThe Aurora 4 Crew is reunited for Aurora 5… hopefully this time goes better!  The rocket is rolled out in the early morning. What a sight!screenshot518.png

Blastoff!   The Sarnus V takes the Aurora 5 Spacecraft into orbit… Where the crew trains with docking and transposition.  Things don’t go smoothly at first, but eventually Mitster gets the hang of it!screenshot523.png

Docking is achieved!  It’s essential this be performed well, as the maneuver for the actual mission to Mun will be done on the way to Mun, after the insertion burn has been completed! screenshot526.png

The Aurora Capsule sets down just off the coast of the old runway.  Time to head home… Good job guys!  The Aurora 5 Lander is left in orbit.  The mission is deemed a complete success… Aurora 6 will be the next launch, and will (with any luck) head to Mun!

Year 2, Day 307

screenshot502.pngMitster, Robart, and Chrisnic are chosen to be the first crew to take the Sarnus V Launch Vehicle up to orbit!screenshot506

The launch goes perfectly!   However during the orbital maneuvers, sensors indicate the Oxidizer on the Aurora Spacecraft is leaking!  Good thing this just a test in orbit!screenshot510.pngFor safety, the mission is scrubbed, and the crew returns home.  Sorry guys! Thankfully a second Sarnus V Launch Vehicle has been under construction and should be ready to go, for another test.

“We’ll get this right!  Just hang tight everyone!”
-Bill, Senior Engineer

Year 2, Day 305 (1st KSS Resupply Mission)

screenshot499.pngAs supplies begin to run a bit low on the KSS, the first Automated Re-Supply Mission is launched!  Based on the same design as the Science Payload launches, this supply mission will dock with the station, transfer supplies, and can then return to Kerbin for refurbishment and another launch!

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The supply vehicle docks at the lower docking pylon, and the crew starts unloading the food and other supplies! With this launch KSEA has demonstrated that the KSS can hopefully be maintained for a long period with a full crew.  Nice!

Year 2, Day 302 (KSS Auxillary Science Lab Launched)

screenshot485.pngThe KSS Auxillary Science Lab is launched!   These frequent KSS missions using the Sarnus Rocket hardware is getting our scientists and engineers very familiar with them – should be useful when the Aurora Program uses them to visit Mun!screenshot487

The launch has some serious problems once in orbit.  The very top heavy module proves very difficult to control!  From the ground, Val does her best to help.

“This thing steers terribly!  I’ll do my best to save it – no promises though!”
-Val

Once Val is able to successfully navigate a rendevous, Jeb EVAs over to the module…and hops inside!

“I’ve got it from here, Val!”
-Jeb

screenshot493.pngJeb pilots the unwieldy module closer and closer to the station…

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Success!  The new module docks with the KSS.

“Just need to move this Escape Vehicle over to the habitat section of the station!”
-Jebape vehicle over to the habitat section…”
-Jeb

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“There we go!  Station looks great!”
-Jeb

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Year 2, Day 290

screenshot484.pngKerbSat 2, an additional communications satellite, is launched.  It is identical to KerbSat 1, except for a longer range communications dish similar to the one on Explorer 1.  KSEA engineers realized only too late that by the time Explorer 1 reached Eve, the antenna on board the probe would reach Kerbin, but the relay satellite wouldn’t be able to transmit back!  The launch goes well, and the satellite is put into a high polar orbit over Kerbin.

Additionally initial construction work begins on a Aurora 4 – the first test of the full Mun-mission Sarnus V rocket stack.  The current thought is to launch, test the docking and transposition maneuver, then re-enter to test the Aurora Spacecraft.  If all goes well Aurora 5 should be set to go to Mun!

Year 2, Day 281 (Sarnus Launch Vehicle Announced!)

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KSEA excitedly releases the plans for the Sarnus V launch vehicle!  The Sarnus Rocket itself has been through several trial runs while construction the Kerbin Space Station, and with just a few modifications to the basic lifter design a Mun Mission should be quite possible!

The Launch Stage blasts off, firing the primary engine as well as the two (recoverable) solid rockets.  The solid rockets detach, and the main engine carries the rocket to an altitude of about 90k.  Along the arc of the launch (once the primary engine stops firing) the Orbit/Munar Insertion Stage fires as the Luanch Stage detaches and falls back to Kerbin.  Once orbit is achieved, the same stage carries the Aurora Spacecraft and the Mun Lander toward Mun!  Along the way the craft performs a docking and transposition manuever.  The Aurora Spacecraft itself will then orbit Mun, and the Lander will head down.

That the plan, anyway!  A test launch will be done as soon as funds can be found to build one of the things!