Year 2, Day 280 (KSS Science Hub Launches)

January 16, 2017January 16, 2017 sayburstuff Year 2 Kerbin Space Station, KSS Upgrades

The new Science Hub blasts off on top of the massive Sarnus V-H!

The craft is guided automatically into orbit, and sets course to rendeavous with the KSS.

“I can’t wait to get out there and fly something! There’s not much to pilot on a Space Station!”-Jeb

Jeb EVA’s over to the Science Hub’s Emergency Escape Vehicle, and uses it to pilot the new section into place.

Almost there…

Contact! The Station is now ready to receive additional science modules, and generate what KSEA hopes will be more than enough power for future needs. Additionally, two more Cupolas provide some really amazing views of Kerbin!

“Wow! This place is getting really roomy!”
-Glenica

“This is quite the view!”
-Samner

Year 2, Day 260

January 15, 2017 sayburstuff Year 2 Eve, Explorer 1, Explorer Probes

Kerbin is now just a pale blue dot as Explorer 1 flings toward Eve, traveling at 8564.3 m/s…

Year 2, Day 256 (Explorer 1 Launch!)

January 15, 2017 sayburstuff Year 2 Eve, Explorer Probes

Explorer 1 blasts off from Cape Kerman!

The launch isn’t the prettiest, but an 80k orbit is achieved.

“Good enough!”
-Jeb

At the last minute, someone notices that a burn to Eve will be much faster, so the mission plan is quickly altered… the burn to Eve fires, and Explorer heads out of the Kerbin System! The probe will reach interplanetary space in just 4 days…

Year 2, Day 254 (Mun Lander Announced)

January 15, 2017 sayburstuff Year 2 Aurora Program, Blueprints, Minmus, Mun

KSEA unveils the design for the Mun Lander! A prototype is being built to experiment with on Kerbin, and allow crews to practice the vehicle! The lander itself is designed to operate in the very low gravity of Mun and Minmus… the practice lander will be built with a heavier engine to allow more thrust, simulating the Munar environment.

Once training is complete, the Aurora Program will have a Crew Vehicle, a Lander, and the powerful Sarnus V-Heavy rocket to carry them both to Mun and beyond! All of Kerbin is abuzz with excitement!

Year 2, Day 252 (Explorer 1 Announced)

January 14, 2017January 14, 2017 sayburstuff Year 2 Duna, Eve, Explorer 1, Explorer Probes

Construction begins on the Explorer 1 Space Probe. The design is heavily based on the KerbSat Long Range Communications Satellite, launched earlier in Year 2.

The probe has sensors and a Mission Plaque to say “hello” to any friendly creatures it may encounter! The probe will be launched on a Discovery 5, and should be ready quite soon.

The planned mission is a flyby of Duna and Eve, and anything else it might encounter along the way! If the initial launch is successful, and communications are maintained, current plans are to launch multiple Explorer Probes to investigate many of Kerbin’s neighbors!

Year 2, Day 250 (New ACV announced)

January 14, 2017January 14, 2017 sayburstuff Year 2 Aurora 3, Aurora Program, Blueprints

In response to the near loss of Aurora 3, KSEA designs the next iteration of the Aurora Crew Vehicle, the Mk4. With better onboard supplies and an enhanced power system utilizing solar panels the new ACV should be a good platform for future KSEA missions!

Year 2, Day 242 (Aurora 3 returns from Minmus!)

January 13, 2017January 13, 2017 sayburstuff Year 2 Aurora 3, Minmus, Problems

Aurora 3 returns home! The Aurora Capsule splashes down in the sea south of KSC. It was a bit of a tense return… the trip took longer than expected, and the crew nearly ran out of oxygen on the return home. Yikes! The upcoming Mk4 Aurora Pod will address this, and other issues!

Year 2, Day 235

January 13, 2017January 14, 2017 sayburstuff Year 2 Blueprints, Kerbin Space Station, KSS Upgrades

scihub Construction begins on the next massive KSS upgrade – a new science hub with additional solar arrays. This new hub will (hopefully) be the starting point for several other science additions… putting them on the far side of the station ensure greater levels of safety if the experiments get too dangerous!

Ingeniously, the delivery stage of the module will double as an emergency escape vehicle, the RCS system has been balanced to work in tandem with the rest of the module for delivery, and the remaining fuel will let the Escape Vehicle re-enter Kerbin’s atmosphere. Future delivery modules are planned to use the same design to allow several Escape Vehicles to be docked in case of an emergency.

Year 2, Day 229

January 11, 2017January 12, 2017 sayburstuff Year 2 Kerbin Space Station, KSS Upgrades, Sarnus V

screenshot442
The new Command Core is slowly rolled out to the launch pad, and is ready to go first thing in the morning.

“That’s one big rocket!”
-Bill

It sure is! In fact, the Sarnus V that will carry the new Command Core to orbit is the largest vehicle ever launched! screenshot443 Crowds gather to watch it take off!

The launch is not ideal, but orbit is eventually achieved. Fuel to rendezvous with the KSS will be tight!

Thankfully, the craft is brought in close…

“Wow. The new station core is huge! It’s bigger than the entire existing station!”

-Orlas

After a short time, the new Command Module docks with the station.

Uh oh, looks like one of the new solar panels was damaged in the launch. Better let KSC know!
-Jeb

January 11, 2017March 12, 2017 sayburstuff Year 2 Aurora 3, Edan

Aurora 3 whips around Minmus, and starts to head back to Kerbin. Communications with Mission Control are briefly interrupted as Kerbin is eclipsed by Minmus!

“Well that was fun! Hold on everyone! Just uh, 13 days. Until we reach our next orbital manuever. Then… uh. A few more. ”
-Edan

The return trip is a rather long 28 days. Hold on guys!