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!
The KSS Service Pod test takes off! If successful the rocket will carry a small plant-growth research bay into orbit, dock with the KSS, and allow the crew up there to see how plants grow in space! A night launch is chosen for no particular reason.
Docking is a success! The crew rushes to the docking bay (which allows easy access to the science experiment inside the pod) and starts work right away… let’s see how this plant grows in space!
While construction continues on the massive new Station Core for the Kerbin Space Station, KSEA decides to launch a few training missions to practice for the upcoming trip to Mun and Minmus!
While KSEA has a lot of eager astronauts, the technology to perform a landing isn’t quite there yet. While researchers… research, the crews will practice!
Aurora 3 blasts off – carrying an entirely rookie crew – Edan, Robart, and Chrisnic! The mission profile is simple – launch into orbit, transit to Minmus, and return safely to Kerbin.
After orbit is achieved, the three all get their “space legs” and go for an EVA. Everything’s going well… so Edan pilots the craft into an intercept with Minmus – good work Edan!
“Settle in everybody… this is a pretty long trip!”
-Edan
Meanwhile at KSC, construction is almost complete on 2 more Aurora Crew Vehicles. One will always be on reserve for rescue capabilities, the other will be launched as the next Aurora mission! The KSS Service Pod is almost ready to go as well!
The next schedule addition to the KSS is the Command/Power/Docking Core – designed to be the new “center” of the station. The Command Core will provide lots of opportunities for future expansions, as well as a massive power core and solar array. The docking segment is offset “below” the station, to allow easier and safer approaches to the station.
The Command Core, as it is more commonly referred to, will be the largest object ever launched into orbit! Once in place two smaller add-ons are planned (but not yet designed) – a cargo module for spare parts and life support supplies as well as a new science expansion!
The Command Core also has several lights to help make the station more visible to approaching craft (as well as looking more awesome!)
To conduct ongoing research at the Kerbin Space Station, regular deliveries of science vehicles will be needed. KSEA scientists and engineers have been working on two designs – one, a re-usable space plane, the other a more standard cargo pod based off the Aurora Program’s design.
After hours and hours and hours and hours of simulation, the Space Plane plan is thrown in the trash bin… the much simpler Aurora Program-derived vehicle is given the green light! Using the most recent version of the Discovery Rocket, the Discovery 5, the SSV is launched into orbit, and can carry a small payload to the KSS, and return the payload back to the surface.
In addition to ferrying science experiments, this should also provide a simple means of delivering food and other important supplies!
The KerbSat communications satellite launches! KerbSat should hopefully allow for very long range communication in the Kerbin System! The first test will be a unmanned probe, destination to be determined. 
Success! The satellite is put in a very high 900k orbit, and seems to be communicating well.
“Now we just need to decide where to send our first probe!”
-Bill
After much hinting and clues, KSEA staff finally unveil designs for the next KSS module – the Science Module!
The new Station Module is scheduled to be launched on the massive new Sarnus V rocket – the first test of the rocket that KSEA hopes will take Kerbals to Mun and Minmus!
Aurora 2 launches from Cape Kerman! The re-designed Aurora Crew Vehicle is carried into low orbit, Jeb and rookie scientist Samner are both looking forward to spending some time in space! 
While Samner will be working on any number of interesting science experiments, Jeb is there solely to assist with the construction of the station. A good pilot is needed to guide some of the Modules into place!
“Almost there…. ”
-Jeb
“Almost… ”
-Jeb
“Got it!”
-Jeb
Aurora 2 docks with the Kerbin Space Station! Now the combined crews just wait for the Science Module to launch!
Engineers start working on the successor to the Discovery Rocket – the Sarnus! Sarnus 1 will (hopefully!) be able to take not just the Aurora Crew Vehicle to Mun and Minmus, but also a lander. Details are still being worked out, but recent advances in rocket technology promise some major advances!
Work is also proceeding simultaneously on the next Kerbin Space Station module – a science module designed to allow a permanent science lab in orbit! The expansion will be nearly the size of the existing Space Station, and provide room for many more Kerbals, as well as new equipment and a more easily accessible docking ring.
Everyone agrees that while Orlas’s recent piloting of the Cupola Module was heroic, it’s probably a good idea to have a pilot stationed, at least temporarily, on the KSS. No one is sure who it’ll be yet, but the next Aurora Mission is looking to be pretty clear – deliver more crew to the KSS, including a pilot!
The second attempt at launching the cupola module for the KSS takes off!
Orbit is achieved, and this time power seems to be sufficient. Mission Control sends commands to being a rendezvous with the Kerbin Space Station! 
“Oh hey, there it is! It’s nearly as big as the ACV!”
-Orlas (ACV = Aurora Crew Vehicle)
The trickiest part is next… the automated command module disconnects, leaving the Cupola Module in an uncontrolled state, just outside the station.
“I’m on it!”
-Orlas
Orlas goes EVA, and heads to the module! After some hair-raising moments, docking is achieved – way to go everybody! This is starting to look like a space station!
