Bill

Year 9. Day 135 (Explorer 5 Launches!)

sayburstuff Year 9 , , , , , , ,

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Explorer 5 is rolled out to launch, an exciting new chapter in Kerbal exploration of space!

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Blastoff!   The massive Jool IV rocket lifts Explorer 5 to the clouds…

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…. and beyond to orbit!

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“Mission Control, this is Malcolm on the X-9!  Mitster and I are OK for take off!”

-Malcolm

 

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The X-9 will fly the Explorer 5 crew to the spacecraft!

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Malcolm flies the spacecraft on launch, with Mitster supervising.

“So far so good!”

-Mitster

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Explorer 5 reaches orbit, and Malcolm starts the rendezvous maneuvers to meet up with Explorer 5!

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“OK… the X-9 is a bit tricky with its RCS controls… this might take a few tries!”

–Mitster

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It does take awhile, but eventually the X-9 docks with Explorer 5!  Val, Bill, and Bob all transfer over!

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OK guys… I’ll go first!  Glykerol levels normal… initiating freeze!

-Val

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“It worked!  Our turn… see you in a few minutes Bob!”

-Bill

With that Bill throws the “freeze!” lever, and the crew of Explorer 5 is in stasis, ready for the trip to Duna!

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Malcolm brings the X-9 in for a landing!

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“Mission Control, Malcom here!  I’m in the pipe, five by five!”

-Malcolm

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It’s a tricky night landing, but Malcolm brings the X-9 home!  All of Kerbin now waits for Explorer 5 to depart!

 

 

 

Year 9, Day 100 (Explorer 5 Construction!)

sayburstuff Year 9 , , , , , , , ,

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KSEA releases the finalized design for the Explorer 5!  This prototype is hoped to be the future of deep space crewed transportation, making years or even decades long missions pass in as little time as an afternoon nap for the crew!

Val, Bill, and Bob have been training hard for the mission!

This first mission will be to Duna, but if all goes well it will be utilized in a future crewed mission to Jool!

 

Year 8, Day 63 (CryoLab Update!)

sayburstuff Year 8 , , , , , ,

screenshot360.pngIt’s been 100 days since Cryolab was put into orbit, and Mirphe pilots Intrepid launches to check on the crew!  Bill is along for the mission to see how the lab (and crew!) have held up. screenshot362.png

Docking complete!  Go see if our guys are OK Bill!

-Mirphe

Luly, Shepely, and Bob all thaw from their cryogenic sleep!

“Wow – feels like I just fell asleep!”

-Bob

Bill checks the crew and the Cryo equipment out…

Everybody and everything seem to check out!  I think we’re good to head back to the Space Center!

-Bill

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I’m in the pipe – five by five!

-Mirphe

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An (almost) perfect landing!  One of the dorsal airbrakes took some damage, but repairs shouldn’t be a problem.  The Cryo-crew is taken directly to the medlab!

 

 

 

Year 5, Day 59 (MunBaseOne Life Support Mission!)

sayburstuff Year 5 , , , ,

screenshot1521.pngA resupply mission to MunBaseOne is launched on a Sarnus V rocket!  This is the first time a resupply mission has been attempted to the base.  With supplies running short on the first Mun settlement, if this mission isn’t a success the crew will have to evacuate to Unity Space Station in orbit!

screenshot1522.pngThe mission will do much more than just resupply the station. With any luck the installation of oxygen and water scrubbers and purifiers will let supplies on the station last much, much longer.  Another item on the wish-list for KSEA planners is a better vehicle for delivering colonies to the surface of Mun.  The present design works, but is wasteful and tends to create a lot of debris!

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The new module rockets down to the surface, then starts rolling along toward MunBaseOne!

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“I see it out the window! It’s almost here!”

-Sean

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It takes some maneuvering, but the module gets into position…

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Then docks with the base!  The new systems should keep the base running for some time.  Glenica, Sean, and Bill all report the air is much easier to breathe!

 

 

Year 3, Day 380 (Aurora 15 Returns From Mun)

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screenshot420.pngEdan takes off from Mun in the Aurora 15 lander – leaving Bill on the surface to tend for MunBase One! screenshot422.png

Almost docked… Success!

screenshot423.pngAfter moving back over to the Spacecraft, Edan detaches the lander, and plots a course back to Kerbin!

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“This is the first time I haven’t brought a whole crew back… feels strange!  I hope Bill is OK back there on Mun!”
-Jeb

 

“The radio’s still on Jeb!  I’m fine!  Get home safe!”
-Bill

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The CRV detaches from the Aurora Spacecraft… and begins to heat upscreenshot432.png

Finally, the crew returns home!

 

Year 3, Day 373 (MunBase One Expansion Announced!)

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MunBaseOneModuleA.pngWhile Bill gets comfy on Mun, and Aurora 15 gets ready to return to Kerbin, the first expansion to MunBase One is announced: Module A!  This module will add a surface Cupola, as well as the new Mk1 Crew Habitat, providing much needed beds and personal space for the MunBase!  

Construction will begin soon on the first of several such modules.  Initial plans for additional mofules include a science  a lab, and some kind  a of vehicle for exploring the surface!!  Several astronauts have suggested development of an improved EVA jetpack to let explorers have more fuel during EVAs!

A Sarnus V rocket will take this module to Mun!

Year 3, Day 372 (MunBase One Launches! )

sayburstuff Year 3 , , , , , ,

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Shortly before launch, the final plans for the next MunBase are released: MunBase One!

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With funds running low, another MunBase launch is attempted. The new base is designated as “MunBase One.”

Because of the negative associations with “Alpha” from the MunBase Alpha disaster, KSEA felt a new name might be best. Also, it uses less room on those patches.

screenshot378.pngThe launch is successful… and MunBase One’s fairings eject.  This time, large solar arrays like those on Explorer and the KSS deploy to help keep the base powered on its journey to Mun!  Additionally, the capacitors have been removed, and a new battery, combined with a longer range relay antenna, are located at the center of the base!

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Finally, MunBase One arrives at Mun!  Mission Control orders the flight computer to begin its decent.. .screenshot386.png

Success!  MunBase One sets down!  Just under 100 meters from the initial planned site… close enough!  screenshot389.png

Up in orbit, the crew gets ready to head down and check things out!  Edan and Bill climb into the lander, and head down!  (Historians note this is the first time that a Mun Lander has been used more than once!)screenshot392.png

The lander sets down at MunBase One!  screenshot393.png

“Everything looks like it set down OK!  I’m going to head inside and see if everything’s OK!
-Bill

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Huh. Looks like the base set down about 50m from where it was supposed to!  No matter… we’ll just move the flag!

-Bill

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Bill and Edan pose for a nice landing portrait, then Bill heads inside the Base.  Edan scurries back to the lander for shelter!

“Things look fine in here!  I think we’re “Go” for you heading back up Edan… I’ll keep an eye on the base until the next crew rotation arrives!”
-Bill

The plan is for Edan to return to the Aurora 15 Spacecraft and head back to Kerbin with Bob!   Bill will remain until the MunBase One crew is assigned! screenshot400.png

Year 3, Day 350 (Aurora 15 Launches, MunBase Alpha Construction)

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Edan, Bill, and Bob blast off from the Space Center on Aurora 15!  Their mission is to find a suitable, and ideally scenic, spot for MunBase Alpha!

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After docking and transposition, the orbital stage is ejected… and Aurora 15 sails to Mun!screenshot349.png

After just a few hours, Aurora 15 arrives … and the crew starts looking for a good site!screenshot352.png

Landing confirmed!  Now to find a nice flat spot with a good view!screenshot353.png

Edan stays at the lander… while Bob heads out in his EVA jetpack to find a good spot!

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“I think this is it!  I’ll put a flag here so we know where to find it when we come back!”
-Bob

The site for MunBase Alpha will be in the center of one of the large Midland craters, in a flat area between 3 others:screenshot361.png

This location should be easy enough to set a base at, flat with few large rocks or other obstacles nearby!

Ok then – that’s a go!  Let’s start construction on MunBase Alpha at once!  Meanwhile, Edan and Bill take off, back to the orbiting Aurora Spacecraft!

Edan and Bill say hi to Bob, and share the good news!  Meanwhile, back on Kerbin, mission planners work on last minute adjustments to MunBase Alpha!  The plan is to have Aurora 15 stay in orbit, while the MunBase launches!