Carson and Bob celebrate the New Year by exploring the stark, hot world of Moho! The durable rover and its life support systems keep them cool and mobile!
“Traction control on the surface looks pretty bad – I’ll see what I can do about adjusting the motors. Wish that Sondo was here – I’ll have to make some guesses on the configuration! “ -Bob
The rover works its way through the somewhat perilous terrain of the small crater, dodging around rocks, or whatever those strange shapes are! The traction adjustments seem to help, allowing the rover to brake without sliding down hills!
“You know, I like the heat, feels like I’m on an adventure! I’m getting a little light headed though….” -Carson
The lander climbs the side of the crater, navigating around the odd structures dotting the surface…
“Fascinating – previous explorations of Moho hasn’t noted these strange formations! My suspicion is these are basalt columns formed by cooled lava flows under the surface that burst up in these areas and then cooled… We should try to get some samples back to Kerbin! “ -Bob
With the sun still beating down on them, Bob climbs out of the rover and takes a sample near the strange columns!
“I wonder if the world is still volcanically active? Hopefully when we get this back to Kerbin the rest of the science team can make some sense of this! “ -Bob
“Better load those rocks up – we are going to bake if we’re out here too long!” -Carson
Carson dutifully drives the rover around the formations – aware that hitting just one the wrong way might tip the rover on its side, or worse!
“It’s hard to resist the urge to go full speed – these rovers are fun!” -Carson
“Well try ! We’re almost a thousand meters from the lander! “ -Bob
After collecting a great deal of science and surface samples, the pair head back to the lander!
Suddenly – Carson has a horrible realization that they forgot something critical!
“I just realized we forgot something! Something critical!” -Carson
“Oh no! What is it!? “ -Bob
Bob rolls his eyes as he realizes what Carson meant – the Kerbal States flag wasn’t planted when they landed!
“There we go!” -Carson
Bob configures the camera on the lander and records an image to transmit back to Kerbin – posing with “Old Kerby” for Mission Control!
The brave and somewhat forgetful Kerbals take the next few minutes gathering up all the material and science they need to take back to Kerbin… then climb back into the lander!
“Ok… hold on Bob – this new lander configuration is going to have a bit of a kick!” -Carson
The 4 small solid rockets fire, and the lander dramatically blasts off the surface!
“Ahhhhhhhhh! “ -Bob
The solid rockets fire with such force, and with the ascent angle being fairly acute, the two Kerbals see quite a bit of Moho’s surface moving quit quickly outside their window!
The small solid rockets use up their fuel and eject, and the lander uses up almost all of its fuel reaching orbit!
“Wow! That was so fun! Although, mission Control needs to think about retiring this lander. We have barely enough fuel to return to Intrepid! -Carson
“You’re right! You’re going to need to do some careful maneuvering, we have almost no margin for error in our fuel budget!“ -Bob
Carson careful fires the engine in a series of manuevers to rendevouses with the orbiting Deep Space Vehicle Intrepid!
“Look out the window Bob – we made it!” -Carson
“Yipee! Sondo, this is Bob – do you copy?“ -Bob
“Welcome back guys! Intrepid is ready for docking! I’ve activated RCS and SAS stabilization… you are go for maneuvering!” -Sondo
The lander moves closer and closer…
Until finally – connection is made! The crew is back together, and prepares for the next stage of their mission: The Voyage Home!
In Kerbin orbit, Jeb and Sean prepare DSV-5 Intrepid for it’s new crew! Instead of taking Crew Vehicle 6 back to the surface, the spacecraft is sent back to the surface – Jeb and Sean will take Crew Vehicle 1 back to Kerbin once it arrives! Meanwhile, Jeb pilots Intrepid to a higher orbit, 600k!
Crew Vehicle 6 sets down just west of the space center!
“Alright everybody, now’s the tricky part! Keep focused!”
-Gene, at Mission Control
For the first time, a Sarnus Va rocket will be used to launch a Nebula Crew Vehicle! The mission will carry Carson, Bob, and Sondo up to the Deep Space Vehicle Intrepid– as well as multiple mission payloads – a Modular-Payload Vehicle (MPV) loaded with Lithium and Monopropellant, a science satellite, and a new lander/rover combo!
“Engines are go!”
-Carson
Crew Vehicle 1 launches into space! The fairings eject once the spacecraft reaches a safe altitude and the engines fire, carrying the spacecraft to a higher than average orbit, 600k!
Carson rendezvouses with Intrepid, then separates to move clear from the stack!
At the last moment it was decided the fuel budget had room for a Modular Payload Vehicle loaded with Lithium Fuel and Monopropellant! It separates from the stack, and docks with Intrepid, topping off it’s fuel supplies!
After fuelling up Intrepid the crew will transfer over to Intrepid, swap places with Jeb and Sean! Then, the nose-science unit will attach to the front of the DSV. Finally, the most challenging task will be docking the new lander in the cargo bay!
With the Lithium fueling complete, Carson, Bob, and Sondo head to Intrepid!
“Ok – forward RCS thrust is active… systems are nominal…”
-Carson
“Oh wow – I saw Intrepid during assembly – to see it in space is quite a sight!”
-Sondo
Jeb and Sean shake hands with Sondo, Bob, and Carson! Then Jeb and Sondo head back to Kerbin!
“Good luck! Bring back some cool rocks from Moho!”
-Jeb
…setting down right by the Space Center!
With crew loading complete, it’s time to dock the nose science unit!
“This part will be easy, that lander’s going to be tricky though I just know it!”
-Carson
“I’m showing a good connection!” -Bob
After a short maneuver, Carson docks the satellite with the docking port of Intrepid!
“Ok – the communications dish has been retracted! You’re good to go Carson!”
-Sondo
Next, the most difficult part… docking the new lander!
“No problem guys – it’s just like docking the Crew Vehicles – only in an infinity smaller space with no margin for error! Hmm.”
-Carson
As the lander slowly moves into Intrepid‘s docking bay, there is a distinct metallic scratching noise as the landing gear scrape against the back of the cargo bay! The DSV-mockup at the Space Center isn’t perfect, and it turns out the lander fits much easier in the designs than actually docking!
“Tight fit… but we’re almost there! Nothing’s exploded yet!”
-Carson
Success! The lander fits snugly, but perfectly, into the cargo bay!
“Getting it out will be a lot easier once we’re at Moho!”
-Carson
Bob and Sondo check out the crew area of the Deep Space Vehicle, and make sure everything is ready to go!
“RCS fuel – check… extra snacks… check…”
-Bob
“The reactor is functioning normally – Sean did a great job starting it up – radiators, generator, it all checks out!”
-Sondo
“Looks good! Let’s get up front and get the mission to Moho started!”
-Carson
After prelaunch checks are complete, Intrepid fires it’s Colossus Engine!
“Fuel flow is good – temperatures are nominal!”
-Sondo
Intrepid speeds away from Kerbin!
“The transit burn to Moho was perfect! “
-Bob
“Ok everyone – get on your mittens, it’s time to get in the cryobeds!”
-Carson
“Looks, uh, comfy!”
-Sondo
The cryobeds freeze over, and Mission Control takes full control of the spacecraft! Intrepid will arrive at Moho later this year, on Day 383!
DSV-5 Intrepid’s first mission has now been fully planned, and a crew selected! Carson will be mission commander, Bob will be the Science specialist, and Sondo will be the Engineering Specialist!
For the first time a Sarnus Va rocket will deliver both the crew and the mission payload – Crew Vehicle 1 was designed initially as the replacement for the Aurora Crew Vehicle, but this is the first time it will be fully integrated into the stack!
This will also be the first test of the DSV-Lander – designed to fit into the DSV Payload bay! The Sarnus Va launch will also include the new DSV Science & Relay Satellite, that will be docked with the nose of the spacecraft and deployed in orbit of Moho!
Aurora Base is finally ready to launch! This complicated mission will involve one very large payload launched to Mun Orbit, then 3 separate landings delivering all the components of the station. The first landing will carry the Habitat and Science Modules. The second will carry the Greenhouse and Life Support systems. The third module will carry the Command Module!
In the evening of Day 194, the Jool X rocket blasts off from the Space Center carrying Aurora Base!
The second stage carries the Aurora Base modules to orbit…
… then to Mun’s Orbit!
Once in Mun orbit the three landings commence.
“Let’s keep our fingers crossed everyone! These landings have to be timed precisely for the modules to arrive undamaged!” -Gene
The Habitat and Science modules descend to Aurora Crater!
Then land just next to the Aurora Rover from the Aurora 27 mission from Mun Spaceport!
Then, the complicated part! One module breaks off, and is piloted away using RCS!
Eventually the next detaches, and rolls to nearby safety!
“That wasn’t so bad! Just two more to go!” -Bob, at the Space Center
The Green House and Life Support modules land next…
.. landing just next to the other modules!
Aurora Crater is starting to fill up with some very expensive Kerbal hardware!
Next, the Command Module heads down!
“Telemetry is good. Speed is good. Command Module should be good to set down – fuel’s looking pretty tight though! “ -Bob, at the Space Center
At the last second, the Command Module detaches from the descent vehicle, and the upper mounted RCS system (the same that’s used to deploy rovers in Aurora Missions) takes the Command Module to the surface of Mun!
“Looks like a good set of landings people! Let’s get some crew out there to get started!” -Gene
A crew will be launching soon from Kerbin to construct the station on the next Aurora mission – Aurora 28!
The Next Deep Space Vehicle, DSV-5 Intrepidis ready to launch! Named after the retired crew shuttle CTS-3 Intrepid, DSV-5 is a Horizon Class DSV, identical to Endeavor and Horizon!
“Wow – that rocket looks big, even from way over at the Tracking Station!”
-Bob, on his way to watch the launch of DSV-5
Mission Command starts calling out rocket status summaries, until finally…
“Lights are green – DSV is go for launch!” -Gene, at Mission Control
“Look at ‘er go!”
-Bob, at Mission Control
The Jool Heavy Rocket carries the spacecraft higher…
… and higher!
At a 200k orbit, the side stages eject, and Intrepid circularizes it’s orbit around Kerbin!
“Computers say we have a good orbit! Let’s remotely rendevous it with Spacedock and get a crew over there!” -Gene
Intrepid is remotely piloted until it rendezvouses with Spacedock!
“Mission Control – this is Jeb at Spacedock Control – we have a visual on Intrepid!” -Jeb
“Wow – I always forget how big these DSV’s are until you see them next to Spacedock!”
-Sean
While Mission Control can pilot the DSV’s remotely for the precision connections needed for docking pilots are always preferred – so Jeb EVA’s outside Spacedock and heads over to Intrepid!
“Mission Control, I have left Spacecdock and am en route to the DSV!” -Jeb
Jeb sets his EVA rockets to “FULL SPEED DANGER!” and speeds toward the DSV!
“Radar shows you going 10 m/s, make sure you leave enough time to slow down!” -Sean, on Spacedock
“Don’t worry, I’m a professional!” -Jeb
Jeb slows down, just in time, and grabs the hand holds under the nose of DSV-5 Endeavor at the last second!
“Got it! Connection made, heading to the cockpit!” -Jeb
“Eyes on the prize Jeb – let’s get this bird in the nest!” -Gene
“Roger that.” -Jeb
Jeb activates the RCS thrusters and matches speed with Spacedock, then orients the massive spacecraft with the docking ports!
“Starting final docking maneuvers…” -Jeb
“Mission Control… Jeb here… I’m in the pipe, five by five…” -Jeb
Intrepid slowly moves in to dock until finally, just as the sun sets…
“Intrepid – you show a solid lock – welcome back Jeb! I can’t wait to get over there and start up Intrepid‘s reactor!” -Sean
Discovery enters Kerbin’s sphere of gravitational influence!
“Discovery we’re tracking you as on course – what’s your situation?”
-Gene, at Mission Control
“Roger Mission Control… Situation nominal, Discovery reactor is at full, engines show green and ready to fire!”
-Jeb
As Discovery reaches a distance of 700km from Kerbin, the 3 nuclear engines fire!
It’s a nearly minute long burn to slow down!
Suddenly, alarm bells ring in the cockpit!
“Temperature on main engines reaching critical! They’re starting to heat up the tri-adapter engine housing!”
-Bob
“We’ve already been captured into orbit, so we can cut thrust safely… Let’s monitor it and cut thrust once it’s just about critical!”
-Jeb
Thankfully the engines don’t explode, and Discovery settles into a clean 700k circular orbit!
“I can’t wait to see Spacedock! It’s supposed to be huge!”
-Bill
Discovery does several manuevers to rendezvous with Spacedock, and finally approaches the station!
“Discovery here! We’re going to coast past Spacedock, then start docking manuevers!”
-Jeb
“Roger that DSV-2… We show you at 150 meters and clear for RCS manuevers!”
-Sean, onboard Spacedock
Discovery slowly drifts past the station until it’s visible out the cockpit!
“Wow! Look at that! And look, Endeavor is docked at the top!”
-Bill
“Yep! We’ll be parking opposite Endeavor!”
-Jeb
Jeb uses RCS orbital thrusters only and slowly matches speed with Spacedock….
…then slowly accelerates toward the station, lining up with the docking port!
“Slowing down… We’re lined up and looking good!”
-Jeb
Discovery moves almost imperceptibly slow until…
With a dull “clunk” and the whir of motors, Discovery makes s connection to Spacedock!
“Welcome home Discovery!”
-Val
Jeb, Bill, and Bob head over to Spacedock to rest before returning to Kerbin with the mountains of data gathered from Jool’s moon Laythe! There is already talk of building a colony there!
Engineers are also finalizing plans for refits and repairs to Discovery!
Jeb, Bill, and Bob wake from their Cryo-Sleep on Discovery!
“Wake up everybody! Just 8 days and we’ll be entering Kerbin orbit!” -Jeb
“I can’t wait to see this new Space Station they built while we were gone!” -Bill
“It feels like we just left Laythe yesterday!” -Bob
In Kerbin Orbit, the massive new Spacedock facility is ready for the returning DSV!
“Refueling Discovery should be about the same procedure as Endeavor! They’re different classes of ships technically… but they both run on the same fuel!” Sean, on Spacedock
Kerbal States | Kerbin Space Exploration Administration 