Year 17, Day 158 (Laythe Spaceplane ‘Endurance’ Lands on Laythe!)

August 4, 2020 sayburstuff Year 17 Bill, Blueprints, Bob, DSV-2 Discovery, Jeb, Jool, Laythe, Laythe Spaceport, X-10 Laythe Spaceplane

After years of designing, preparation, and waiting, the day is finally here… the Discovery crew will leave the Spaceport and take their Spaceplane ‘Endurance‘ to land on Laythe!

Even the mission profile has been carefully planned, as no spaceplane has ever landed on another planet!

“OK – ‘Endurance’ is undocked from the Spaceport… using maneuvering thrusters to reach safe distance to activate engines!”
-Jeb

Endurance’s solar panels deploy to soak up as much energy as possible, while the orbital maneuvering engine fires to drop the craft out of orbit!

“So far so good!”
-Bill

Airbrakes deploy to create more drag, slowing the re-entry of the spaceplane! From inside the cramped science bay, Bob is growing concerned:

“What’s going on!? It’s getting hot! I can’t see anything from this seat!!”
-Bob

“Everything’s fine! We’re through the worst of the heat now – on course for a chain of islands near the equator!”
-Jeb

“Switching RAPIER engines to ‘air-breathing‘ – looks like a lot of flat desert down there, setting down shouldn’t be so bad!”
-Jeb

“Slowing our speed, deploying Air Brakes… starting landing procedures. Hold on everyone!”
-Jeb

Endurance needs to be going as slow as possible before it deploys it’s landing parachute. On Kerbin this parachute wouldn’t do a very good job of slowing an X-10, however on Laythe (combined with the VTOL engines) it should do the job just fine!

The Air Brakes retract, and the parachute deploys! The aircraft pulls up until it starts to even out…

“Ahhhhhh!”
-Bob

“Hang on back there! We’re almost down!”
-Bill

The VTOL bays open, and the aerospike rockets fire to slow the spacecraft! The housing of the chambers is thermally lined to protect the rest of the spacecraft, nonetheless, the rockets aren’t meant to be fired for anything but short bursts!

“Just about there! VTOL is slowing us down to about 5 m/s…. we’re in the pipe, five by five!”
-Jeb

“Why do all the pilots say that before they land!?!”
-Bill

Endurance sets down on Laythe!

“Finally! What a rough ride! Opening science bays… deploying ladders… antennas and solar panels deploying!”
-Bob

The crew will do tests for a short time before heading out to the surface!

Year 17, Day 138 (Laythe Spaceplane Rendezvouses With Laythe Spaceport!)

August 2, 2020August 2, 2020 sayburstuff Year 17 Bill, Bob, DSV-2 Discovery, Jeb, Jool, Laythe, Laythe Spaceport, X-10 Laythe Spaceplane

With Discovery now docked at Laythe Spaceport, the X-10 is remotely piloted to Rendezvous! With it’s transfer stage still attached the spacecraft is very unwieldy – but it’s important to use every bit of fuel – refills are hard to come by in the Jool system!

Endeavor arrives at the Spaceport!

“This is going to be a tricky docking… I better EVA over and do it manually!”
-Jeb

“OK – I have stepped outside the hatch… rocket packs on… heading toward the X-10!”
-Jeb

“Oh wow guys! Are you seeing this!?”
-Jeb

“…roger that Jeb – we see you!”
-Bill

“This thing is a lot bigger in person!“
-Jeb

Jeb detaches the X-10 from it’s transfer stage, and pilots it to the station! The inline docking port makes the procedure a little more challenging than normal!

“We read a solid connection – good job!”
-Bob

With that, all the components of the Laythe Mission are in place! The crew will start checking systems, and prepare for their first landing!

Year 17, Day 137 (DSV-2 Discovery Arrives at Laythe!)

August 1, 2020 sayburstuff Year 17 Bill, Bob, DSV-2 Discovery, Jeb, Jool, Laythe, Laythe Spaceport, X-10 Laythe Spaceplane

After a very long journey, Discovery finally arrives at Laythe! With a loud “ding!” the cryogenic systems finish thawing all three Kerbals: Jeb, Bill, and Bob! Mission Control has started the insertion sequence to capture into Jool’s orbit – and now the engines fire to transfer into a Laythe orbit!

“Wake up guys! The computer says we’re here!!”
-Jeb

“I’m awake… I’m awake!!”
-Bill

“Me too!”
-Bob

“Mission Control – Discovery Crew here – we’re doing good! Assuming control of DSV – firing thrusters to enter Laythe orbit! “
-Jeb

Success! Discovery has circularized it’s orbit around Laythe, a pleasant 60k altitude above the moon!

“It almost looks like Kerbin!”
-Bob

In mere days the Spaceport, and the X-10 Laythe Spaceplane will perform similar maneuvers to enter Laythe orbit!

Year 17, Day 124 (DSV-2 Discovery Nearing Jool!)

July 31, 2020August 4, 2020 sayburstuff Year 17 Bill, Blueprints, Bob, DSV-2 Discovery, Jeb, Jool, Laythe, Laythe Spaceport, X-10 Laythe Spaceplane

The Deep Space Vehicle Discovery is finally nearing Jool – and it’s watery moon, Laythe!

Along with it are two other components of the Laythe Mission, the X-10 Laythe Spaceplane, Endurance, and the hub of the entire mission, the Laythe Spaceport!

Jeb, Bill, and Bob remain in Cryo-Stasis – remote systems show they’re doing fine! The convoy of spacecraft arrive at Jool’ SOI tomorrow, and will perform circularize it’s orbit in 11 days!

Once there, the crew will thaw out, and prepare for the landing segment of the mission – a dangerous endeavor, as they’re the only Kerbals in the area!

Year 14, Day 279 (Discovery Leaves Kerbin for Laythe!)

May 13, 2020June 29, 2020 sayburstuff Year 14 Bill, Bob, Discovery Missions, DSV-2 Discovery, Jeb, Jool, Kerbin Spaceport, Laythe

Discovery undocks from Kerbin Spaceport!

“OK – I’m backing Discovery away from the Spaceport… nice and slow!”
-Jeb

“Reactors are powering up – looks like full power should be available!”
-Bill

Jeb activates the three Magneto-Plasma-Dynamic thrusters and Discovery takes off!

“Everything looks good! We should be ready for the Cryo-Chambers!“
-Bill

Jeb hops in…

Then Bill and Bob!

“Freezing in 3….2…1…. “
-Bill

With a “ding!” the Discovery crew is frozen in stasis…when they wake up, they should arrive at Jool!

Discovery sails away from Kerbin – radio systems will allow for remote piloting, and monitoring of the crew!

“See you guys in a few years!”
-Gene

The three components of Discovery’s mission should all be in place by Year 17!

Year 14, Day 275 (Discovery Crew for Mission to Laythe Announced!)

May 13, 2020 sayburstuff Year 14 Bill, Bob, DSV-2 Discovery, Jeb, Jool, Laythe

The crew for Discovery’s mission to Laythe is announced: Jeb, Bill, and Bob!

The original three applicants to KSEA will be together again for the biggest mission in Kerbal history!

The crew shuttle Intrepid is rolled out to the launchpad, while Jeb, Bill, and Bob get outfitted to leave!

Year 12, Day 286 (Adventure Returns Explorer 5 Crew to Kerbin From Kerbin Spaceport!)

May 19, 2019May 19, 2019 sayburstuff Year 12 Bill, Bob, CTS-1 Adventure, Duna, Edan, Explorer 5, Explorer Program, Kerbin Spaceport, Val

Val, Bill, and Bob board Adventure! Edan will pilot them back to the Space Center, since Val is still recovering from the long cryo-sleep!

Adventure streaks through the atmosphere!

“Trajectory seems good so far – hold on everyone!”

-Edan

Edan performs a few manuevers to adjust the heading – Adventure‘s air brakes had to be used in pulses to slow the craft down – a few timed bursts of the engines accelerate the craft so it won’t land short of the Space Center!

“Ok. Adventure is in the pipe – five by five!”

-Edan

Adventure lands, returning the Explorer 5 crew to Kerbin! KSEA scientists begin collecing the data brought back, and Val, Bill, and Bob head to the Astronaut Complex to recover! Meanwhile, the crew shuttle is recovered and begins repairs and refits for it’s next launch!

Explorer5Patch

Year 12, Day 285 (Explorer 5 Returns from Duna, Orbits Kerbin, and Docks with Kerbin Spaceport!

May 19, 2019May 19, 2019 sayburstuff Year 12 Bill, Bob, CTS-1 Adventure, Edan, Explorer 5, Explorer Program, Kerbin Spaceport, Val

Explorer 5 enters Kerbin’s sphere of gravitational influence, and automatic systems revive the crew!

“Mission Control, this is Val – Bob and Bill are in good shape, and so am I! Explorer 5 is approaching Kerbin, and looking at our sensors I think we’re good for entering orbit!”

-Val

“Explorer 5 – this is Gene – that’s great! Are you sure about skipping the splashdown/flyby procedure?”

-Gene

“Roger that! Explorer 5 has enough fuel to enter orbit and even dock with Kerbin Spaceport!”

-Val

“Permission granted Explorer 5 – good luck!”

-Gene

Explorer 5 fires it’s engine and enters Kerbin’s orbit!

Mission Control, Explorer 5 has achieved Kerbin Orbit! Proceeding to Kerbin Spaceport!

-Val

Cheers fill Mission Control over Val’s broadcast! This is a big day for KSEA – NO interplanetary spacecraft has ever returned to Kerbin orbit before!

“Explorer 5, this is Edan on Kerbin Spaceport. You are tracking good and cleared for approach!”

-Edan

Val manuevers Explorer 5 closer and closer to the Spaceport…

“Almost there….”

-Val

Ka-Chunk! Whirrrrrrrr….Explorer 5 connects with Kerbin Spaceport!

“Welcome home! Sorry about the mess, we weren’t expecting guests!”

-Edan

Explorer 5’s crew will rest for a day, then return to Kerbin onboard the Crew Shuttle Adventure!

Explorer5Patch

Year 11, Day 411 (Explorer 5 Departs Duna!)

May 12, 2019May 12, 2019 sayburstuff Year 11 Bill, Bob, Duna, Explorer 5, Explorer Program, Val

The Explorer 5 crew packs up their scientific findings (and various uneaten snacks) from around Duna Spaceport, and heads over to the DSCRV, the Val undocks the spacecraft!