The most far-flung mission ever attempted is ready to launch – the Far Horizons mission to Plock! While there is some debate about whether or not Plock is actually a planet or maybe an asteroid, most Kerbals do agree that it is quite interesting regardless!
The powerful Nova Rocket carries the probe off the launch pad!
“Wow – look at it go!”
-Edan, watching at Mission Control
The Nova Rocket’s first stage detaches, falling toward Kerbin…
… while the second stage lifts the probe to a very high orbit of 900k!
Mission Control will spend the next week testing subsystems and ensuring that Far Horizons is ready for it’s trip! Departure is expected by the end of the year!
At the White Mesa launch facility the refit Crew Shuttle Adventure is rolled out and fully fueled!
Carson and Edan board the shuttle and start flight checks!
“All systems nominal … Fuel lights are green…. “
-Carson
“All gauges OK… Adventure is ready!”
-Edan
“This is White Mesa Control Tower – you are clear to launch when ready!”
“We are go!”
-Edan
The newly refit Crew Shuttle blasts off – lifted by a Nebula Rocket!
“Woohoo!
-Carson
At the vehicle reaches it’s 100km apogee, the Nebula Rocket powers down, and the protective aerodynamic nose shield ejects!
“Decoupling from Nebula….”
-Edan
“Decoupling complete, powering RCS thrusters to move clear for Nebula de-orbit…”
-Carson
The Nebula Rocket drifts away using its own RCS system to preform a powered de-orbit propulsive landing!
Adventure then fires its LV909 engines to finish propelling itself to a 200km orbit!
“So far so good!“
-Edan
Carson suits up, and performs a spacewalk to inspect the shuttle!
“Looks good from the outside! Just normal thermal wear… Looks like it’s within tolerances!”
-Carson
After a full orbital systems check, Edan and Carson start the de-orbit burn back to Kerbin!
“I think I see White Mesa down there!”
-Edan
“Good! Hold on! These White Mesa landings are always a little tricky!”
-Carson
Carson burns fires the engines for a little extra thrust, and glides the shuttle to line up with the landing strip!
“We’re five by five… Touching down!”
-Carson
With the screech of its tires Adventure sets down at White Mesa!
“We’re back!”
-Edan
With a generally successful first flight everyone at KSEA is delighted!
“Good work everyone! If everything checks out Adventure will be back in service soon, and we can build a few new Crew Shuttles to supplement our orbital crew vehicles!”
Sarnus Station is finally complete, and it’s rolled out just in time to launch on the first day of Year 22!
“What a fun way to start the new year!” -Samner, Viewing the launch from Mission Control
The Nova Rocket, KSEA’s most powerful heavy lifter, carries the station into space!
Most Kerbals around the Space Center will typically stop what they’re working on, and gather to watch Nova launches – the massive rockets are quite the sight to see, and launch very rarely!
The second stage separates, as the first stage heads back to a fiery reentry into Kerbin’s oceans! At a 2000 km apogee, the station circularizes!
“We’re showing all systems nominal. Let’s send the signal to start up the reactor.” -Gene, at Mission Control
The nuclear reactor starts up – and the boards all show green!
“Reactor at full output – I think we’re OK to go!” -Glenica, at the Science Station at Mission Control
The DSV-class engine fires… and alarm bells go off!
“That thing isn’t getting enough cooling! Let’s power it down to 50 percent power… otherwise it might explode!” -Glenica
The engine is cooled down, but engineers start scratching notes in their design books for the next Sarnus-bound rocket to use this design!
Sarnus Station speeds toward Sarnus… it will arrive in just over 3 years! Once in orbit, crews from visiting DSV’s will have a home to rest at when exploring around Sarnus!
“These nuclear engines have really opened up the solar system to exploration – a trip to Sarnus in just 3 years! Who would have thought it possible!” -Edan
The second Laythe Crew Vehicle spaceplane is launched from KSC!
The spacecraft enters orbit… and waits!
Resolute will leave Kerbin in about 400 days for an express trip to Jool/Laythe. This new Laythe Crew Vehicle is almost identical to the current LCV-1 Endurance, but with improved science payloads (including water detection systems) and improved power systems. The solar panels have been removed, and the craft’s onboard power supply has been buffed up to survive longer on Laythe!
With Mun Spaceport (mostly) functional, Bill, Gilian, and Edan need to return to Kerbin! Summer departs in Crew Vehicle 5 to rescue them!
“If we’re going to be using these Crew Vehicles for trips back and forth to Mun, they’re going to need a better second stage – this will be a tight mission for DeltaV!“ -Summer
Crew Vehicle 5 departs Kerbin…
… Eventually arriving at Mun, and docking with Mun Spaceport!
Bill, Gilian, and Edan all board and buckle in for a quick return trip to Kerbin!
“There’s not enough fuel to do a full orbital return, so we’re going to try for touchdown near White Mesa… hold on everyone!” -Summer
Crew Vehicle 5 misses the mark, landing 40km or so from White Mesa!
“Close enough! Rescue crews are on the way!” -Gene, at Mission Control
Mission Control gives the plan to relocate the old Kerbin Spaceport to Mun a name: Operation Moving Day! The audacious plan will move the old Kerbin Spaceport… to Mun orbit!
One of the already built “Asteroid Movers” is modified with a docking port that should connect to the Spaceport, and launches on a Sarnus Va rocket!
The Station-Mover rendezvouses with Kerbin Spaceport…
…and docks!
“Remote sensors indicate a good lock! Nice work!“
-Gene
Bill, KSEA’s senior engineer will fly up in a Crew Vehicle to oversee the entire process! Edan will be the mission commander, and Gilian will be going up for her engineering expertise!
Crew Vehicle 6 carrying Edan, Bill, and Gilian blasts off from White Mesa!
“There it is – Old Kerbin Spaceport!”
-Edan
“Soon to be Mun Spaceport!”
-Gilian
“Hey – that’s catchy!”
-Bill
Crew Vehicle 6 docks!
Bill, Gilian, and Edan board the station and check things out!
At the Space Center the next Lithium Refueling Vehicle is ready to launch, and blasts off on top of a Jool Heavy rocket!
The Jool Heavy’s powerful 21 S3 KS-25 “Vector” engines lift the rocket to it’s 200km apogee!
While this isn’t the first Spacedock refueling mission, this is the first launch of the newly redesigned Jool Heavy Rocket!
As it nears it’s 200km apogee, the attached side rockets deplete their fuel…
… and disconnect! The central stage continues it’s burn to 200k… then detaches from the upper stage!
The upper stage’s 3 KR-2L+ “Rhino” engines fire…
… and circularize the massive craft in a stable orbit of Kerbin! The refueling vehicle then performs maneuvers to rendevous with Spacedock!
“Mission Control – Spacedock has the Refueling Vehicle on our scope… you’re cleared to start the automated docking maneuver!” -Val, on board Spacedock
With the sun creating impressive lens flares, the Refueling Vehicle docks!
“Looks like a good connection with the third refueling Vehicle! We just need one more and Spacedock will be fully stocked with Lithium!” -Edan, on Spacedock
The first day of Year 21 is going to be a big day at White Mesa! It’s a first for two new vehicles: The third revision of the Modular Payload Vehicle, or MPV, will be launching with a LFO (Liquid Fuel/Oxygen) payload! Even bigger news is the first launch of a new Launch Vehicle, the Nebula Heavy Rocket!
The launch goes well, and the Nebula Heavy rockets into the sky above the desert!
The Nebula Heavy is basically three Nebula Rockets bolted together with a larger second stage. While all 3 Nebula rockets return to Kerbin, the second stage is discarded.
The Nebula Heavy reaches it’s 200k apogee, and detaches!
Turning around using RCS thrusters (once clear of the MPV), the Nebula Heavy fires it’s engines to target a landing at KSC! Soon, the three rockets will disconnect and independently land on the surface!
Meanwhile, the MPV fires it’s engine until it’s in a safe 200k orbit of Kerbin!
Mission Control continues piloting the craft closer and closer to the rendevous with Spacedock!
“Mission Control – this is Station Commander … I’ve got a clear view of the MPV out of the Upper Cupola windows! Looks like it’s on course for docking with Endeavor! We’re clear to take over remote control from up here!” -Val
With Val now piloting remotely, the MPV drifts past the station, and once behind Endeavor Val starts it’s docking maneuver!
“Alright… MPV is lined up…. moving in for final docking maneuvers…” -Val
The MPV slowly moves in to Endeavor‘s docking bay…
… and connects!
“We’re showing a solid connection up here!” -Val
“Hey – just what do we need a LFO fuel delivery to a DSV for anyway!?” -Edan
“I thought you’d never ask! We’re sending another team to Laythe to survey sites for the colony! Congrats Val – you’re the Mission Commander for Endeavor’s Crew Mission 2!” -Gene, at Mission Control
After the success at growing plants on the orbital Kerbitat One station, the Aurora 26 crew board the Command Module and detach from the station !
“We learned a lot from that mission – even though it didn’t go like we planned! We just need to figure out how to keep a supply of water and fertilizer somehow sustainable!” -Samner
Aurora 26 burns through the atmosphere toward White Mesa!
“Chute has deployed! We’re touching down about 50k south of the White Mesa facility!” -Edan
A Nebula Rocket that had been prepared for a Crew Vehicle launch is quickly retrofitted with an experimental new payload: the DSV Supply Craft! Designed to carry a versatile payload to the bay of Horizon Class DSVs, delivering fertilizer to Kerbitat One should be a good first test!
The Nebula Rocket blasts off!
The payload detaches, and the first stage turns around and heads back to KSC! The DSV Supply Craft continues it’s launch to orbit!
The spacecraft approaches Kerbitat One…
… and docks!
Back at Spacedock, Aurora 26 departs for Kerbitat One!
“Hopefully that fertilizer does the trick!” -Edan
Edan brings Aurora 26 into alignment with Kerbitat One, and docks!
“Looks like a good connection! Let’s get that fertilizer transferred over too!” -Gilian
The Kerbals begin unloading the payload from the service vehicle, and Samner studies the plants. The crew waits patiently… until after many hours have passed….
“It’s working! It’s working! The plants are growing! I had to use water from our crew vehicle to start the processes, but it looks like it’s going! That means we’ll need to leave before long, but there should be enough water to run the greenhouse for a while!” -Samner
After the successful mission, the crew begins preparations for heading home!
Kerbal States | Kerbin Space Exploration Administration 