Edan

Year 13, Day 158 (Intrepid Returns Crews to Kerbin from Kerbin Spaceport!)

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With the return of Explorer 5 and the test flight of Discovery the Kerbin Spaceport has gotten very crowded! Edan, Bill, Orlas, Glenica, and Sean all board CTS-3 Intrepid!

“Have a good flight – you soon!”
-Gene

Edan undocks from the Spaceport, and uses RCS thrusters to reach a safe distance from the station! Gilian, Shepely, and Seely remain on the station, conducting the vitally important scientific research that must certainly occur there.

“Come back soon! Bring more snacks! “
-Shepely

Intrepid fires its engines to de-orbit… then detaches the service pod that holds cargo (and provides for solar power!)

“Hold on everyone! Things are about to get pretty hot!”
-Edan

Intrepid soars through the atmosphere, occasionally usings its airbrake system to slow its decent.

Once past the mountains west of the Space Center, Edan makes the final manuevers to line up for a landing!

“Edan to Mission Control… Intrepid is in the pipe, five by five!”
-Edan

Intrepid touches down on the runway!

A perfect landing! The tired Kerbals exit the Crew Shuttle to rest up for their next mission – Intrepid is recovered and undergoes minor repairs and the standard recovery process to get it ready for its next flight!

Year 12, Day 415 (Discovery Mission 1 Leaves for Mun!)

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screenshot2.pngDiscovery detaches from Kerbin Spaceport!

“Systems are go for the transit to Mun!”

-Orlas

Discovery’s powerful monopropelleant RCS thrusters move the ship to a safe distance from the Spaceport, and then the nuclear reactor is powered up!

“All systems appear nominal – power is at 100 percent – we’re good to fire the main engines! “

-Bill

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“Course set – Lithium flow confirmed… Magneto-plasma-dynamic thrusters at full!”

-Jeb

Discovery moves away from the station, away from Kerbin… and toward Mun!

 

Year 12, Day 413 (DSV-2 Discovery Launches and Docks With Kerbin Spaceport!)

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The Jool Vb rocket launches from the space center, carrying Discovery to orbit!

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The orbital maneuvering stage activates, circularizing the orbit and beginning the rendezvous to the Spaceport!

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Meanwhile, the protective fairings deploy…

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… and Discovery’s communication dish unfolds!

“So far so good!”

-Gene, at Mission Control

For the docking manuever it’s decided an experienced pilot should take Discovery’s controls, so Edan EVA’s over to the ship!

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Ok – I’m outside the station, and heading over!

-Edan

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Edan expertly pilots his EVA suit over to Discovery!

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Wow!  This is one big ship!  I can’t wait to pilot it!

-Edan

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Once inside Edan switches on the external lights and ejects the orbital stage!

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OK – I’m going to fly Discovery over to the other side of the station.

-Edan

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For a ship this size, it handles surprisngly well!  Must be those extra large RCS thrusters!

-Edan

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Edan lines Discovery up to the docking section…

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… and connects!  4 different Kerbal States spacecraft are now docked with the station, Discovery, a Mk7 Aurora Crew Vehicle, a Crew Transport Shuttle, and Explorer 5!

Alright!  Let’s start getting Discovery ready for her maiden voyage!

-Edan

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Year 12, Day 406 (Discovery Crew Launches to Kerbin Spaceport!)

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Intrepid blasts off from the Space Center, carrying Edan and Bill to Kerbin Spaceport!  They’ll meet Orlas and train together for Crewed Mission 1 (CM1) of the Discovery!

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“OK – rendezvous course set to Kerbin Spaceport!”

-Edan

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Edan docks Intrepid with the Spaceport!  3 different spacecraft are now docked – with a fourth on the way – Discovery!

 

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

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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!

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Adventure streaks through the atmosphere!

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

-Edan

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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!

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

-Edan

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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!

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

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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

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

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

-Val

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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!

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

-Edan

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Val manuevers Explorer 5 closer and closer to the Spaceport…

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“Almost there….”

-Val

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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!

 

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Year 11, Day 129 (Explorer 6 Launch, Adventure Delivers Crew!)

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Explorer 6 blasts off from the space center!

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In orbit, the fairing deploys. Looks like a good launch!  That means the the crew can head up! screenshot493.png

During the orbit the launch pad was cleared, and CTS-1 Adventure was readied for launch, piloted by Edan!

“We’re all a little jealous you three get to be the first crew to Jool – but we know you’ll do great!”

-Edan

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The Crew Shuttle Launch Vehicle seperates and heads back to Kerbin, while Adventure finishes it’s climb to orbit!

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Orbit achieved – shouldn’t be too long before we rendevous!

-Edan

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Adventure moves in for the rendevous…

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Almost there!

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Connection!  Mitster, Glenica, and Sean transfer over and begin pre-flight inspections of Explorer 6!

“Everything checks out!  Let’s light this candle!”

-Mitster

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“Adventure is undocking – good luck Explorer 6!”

-Edan

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Explorer 6 fires its engines and heads away from Kerbin!

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Before long Explorer 6 is past Kerbin’s sphere of gravitational influence.

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Alright everybody, time for CryoStasis!  See you guys in a few minutes!

-Glenica

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“Ok – my turn! ”

-Sean

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“Ok Mission Control- Sean and Glenica are in good shape, setting timer and activating my Cryo-Pod.  Explorer 6 OUT!”

-Mitster

Explorer 6 will now run on automated pilot, reaching Jool in 1 year, 362 days!

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Meanwhile, Adventure is heading to Kerbin Spaceport for the second leg of it’s mission, to return crew from the Spaceport back to Kerbin!

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After rendevous with the station, Mirphe moves Adventure in to dock!

“Alright, lining up for docking!”

-Edan

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Connection looks good Edan!  Welcome to Kerbin Spaceport!

-Orlas

 

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Year 10, Day 220 (Explorer 3 Returns Home From Duna!)

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Explorer 3’s Aurora Command Pod detaches from the rest of the spacecraft, and begins its reentry into Kerbin’s atmosphere!

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After the radio blackout from reentry, the chute deploys!

“We came in a little fast, but within the spacecraft’s tolerances… everything’s fine!”

-Edan

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The crew touches down in the highlands, and quickly hop out to enjoy fresh air again!

“Feels good to be back on solid ground, but standing up in this gravity is hard!”

-Sean

Rescue teams are already en route to rescue the crew (and all the precious scientific data they brought back from Duna!

“I can’t wait to inspect those samples in the lab!”

-Glenica

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Year 9, Day 290 (Explorer 3 Leaves Duna Spaceport!)

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Edan, Glenica, and Sean gather their scientific findings and transfer to Explorer 3 – it’s time to head home!

We have a little extra fuel so we’re going to try a quicker return home!

-Edan

The next spacecraft scheduled to visit Duna is the automated Refueling Vehicle, which will provide the vital fuel needed for Explorer 5, the next crewed mission to Duna!

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The return to Kerbin should take exactly one year!