Edbert

Year 23, Day 224 (DSV Fuel Depot Docks at Spacedock 2!)

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The MPV (Multi-Payload-Vehicle) that had been converted to a Fuel Depot Tug fires its engines, remotely piloted from the ground!

“OK – it’s time to complete the assembly of Spacedock 2!”
-Gene, overseeing from Mission Control

The Lithium Fuel Depot arrives at Spacedock! 

“Mission Control – this is Spacedock. We have visual on the Depot.  I am assuming direct control!”
-Edbert

Edbert uses the RCS thrusters to slowly maneuver the gigantic craft past the station, to orient the docking ports.

“Maintaining visual on Depot.  Reducing speed to station keeping…”
-Edbert

Watching from the habitat ring, Sean lines his thumb up carefully with the window…

“You look lined up really nice Edbert! Take the docking nice and slow though, we don’t want to scuff the paint on the station it’s still brand new!” –Sean, watching from the Habitat Ring

“Oh good!  Moving in for final docking procedure… thrusters firing…”
-Edbert

The massive depot moves slowly, slowly toward the station until…

…the entire station heaves slightly as the giant depot docks, and connects to the DSV terminal!

“I’m floating down to the other side of the station now…   OK, I’m here!  Connections look solid. We just need to run some of the piping to allow the DSVs that dock to refuel!”   –Sean

The MPV Tug detaches, and will deorbit into Kerbin’s atmosphere!

Year 23, Day 162 (Kerbin Spacedock 2 Habitat Ring Deployed!)

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In orbit of Kerbin, the Spacedock 2 crew deploy the habitat ring module! Veteran engineer Sean and new-hire Pholie spend the morning deploying the rotating habitat ring!

Pholie and Glenica, watching from the Orbital Cupola supervise the deployment!

“Now that the station is functional we can start getting some real scientific work done up here! I can’t wait for the next DSV arrival!”
-Glenica, Senior Station Scientist

“Habitat rings have locked – and we are good to start rotation!”
-Sean, chief engineer on the station

“Deployment looks good from here!”
-Edbert, viewing from the Crew Vehicle docked at the station!

With the station now fully functional, mission planners prepare to eject the orbital boost stage, and then dock the Lithium Fuel depot to the station, completing the new Spacedock!

Year 23, Day 160 (First Spacedock 2 Crew Launches!)

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Crew Vehicle 2 is blasts off, carrying the first crew to the new Spacedock! Edbert will be piloting the crew to the station, while senior engineer Sean will be working with rookie engineer Pholie to bring the station online! Senior scientist Glenica is onboard to inspect the station’s science departments and make sure everything is ready for DSV arrivals!

“Remote sensors and camera systems show systems nominal up there… but I don’t want to loose science from across the Kerbol system just because we didn’t double check!”
-Glenica

“All systems nominal… we are on track for the Spacedock! Hang on everyone, we’ll be there in no time… “
-Edbert, piloting Crew Vehicle 2

After detaching from the Neidon booster, Edbert maneuvers the spacecraft to rendezvouses with Spacedock, while the booster returns to Kerbin!

“RCS reverse thrust. Speed slowing to station-keeping. Docking systems ready…”
-Edbert, piloting Crew Vehicle 2

“Station-keeping confirmed… we are lined up!”
-Sean

Slowly, the spacecraft moves in to dock, until….

… a loud series of ‘clunks’ indicate they are docked!

Year 22, Day 347 (CTS-2 Pioneer Test Rendezvous, Return to Kerbin)

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Mission Control decides to test Pioneer by having it dock and inspect the recently launched DSV-1A Explorer! This is also a training run for KSEA’s newest pilot, Edbert!

“I can’t wait to see the new Explorer! “

-Edbert

Pioneer maneuvers into a close rendevous with Explorer ….

“Lining up to the docking bay… alignment looks good…”

-Jeb

As soon as the connection is confirmed, Edbert volunteers for his first EVA – to investigate the new DSV and confirm safe detachment of the boost stage!

“Wow – this ship is big!

-Edbert

“The reactor looks good… sensors indicate no dangerous radiation levels.. I think we’re good to eject the boost stage Jeb!”

-Edbert

“OK – boost stage is ejected!”

-Jeb

The boost stage drifts away – and Edbert gets back into Pioneer!

“OK Edbert – this is your landing… take us home!”

-Jeb

Edbert fires the engines and Pioneer starts a rapid descent!

“Oh wow – that was a steep descent angle – this is gonna be a close one!!”

-Jeb

Pioneer survives the reentry – and Edbert angles the craft right at the base of the landing strip!

“Approach needs to be pretty steep or we’ll overshoot… if we don’t pull up at the last second…”

-Edbert

“If we don’t pull up at the last second it’ll be someone else’s problem – just focus on the landing!”

-Jeb

“Woooooohoooo!”

-Jeb

Edbert pilots right at the strip.. then pulls up at the last second…

…skittering off the runway, but landing Pioneer in one piece!

“Oh wow – what a landing!”

-Edbert

Teams head out to recover the shuttle and crew!

“That landing had a lotta moxie in it – nice work Edbert!”

-Gene

Year 22, Day 340 (CTS-2 Pioneer Launches!)

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The new Pioneer 2 Crew Shuttle is ready to launch! Jeb and rookie pilot Edbert will take the new shuttle up for it’s maiden flight! While Pioneer is a new spacecraft it has been designed to be as identical as possible to the refit Adventure crew shuttle!

“Launch looks good – all systems nominal – what a ride!”

-Jeb

“Not too bumpy either! “

-Edbert, piloting in the front seat

As the spacecraft reaches it’s maximum dynamic pressure, or Max-Q, all systems continue as planned!

“The engineers must have screwed all the bolts in pretty well, this is where the parts would start falling off if they hadn’t!”

-Jeb

As Pioneer’s trajectory reaches a 200k periapsis, the aerodynamic-escape-system launches, and the shuttle detaches from the Nebula Rocket!

Turning around using its RCS, the Nebula Rocket fires it’s engines to perform a landing at KSC! Once recovered the rocket will be transported to White Mesa, where it will be refueled and refit to be launched again!

“We have achieved orbit! As exciting as this is, I can’t wait to land!“

-Edbert