Explorer 5 departs for Duna! This is the first interplanetary journey using cryogenic stasis, it’s hoped that the technology will allow for sending Kerbals to the farthest reaches of the solar system!
Explorer 5
Year 9. Day 135 (Explorer 5 Launches!)
Explorer 5 is rolled out to launch, an exciting new chapter in Kerbal exploration of space!
Blastoff! The massive Jool IV rocket lifts Explorer 5 to the clouds…
…. and beyond to orbit!
“Mission Control, this is Malcolm on the X-9! Mitster and I are OK for take off!”
-Malcolm
The X-9 will fly the Explorer 5 crew to the spacecraft!
Malcolm flies the spacecraft on launch, with Mitster supervising.
“So far so good!”
-Mitster
Explorer 5 reaches orbit, and Malcolm starts the rendezvous maneuvers to meet up with Explorer 5!
“OK… the X-9 is a bit tricky with its RCS controls… this might take a few tries!”
–Mitster
It does take awhile, but eventually the X-9 docks with Explorer 5! Val, Bill, and Bob all transfer over!
OK guys… I’ll go first! Glykerol levels normal… initiating freeze!
-Val
“It worked! Our turn… see you in a few minutes Bob!”
-Bill
With that Bill throws the “freeze!” lever, and the crew of Explorer 5 is in stasis, ready for the trip to Duna!
Malcolm brings the X-9 in for a landing!
“Mission Control, Malcom here! I’m in the pipe, five by five!”
-Malcolm
It’s a tricky night landing, but Malcolm brings the X-9 home! All of Kerbin now waits for Explorer 5 to depart!
Year 9, Day 100 (Explorer 5 Construction!)
KSEA releases the finalized design for the Explorer 5! This prototype is hoped to be the future of deep space crewed transportation, making years or even decades long missions pass in as little time as an afternoon nap for the crew!
Val, Bill, and Bob have been training hard for the mission!
This first mission will be to Duna, but if all goes well it will be utilized in a future crewed mission to Jool!
Year 9, Day 28 (Refueling Vehicle for Duna Spaceport Launches)
The Explorer 2 and 3 missions have all but exhausted the fuel supply of the Duna Spaceport so the refueling vehicle , so an automated spacecraft designed to extend the life of the Spaceport is launched!
The spacecraft will remain in orbit until the proper launch window, and will travel roughly the same projected path as the upcoming Explorer 5 mission!
Year 9, Day 15 (Explorer 5 Mission Announced!)
The next Explorer Mission is announced – Explorer 5! It will be a test mission for the upcoming crewed Jool mission that is still being planned.
Using technology demonstrated on CryoLab, Explorer 5 will take Kerbals at high speed to Duna, and then return them to Kerbin.
Kerbal States | Kerbin Space Exploration Administration 