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

November 11, 2018November 11, 2018 sayburstuff Year 10 Duna, Edan, Explorer 3, Explorer Program, Glenica, Sean

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

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

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 10, Day 202 (Explorer 5 Arrives At Duna Spaceport!)

November 10, 2018November 10, 2018 sayburstuff Year 10 Bill, Bob, Explorer 5, Explorer Program, Val

Explorer 5 Arrives in Duna Orbit, and the on board systems automatically eject the Kerbin-Orbit docking adapter (The larger “senior” size docking port is required for docking to the Spaceport!)

Val thaws from cryogenic stasis first!

Alright – I’m moving Explorer in to dock with the Spaceport!

-Val

Bill and Bob thaw next!

The crew reports feeling fine, even after such a long cryo-sleep! After a week the crew’s health will be evaluated and if all is well, the first landing will commence!

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

October 25, 2018October 25, 2018 sayburstuff Year 9 Duna, Duna Spaceport, Edan, Explorer 3, Explorer Program, Glenica, Sean

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!

The return to Kerbin should take exactly one year!

Year 9. Day 135 (Explorer 5 Launches!)

October 10, 2018October 10, 2018 sayburstuff Year 9 Bill, Bob, Duna, Explorer 5, Explorer Program, Malcolm, Mitster, Val

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

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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!

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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!)

October 9, 2018 sayburstuff Year 9 Bill, Blueprints, Bob, Duna, Duna Spaceport, Explorer 5, Explorer Program, Jool, Val

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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 19 (Explorer 3 Blasts Off From Duna’s Midland Canyon!)

October 7, 2018 sayburstuff Year 9 Duna, Duna Spaceport, Edan, Explorer 3, Explorer Program, Glenica, Sean

Sean, Edan, and Glenica pack up their findings and prepare to launch back into orbit!

“Ok, we’re off!”

-Edan

The lander reaches orbit…

…and Edan pilots a rendezvous with Duna Spaceport!

“Fuel budget is very tight this mission… I’m going to have to fly very, very accurately!”

-Edan

Almost there!

Explorer 3 docks with Duna Spaceport!

Year 9, Day 16 (Explorer 3 Landing At Duna’s Midland Canyon)

October 6, 2018October 7, 2018 sayburstuff Year 9 Duna, Edan, Explorer 3, Explorer Program, Glenica, Sean

KSEA announces the next Explorer 3 Landing Site – this time at Duna’s Midland Canyon!

“OK – let’s do this!”

-Edan

The Super Duna Lander detaches and heads down to the surface!

The parachute deploys!

“We’ve touched down at the Western Canyon!”

-Edan

“Wow – it’s beautiful here! ”

-Glenica

Sean and Edan jump out and take in the amazing vista!

Sean sets up the automated camera unit, and the crew pose for the traditional “landing portrait!”

“OK – let’s start collecting some science everybody!”

-Glenica

Year 9, Day 15 (Explorer 5 Mission Announced!)

October 6, 2018October 6, 2018 sayburstuff Year 9 Bill, Bob, Explorer 5, Explorer Program, Val

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.

Year 9, Day 14 (Explorer 4 Returns Home!)

September 29, 2018 sayburstuff Year 9 Dres, Explorer 4, Explorer Program, Orlas, Robart, Val

After a very, very long mission, the Explorer 4 crew enters Kerbin’s sphere of influence!

Hold on everyone, we’re going to be going in pretty fast!!

-Val

Indeed, Explorer 4 is going so fast that Robart and Orlas blackout during re-entry! Thankfully Val is one tough Kerbal, and keeps conscious through it all!