Gene

Year 24, Day 7 (Aurora 30 Departs toward Minmus!)

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In orbit, the Aurora 30 mission is getting ready to depart Kerbin!

Aurora 30 Mission Summary

  • Crew: Mission Commander Malcolm, Tourists: Urberry, Guswin, Siski
  • Mission: Crewed mission to Minmus. Reach orbit, land on surface, return to Kerbin!

“Decoupling… starting transposition maneuver…“
-Malcolm

“Moving in to dock…“
-Malcolm

The spacecraft docks! Fortunately, Lobert watching at Mission Control, notices something is off in the mission parameters!

“So I did the math guys… I am pretty sure they don’t have enough DeltaV to complete the mission with that rover attached!“
-Rozer

The rest of the Space Center engineering staff looks at the numbers… Lobert is right!

““Everybody secure? Disconnecting docking clamps!“We have some sharp eyed Kerbals down here Aurora 30! Lobert spotted some problems… you need to eject that rover! And after that … we’ll need you to do the transfer burn using the lander engines!“
-Gene, at Mission Control

“Roger that… nice work Lobert! Detaching the rover!““Moving in to dock…“”
-Malcolm

Next, everyone holds on as the lander’s engine fires!

“Um, should our eyes feel like this??“
-Guswin

“We don’t normally point the spacecraft this way when we fire engines… I think we’ll be fine though… I think!”
-Malcolm

Aurora 30 soars off toward Minmus! In just a few days the first tourism mission will arrive!

Year 24, Day 6 (Aurora 30 Crew Launches!)

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After a short training period, the winners of the planet-wide raffle Urberry, Guswin, and Siski board the Aurora 30 Crew Vehicle – piloted by veteran pilot Malcolm!

Aurora 30 Mission Summary

  • Crew: Mission Commander Malcolm, Tourists: Urberry, Guswin, Siski
  • Mission: Crewed mission to Minmus. Reach orbit, land on surface, return to Kerbin!

“Oh wow! I can’t believe we’re going to Minmus!“
-Siski

“OK – hold on everyone! Liftoff!”
-Val

“Ahhhhhh!“
-Siski

Year 24, Day 1 (Odyssey Leaves Kerbin, Heading to Sarnus and Tekto!)

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In orbit of Kerbin, Jeb, Shepley, and Gillian prepare the newly commissioned Deep Space Vehicle Odyssey to leave orbit!

“What a great way to kick off the start of a New Year! Jeb, you are clear to depart… Odyssey good luck Odyssey!“

-Gene, supervising at Mission Control

“Just about finished checking all the scientific instrumentation! We’re good!”
-Shepley

DSV-5 Crew Mission 1 – Tekto Exploration

  • Crew: Mission Commander Jeb, Mission Scientist Shepely, Mission Engineer, Gillian .
  • Mission: Explore and if possible land on Tekto!
  • Result: Mission in Progress

“OK – science good! Gillian, reactors ready? We’re going to need every bit of those reactors energy to power two of these LF-9 engines!“
-Jeb

“Radiators are on, showing cooling has started!   Starting reactors 1 and 2… port reactor climbing to 100 percent power. Starboard reactor same…. both reactors are showing full power!  -Gillian

With pre-flight checks complete, Jeb undocks from Crew Vehicle 4! With a loud clunk and some whirs, the two craft detach, and start to drift away from each other. With a brief reverse thrust of Odyssey’s RCS system, Jeb gives the ship a good distance for maneuvering!

“We are clear! Preparing course for burn to Sarnus!“
-Jeb

“I show full power to the engines! Temperatures nominal.. I show good for burn!
-Gillian

“Just about finished checking all the scientific instrumentation!”
-Shepley

“OK – Pedal to the metal! Thrust at 100 percent!“
-Jeb

The two colossal LF-9 engines fire! Powered by two Discovery class reactor assemblies together generating 6,000 e/c per second this is the first time TWO have been run simultaneously on a spacecraft!

“Things are heating up… but we are still within mission parameters!“
-Gillian

After quite a long burn, Jeb throttles down! Odyssey is now rocketing away – heading right toward an intercept with Sarnus!

“Trajectory looks good everybody! Just a little under three years and we’ll be at Sarnus!“
-Jeb

“I checked the cryo-systems during the burn! Glykerol levels are good, and the freezing systems are ready to go! “
-Shepley

Everyone locks their stations, and heads to the aft of the crew compartment!

“Brr! It’s always so cold in the cryo-chambers! Let’s get this space-nap going! “
-Gillian

“Oh – the deep space relays have been deployed too! See you guys in orbit of Sarnus!“
-Shepley

“Communications are good Odyssey – we’ll see you soon!“
-Gene, supervising at Mission Control

After triple checking the ‘wake up’ timer is correct, the crew enters cryo-sleep for the trip to Sarnus!

Kerbin Space Exploration Administration | Space Program Funding

Funding / IncomeCosts
Next Funding Period: – 8 daysSpace Center Costs: -136,000
Current Reputation: 453Assigned Kerbal Wages: – 65,000
Unassigned Kerbal Wages: -5000
Estimated Gross Funding: + 905,459Vessel Maintenance: -108,204
Project Reserve: +175,747 (savings)Launch Costs: -222,426
Estimated Net Funding:+368,829 (available)

Gillian

Year 23, Day 415 (Seeker-1 Crew Launches Crew Vehicle to Investigate Mysterious Satellite!)

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For the past month, Space Center Tracking Stations have been detecting an unknown signal in Kerbin orbit! Engineers have a strong suspicion that it is one of the many spacecrafts or satellites that were launched before KSEA was created by the Kerbal States!

While not technically an Aurora mission (those are missions specifically for Mun and Minmus) the mission still needed a name, and Seeker was chosen!

Seeker-1 will utilize Aurora and Crew Vehicle hardware to discover whatever it is that’s in orbit of Kerbin! Malcolm, Gillian, and Lobert get ready for launch!

“There’s only one way to be sure what’s up there – we’ll have to send a crew! This should be a good test of the new Mk3 Crew Vehicle!”
-Gene, at Mission Control

“I’ve got lots of repair kits packed up! Snacks too!”
-Gillian

“Hold on everyone… launch in 3…2…1!”
-Malcolm

“Systems looking good… we are approaching maximum dynamic pressure on the spacecraft… “
-Malcolm

The solid rocket boosters detach…

…and once orbit is achieved the Crew Vehicle detaches!

“Mission Control has good comms with the N-8 booster… sending the landing signal now!”
-Gene, at Mission Control

While the Seeker-1 crew prepares for a mission to the mysterious satellite, the N-8 Booster starts it’s descent!

“Uh oh. Telemetry is off. Emergency everyone! Hold on tight!”
-Gene, at Mission Control

Everyone in the Space Center gets to emergency positions – the booster’s trajectory is off and it’s heading right toward the VAB!

There isn’t enough thrust to slow the craft down! The VAB shakes violently as the booster rockets overhead, just meters away from the Vehicle Assembly Building!

With a mighty explosion, the Nebula III Booster N-8 detonates right next to the path used to move vehicles to the launchpad! Bits of the rocket go flying in every direction!

“Status report people! Get damage control and repair crews out there! Seeker 1 are you stable? Can you standby?”
-Gene, at Mission Control

“Everything on Seeker 1 is nominal – we are good waiting – break out the snacks everyone!”
-Malcolm

As the final bits and parts of the N-8 Booster roll to a stop, teams are dispatched to check out the damage, and pick up the mess!

Year 23, Day 408 (DSV-6 Odyssey Launches to Orbit!)

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After a very long wait, construction and stack integration of DSV-6 Odyssey is complete and the truly massive rocket is rolled out to the launch pad! Nova launches are rare, and large crowds turned up at the space center to watch!

“All right people… this might be the biggest and most expensive rocket ever launched but you’re professionals and you know what to do!”
-Gene supervising the launch at Mission Control

“I can’t wait to fly Odyssey.. I hope the launch goes OK!”
-Malcolm

As the countdown approaches launch the space center gets silent in anticipation. Finally, the count reaches zero and…

The Space Center shakes as the massive Nova Rocket takes off!

“Go Odyssey!  Woohoo!“
-Glenica, watching with the rest of the Spacedock crew in orbit!

As the Nova Rocket carrying Odyssey rises into the sky ground crews carefully track the launch!

In orbit, the fairing ejects and the spacecraft fires its orbital stage engines to circularize the orbit!

“Communications good, telemetry good… Odyssey is right where she is supposed to be! Nice work team!”
-Gene supervising the launch at Mission Control

The enormous cost, complexity, and danger of launching these mega-spacecraft from the space center has been quite a strain!

Besides the fantastic costs, the space center itself was tied up for almost a year building Odyssey.  

“The Nova Rocket itself costs almost a million to launch!  With the cost of each DSV approaching 2 million!”
-Gillian, watching from Spacedock

Serious consideration is now being given to constructing an orbital assembly yard! 

KSEA projects a need for the construction of at least one new DSV every year, which includes possibly retiring some ships in the current fleet! 

“Not sure how to do it, but we need to find a way to get more Kerbals into deep space – the Space Center can’t handle this many super-duper-heavy launches!”
-Gene

DSV-6 Odyssey

  • Vessel Mass: 177.916 t
  • DSV Cost: 1,968,922
  • Nova Rocket Cost: 751,858
  • Total Cost: 2,720,780

Year 23, Day 406  (Crew Vehicle Mk3 Announced!)

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With the construction of the latest Crew Vehicle 8 (CV-8) KSEA engineers took  the opportunity to overhaul and refine the spacecraft!

With the Mk3 Crew Vehicle KSEA is retiring the “Nebula” name to avoid confusion with other similarly named systems.  Going forward the craft will simply be called a “Crew Vehicle” with differentiations indicated with the “mark” number!

“We have some missions coming up that are simply going to need more range – we think the mk3 Crew Vehicle is going to provide that!”
-Gene, speaking at the Space Center

Year 23, Day 402 (Resupply Mission to Aurora Base on Mun!)

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Oxygen reserves and snacks at Aurora Base on Mun are running low!

“I think we have about a month left of supplies – hopefully there is a rocket ready to deliver something soon!”
-Dunwin

Aurora Base (Mun) Mission Summary

  • Crew: Mission Commander: Orlas. Science Team: Orlas and Luly. Engineering Team: Dunwin, Bill.
  • Mission: Prototype off-world research habitat. Designed to train KSEA crews, test KSEA equipment and procedures for future bases and some day colonies.

Thankfully – there is! With the construction of the Neidon III rockets and their very fast turnaround, multiple Sarnus-class payload capable rockets are ready. The Mobile Resupply Vehicle that was developed (and sat in storage) until now is loaded onto N-4!

“Don’t worry everyone – we’ve been preparing for this and have a rocket on standby!”
-Gene, enjoying a refreshing beverage at Mission Control!

Later in the day, N-4 blasts off from the launch pad!

The re-usable Neidon rockets with their upgraded landing systems are anticipated to overtake the Sarnus-V rocket as record holder for “most launched!” They regularly break records for re-usability!

N-4 continues to rise, reaching an apoapsis of 100k – then continuing on to a near circular orbit!

The protective fairing detaches…

… and the Mobile Resupply Vehicle detaches!

“OK – let’s land that rocket!”
-Gene

N-4 streaks through the atmosphere!

Ground telescopes capture the re-entry heading toward the space center!

Finally the rocket slows down just above the landing site, and slowly descends!

“A little too close to the space center! Landed in one peice though – that’s good!”
-Lobert, watching the landing from the VAB roof!

In orbit, the Munar transfer stage shows full power and communications…

… the engines fire!

“Hold on Aurora Base – your resupply is on the way!”
-Gene

Year 23 Day 400 (Construction Update on Odyssey!)

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DSV-6 Odyssey’s hull has been fully assembled, and its nuclear reactors have been integrated!

“Looking good everyone! The Nova Rocket is nearly complete too! This is gonna be one big rocket when it launches!”
-Gene, visiting the VAB floor where Odyssey is under construction

Despite its massive size Odyssey’s construction consists of several well tested components: The engines, reactors, and radiator assemblies are the same design as the Discovery and Horizon class DSVs.

The central fuel hull is the same octo-hull components that are used in the Refueling barges, and the cargo bay is an extended version of the existing Cargo Bays used in the Horizon DSVs! The only completely new component is the crew and command section!

Full system integration and testing should be done by the end of the year!  

Year 23, Day 344 (Aurora 29 Returns Home From Mun!)

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Orbiting Mun, Aurora 29 Crew Vehicle and its VINCENT lander undock!

“Docking clamps show clear… reverse thrusters firing!”
-Summer

Aurora 29 drifts away from its lander!  Once they are a few hundred meters away Summer begins plotting the return course to Kerbin!

Aurora 29 Mission Summary

  • Crew: Mission Commander Summer, Mission Scientist Gilian, Mission Engineer, Lobert .
  • Mission: Crewed mission to Mun. Land near Polar Mun Crater on Mun, perform scan with large scanning arm, return data to Kerbin.

“We are clear of the lander!  Course input to the computer – Gilian can you verify that? Should be a 100km approach before circ…”
-Summer

Gilian, the mission Science Specialist, double checks Summer’s planned maneuver!

“Calculations look good!  Looks like a close approach at 100km – fuel levels are good to circularize the orbit!”
-Gillian

Lobert thinks about the conversation he just heard, and asks a question!

“Wouldn’t it save fuel and time to just calculate the re-entry so we approach directly into the atmosphere, and skip the circularization burn?”
-Lobert

Summer nods and shows Lobert how the math works for that!  After a few minutes…

“See? It takes a long time, and it’s really complicated!  Fuel is cheap so we usually don’t bother with it!”
-Summer

“That makes sense! I suppose that it’s a little safer too since we can can maneuver to Spacedock if needed too!”
-Lobert

As the spacecraft approaches Kerbin the crew prepares for the circularization burn!

At an altitude of 100km Aurora 29’s engine fires!

“Engine burn is good. Temperatures nominal!”
-Lobert

“Burn complete! Orbit looks good – Mission Control we have arrived in Kerbin Orbit – verify you are good for craft re-entry?”
-Summer

“We have you on radar! Ground crews are standing by for recovery – you are good for landing!”
-Gene at Mission Control

Summer fires the engines again, and then detaches the CRV’s command module!

“Hold on!  It gets a little bumpy from here!”
-Gillian

Ground telescopes track Aurora 29’s re-entry – it looks like a big ball of fire and plasma! The engine and fuel module of the CRV can be seen burning up in the atmosphere as well!

After the firey re-entry, the parachutes deploy from the CRV!

“Almost home!  All we have to do now is wait until we touch down!”
-Summer

After the firey re-entry, the parachutes deploy from the CRV!

“Hey I can see the VAB out the window!  What a great ride!”
-Lobert

The CRV sets down just west of the Space Center!

“Welcome home Aurora 29!  Recovery crews are the way!”
–Gene at Mission Control

Year 23, Day 325 (N-4 Booster Returns to Kerbin After Aurora 29 Mission!)

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As the Aurora 29 crew prepare for their transit to Mun, Mission Control supervises the return of the N-4 booster!

Using RCS thrusters, the N-4 Neidon Rocket drifts to a safe distance from the Crew Vehicle and then fires a precise short burst to return to Kerbin!

“Re-entry has started, tracking give me status on trajectories!
-Gene

N-4 Soars through the atmosphere, heating up as it hurtles toward the Space Center!

The rocket transitions from hypersonic speeds to subsonic! The gear deploys…

… and the booster slowly approaches the Space Center!

“Looking good! Stay focused, that Booster is almost home!”
-Gene

The booster touches down! Despite the excellent performance of the Neidon II, work is already underway to upgrade the booster with more capable landing gear!

“That’s right – the Neidon rocket is getting another rework! We’re pretty sure this will be the last one for a while, but we’re going to upgrade the landing gear and add a reserve fuel tank to the craft. Hopefully this gets rid of the lingering instability some of the rockets have had! ”
-Gene

Work is already underway on “Neidon III” !