Gene

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” !

Year 23, Day 315 (MPV Probe Sets Course for Minmus!)

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A nearby target is chosen for the new MPV Probe – Minmus! In addition to a full testing of the probe’s capabilities the mission will also hopefully serve as a full survey of Minmus for future colony sites.

Despite being one of the earliest bodies in the Kerbol system to be explored the site has not had a full survey done looking for water, or to find a proper site for a colony!

“First Mun and Minmus, next Duna! But the real first step is matching the inclination with Minmus!” -Gene

After the inclination with Minmus is set, the probe fires its engine to intercept Minmus!

“Just six days and we can start testing this probe in Minmus orbit!” -Gene

History: The First Kerbal Landing on Minmus!
Year 2 Day 370

Year 2, Day 370 (Aurora 7 Lands On Minmus)

Year 23, Day 312 (MPV Probe Prototype Launches to Orbit!)

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Before the Aurora 29 launch engineers wanted to test the core Neidon II rocket on a uncrewed payload – while the engine systems did not change the aerodynamics were altered  enough to warrant a test launch!

The new MPV (multi-payload-vehicle) probe was chosen to be the test-payload!

“We want to make sure Aurora 29 is a perfect launch – and that means being safe!”
–Gene

The refit Neidon Rocket (N-2) blasts off from the space center!

“Telemetry shows the rocket is behaving normally – the new aerodynamic features are having minimal impact on performance at launch!“
–Seely, Supervising from Spacedock 2

As N-2 reaches orbit the rocket seems to be performing perfectly!

The protective fairing on the probe ejects, and the MPV-Probe drifts slowly away from N-2!

Next, the rocket flips orientation using RCS, fires a precise thrust of the engines…

And begins soaring through the atmosphere!

“All departments – watch for any anomalies – how are we looking?“
-Gene, at Mission Control

“So far, so good – we are apraching the transition to subsonic …!“
–Seely, Supervising from Spacedock 2

Re-entry of the Neidon Rockets have always suffered from instabilities at the supersonic/subsonic boundary – everyone holds their breath as the rocket passes the barrier…

“Oh wow!  N-2 maintained attitude through the transition – she’s flying like a spaceplane toward landing!“
–Seely, Supervising from Spacedock 2

“Great work people!”
-Gene, at Mission Control

N-2 begins its landing burn, just east of the main launch platform!

“Landing gear is deployed… hydraulics have locked… telemetry nominal…”
–Seely, Supervising from Spacedock 2

N-2 sets down perfectly!  Crews will recover the rocket soon!

Year 23, Day 239 (DSV-2 Discovery Returns Home From Duna, Docks at Spacedock 2!)

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Approaching Kerbin, alarm bells go off on Discovery, waking up from Cryosleep, (the crew) is surprised to discover a series of interesting transmissions from Mission Control!

“Attention DSV Discovery – Spacedock has exploded!  Attempt no dockings! Everyone is evacuating now!”
-Recorded Message from Gene at the VAB

Mirphe, Seely, and Tamre are all a little shocked to say the least!

“We better listen to the rest of these recordings!”
-Mirphe

Mirphe, Seely, and Tamre are all a little shocked to say the least!

“Attention DSV Discovery – important follow up: We’re all ok but really do NOT approach Spacedock.”
-Recorded Message from Gene at the VAB

Mirphe frowns and plays the next message…

“Good News DSV Discovery! There is a new Spacedock!  Please contact Mission Control when you wake up!”
-Recorded Message from Gene at the VAB

“Let’s do our capture orbit, and figure out where to go from there!”
-Mirphe

Mirphe fires the nuclear engines and Discovery is captured into a 200k orbit of Kerbin!

“Welcome home Discovery! We have a bit of a surprise for you – a new Spacedock! Proceed to the following orbital coordinates!”
-Gene, at Mission Control

The new Spacedock, located at a lower orbit has been fully assembled, with the Lithium Fuel Depot docked and ready to refuel the Kerbal States fleet of exploration ships!

“We are coasting in reverse until we are lined up with the DSV Terminal… that’s a big station!”
-Mirphe

Discovery continues moving, relative to the station, backwards until it is lined up with the docking port. The craft is brought to station-keeping (no movement, relative to the station) before Mirphe pilots the craft into docking!

“I’ll get all the science data loaded up for a return to Kerbin!”
-Tamre

“Mirphe, looks like a great alignment with the docking port. We are good to dock!”
-Seely

Discovery moves slowly forward until the docking ports engage!

“Discovery shows a good connection!”
-Mirphe

“Confirmed Discovery! Welcome to Spacedock!”
-Sean