Year 13, Day 158 (Intrepid Returns Crews to Kerbin from Kerbin Spaceport!)

With the return of Explorer 5 and the test flight of Discovery the Kerbin Spaceport has gotten very crowded! Edan, Bill, Orlas, Glenica, and Sean all board CTS-3 Intrepid!

Have a good flight – you soon!”
-Gene

Edan undocks from the Spaceport, and uses RCS thrusters to reach a safe distance from the station! Gilian, Shepely, and Seely remain on the station, conducting the vitally important scientific research that must certainly occur there.

Come back soon! Bring more snacks! “
-Shepely

Intrepid fires its engines to de-orbit… then detaches the service pod that holds cargo (and provides for solar power!)

Hold on everyone! Things are about to get pretty hot!”
-Edan

Intrepid soars through the atmosphere, occasionally usings its airbrake system to slow its decent.

Once past the mountains west of the Space Center, Edan makes the final manuevers to line up for a landing!

“Edan to Mission Control… Intrepid is in the pipe, five by five!”
-Edan

Intrepid touches down on the runway!

A perfect landing! The tired Kerbals exit the Crew Shuttle to rest up for their next mission – Intrepid is recovered and undergoes minor repairs and the standard recovery process to get it ready for its next flight!

Year 13, Day 130 (Explorer 6 Update!)

Sean performs an EVA to verify the state of Explorer 6!

Everything looks fine out here! Explorer 6 seems to have held up just fine! The only major system we still need to worry about is the last stage, when we expose the LV-N Nerv engine!
-Sean

The mission specialist and chief scientist Glenica is next to head out!

What a view! It’s a shame we can’t stay longer!
-Glenica

Glenica’s continues her EVA, collecting various scientific data from Explorer 6’s extensive sensors.

That’s all of it! We should see if we have enough fuel to try transfering to the orbit of some of Jool’s other moons before we leave!
-Glenica

Year 13, Day 127 (Explorer 6 Enters Laythe Orbit!)

After a journey lasting longer than 2 years, Explorer 6 finally arrives at Laythe! Automated systems thaw the crew – who slowly wake up!

“Wow, it’s been years? It barely felt like much of a nap!”
-Glenica

Explorer 6’s engines fire, and eventually circularize the orbit around Laythe!

“Mitster to Ground Control – I’m stepping through the hatch… “
-Mitster

“Oh wow! It’s beautiful!”
-Mitster

“Ground Control to Mitster – you’ve really made the grade!”
-Gene, Mission Control

Year 13, Day 10 (Explorer 6 Update!)

In just 60 days, Explorer 6 will enter the Joolian system! Computers on the spacecraft start waking up – transmitting data on the crew: healthy, lifesigns extremely faint from cryostasis but at expected levels. Radiation levels from Jool are high, as expected. Communication systems appear sufficient, barely, for communicating with Kerbin.

Explorer 6 was launched before Discovery had even been built, to test KSEA’s deep space capabilities. Ultimately, Explorer 6 will orbit Laythe, a world that on the surface looks very much like Kerbin! Eventually KSEA wants to land Kerbals on the planet – and to do that a permanent deep space station, like Duna Spaceport, will be required! Laythe Spaceport will hopefully be a destination for Discovery, and other Deep Space Vessels!

When the mission is complete KSEA will have learned a lot about deep space exploration – vital information for the space program to continue going further and further!

Year 11, Day 129 (Explorer 6 Launch, Adventure Delivers Crew!)

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Explorer 6 blasts off from the space center!

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In orbit, the fairing deploys. Looks like a good launch!  That means the the crew can head up! screenshot493.png

During the orbit the launch pad was cleared, and CTS-1 Adventure was readied for launch, piloted by Edan!

“We’re all a little jealous you three get to be the first crew to Jool – but we know you’ll do great!”

-Edan

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The Crew Shuttle Launch Vehicle seperates and heads back to Kerbin, while Adventure finishes it’s climb to orbit!

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Orbit achieved – shouldn’t be too long before we rendevous!

-Edan

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Adventure moves in for the rendevous…

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Almost there!

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Connection!  Mitster, Glenica, and Sean transfer over and begin pre-flight inspections of Explorer 6!

“Everything checks out!  Let’s light this candle!”

-Mitster

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“Adventure is undocking – good luck Explorer 6!”

-Edan

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Explorer 6 fires its engines and heads away from Kerbin!

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Before long Explorer 6 is past Kerbin’s sphere of gravitational influence.

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Alright everybody, time for CryoStasis!  See you guys in a few minutes!

-Glenica

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“Ok – my turn! ”

-Sean

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“Ok Mission Control- Sean and Glenica are in good shape, setting timer and activating my Cryo-Pod.  Explorer 6 OUT!”

-Mitster

Explorer 6 will now run on automated pilot, reaching Jool in 1 year, 362 days!

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Meanwhile, Adventure is heading to Kerbin Spaceport for the second leg of it’s mission, to return crew from the Spaceport back to Kerbin!

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After rendevous with the station, Mirphe moves Adventure in to dock!

“Alright, lining up for docking!”

-Edan

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Connection looks good Edan!  Welcome to Kerbin Spaceport!

-Orlas

 

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Year 11, Day 112 (Explorer 6 Crew Announced!)

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With construction already underway on Explorer 6, KSEA announces the crew roster for what will be the most distant and ambitious crew mission yet – the first trip to Jool!

Mitster was the commander of the Explorer 2 mission to Duna and has a reputation as an acomplished pilot and mission commander. Glenica was the lead scientist on the Explorer 3 mission to Duna as well as several Aurora missions to Mun and Minmus.  Sean was also on Explorer 3, as the chief engineer. He was also the mission lead on MunBase One!

Many robotic probes have made the journey to Jool, laying the groundwork for the communication systems there – the mission itself is straight forward, reach Jool and return to Kerbin using the DSCCV (Deep Space Cryo-Stasis Crew Vehicle), almost identical in design to Explorer 5!

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

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

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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

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

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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!

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The return to Kerbin should take exactly one year!

Year 9, Day 19 (Explorer 3 Blasts Off From Duna’s Midland Canyon!)

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

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“Ok, we’re off!”

-Edan

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The lander reaches orbit…

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…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

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Almost there!

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Explorer 3 docks with Duna Spaceport!