Horizon 7 has a perfect take off!
After the 4 boosters detach (and fly away perfectly, for once) Jeb pilots the rocket into a 90k orbit. Still manually..
Horizon 7 hangs out in space for a short time before heading home!
The new heat shield seems to be working very well!
Perfect water landing! Jeb is quickly rescued, and Mitster gets ready for his own flight!
Horizon 5 blasts off! This should be a eventful mission… the first EVA (extra-vehicular-activity)… actually stepping out of the Horizon pod into space! After reaching a very stable 100k orbit (and ensuring the engine throttle is in the LOCKED position), Jebediah steps out!
“Wow! Kerbin looks so… small!” What a historic mission! Time to come home though… Jebediah sets down in the ocean west of KSC. One of these days they’ll land on target!
Construction starts on 3 – yes, THREE Horizon-A rockets! Horizon 5 will tenatively be piloted by Jeb, Horizon 6 by Mitster, and Horizon 7 by Val!
After days and days of experiments and simulations, KSEA’s best and brightest think they have a good design… the Horizon-A rocket, which has even MORE solid boosters. Thankfully, the upgraded launch platform should be able to withstand the awesome explosive power of the rocket’s engines! Construction begins on two of the rockets, tentatively to be named Horizon 3 and 4. Jebediah will take the first one up, followed by Valentina!
If things go well planning can begin on even bigger missions!
Meanwhile, another new pilot has been found that just might have the right stuff! Mitster is welcomed to the team!
After a night of overzealous partying, KSEA staff agree to launch two more Horizon rockets – and hire a few new pilots! The plan is to have a core group of experienced pilots for future missions. Scores of excited Kerbals are expected to volunteer!
The Horizon Rocket is carefully rolled out to the launchpad, and Jebediah climbs up it to the cockpit.
Blast off! The rocket soars through the clouds!
After the first two stages eject, the command module fuels the rest of the burn, reaching an apoapsis of 70,100 – a new record! The curvature of Kerbin is clearly evident at this height, and Jeb reports that his lungs and eyes still function – quite a relief to some of the scientists at the space program!
After coasting the remaining fuel is spent to ensure a smooth re-entry angle!
Eventually Jeb (and gravity) take the Horizon 1 capsule back to Kerbin’s surface, where the pod is rescued and all the wonderful science is scooped out of the collectors!
Kerbal States | Kerbin Space Exploration Administration 