Jool

Year 12, Day 92 (Pathfinder 1 Orbits Laythe!)

sayburstuff Year 12 , , ,

screenshot545.pngPathfinder 1 manuevers to enter a polar orbit of Laythe at an altitude of 242k.  This will be an ideal orbit to release the orbital scanner probe!

screenshot553.png

The orbital scanner ejects from the Tri-Probe mount…

screenshot554.png

… extends it’s solar array and begins mapping the surface!

screenshot555.png

Once a sufficient scan is complete, KSEA will determine the ideal landing coordinates for the two probes onboard Pathfinder 1!

screenshot556.png

In the meantime, Pathfinder 1 is instructed to reduce its orbit to 60k… an orbit KSEA engineers and scientists predict will be the best to deploy the surface probes from!

 

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

sayburstuff Year 11 , , , , , , , , ,

screenshot487.png

Explorer 6 blasts off from the space center!

screenshot490.png

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

screenshot498.png

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

screenshot502.png

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

-Edan

screenshot504.png

Adventure moves in for the rendevous…

screenshot505.png

Almost there!

screenshot506.png

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

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

-Mitster

screenshot507.png

“Adventure is undocking – good luck Explorer 6!”

-Edan

screenshot508.png

Explorer 6 fires its engines and heads away from Kerbin!

screenshot517.png

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

screenshot518.png

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

-Glenica

screenshot519.png

“Ok – my turn! ”

-Sean

screenshot520.png

“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!

screenshot521.png

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

screenshot523.png

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

“Alright, lining up for docking!”

-Edan

screenshot525.png

Connection looks good Edan!  Welcome to Kerbin Spaceport!

-Orlas

 

Explorer6Patch

 

 

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

sayburstuff Year 11 , , , , , ,

Explorer6Patch.png

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 9, Day 100 (Explorer 5 Construction!)

sayburstuff Year 9 , , , , , , , ,

Explorer 5 Cryo Crew Vehicle.png

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 8, Day 62 (Pathfinder 1 Officially Announced!)

sayburstuff Year 8 , , ,

pathfinder1.png

The Pathfinder Mission is announced!  After a long development period KSEA is confident that Pathfinder is ready to go!

This revolutionary deep space probe is based of the Kerbol 1 and 2 probes, and will be launched to Laythe, the closest moon of Jool.

First, a scanning probe will be launched to survey the moon for appropriate landing sites. Then, two probes will land, the first designed solely for terrestrial landings, the second a multi-purpose probe that has been designed for both aquatic and terrestrial landing.