Year 10, Day (Mirphe Flies Endeavor to Rescue Jeb from KSS)

May 10, 2019May 10, 2019 sayburstuff Year 10 CTS-2 Endeavor, Jeb, Kerbin Space Station, Mirphe

The Endavor launches, piloted by Mirphe!

It’s time to (finally) rescue Jeb from the KSS, and bring an end to that station’s remarkable run!

“Orbit achieved! Setting course for the KSS! ”

-Mirphe

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“Endeavor is at the KSS! Moving in to dock… ”

-Mirphe

“Is that you Mirphe? Come on in the atmosphere is fine!!”

-Jeb

High above Kerbin’s deserts, Endeavor spins around (always a good trick!) and docks with the station! Jeb helps Mirphe gather all the important Science that needs to return to Kerbin, and the two return to the Crew Shuttle and undock!

Endeavor is clear of the station – preparing to return to KSC!

-Mirphe

The two watch out the cabin windows as the KSS gets further and further away…

“I’m going to miss that place – it was our home away from home. Now it looks so … small. ”

-Jeb

Endeavor performs its de-orbit burn, and starts to descend!

“Here we goooooooo!”

-Jeb

Endeavor falls from the sky like a comet, glowing red and moving fast!

“I see the Space Center – I’m in the pipe, five by five!”

-Mirphe

A successful landing! The Crew Shuttle didn’t even lose any of the aero-brakes!

“Good landing Mirphe, couldn’t have done better myself!”

-Jeb

“Is it good to be home Jeb?”

-Mirphe

“It’s good to get off that station.. I think I was getting a little stir crazy in there! But I can’t wait for the next mission!”

-Jeb

Jeb and Mirpe return to the Astronaut Center, and recovery crews begin work to ready Endeavor for its next launch!

Year 9, Day 25 (Kerbin Spaceport Announced!)

October 7, 2018October 8, 2018 sayburstuff Year 9 Blueprints, Kerbin, Kerbin Space Station, Kerbin Spaceport

Kerbin Spaceport Blueprint.png

Kerbin Spaceport.png KSEA announces plans for a new space station in orbit of Kerbin – a Kerbin Spaceport! The new station is intended to replace the existing Kerbin Space Station.

Development has only just begun, however the facility is being designed as a jumping off point for missions to deep space, with new and shinier science facilities!

Perhaps most importantly will be the addition of a logistics hub, which will automate fueling missions to the new Spaceport! The core of the new station will be launched on a Jool IV rocket. Once the budget allows construction will commence at once!

Year 6, Day 1 (Enterprise Upgrades KSS Power & Solar Systems!)

July 14, 2017July 14, 2017 sayburstuff Year 5 Chrisnic, HCS-2 Enterprise, Kerbin Space Station, KSS Upgrades, Val, White Mesa

Val and Chrisnic blast off in Enterprise, delivering the long promised second power and solar expansion to the station!

Chrisnic, one of the most experienced engineers on the KSEA team will supervise the installation!

The module remotely guides itself into position…

Then Chrisnic leaves Enterprise to investigate!

Deploying solar arrays! Wow! These are huge! Both deployed perfectly. Returning to Enterprise!

-Chrisnic

Enterprise departs! The Heavy Cargo Shuttle will be trying something new today, landing at White Mesa! The shuttle will then be flown back to the VAB for repairs and to be readied for its next launch!

Enterprise does its “belly flop” manuever to slow down its reentry….

Then glides to the runway!

A great landing! Val and Chrisnic rest up for their next mission!

Year 5, Day 19 (Intrepid Launches on KSS Repair/Upgrade Mission!)

June 27, 2017June 27, 2017 sayburstuff Year 4 Chrisnic, CTS-3 Intrepid, Dunwin, Kerbin Space Station, KSS Upgrades, Problems, Val

Intrepid blasts off, taking up to the KSS, with a cargo bay full of ladders!

It takes a lot of work.. but Chrisnic and Dunwin are eventually able to install both the ladders and grip surfaces as well as the new module’s solar panels, and even add some decorative lights! Decorative safety lights.

The new panels deploy succesffuly!

“Well, will you look at that! Those are some big solar panels!”

-Dunwin

After a … mostly… successful mission, Enterprise prepares to head back to Kerbin. Edan will take the craft down himself, while Chrisnic will stay on the KSS to train!

Edan lines up a perfect landing…

… and sets down! Edan is developing a reputation for being a no-nonsense pilot that can handle pretty much anything that comes his way!

Year 4, Day 396 (KSS Crew Rotation!)

June 18, 2017June 18, 2017 sayburstuff Year 4 Bob, CTS-2 Endeavor, Jeb, Kerbin Space Station, Orlas, Robart, Shepley, Val

Endeavor completes a minor refit to its orbital maneuvering system. Ever since the rear cargo addition was added to the Crew Shuttles orbital handling has been off, it’s hoped that this update will make the craft easier to control during docking! In addition, air brakes developed during the Heavy Cargo Shuttle Program have been scaled down, and installed on Endeavor. Hopefully they assist in landing safety!

Today, Val pilots Endeavor to orbit, taking Robart and Orlas up to the KSS for a crew rotation! This might be the last launch to make use of the lower docking ports on the KSS, as engineers are designing a new Observation Lounge for the station, based on designs developed for Explorer 3! Getting the huge addition into space will help test how practical it will be for the Explorer crew!

Endeavor arrives at the KSS!

“This new orbital maneuvering system works a LOT better than the old design. We should refit the rest of the Crew Shuttles ASAP!”

-Val

Shepley, Jeb, Bob depart in the Intrepid, which is due for its own upgrades once it returns to Kerbin!

Jeb soars Intrepid down to the runway…

…for a perfect landing!

“Let’s get this thing refitted… I can’t wait to try out the new design!”

-Jeb

Year 4, Day 196 (Space Taxi Announced)

May 27, 2017May 27, 2017 sayburstuff Year 4 Blueprints, Kerbin Space Station, KSS Upgrades, Space Taxi

Engineers are excited to announce a new service vehicle that will soon be sent up to the Kerbin Space Station – the Orbital Crew Transfer Vehicle, or as it as become better known, the Space Taxi.

The small vehicle will allow much larger craft the ability to move crew without to and from the station, without dangerous docking maneuvers.

Construction begins on two Space Taxis, which will be launched on a Heavy Cargo Shuttle very soon!

Year 4, Day 129 (KSS Crew Rotation)

May 22, 2017May 24, 2017 sayburstuff Year 4 CTS-1 Adventure, CTS-3 Intrepid, Kerbin Space Station

Jeb, Bob, and Shepley head up in the Intrepid!

“Those new Cargo Shuttles are impressive, but I missed the the handling on these crew shuttles – good little ships!”

-Jeb

Intrepid arrives at the KSS! Once docked, Edan, Robary, and Kimmy hop onto Adventure, and leave the station! Meanwhile, space novice Shepeley with veterans Jeb and Bob, take command of the Station! Adventure heads down to the surface… fast!

“Ok – I see the runway! Lining up for landing!”

-Edan

Thankfully, Edan sets the craft down (right before they run out of safe runway!) Another successful crew rotation of the KSS

Year 4, Day 124 (Resolute’s First Launch!)

May 21, 2017May 21, 2017 sayburstuff Year 4 HCS-1 Resolute, Kerbin Space Station, KSS Upgrades

The Heavy Cargo Shuttle Resolute is ready for its first launch! Since this is a prototype, and the vehicle doesn’t have a computer controlled navigation system, KSEA wants to be cautious and only launch one Kerbal.

Jeb and Val argue for sometime about who will get to be the first pilot, but Jeb wins “rock paper scissors” and will be the first pilot!

Resolute blasts off!

“Going good so far… just like the simulations!”

-Jeb

Everyone at the Space Center is tense as the launch continues! Resolute glides through its gravity turn, and moves to circularize!

The Launcher separates, and heads back down to Kerbin to get recovered!

“That was quite the kick! Circularizing orbit now!”

-Jeb

“At desired orbit – 70k! Leaves me with about 500 d/v for orbital maneuvering!”

-Jeb

Jeb begins burns to rendezvous with the Kerbin Space Station!

Success! Once at the station, Resolute’s cargo doors open…

and the Docking Module leaves the shuttle – guided remotely!

The Docking module moves away from Resolute, toward the station… …and docks!

Jeb pilots Resolute in to test out the new docking module!

“Yikes! You get an idea of how big this Shuttle is when you get close to the Station!”

-Jeb

Everyone at the Space Center cheers! Resolute takes a ride around Kerbin, docked to the Space Station. Jeb says hi to everyone – and prepares for the next, and probably most dangerous part of the mission… reentry and landing!

The Heavy Cargo Shuttle undocks…

Then Resolute closes its cargo bays!

“Mission Control – this is Resolute! I’m coming down!”

-Jeb

Resolute heads through the atmosphere, then starts its approach to the Space Center!

“I’m in the pipe… five by five!”

-Jeb

Jeb poses in front of the Heavy Cargo Shuttle Resolute. Well done – mission success! Resolute will be brought in and refurbished for its next flight!

Year 4, Day 77

May 14, 2017May 17, 2017 sayburstuff Year 4 Kerbin Space Station, Kerbin Surveyor, KSS Upgrades

With multiple rockets under assembly at KSC, most Kerbals are having trouble remembering exactly which project is coming up next!

Multiple Surveyor vehicles are almost complete, as is a new expansion to the KSS – a new Habitat and Docking module. The new module will replace the current docking module on the KSS, to make room for an upgraded habitat/cupola module that engineers promise will be ‘super cool.”

In the meantime, the next Surveyor rocket launches! This new satellite should provide unparalleled looks at the surface of Kerbin… in really great details!