Discovery detaches from Kerbin Spaceport!
“Systems are go for the transit to Mun!”
-Orlas
Discovery’s powerful monopropelleant RCS thrusters move the ship to a safe distance from the Spaceport, and then the nuclear reactor is powered up!
“All systems appear nominal – power is at 100 percent – we’re good to fire the main engines! “
-Bill
“Course set – Lithium flow confirmed… Magneto-plasma-dynamic thrusters at full!”
-Jeb
Discovery moves away from the station, away from Kerbin… and toward Mun!
The Jool Vb rocket launches from the space center, carrying Discovery to orbit!
The orbital maneuvering stage activates, circularizing the orbit and beginning the rendezvous to the Spaceport!
Meanwhile, the protective fairings deploy…
… and Discovery’s communication dish unfolds!
“So far so good!”
-Gene, at Mission Control
For the docking manuever it’s decided an experienced pilot should take Discovery’s controls, so Edan EVA’s over to the ship!
Ok – I’m outside the station, and heading over!
-Edan
Edan expertly pilots his EVA suit over to Discovery!
Wow! This is one big ship! I can’t wait to pilot it!
-Edan
Once inside Edan switches on the external lights and ejects the orbital stage!
OK – I’m going to fly Discovery over to the other side of the station.
-Edan
For a ship this size, it handles surprisngly well! Must be those extra large RCS thrusters!
-Edan
Edan lines Discovery up to the docking section…
… and connects! 4 different Kerbal States spacecraft are now docked with the station, Discovery, a Mk7 Aurora Crew Vehicle, a Crew Transport Shuttle, and Explorer 5!
Alright! Let’s start getting Discovery ready for her maiden voyage!
-Edan
Intrepid blasts off from the Space Center, carrying Edan and Bill to Kerbin Spaceport! They’ll meet Orlas and train together for Crewed Mission 1 (CM1) of the Discovery!
“OK – rendezvous course set to Kerbin Spaceport!”
-Edan
Edan docks Intrepid with the Spaceport! 3 different spacecraft are now docked – with a fourth on the way – Discovery!
Val, Bill, and Bob board Adventure! Edan will pilot them back to the Space Center, since Val is still recovering from the long cryo-sleep!
Adventure streaks through the atmosphere!
“Trajectory seems good so far – hold on everyone!”
-Edan
Edan performs a few manuevers to adjust the heading – Adventure‘s air brakes had to be used in pulses to slow the craft down – a few timed bursts of the engines accelerate the craft so it won’t land short of the Space Center!
“Ok. Adventure is in the pipe – five by five!”
-Edan
Adventure lands, returning the Explorer 5 crew to Kerbin! KSEA scientists begin collecing the data brought back, and Val, Bill, and Bob head to the Astronaut Complex to recover! Meanwhile, the crew shuttle is recovered and begins repairs and refits for it’s next launch!
Explorer 5 enters Kerbin’s sphere of gravitational influence, and automatic systems revive the crew!
“Mission Control, this is Val – Bob and Bill are in good shape, and so am I! Explorer 5 is approaching Kerbin, and looking at our sensors I think we’re good for entering orbit!”
-Val
“Explorer 5 – this is Gene – that’s great! Are you sure about skipping the splashdown/flyby procedure?”
-Gene
“Roger that! Explorer 5 has enough fuel to enter orbit and even dock with Kerbin Spaceport!”
-Val
“Permission granted Explorer 5 – good luck!”
-Gene
Explorer 5 fires it’s engine and enters Kerbin’s orbit!
Mission Control, Explorer 5 has achieved Kerbin Orbit! Proceeding to Kerbin Spaceport!
-Val
Cheers fill Mission Control over Val’s broadcast! This is a big day for KSEA – NO interplanetary spacecraft has ever returned to Kerbin orbit before!
“Explorer 5, this is Edan on Kerbin Spaceport. You are tracking good and cleared for approach!”
-Edan
Val manuevers Explorer 5 closer and closer to the Spaceport…
“Almost there….”
-Val
Ka-Chunk! Whirrrrrrrr….Explorer 5 connects with Kerbin Spaceport!
“Welcome home! Sorry about the mess, we weren’t expecting guests!”
-Edan
Explorer 5’s crew will rest for a day, then return to Kerbin onboard the Crew Shuttle Adventure!
Explorer 6 blasts off from the space center!
In orbit, the fairing deploys. Looks like a good launch! That means the the crew can head up! 
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
The Crew Shuttle Launch Vehicle seperates and heads back to Kerbin, while Adventure finishes it’s climb to orbit!
Orbit achieved – shouldn’t be too long before we rendevous!
-Edan
Adventure moves in for the rendevous…
Almost there!
Connection! Mitster, Glenica, and Sean transfer over and begin pre-flight inspections of Explorer 6!
“Everything checks out! Let’s light this candle!”
-Mitster
“Adventure is undocking – good luck Explorer 6!”
-Edan
Explorer 6 fires its engines and heads away from Kerbin!
Before long Explorer 6 is past Kerbin’s sphere of gravitational influence.
Alright everybody, time for CryoStasis! See you guys in a few minutes!
-Glenica
“Ok – my turn! ”
-Sean
“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!
Meanwhile, Adventure is heading to Kerbin Spaceport for the second leg of it’s mission, to return crew from the Spaceport back to Kerbin!
After rendevous with the station, Mirphe moves Adventure in to dock!
“Alright, lining up for docking!”
-Edan
Connection looks good Edan! Welcome to Kerbin Spaceport!
-Orlas
The science crew on Kerbin Spaceport announce the Kuarq experiment is ready to return to Kerbin! The Aurora Payload Vehicle detaches…
… and heads to the surface!
The spacecraft lands just 30k from the Spaceport ! Science staff at KSEA are pleased to report a great deal of science was recovered from the experiment! Engineers note that the Payload Vehicle could use another design pass, as it handled very poorly during docking maneuvers.
Another Science Payload launches for Kerbin Spaceport! It is unknown what kind of repeated results can be gained from the Cyclotron, this mission will find out!
The payload vehicle has been slightly redesigned, with an updated docking adapter to allow closer docking to the cyclotron itself.
The vehicle docks with the station and the crew starts studying the results on the study canisters!
The Aurora Payload Vehicle separates from Kerbin Spaceport, carrying with it the kuarq experiment payloads!
The APV does its descent burn, and begins falling through the atmosphere… faster and faster… until Mission Control notices a critical problem.
“Oh no. I think we forgot to add parachutes to the ACV!”
-Gene
The ACV falls into the mountains west of the Space Center at terminal velocities… the entire vehicle is utterly destroyed! Thankfully crewed missions are reviewed more carefully! Construction begins at once on a new APV!
Piloted by Mirphe, an ACV launches from KSC carrying Orlas and Kimmy to Kerbin Spaceport to lead the team working on the Cyclotron!
The Mk7 ACV is proving to be a very reliable and capable space vehicle!
Mirphe rendevouses the ACV with Kerbin Spaceport…
…and docks! Orlas and Kimmy transfer over, and then Kimmy undocks the ACV!
Time for the second part of the ACV mission… a quick trip to Minmus!
-Mirphe
KSEA is sending Mirphe to Harmony Space Station at Minmus to recover Tamre, who has been taking part in one of KSEA’s long term space habitation studies. (KSEA again stressed that this did not mean anyone forgot about Harmony Space Station or Tamre onboard!)
Kerbal States | Kerbin Space Exploration Administration 