Kerlorf

Year 22, Day 329 (DSV-4 Endeavor Crew Explore Colony Site at Laythe!)

sayburstuff Year 22 , , , , , , , ,

Val and Robart climb into the cockpit of the Endurance, while Kerlorf squeezes into the small crew compartment at the back of the spaceplane!

“Everybody secure? Disconnecting docking clamps!”

-Val

Endurance slowly drifts away from Laythe Spaceport!

“Systems nominal – what a view!”

-Robart

The Spaceport grows smaller and smaller, set against the impressive sight of the giant green planet of Jool!

Endurance is scouting a site for a future colony on Laythe! One promising (and scenic) site is Crater Island!

“Readings show we’re on the right course – cloud cover’s still too thick for visual confirmation!”

-Val

Endurance finally drops below the clouds, and Crater Island becomes visible!

“We’re lined up with a good flat landing spot – deploying chute! Horizontal engines are switched off – activating VTOL pods!”

-Val

The spaceplane’s parachute deploys, it’s air brakes lift, and the VTOL pod doors open – providing the final bit of thrust needed for a safe landing!

Endurance touches down! Robart is the first out!

“Incredible! You’d almost forget this was another world until you look up!”

-Robart

Kerlorf plants the Kerbal States flag, and the crew sets up a camera to take the traditional “landing portrait!” The Endeavor crew will be busy for the next few days, setting up science equipment and experiments on the surface, as well as checking out the landing site!

“Ok – we have about 20 days to investigate this site – let’s get working!”

-Val

Year 22, Day 324 (DSV-4 Endeavor Arrives at Laythe Spaceport!)

sayburstuff Year 22 , , , , , , , ,

The Endeavor arrives at Laythe! Onboard systems start activating, and wakes up the crew from Cryo-sleep!

“Wake up everybody! We’re here!”
-Robart

“We’re up! Let’s get to our stations! “
-Val

Val, Robart, and Kerlorf rush to their stations, and check out the incredible views!

“Reactor levels good – all systems look OK… engine powered up! “
-Kerlorf

“OK! Maneuvering Endeavor so we can capture into Laythe orbit! “
-Kerlorf

Endeavor continues it’s approach to Laythe, until…

Val fires the main engine, capturing the spacecraft into Laythe orbit!

“Orbital entry angle is good – nice flying Val!“
-Robart

Val maneuvers Endeavor, completing its rendezvous with Laythe Spaceport!

Endeavor slowly maneuvers closer and closer to the docking port of the spaceport!

“Wow! Crazy to think the station has been waiting here for us since the last crew visited!“
-Kerlorf

“We’re lined up – slowing speed….“
-Val

With a loud mechanical “clunk!” Endeavor docks with Laythe Spaceport!

The Endeavor crew heads over to the Spaceport – getting the Laythe Spaceplane Endurance ready for a flight to the surface!

“The airs a little stale, but readings show it’s still safe!“
-Robart

“Endurance is looking good too! Once we get settled in we should be ready to head down to Laythe!“
-Kerlorf

Year 21, Day 67 (DSV-4 Endeavor Leaves Kerbin, Heading to Laythe!)

sayburstuff Year 21 , , , , , ,

Endeavor’s nuclear engine fires, and the spacecraft begins moving out of Kerbin orbit!

“All systems nominal. Power levels holding ..”

-Kerlorf

“The cryo tanks are ready once we’re away!”

-Robart

“Endeavor is on course! Preparing ship for automatic mode!”

-Val

As Endeavor heads to Laythe, KSEA prepares to launch another Spaceplane to follow the crew!

Year 21, Day 61 (DSV-4 Endeavor Crew Launches from White Mesa Facility!)

sayburstuff Year 21 , , , , , , , , ,

Crew Vehicle 2 blasts off from White Mesa, carrying Jeb, Robart, and Kerlorf! Robart and Kerlorf will be joining Val as the crew for DSV-4 Discovery’s journey to Laythe! Jeb will be taking over as station commander at Spacedock!

The Crew Vehicle reaches it’s 200k apogee, and separates from the Nebula Rocket! The Nebula Rocket turns itself around and performs it’s burn toward KSC to be recovered!

Eventually, CV2 performs it’s final rendevous with Spacedock!

“There’s Endeavor – it’s huge!”
-Robart

The crew board Endeavor… and undock!

“Turning Endeavor to match direction of travel…. transit to Jool will be in 4 days!”
-Val

The Endeavor crew get ready for their journey!

Year 20, Day 339 (Crew Vehicle 5 Launches, Crew Vehicle 2 Returns Crew from Spacedock!)

sayburstuff Year 20 , , , , , ,

Crew Vehicle 5 blasts off from White Mesa! The spacecraft has a new second stage that should increase fuel supply and allow more mission options – however the primary goal has been more precise landings at the White Mesa facility.

CV5 reaches orbit, and begins docking procedures with Spacedock!

“That new second stage looks good!”
–Edan

CV5 docks! Meanwhile, Mirphe, Edan, and Kerlorf all transfer over to CV2 and get ready to return to Kerbin!

“Spacedock this is CV2… we are clear and preparing for reentry burn once clear of the station…”
-Mirphe

The crew vehicle performs the reentry burn…

… and streaks through the atmosphere, heading towards the desert White Mesa facility!

The parachutes deploy, and CV2 heads for a landing!

“Looks like we were a little short from White Mesa – hopefully the new second stage will let us land right on target next time!”
-Mirphe

Everyone hops out of CV2 to get some fresh air, waiting for the rescue teams!

Year 20, Day 1 (Spacedock Launches!)

sayburstuff Year 20 , , , , , , ,

The new Spacedock space station launches, carried to orbit by a massive Nova Rocket!

The solid rockets eject, and the Nova Rocket continues carrying the Spacedock core into orbit

Finally, the protective aerodynamic fairing ejects, and the Spacedock core is circularized in a 200k orbit!

“That went well! Just two more launches to go!”
-Gene

As the Spacedock core launched, the launch platform was cleared and the second component was rolled out!

The docking stage launches!

“There it goes!”
-Val

The fairing ejects, and automated systems carry the station component to rendevous with the Spacedock core!

After a successful rendevous, the two halves of Spacedock move in closer and closer…

… and connects!

“Docking achieved! Now for the fuel!”
-Gene

The Modular Refuelling Vehicle launches!

The rocket circularizes…

…then ejects it’s protective aerodynamic fairing!

Next, the fuel module attaches to Spacedock!

“That’s it! Now its time to send up a crew!”
-Gene

Seely, Kerlorf, and Edan climb into an Aurora Crew Vehicle – launched on one of the brand new Nebula Rockets – the first fully reusable first stage that KSEA has ever built!

The rocket blasts off!

“So far so good – ACV and Nebula rocket are both nominal!”
-Edan

The ACV separates from the Nebula Rocket! Meanwhile, the first stage will be performing maneuvers to return to Kerbin’s surface!

Next, Edan intercepts Spacedock, and the crew gets ready to dock!

“Docking complete! You guys are clear to get the ring deployed!”
-Edan

Meanwhile, Val and Sean depart from Kerbin Spaceport… the now retired space station!

“Farewell Spaceport! You served us well!”
-Val

Val performs the rendevous with the Spaceport, and Sean supervises the deployment of the orbital habitat!

With a series of loud “clunk!” noises, the ring deploys, and….

“Oh boy, it worked! The ring is spinning! Let’s get over there and see how the snacks survived!”
-Kerlorf

Spacedock ejects the RCS unit used during it’s launch, and KSEA has a new, fully functional space station!

“What a long day! Everyone deserves a good rest after all that!”
-Gene

Year 19, Day 179 (Medical Evacuation from Kerbin Spaceport!)

sayburstuff Year 19 ,

Onboard the Spaceport, Engineer Kerlorf reports his stomach feels strange… so KSEA decides to return him to the surface just in case!

The Aurora Crew Vehicle detaches from the station…

… then reenters the atmosphere, landing near the waters at KSC!

“After a thorough examination our science team has indicated Engineer Kerlorf was just hungry! We’ve administered a healthy amount of snacks, and he should be good as new in a day!”
-Gene

Year 18, Day 401 (Kerbin Spaceport Crew Rotation… and a Surprise Asteroid Mission!)

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It’s time for a crew rotation (and life support delivery) to the Kerbin Spaceport! Orlas, Glenica, and Edan will be returning, while Val, Sean, and Kerlorf will be heading up! Val will pilot ACV-2 to orbit!

“Launch was good! We’re on course for the Spaceport!”
-Val

The ACV floats past the station, as Val maneuvers to line up with the docking extension of the station!

Success! The ACV docks! Alongside it are the previous version of the Aurora Crew Vehicle that last crew took up, as well as the Aurora 23 command vehicle from the launch that delivered crew and supplies to DSV-3 Horizon!

“Hey – I have an idea! Before we head back… let’s see if the Aurora 23 command vehicle has enough DeltaV to reach that asteroid that’s been causing Mission Control so much trouble!”
-Orlas

Mission Command considers the request and gives the OK!

“If you three want to risk it, you’ve got our OK! Just be safe!”
-Gene

“I suppose if this spacecraft can reach Mun… it should be able to reach that asteroid!”
-Edan

Orlas, Glenica, and Edan transfer over to the Aurora 23 vehicle… and depart the station! While the ACV isn’t equipped with any advanced scientific instrumentation, surface samples should be able to be collected using equipment on the ACV!

“Engines are GO!”
-Edan

Edan brings the Aurora Crew Vehicle alongside asteroid

“Ok! I’m heading out! That’s quite the space rock!”
-Orlas

Orlas uses his EVA pack to move closer and closer….

…until he lands on the asteroid!!

“I’ve landed on the asteroid! I can’t quite get a flag in here… but I think I can get a good sample!”
-Orlas

Orlas uses his EVA pack to move back to the ship…

…and climbs back inside!

“Nice work Orlas!”
-Glenica

The crew makes preparations to return to Kerbin, now that a good Asteroid Sample has been taken!

Edan plots a return course to Kerbin… and fires the engine!

Aurora 23 burns through the atmosphere, until the friction slows it down enough to deploy the parachutes!

Success!! Aurora 23 sets down on Kerbin! Recovery teams rush to rescue the crew, and the science recovered from the Asteroid!

Year 16, Day 418 (Engineering Specialists Head To Kerbin Spaceport!)

sayburstuff Year 16 , , ,

To prepare for the upcoming installation of the Habitat Expansion to the Spaceport, Val will pilot Engineering specialists Kerlorf and Dunwin to the Spaceport!

“I heard Gene saying that if the Expansion goes alright, the Spaceport is going to start having a much larger crew – we can expect even more Aurora Crew launches soon!”
-Val

“Oh wow! I always forget how big the station is! “
-Kerlorf

“Before we dock we need to give the station a once-over… make sure the expansion plans are on track!
-Dunwin

“Everything looks good so far! It’s a shame the fuel tanks up here don’t get used much, except for rescue operations! We could really use fuel depots like this in orbit of Mun!”
-Dunwin

“Heading to the midpoint connection point….”
-Dunwin

“Looks solid. It’s a good idea to check this connection from time to time, it’s the connection point that holds the two halves of the station together!
-Dunwin

Dunwin heads inside the station, and leads the rest of the engineering crew for their preparations for the Habitat expansion!