KSS Upgrades

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

sayburstuff Year 5 , , , , ,

screenshot1763.pngVal and Chrisnic blast off in Enterprise, delivering the long promised second power and solar expansion to the station!  screenshot1765.png

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

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The module remotely guides itself into position…

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Then Chrisnic leaves Enterprise to investigate!

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

-Chrisnic

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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!

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

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Then glides to the runway!

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

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

sayburstuff Year 4 , , , , , ,

screenshot1478.pngIntrepid blasts off, taking up to the KSS, with a cargo bay full of ladders!screenshot1493.png

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. screenshot1495.png

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!

screenshot1498.pngEdan lines up a perfect landing…

screenshot1500.png… 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 5, Day 13 (Enterprise Launched to Upgrade KSS Power and Solar Systems!)

sayburstuff Year 4 , , , , , ,

screenshot1444.pngEnterprise launches!   Edan will pilot the Heavy Cargo Shuttle to orbit and rendezvous with the Kerbin Space Station, and Dunwin will supervise the initial installation of the solar power unit, and then perform EVAs to complete installation from Enterprise’s cargo bay! screenshot1445.png

“Orbital Assist Vehicle is away… heading to the station!”

-Edan

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Dunwin reviews the mission parameters as Enterprise rockets towards the KSS!

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Enterprise arrives at the KSS and the module detaches!

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Installation proves very difficult, with Chrisnic leaving the station to assist Dunwin!

“This is just impossible!  There’s no way to get a grip on anything!”

-Chrisnic

Chrisnic and Dunwin return to the KSS, taking the extra parts from Enterprise, while Edan tries a “first”… docking Enterprise itself to the Kerbin Space Station!

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“Almos there… almost there…”

-Edan

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Wow – everyone is very suprised that the docking actually worked.  The KSS was never designed to dock such a large craft, but Edan showed that it was possible!

“Now let’s all hang tight and wait for Intrepid!”

-Edan

KSEA decides to send up Intrepid to deliver some parts to allow the installation of footholds and other gripping surfaces for the station!

 

Year 4, Day 406 (Adventure Launches to upgrade KSS Solar Systems!)

sayburstuff Year 4 , , ,

The newly refitted Adventure takes off, carring Jeb and Chrisnic up to the KSS!   The mission:  To relocate the solar arrays on the Space Station!

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“Ground Control, this is Jeb.  Low Kerbin Orbit achieved!  Heading to rendezvous with the Station!”

-Jeb

The Crew Shuttle Program is rapidly becoming one of the mots used spacecraft in the KSEA arsenal.  These small, dependable vehicles have become the standard for getting Kerbals to low orbit!

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Once Adventure docks, Chrisnic gets out and begins rearranging the Solar Panels on the station to a more optimal configuration! screenshot1430.png

“There we go!   That should make for a better layout!”

-Chrisnic

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Placing the solar panels along the relative “top” of the station provides for better solar coverage.  With the job done, Adventure disconnects, and heads back to KSC! Chrisnic stays on the station for a short time to familiarize himself with the station!screenshot1432.png

Have fun up here Chrisnic!  I’m heading back to KSC!

-Jeb

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After performing its de-orbit burn, Adventure detaches its cargo bay!

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After a quick, but very hot re-entry…

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Jeb sets down for a perfect landing at the Space Center.  Nice!

 

 

 

Year 4, Day 196 (Space Taxi Announced)

sayburstuff Year 4 , , ,

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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 124 (Resolute’s First Launch!)

sayburstuff Year 4 , ,

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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.screenshot739.png

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!

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Resolute blasts off!

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

-Jeb

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

screenshot746.pngThe Launcher separates, and heads back down to Kerbin to get recovered!

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

-Jeb

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

-Jeb

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Jeb begins burns to rendezvous with the Kerbin Space Station!

screenshot753.pngSuccess!  Once at the station, Resolute’s cargo doors open…

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and the Docking Module leaves the shuttle – guided remotely!screenshot757.png

The Docking module moves away from Resolute, toward the station… screenshot760.png…and docks!

screenshot762.pngJeb 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

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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! screenshot767.png

The Heavy Cargo Shuttle undocks…

screenshot768.pngThen Resolute closes its cargo bays!

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

-Jeb

screenshot775.pngResolute heads through the atmosphere, then starts its approach to the Space Center!

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“I’m in the pipe… five by five!”

-Jeb

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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

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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.”

screenshot707.pngIn the meantime, the next Surveyor rocket launches! This new satellite should provide unparalleled looks at the surface of Kerbin… in really great details!

 

Year 3, Day 156 (KSS Habitat Expansion)

sayburstuff Year 3 , , ,

screenshot186.pngThe next expansion to the KSS is ready to go!  This one will be both an addition to the Space Station, as well as a test of the new Habitat Section that will be the main crew area on board Explorer!screenshot188

Launch goes well, and the module moves closer to the station!

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The Orbital Maneuvering Module detaches, and the Habitat Section’s RCS thrusters move the addition closer to the station.  Almost there…

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Success!  The module connects and makes a good seal. The station is quite the sight!

“It’s nice to finally have some beds and personal space up here!”
-Samner