Year 3, Day 139 (Explorer Spacecraft Development)

March 9, 2017March 12, 2017 sayburstuff Year 3 Aurora 12, Aurora Program, Eve, Explorer 1, Explorer Program, KSS Upgrades

Development begins on Explorer (not to be confused with the Explorer Space Probe.) Explorer is the prototype vehicle for a future Eve mission! While the actual mission to Eve will likely be several components, Explorer’s first mission will consist of just the main spacecraft.

Explorer will be launched without a crew, which will arrive via a Crew Shuttle! This is necessary given the new design.

Once the crew arrives, the vehicle will leave Kerbin’s orbit, entering interplanetary space, in orbit of the Sun, then return.

If all goes well Explorer will be the basis for future crewed planetary missions! A full working mockup of the Explorer’s Habitat Section will be launched soon as an upgrade to the KSS – this should allow ‘real world’ testing of the crew module.

Additionally, construction begins on the next Aurora Mission, Aurora 12!

Year 3, Day 14 (KSS Habitat Extension)

February 20, 2017 sayburstuff Year 3 KSS Upgrades

KSS Extension.png

The next KSS Extension is almost ready! This habitat extension is an upgraded version of the current station core… with all the malfunctions the KSS has been having, this drastic step of replacing the entire station core may be the only thing that can save the station!

Year 2, Day 302 (KSS Auxillary Science Lab Launched)

January 16, 2017January 17, 2017 sayburstuff Year 2 Jeb, Kerbin Space Station, KSS Upgrades, Sarnus Rocket, Val

The KSS Auxillary Science Lab is launched! These frequent KSS missions using the Sarnus Rocket hardware is getting our scientists and engineers very familiar with them – should be useful when the Aurora Program uses them to visit Mun! screenshot487

The launch has some serious problems once in orbit. The very top heavy module proves very difficult to control! From the ground, Val does her best to help.

“This thing steers terribly! I’ll do my best to save it – no promises though!”
-Val

Once Val is able to successfully navigate a rendevous, Jeb EVAs over to the module…and hops inside!

“I’ve got it from here, Val!”
-Jeb

Jeb pilots the unwieldy module closer and closer to the station…

Success! The new module docks with the KSS.

“Just need to move this Escape Vehicle over to the habitat section of the station!”
-Jebape vehicle over to the habitat section…”
-Jeb

“There we go! Station looks great!”
-Jeb

Year 2, Day 292

January 16, 2017 sayburstuff Year 2 Kerbin Space Station, KSS Upgrades

Construction starts on the next expansion to the KSS – the Auxillary Science Lab!

While much smaller than the previous expansions the Auxillary Science Lab is just as heavy… packed full of interesting scientific equipment!

Year 2, Day 280 (KSS Science Hub Launches)

January 16, 2017January 16, 2017 sayburstuff Year 2 Kerbin Space Station, KSS Upgrades

The new Science Hub blasts off on top of the massive Sarnus V-H!

The craft is guided automatically into orbit, and sets course to rendeavous with the KSS.

“I can’t wait to get out there and fly something! There’s not much to pilot on a Space Station!”-Jeb

Jeb EVA’s over to the Science Hub’s Emergency Escape Vehicle, and uses it to pilot the new section into place.

Almost there…

Contact! The Station is now ready to receive additional science modules, and generate what KSEA hopes will be more than enough power for future needs. Additionally, two more Cupolas provide some really amazing views of Kerbin!

“Wow! This place is getting really roomy!”
-Glenica

“This is quite the view!”
-Samner

Year 2, Day 235

January 13, 2017January 14, 2017 sayburstuff Year 2 Blueprints, Kerbin Space Station, KSS Upgrades

scihub Construction begins on the next massive KSS upgrade – a new science hub with additional solar arrays. This new hub will (hopefully) be the starting point for several other science additions… putting them on the far side of the station ensure greater levels of safety if the experiments get too dangerous!

Ingeniously, the delivery stage of the module will double as an emergency escape vehicle, the RCS system has been balanced to work in tandem with the rest of the module for delivery, and the remaining fuel will let the Escape Vehicle re-enter Kerbin’s atmosphere. Future delivery modules are planned to use the same design to allow several Escape Vehicles to be docked in case of an emergency.

Year 2, Day 229

January 11, 2017January 12, 2017 sayburstuff Year 2 Kerbin Space Station, KSS Upgrades, Sarnus V

screenshot442
The new Command Core is slowly rolled out to the launch pad, and is ready to go first thing in the morning.

“That’s one big rocket!”
-Bill

It sure is! In fact, the Sarnus V that will carry the new Command Core to orbit is the largest vehicle ever launched! screenshot443 Crowds gather to watch it take off!