Launched over a year ago, the Laythe Spaceplane Resolute has finally arrived in the Jool system, and rapidly heads to orbit Laythe!
The Jool transfer stage fires, circularizing the orbit!
“We have a good signal from Laythe! Resolute has arrived and is in a stable orbit – when the crew of Intrepid arrives they’ll have another spaceplane ready for them!” -Gene, at Misson Control
In just 75 days the crew of DSV-5 Intrepid will arrive, as they continue scouting for a good colony site!
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 to 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
“Incredible! You’d almost forget this was another world until you look up!” -Robart
The challenge of exploring Laythe led to the most complicated engineering project that KSEA had ever done: the X-10 Laythe Spaceplane! This engineering marvel is capable of delivering three Kerbals from Laythe orbit to the surface and back!
There are actually two X-10 Laythe Spaceplanes now – the LCV-1 Endurance, which is currently docked at the Laythe Spaceport, and the LCV-2 Resolute, which is en-route to Laythe now!
Previous flights of the X-10 have followed the above flight plan, and the Endeavor crew will follow it for their upcoming mission! The only question for the Endeavor crew is… where to land! Thankfully mission planners have some ideas!
The first landing site proposed is Crater Island – The second is the Crescent Bay/Crescent Sea area! The landing at the Crescent Bay may involve a water landing, however engineers aren’t sure the craft can survive that! During the design phase it was considered but not actually planned for. And with no other ships or crew nearby if anything went wrong there might be a very big problem! Some engineers want to try a water landing on Kerbin before authorizing one on Laythe!
Ultimately, it’s hoped that a good spot for a research base can be found!
The second Laythe Crew Vehicle spaceplane is launched from KSC!
The spacecraft enters orbit… and waits!
Resolute will leave Kerbin in about 400 days for an express trip to Jool/Laythe. This new Laythe Crew Vehicle is almost identical to the current LCV-1 Endurance, but with improved science payloads (including water detection systems) and improved power systems. The solar panels have been removed, and the craft’s onboard power supply has been buffed up to survive longer on Laythe!
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
Val, Robart, and Kerlorf have been selected for DSV-4 Endeavor’s upcoming mission to Laythe Spaceport!
The crew will pilot the Laythe Spaceplane Enduranceto the surface and continue scouting the planet for future colonies. KSEA is also hoping to launch an additional Laythe Spaceplane in time for the mission!
“Oh wow! I can’t wait!” -Kerlorf
Robart, already at White Mesa, starts packing his bags for the trip!
“I can’t wait to blast off! This desert assignment has been pretty dull!” -Robart
Discovery enters Kerbin’s sphere of gravitational influence!
“Discovery we’re tracking you as on course – what’s your situation?”
-Gene, at Mission Control
“Roger Mission Control… Situation nominal, Discovery reactor is at full, engines show green and ready to fire!”
-Jeb
As Discovery reaches a distance of 700km from Kerbin, the 3 nuclear engines fire!
It’s a nearly minute long burn to slow down!
Suddenly, alarm bells ring in the cockpit!
“Temperature on main engines reaching critical! They’re starting to heat up the tri-adapter engine housing!”
-Bob
“We’ve already been captured into orbit, so we can cut thrust safely… Let’s monitor it and cut thrust once it’s just about critical!”
-Jeb
Thankfully the engines don’t explode, and Discovery settles into a clean 700k circular orbit!
“I can’t wait to see Spacedock! It’s supposed to be huge!”
-Bill
Discovery does several manuevers to rendezvous with Spacedock, and finally approaches the station!
“Discovery here! We’re going to coast past Spacedock, then start docking manuevers!”
-Jeb
“Roger that DSV-2… We show you at 150 meters and clear for RCS manuevers!”
-Sean, onboard Spacedock
Discovery slowly drifts past the station until it’s visible out the cockpit!
“Wow! Look at that! And look, Endeavor is docked at the top!”
-Bill
“Yep! We’ll be parking opposite Endeavor!”
-Jeb
Jeb uses RCS orbital thrusters only and slowly matches speed with Spacedock….
…then slowly accelerates toward the station, lining up with the docking port!
“Slowing down… We’re lined up and looking good!”
-Jeb
Discovery moves almost imperceptibly slow until…
With a dull “clunk” and the whir of motors, Discovery makes s connection to Spacedock!
“Welcome home Discovery!”
-Val
Jeb, Bill, and Bob head over to Spacedock to rest before returning to Kerbin with the mountains of data gathered from Jool’s moon Laythe! There is already talk of building a colony there!
Engineers are also finalizing plans for refits and repairs to Discovery!
Kerbal States | Kerbin Space Exploration Administration 