Laythe

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

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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 325 (Mission Planning for DSV-4 Endeavor’s Laythe Landing!)

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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!

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

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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 130 (Laythe Spaceplane Resolute Launches for Jool/Laythe!)

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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!

“I can’t wait to fly that on Laythe!”

-Edan, at Mission Control

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

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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!)

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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 21, Day 35 (Crew Selected for Endeavor Mission to Laythe!)

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Val, Robart, and Kerlorf have been selected for DSV-4 Endeavor’s upcoming mission to Laythe Spaceport!

The crew will pilot the Laythe Spaceplane Endurance to 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

Year 20, Day 281 (DSV-2 Discovery Returns From Historic Mission to Laythe!)

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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!

Year 20, Day 271 (DSV-2 Discovery Crew Wakes From CryoSleep!)

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Jeb, Bill, and Bob wake from their Cryo-Sleep on Discovery!

“Wake up everybody! Just 8 days and we’ll be entering Kerbin orbit!”
-Jeb

“I can’t wait to see this new Space Station they built while we were gone!”
-Bill

“It feels like we just left Laythe yesterday!”
-Bob

In Kerbin Orbit, the massive new Spacedock facility is ready for the returning DSV!

“Refueling Discovery should be about the same procedure as Endeavor! They’re different classes of ships technically… but they both run on the same fuel!”
Sean, on Spacedock