Malcolm

Year 23, Day 419 (Seeker 1 Investigates Satellite Anomaly!)

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Clean-up crews have the situation at the Space Center under control! In orbit, the Seeker-1 crew gets the all clear from Mission Control!

“Let’s get you underway – good luck Seeker 1!“
-Gene, at Mission Control

Seeker 1 Mission Summary

  • Crew: Mission Commander Malcolm, Mission Scientist Gilian, Mission Engineer, Lobert .
  • Mission: Investigate unknown object in Kerbin orbit thought to be pre-Kerbal States satellite. If possible repair, then return to Kerbin!

“OK everyone, let’s get out there and see what that strange reading is!”
-Malcolm

“All systems are go – we’re ready!”
-Gillian

“Confirmed – I’ve got your repair kits packed too Gillian! Wow I can’t wait to discover something out here! “
-Lobert

Seeker 1 fires its engines, and drifts away – moving closer and closer to the anomaly!

“We are closing on the reading… orienting craft … firing reverse thrusters. We should be pretty close if the math was right!”
-Malcolm

“Everybody secure? Disconnecting docking clamps!”
-Val

Lobert climbs up and takes a look out the crew cabin window…

“Wow – there it is! We look about 200 meters from it. Nice flying! What a strange design though…”
-Lobert

“No surprise it’s strange! Before KSEA was founded… before the Kerbal States… we were just launching all kinds of crazy stuff into space! I’ve heard rumors of all kinds of stuff launched into space!.”
-Gillian

“We are at station keeping… zero relative velocity. You’re good to get out there Gillian – good luck!
-Malcolm

Gillian suits up, grabs a repair kit, and heads outside the craft!

Gillian lets go of the Crew Vehicle and uses very slight burst of her EVA pack to get closer, and closer the to strange satellite!

“Hmm.. I wonder if this satellite was originally planned to launch to Mun? There’s some water sensors on it… this is the strangest configuration of struts I’ve ever seen! Hmm – no means of propulsion. Maybe it exploded? No obvious damage other wise… I’ll have to do a part by part inspection!”
-Gillian

Gillian floats about the probe, checking each component, until…

“Found it! The communications dish. This will be a while!”
-Gillian

After quite a while, repairs are done!

“Seeker 1 – we are picking up a signal from that satellite! Nice work up there!“
-Gene, at Mission Control

“That’s great! Time to get back to the Crew Vehicle – this was tough work! This would have been easier if we had a ladder or something I could climb out on to do the repairs!
-Gillian

Lobert thinks about Gillian’s comment…

“That shouldn’t be too hard – maybe we can try that in the next Crew Vehicle we make! I’ll start drawing up some plans on the way home…”
-Lobert

With the mission completed, Malcolm fires the engine to take Seeker 1 home!

“Telemetry looks good – let’s get into orbit then head down to Kerbin!”
-Malcolm

Gillian packs up the Crew Vehicle along with Lobert, getting the spacecraft ready for re-entry!

After reaching orbit, Seeker 1 does its de-orbit burn, and separates from its orbital stage!

“Hold on everyone… it’s getting hot!”
-Malcolm

“Readings nominal… temperatures… hot! But within limits!”
-Gillian

“Reactor powering up … radiators are showing full dispersion… full power available!”
-Rozer

“We are in the clear – pull the chutes! Sounds like rain out there!”
-Malcolm

It’s a rainy day at the Space Center – but crews are still on standby to rescue the Seeker-1 crew!

Seeker-1 sets down safely! Crews head out to recover them!

“Welcome home everyone!“
-Gene, at Mission Control

Year 23, Day 417 (Aurora 30 Crew Raffle Winners Announced!)

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Aurora 30 Mission Summary

  • Crew: Mission Commander Malcolm, Tourists: Urberry, Guswin, Siski
  • Mission: Crewed mission to Minmus. Reach orbit, land on surface, return to Kerbin!

KSEA announces the winners of the planet-wide raffle! Urberry, Guswin, and Siski are announced as the winners! Experienced pilot Malcolm will pilot the mission! The Aurora 30 rocket is amost ready and will be rolled out to the launchpad soon!

Year 23, Day 415 (Seeker-1 Crew Launches Crew Vehicle to Investigate Mysterious Satellite!)

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For the past month, Space Center Tracking Stations have been detecting an unknown signal in Kerbin orbit! Engineers have a strong suspicion that it is one of the many spacecrafts or satellites that were launched before KSEA was created by the Kerbal States!

While not technically an Aurora mission (those are missions specifically for Mun and Minmus) the mission still needed a name, and Seeker was chosen!

Seeker-1 will utilize Aurora and Crew Vehicle hardware to discover whatever it is that’s in orbit of Kerbin! Malcolm, Gillian, and Lobert get ready for launch!

“There’s only one way to be sure what’s up there – we’ll have to send a crew! This should be a good test of the new Mk3 Crew Vehicle!”
-Gene, at Mission Control

“I’ve got lots of repair kits packed up! Snacks too!”
-Gillian

“Hold on everyone… launch in 3…2…1!”
-Malcolm

“Systems looking good… we are approaching maximum dynamic pressure on the spacecraft… “
-Malcolm

The solid rocket boosters detach…

…and once orbit is achieved the Crew Vehicle detaches!

“Mission Control has good comms with the N-8 booster… sending the landing signal now!”
-Gene, at Mission Control

While the Seeker-1 crew prepares for a mission to the mysterious satellite, the N-8 Booster starts it’s descent!

“Uh oh. Telemetry is off. Emergency everyone! Hold on tight!”
-Gene, at Mission Control

Everyone in the Space Center gets to emergency positions – the booster’s trajectory is off and it’s heading right toward the VAB!

There isn’t enough thrust to slow the craft down! The VAB shakes violently as the booster rockets overhead, just meters away from the Vehicle Assembly Building!

With a mighty explosion, the Nebula III Booster N-8 detonates right next to the path used to move vehicles to the launchpad! Bits of the rocket go flying in every direction!

“Status report people! Get damage control and repair crews out there! Seeker 1 are you stable? Can you standby?”
-Gene, at Mission Control

“Everything on Seeker 1 is nominal – we are good waiting – break out the snacks everyone!”
-Malcolm

As the final bits and parts of the N-8 Booster roll to a stop, teams are dispatched to check out the damage, and pick up the mess!

Year 23, Day 408 (DSV-6 Odyssey Launches to Orbit!)

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After a very long wait, construction and stack integration of DSV-6 Odyssey is complete and the truly massive rocket is rolled out to the launch pad! Nova launches are rare, and large crowds turned up at the space center to watch!

“All right people… this might be the biggest and most expensive rocket ever launched but you’re professionals and you know what to do!”
-Gene supervising the launch at Mission Control

“I can’t wait to fly Odyssey.. I hope the launch goes OK!”
-Malcolm

As the countdown approaches launch the space center gets silent in anticipation. Finally, the count reaches zero and…

The Space Center shakes as the massive Nova Rocket takes off!

“Go Odyssey!  Woohoo!“
-Glenica, watching with the rest of the Spacedock crew in orbit!

As the Nova Rocket carrying Odyssey rises into the sky ground crews carefully track the launch!

In orbit, the fairing ejects and the spacecraft fires its orbital stage engines to circularize the orbit!

“Communications good, telemetry good… Odyssey is right where she is supposed to be! Nice work team!”
-Gene supervising the launch at Mission Control

The enormous cost, complexity, and danger of launching these mega-spacecraft from the space center has been quite a strain!

Besides the fantastic costs, the space center itself was tied up for almost a year building Odyssey.  

“The Nova Rocket itself costs almost a million to launch!  With the cost of each DSV approaching 2 million!”
-Gillian, watching from Spacedock

Serious consideration is now being given to constructing an orbital assembly yard! 

KSEA projects a need for the construction of at least one new DSV every year, which includes possibly retiring some ships in the current fleet! 

“Not sure how to do it, but we need to find a way to get more Kerbals into deep space – the Space Center can’t handle this many super-duper-heavy launches!”
-Gene

DSV-6 Odyssey

  • Vessel Mass: 177.916 t
  • DSV Cost: 1,968,922
  • Nova Rocket Cost: 751,858
  • Total Cost: 2,720,780

Year 23, Day 330 (KSEA Announces Contest to Choose New Crew!)

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KSEA is holding a planet-wide contest! Three winners will be selected to be the first non-astronaut Kerbals to launch to space to celebrate the 30th Aurora mission! This will be the first time a mission has non-specialist Kerbals, and the entire planet is clamoring for a chance to be on the flight even if they will just be tourists!

The vast majority of the population of Kerbin is desperate to join the space program, so many Kerbals see this as a chance to jump in line and get a chance to fulfill every Kerbal’s dream: to explore space!

The mission is a fairly simple one – travel to Minmus, land, and return safely to Kerbin. Malcom has been selected as the pilot!

Year 23, Day 135 (Crew Launch to Investigate Fuel Depot!)

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Malcolm and Sean hop into Crew Vehicle 1 and launch with a Nebula Rocket!

“Pre-Flight checks good.  We are GO!”
-Malcolm

The Nebula rocket blasts off!

“Wohoooooo!
-Sean

The latest generation Crew Vehicle design has become the primary method of getting Kerbals to orbit and back!

“We are at 200k… detaching Booster!”
-Malcolm

“Everything looks good on our boards… We have remote control of the Nebula Booster!  Good luck up there crew!”
-Gene, at Mission Control

Remotely piloting the craft from the surface of Kerbin, the booster does a ‘reverse burn” to allow landing closer to the Space Center!

“Malcolm, try to get us pretty close to the Fuel Depot, I’ll ned to EVA for a while to do a close inspection of both craft!”
-Sean

Malcolm pilots the craft into a circular orbit, then begins the rendezvous process!

The Crew Vehicle arrives at the Fuel Depot and moves closer, and closer!

“We are stationary at 50 meters – controls are locked.  You’re good to EVA!”
-Malcolm

Sean suits up, and exits the craft!

“These Fuel Depots are HUGE!  First impressions, everything appears good.  Crazy that this is the only surviving bit of the original Spacedock!”
-Sean

Doing a complete inspection Sean checks that power systems, communications are good, and most importantly the docking mechanisms are intact!

“OK… good news! Everything looks nominal.  Communication systems are good… Docking port is solid and engaged. RCS systems between the two craft appear fully integrated.  When Spacedock 2 launches I think we should be good to remotely control the Depot and dock it with the station!”
-Sean

Completing the inspection, Sean returns to the Crew Vehicle and the spacecraft re-pressurizes its life support system, and the craft starts its descent!

“We’re heading home!”
-Malcolm

“Chutes deployed!”
-Sean

Crew Vehicle 1 sets down next to the Space Center, and crews head out to do recovery!

Year 22, Day 123-126 (New Mun Lander Launches to Mun Spaceport!)

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A Jool Rocket takes off from the Space Center, carrying a new Mun Lander – the Heavy Mun Lander!

The Heavy Mun Lander circularizes, and orbits Kerbin, then takes off to Mun!

Year 21, Day 126

After a three day transit, the Heavy Mun Lander arrives at Mun!

The Heavy Mun Lander docks at Mun Spaceport!

“This new Mun Lander can carry three Kerbals… AND transport the rovers to new locations! It’ll be exciting to see what these can do!”
-Malcolm

Year 21, Day 220 (Aurora 28 Launches from Space Center!)

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Big news from the Aurora program – the Aurora Command Module has been upgraded using a modified Nebula Crew Vehicle capsule, and the lander has been modified to allow easier re-use from Mun Spaceport! These changes will allow FOUR crew to journey to Mun from now on!

The crew is announced: Two engineers, Bill and Dunwin, the Mission Commander Malcolm, and Luly will be the mission Scientist!

Aurora 28 blasts off on top of a Sarnus Va rocket!

The rocket carries the spacecraft up to a 600k orbit of Kerbin…

…then departs for Mun!

“Even with 4 crew this new module is so roomy!”
-Bill

This will be the first launch for the 4-crew variant of the Aurora Spacecraft… the module is identical to the Nebula Crew Vehicle which has a perfect record!

The Crew Lander is slightly modified with more fuel and life support and an improved refueling system!

Aurora 28 arrives at Mun Spaceport!

“Aurora 28… we have you on tracking… our docking ports are all full though!”
-Summer

The old lander ejects, as does the Aurora 27 Command Module, and Aurora 28 docks!

“We need to get some adapters up here to make more room for more spacecraft!”
-Malcolm

Plans are begun for some expansions to the Spaceport to allow for more docking ports… while the crew prepares to head down to Aurora Base!

Year 21, Day 137 (Explorer 7 Returns to Kerbin from Duna!)

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As Explorer 7 speeds towards it’s intercept with Kerbin, the automated systems thaw the frozen crew!

“Brr! I could use a hot chocolate!”

-Dunwin

“Me too! Waking from cryo-sleep is always so chilly!”

-Shepely

“Well, don’t worry! It’s about to get a whole lot warmer!”

-Malcolm

One by one, the crew suit up, and transfer over to the Command Module!

Once inside, everyone straps in for the re-entry!

Explorer 7 heats up, but Duna-bound spacecraft are well shielded for these fast reentries!

“Hold on! Hold on! Almost there!”

-Malcolm

The chute deploys once the spacecraft is slow enough to be safe!

“Looks like a good deploy!”

-Dunwin

Explorer 7 sets down in the grassy fields west of the Space Center! Rescue craft are dispatched to recover the three Kerbals and the trove of data recovered from Duna!

Year 20, Day 271 (Explorer 7 Departs Duna!)

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After two successful Duna landings it’s time for the Explorer 7 crew to return home! Malcolm performs an EVA to give Duna Spaceport, the Advanced Duna Lander, and the Explorer spacecraft a final inspection before departing!

“Everything looks good out here! This view never gets boring!”
-Malcolm

After boarding Explorer 7, Malcolm detaches the spacecraft…

… and Explorer 7 slowly drifts away from Duna Spaceport!

“There’s only enough fuel reserves for one more landing from the Spaceport! The next mission will need to have a reserve fuel supply or KSEA needs to send another refueling mission out!”
-Dunwin

“Well if you ask me how we get here isn’t as important as getting here! The scientific data we’ve acquired this mission should keep us busy for years!”
-Shepely

As Explorer 7 drifts further and further the departure window is met, and Malcolm fires the spacecraft’s engine!

“All systems are nominal… engine burn to Kerbin nearly complete!”
-Malcolm

As Explorer 7 leaves the Duna system, the crew prepares for their EVA to the Cryonic section to hibernate for the trip home! At KSEA, mission planners are debating how to do the next mission – is it time to send the DSV’s to Duna, or continue with the Explorer program?