Malcolm

Year 9, Day 220 (Mk7 ACV Arrives At Mun’s Unity Space Station!)

sayburstuff Year 9 , , , ,

screenshot167.pngMalcolm arrives at Mun!

“Ok, rendevous manuevers complete!  Looks like I just need to switch on the RCS system to get in nice and close… <<audible “CLICK!”>> … uh oh.  KSC… I think we have a problem!”

-Malcolm

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Instead of switching on the RCS system, Malcolm accidentally engages the staging switch that disconnects the command pod!

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Ok… Don’t panic Malcolm!  Just need to get over to Unity Space Station and wait for a rescue!  Hopefully they left some snacks on that thing…”

-Malcolm

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Malcolm boards Unity Station and starts rummaging for some food. Thankfully there’s enough oxygen on board to last a few weeks!  Meanwhile, The ACV drifts away from the station!

KSEA was already building another ACV, and now it looks like the mission is clear: Bring Malcolm home!

Year 9, Day 218 (Aurora Crew Vehicle Mk7 First Launch to Kerbin Spaceport!)

sayburstuff Year 9 , , ,

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Malcolm, Gillian, and Shepely launch in the upgraded Mk7 Aurora Crew Vehicle, heading to the Kerbin Spaceport!

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The new crew will be the first to crew the massive new Kerbin Spaceport – itself destined for an expansion in mere weeks!

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Alright, climbing to a 178km orbit!  That should make a rendezvous a little faster!

-Malcolm

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After the service bay doors open, the solar panels safely deploy!  screenshot152.png

Launching to a higher orbit, then starting the rendezvous seemed to payoff!  In no time at all the ACV has arrived at Kerbin Spaceport!

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Malcolm carefully maneuvers the ACV closer and closer to the station…

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Success!  Crew has arrived for the first time at Kerbin Spaceport!

Year 9. Day 135 (Explorer 5 Launches!)

sayburstuff Year 9 , , , , , , ,

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Explorer 5 is rolled out to launch, an exciting new chapter in Kerbal exploration of space!

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Blastoff!   The massive Jool IV rocket lifts Explorer 5 to the clouds…

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…. and beyond to orbit!

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“Mission Control, this is Malcolm on the X-9!  Mitster and I are OK for take off!”

-Malcolm

 

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The X-9 will fly the Explorer 5 crew to the spacecraft!

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Malcolm flies the spacecraft on launch, with Mitster supervising.

“So far so good!”

-Mitster

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Explorer 5 reaches orbit, and Malcolm starts the rendezvous maneuvers to meet up with Explorer 5!

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“OK… the X-9 is a bit tricky with its RCS controls… this might take a few tries!”

–Mitster

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It does take awhile, but eventually the X-9 docks with Explorer 5!  Val, Bill, and Bob all transfer over!

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OK guys… I’ll go first!  Glykerol levels normal… initiating freeze!

-Val

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“It worked!  Our turn… see you in a few minutes Bob!”

-Bill

With that Bill throws the “freeze!” lever, and the crew of Explorer 5 is in stasis, ready for the trip to Duna!

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Malcolm brings the X-9 in for a landing!

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“Mission Control, Malcom here!  I’m in the pipe, five by five!”

-Malcolm

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It’s a tricky night landing, but Malcolm brings the X-9 home!  All of Kerbin now waits for Explorer 5 to depart!

 

 

 

Year 9, Day 40 (X-9 First Flight!)

sayburstuff Year 9 , ,

screenshot92.pngConstruction is complete on the X-9, and the new craft is rolled out to the runway! Veteran pilot Mitster and rookie Malcolm will be taking the SSTO up on its first mission.

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“OK, engines are GO….. let’s see what the X-9 can do! ”

-Mitster

screenshot96.pngThe X-9 climbs to the limits of the atmosphere, then the R.A.P.I.E.R. engines switch to rocket mode, and take the craft up to orbit!

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“Wow!  Seemed to work great!  Now what? ”

-Malcom

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“Now we see if the craft handles on a landing! ”

-Mitster

screenshot102.pngThe X-9 completes an orbit around Kerbin, then Mitster fires the engines to begin the spacecraft’s return to Kerbin!

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“OK, reentry put us a bit off angle, not a problem… switching the X-9’s engines back to air-breathing mode!”

-Mitster

Mitster performs a slight adjustment to the X-9’s approach!

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“OK – that did it. We’re in the pipe… five by five!”

–Mitster

“What’s that mean anyway? Five by Five?”

–Malcolm

“It’s just something we say when we’re landing that sounds cool!”

–Mitster

“Oh – cool!”

–Malcolm

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The X-9 sets down successfully!

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Mitster and Malcolm climb  out and congratulate eachother on a good flight!

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“Thanks Mitster, the simulator didn’t do the excitement of a landing justice!  I can’t wait to fly the next one!”

-Malcolm