Mitster

Year 2, Day 22 (Arrival at Airstrip)

sayburstuff Year 2 ,

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Mitster takes off in the new X-4 Jetplane!

“This thing sure handles nice!”

-Mitster

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Mitster pilots the craft around to take a good look at the island near the Space Center.  Scientists detected faint radio signals from it! screenshot234.png

Hopping out, Mitster discovers that the island has a small air strip and command tower!

“Wow!  This must have been where they did early flights using data from the probe – before KSEA!”

-Mitster

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Mitster bows his head in memory of the Kerbals who certainly died at this place, trying to reach the stars.  screenshot238.png

Wow! What a great view!  I wonder what happened to all their planes!?
-Mitster

Year 1, Day 310

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The Horizon-B rocket may be quite short lived… as KSEA engineers reveal the latest rocket design… the Horizon C!  The Horizon C rocket utilizes many new features, most noticeably the aerodynamic fairing that protects the Command Pod, and the combined battery/science section.

Construction starts immediately – on Horizon 9!

In other news, repeated simulations has shown that the rotating issues reported by Mitster were resolved by unplugging and plugging back in the joystick in the Horizon Command pod.  How strange.

Year 1, Day 308

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screenshot91.pngHorizon 8 is ready to go… and Mitster is VERY ready to go! KSEA scientists think that in order to form a communications network (which will be necessary for sending probes to Mun) polar orbits would be beneficial.  Horizion 8 will be a test of how to launch a rocket into just such an orbit!  Horizon 8 blasts off!   screenshot94.png

Mitster pilots the craft into a nearly perfect circular 71k orbit.  Nicely done Mitster!

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“It’s so pretty up here!” Mitster radios to Mission Control.  “The poles are beautiful!”screenshot99.png

After landing, Mitster reports that the Horizon 8 had a strange tendency to roll without being given instructions.  Engineers look at the controls to make sure nothing spilled, and determine that it might be a design fault in the rocket.  After talking it over with Jeb and Val it turns out many of the Horizon Rockets had this issue… however it seems to be getting more pronounced as time goes on.  KSEA scientists scratch their heads over what to do!

Year 1, Day 103 (Horizon 4 Launch)

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screenshot37.pngIt’s Val’s turn!  Horizon 4 takes off from KSC! screenshot38.png

The final orbit is a very clean 80k. Nice work!

screenshot39.pngThat’s quite the view!

screenshot40.pngUh oh!  As some scientists had warned, the science pods on the side of the reentry capsule were exposed to excessive heat, and exploded as Val entered the atmosphere. “That loud bang was quite the scare!  Not something you want to hear as you see fire out the window!” screenshot42.png

Val and the Horizon 4 pod set down nicely in the desert, and recovery teams head out to rescue her.  Not a perfect mission, but a success!

Meanwhile construction of an X-1 begins to use in training. Engineers also begin designing an X-2, as a more capable short range training rocket. Mitster is excited to try out both!

Year 1, Day 75

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After days and days of experiments and simulations, KSEA’s best and brightest think they have a good design… the Horizon-A rocket, which has even MORE solid boosters.  Thankfully, the upgraded launch platform should be able to withstand the awesome explosive power of the rocket’s engines! Construction begins on two of the rockets, tentatively to be named Horizon 3 and 4.  Jebediah will take the first one up, followed by Valentina!

If things go well planning can begin on even bigger missions!

Meanwhile, another new pilot has been found that just might have the right stuff!  Mitster is welcomed to the team!