Orlas

Year 13, Day 158 (Intrepid Returns Crews to Kerbin from Kerbin Spaceport!)

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With the return of Explorer 5 and the test flight of Discovery the Kerbin Spaceport has gotten very crowded! Edan, Bill, Orlas, Glenica, and Sean all board CTS-3 Intrepid!

“Have a good flight – you soon!”
-Gene

Edan undocks from the Spaceport, and uses RCS thrusters to reach a safe distance from the station! Gilian, Shepely, and Seely remain on the station, conducting the vitally important scientific research that must certainly occur there.

“Come back soon! Bring more snacks! “
-Shepely

Intrepid fires its engines to de-orbit… then detaches the service pod that holds cargo (and provides for solar power!)

“Hold on everyone! Things are about to get pretty hot!”
-Edan

Intrepid soars through the atmosphere, occasionally usings its airbrake system to slow its decent.

Once past the mountains west of the Space Center, Edan makes the final manuevers to line up for a landing!

“Edan to Mission Control… Intrepid is in the pipe, five by five!”
-Edan

Intrepid touches down on the runway!

A perfect landing! The tired Kerbals exit the Crew Shuttle to rest up for their next mission – Intrepid is recovered and undergoes minor repairs and the standard recovery process to get it ready for its next flight!

Year 12, Day 419 (Discovery Leaves Mun, Returns to Kerbin!)

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In orbit of Mun, Discovery powers up its reactors for the return journey to Kerbin.

“Systems read nominal – firing thrusters!”
-Jeb

Discovery’s engines fire, and the craft leaves Mun orbit!

“Reactor is still stable – lithium flow stable… heat levels within specifications!“
-Bill

Discovery returns safely to Kerbin!

“Now… let’s see if this thing can dock with the Spaceport again!“
-Jeb

“Rendevous course set… firing thrusters! “
-Jeb

Discovery moves closer and closer to the Spaceport, until finally it’s visible to the naked eye!

Discovery fires its engines to match velocities!

“Power down reactors… switching to RCS from here!“
-Jeb

“Almost there… “
-Jeb

Discovery docks with Kerbin Spaceport!

“I’d call that a successful first mission of the Discovery!”
-Gene

Year 12, Day 415 (Discovery Mission 1 Leaves for Mun!)

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screenshot2.pngDiscovery detaches from Kerbin Spaceport!

“Systems are go for the transit to Mun!”

-Orlas

Discovery’s powerful monopropelleant RCS thrusters move the ship to a safe distance from the Spaceport, and then the nuclear reactor is powered up!

“All systems appear nominal – power is at 100 percent – we’re good to fire the main engines! “

-Bill

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“Course set – Lithium flow confirmed… Magneto-plasma-dynamic thrusters at full!”

-Jeb

Discovery moves away from the station, away from Kerbin… and toward Mun!

 

Year 12, Day 413 (DSV-2 Discovery Launches and Docks With Kerbin Spaceport!)

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The Jool Vb rocket launches from the space center, carrying Discovery to orbit!

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The orbital maneuvering stage activates, circularizing the orbit and beginning the rendezvous to the Spaceport!

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Meanwhile, the protective fairings deploy…

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… and Discovery’s communication dish unfolds!

“So far so good!”

-Gene, at Mission Control

For the docking manuever it’s decided an experienced pilot should take Discovery’s controls, so Edan EVA’s over to the ship!

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Ok – I’m outside the station, and heading over!

-Edan

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Edan expertly pilots his EVA suit over to Discovery!

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Wow!  This is one big ship!  I can’t wait to pilot it!

-Edan

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Once inside Edan switches on the external lights and ejects the orbital stage!

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OK – I’m going to fly Discovery over to the other side of the station.

-Edan

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For a ship this size, it handles surprisngly well!  Must be those extra large RCS thrusters!

-Edan

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Edan lines Discovery up to the docking section…

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… and connects!  4 different Kerbal States spacecraft are now docked with the station, Discovery, a Mk7 Aurora Crew Vehicle, a Crew Transport Shuttle, and Explorer 5!

Alright!  Let’s start getting Discovery ready for her maiden voyage!

-Edan

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Year 12, Day 406 (Discovery Crew Launches to Kerbin Spaceport!)

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Intrepid blasts off from the Space Center, carrying Edan and Bill to Kerbin Spaceport!  They’ll meet Orlas and train together for Crewed Mission 1 (CM1) of the Discovery!

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“OK – rendezvous course set to Kerbin Spaceport!”

-Edan

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Edan docks Intrepid with the Spaceport!  3 different spacecraft are now docked – with a fourth on the way – Discovery!

 

Year 11, Day 129 (Explorer 6 Launch, Adventure Delivers Crew!)

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Explorer 6 blasts off from the space center!

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In orbit, the fairing deploys. Looks like a good launch!  That means the the crew can head up! screenshot493.png

During the orbit the launch pad was cleared, and CTS-1 Adventure was readied for launch, piloted by Edan!

“We’re all a little jealous you three get to be the first crew to Jool – but we know you’ll do great!”

-Edan

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The Crew Shuttle Launch Vehicle seperates and heads back to Kerbin, while Adventure finishes it’s climb to orbit!

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Orbit achieved – shouldn’t be too long before we rendevous!

-Edan

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Adventure moves in for the rendevous…

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Almost there!

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Connection!  Mitster, Glenica, and Sean transfer over and begin pre-flight inspections of Explorer 6!

“Everything checks out!  Let’s light this candle!”

-Mitster

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“Adventure is undocking – good luck Explorer 6!”

-Edan

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Explorer 6 fires its engines and heads away from Kerbin!

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Before long Explorer 6 is past Kerbin’s sphere of gravitational influence.

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Alright everybody, time for CryoStasis!  See you guys in a few minutes!

-Glenica

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“Ok – my turn! ”

-Sean

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“Ok Mission Control- Sean and Glenica are in good shape, setting timer and activating my Cryo-Pod.  Explorer 6 OUT!”

-Mitster

Explorer 6 will now run on automated pilot, reaching Jool in 1 year, 362 days!

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Meanwhile, Adventure is heading to Kerbin Spaceport for the second leg of it’s mission, to return crew from the Spaceport back to Kerbin!

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After rendevous with the station, Mirphe moves Adventure in to dock!

“Alright, lining up for docking!”

-Edan

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Connection looks good Edan!  Welcome to Kerbin Spaceport!

-Orlas

 

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Year 9, Day 279 (ACV Carrying Science Crew to Kerbin Spaceport & Minmus Rescue Launches!)

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Piloted by Mirphe, an ACV launches from KSC carrying Orlas and Kimmy to Kerbin Spaceport to lead the team working on the Cyclotron!

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The Mk7 ACV is proving to be a very reliable and capable space vehicle!

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Mirphe rendevouses the ACV with Kerbin Spaceport…

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…and docks!  Orlas and Kimmy transfer over, and then Kimmy undocks the ACV!

Time for the second part of the ACV mission… a quick trip to Minmus!

-Mirphe

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KSEA is sending Mirphe to Harmony Space Station at Minmus to recover Tamre, who has been taking part in one of KSEA’s long term space habitation studies. (KSEA again stressed that this did not mean anyone forgot about Harmony Space Station or Tamre onboard!)

Year 9, Day 277 (Science Mission for Kerbin Spaceport Launches!)

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The Cargo Payload Vehicle (CPV) launches!

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The CPV was designed as a re-usable unmanned cargo pod that can deliver science payloads to Kerbin Spaceport and then return them to Kerbin for study.

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The CPV rendezvouses with Kerbin Spaceport!

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Docking is a success!

Looks like a good connection!  Once the rest of the science crew gets here we should be able to see what this Cyclotron can do!

-Shepely (on board Kerbin Spaceport)

Indeed, the science crew has already been selected!  Orlas, recently back from Duna will be the lead scientist, with Shepely and Kimmy joining the team!

Year 9, Day 14 (Explorer 4 Returns Home!)

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After a very, very long mission, the Explorer 4 crew enters Kerbin’s sphere of influence!

Hold on everyone, we’re going to be going in pretty fast!!

-Val

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Indeed, Explorer 4 is going so fast that Robart and Orlas blackout during re-entry!  Thankfully Val is one tough Kerbal, and keeps conscious through it all!

“We’re OK! Just very very hot!”

-Val

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Splash!  Explorer 4 sets down in the water for a night landing – a few hours later rescue craft pick up the crew and return them to the space center.

Well done everyone, that’s one for the books!

-Gene, KSEA Mission Control

 

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