Robart

Year 4, Day 396 (KSS Crew Rotation!)

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screenshot1396.pngEndeavor completes a minor refit to its orbital maneuvering system.  Ever since the rear cargo addition was added to the Crew Shuttles orbital handling has been off, it’s hoped that this update will make the craft easier to control during docking!   In addition, air brakes developed during the Heavy Cargo Shuttle Program have been scaled down, and installed on Endeavor.  Hopefully they assist in landing safety! screenshot1397.png

Today, Val pilots Endeavor to orbit, taking Robart and Orlas up to the KSS for a crew rotation!  This might be the last launch to make use of the lower docking ports on the KSS, as engineers are designing a new Observation Lounge for the station, based on designs developed for Explorer 3!   Getting the huge addition into space will help test how practical it will be for the Explorer crew!screenshot1399.png

Endeavor arrives at the KSS!

“This new orbital maneuvering system works a LOT better than the old design.  We should refit the rest of the Crew Shuttles ASAP!”

-Val

screenshot1402.pngShepley, Jeb, Bob depart in the Intrepid, which is due for its own upgrades once it returns to Kerbin! screenshot1403.png

Jeb soars Intrepid down to the runway… screenshot1404.png

…for a perfect landing!

“Let’s get this thing refitted… I can’t wait to try out the new design!”

-Jeb

Year 4, Day 296 (Harmony Space Station Upgraded, Harmony Crew Rotation)

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The RCS Refuelling Mission to Harmony Station above Minmus arrives!

screenshot1162.png…and docking goes surprisingly uneventfully!

Looks like a good seal!   This will give Harmony plenty of monopropellant fuel for future missions – good work everybody!

-Gilian

screenshot1163.pngSamner and Robart prepare to head home… (Robart takes the long way, enjoying an EVA before heading home) while Gilian and Kimmy prepare for the next Harmony Space Station landing!  Scientists are still figuring out the best location for HSSLS02!

screenshot1164.pngSamner, Val, and Robart head home!

Year 4, Day 196 (Refuelling Craft & Lander Arrive at Harmony)

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The Refuelling Vehicle arrives at Harmony! screenshot921.png

The lander separates… and the Re-fueling Vehicle docks with the station.  Sadly, the fuel on the vehicle was much less than hoped… future refueling missions that aren’t carrying a lander should deal with this issue.  screenshot923.png

The Minmus Research Lander arrives at Harmony!  Now it’s time for Robart and Samner to get some real science done!  Even with the lower than expected fuel, the station has enough reserves for 6 complete re-fills of the lander.  As the lander is preloaded with fuel, this means the station can handle 7 complete landings, which on Minmus goes a long way!

“I think we should be able to visit every biome on Minmus – exciting!”

-Robart

 

Year 4, Day 178 (Harmony Station Arrives at Minmus)

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screenshot892.pngHarmony Space Station finally reaches Minmus, and after another very long and akward burn, circularizes.

Relieved cheers and sighs can be heard all throughout Mission Control.  The mission was not a complete success however.  The amount of fuel required to get the Station into Minmus orbit has left it with less than half of the anticipated fuel reserves for it’s lander.

“I suppose we can send a fuel craft to refill the station. But a redesign for the next Space Station is clearly called for.”

-Robart

Meanwhile, Edan returns from Kerbin orbit – as engineers try to figure out the best way to deal with the situation on Minmus!

Year 3, Day 379 (KSS Crew Rotation)

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While work starts on Aurora 16, which will deliver the crew to MunBase One, CTS-1 Adventure blasts off from Cape Kerman, to rotate crew on the KSS! Val, Robart, and Kimmy are eager to get more training time on the KSS!  Equally eager to get back to Kerbin are Val, Samner, and Sean! screenshot406.png

Adventure docks with the KSS!  Everyone says their ‘hi’s’ and ‘bye’s’, then Jeb detaches Intrepid, and heads back to Kerbin! screenshot411.png

Jeb misses the Space Center… by a LOT!  Thankfully, the leftover fuel in Intrepid is enough to get back to the landing strip!

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“In the pipe… five by five!”
-Jeb

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Intrepid makes a good night landing, even if it was a bit bumpy!

Year 3, Day 63 (Endeavor’s First Flight, KSS Crew Rotation)

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It’s time to rotate the crew on the KSS!  Jeb, Bill, Samner, Robart, Bob, and Orlas all pile into the second Crew Shuttle… The Endeavor, and it blasts off!screenshot69.png

After circularizing, the Endeavor starts its rendeavous to the KSS.  KSEA is a little nervous about this flight… this is the Endeavor’s first flight… and it’s also the most crew ever launched into space on one vessel!screenshot70.png

Endeavor closes in on the station…. screenshot71.png

Almost…. screenshot73.png

Almost….

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Docking achieved!  Jeb docks at at Docking Port 4 of the KSS.  Glenica and Kimmy transfer over to the Crew Shuttle, while Bill, Bob, Orlas, Robart, and Samner all head over to the the Station.

screenshot76.pngAfter everyone says their ‘hellos’ and ‘goodbyes’ – Jeb, Kimmy, and Glenica head back to Kerbin!screenshot80.png

“Space Center spotted… starting final approach!”
-Jeb

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Another great landing – nice work!

“Next stop – Mun!”
-Kimmy

“You said it Kimmy! Time for some deep space Science!”
-Glenica

 

Year 2, Day 390 (Mountain Anomaly Mission)

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screenshot717.pngThe X5 takes off, heading west to the mountains to investigate the anomaly that satellites detected… the previous attempt to explore this region ended in disaster, when the X4 crashed! screenshot718.pngVal pilots the X-5 past the X-4 crash site, attempting to approach from a different direction!

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Success!  Val sets the X-5 down in a relatively flat area, about 1000m from the Anomaly!

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“The air sure is thin up here… better put on my helmet! ”
-Robart

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Wow!  It’s pretty up here!
-Robart

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“I found it!  Wow!  What could these things be? What could they mean?  ”
-Robart

The two explorers head back to the KSC to share their findings!

Year 2, Day 385 (Pyramid Exploration)

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Mitster and Robart take off in the X-5, heading west!

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The X-5 seems to perform best at an altitude of about 6,000-15,000 – so Mitster keeps it in that range on the flight west. Tje X-5 maintains speeds of around 850 m/s, and even reaches a new aircraft speed record of 920 m/s! 

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“Ok – coming up on the coordinates… wow! Look at that, you can see the structures from up here!”

-Robart

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“Let’s do a pass, then circle around for a landing!”
-Mitster

Robart hops out, as Mitster watches from the cockpit.

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Eventually the two scout the pyramid site – how strange! No doubt pre-ogre Kerbal Civilization built these ages ago!  Robart is able to translate some of the strange writing, and ancient form of Kerbalese:

“My name is Tut-Un Jeb-Ahn, king of kings:  Look on my works, ye MIghty, and despair!”
-Ancient Pyramid Inscription

Confused, the two take several pictures and some samples, before heading back.

“What an odd place – further study is certainly needed!”
-Robart

The X-5 returns to the Space Center, having performed it’s mission perfectly! Once back, the existing X-5 is refurbished, and construction starts on a second!