Edbert, Edan, Rozer, and Samner blast off from KSC – launching both Crew Vehicle 1 and a Lander that (should) be rated for Tekto!
“Hold on everyone – the Nebula Heavy has a real kick!”
-Edan
At a 200k altitude, the Crew Vehicle and the Lander separate, and the bottom boosters turn around and burn to get as close as possible to KSC.
“Separation good… firing orbital stage for rendevous…”
-Edbert
Edbert rendezvouses the Crew Vehicle with Explorer, bring the craft within 50 meters!
“Got us lined up… moving in for final docking maneuver!”
-Edbert
Success! Edbert docks with Explore! Next – the lander is remotely navigated into the docking bay – but first, the new crew (Edan, Rozer, and Samner) transfer over to Explorer – and Edbert detaches, and returns to Kerbin!
After a few minutes, the lander breaks through the clouds…
… and lands just outside of the Space Center!
Back in orbit, the lander is remotely piloted into the cargo bay!
“Mission Control… we show a good connection – let’s get this ship started up!”
Mission Planners have decided to try a landing at Tekto, a moon of Sarnus! Very little is known about this moon, so a Mini Scanner/Lander (that conveniently has been under development!) will be launched to attach to the nose of Explorer.
If a landing is possible the crew will attempt it, if it looks like the landing is too dangerous, Explorer will transition to a different moon to attempt a landing.
Edan, Samner and Rozer will launch to orbit along with a lander to dock with Explorer in orbit!
“Clocks ticking everyone.. let’s get this mission going!”
Sarnus Station is finally complete, and it’s rolled out just in time to launch on the first day of Year 22!
“What a fun way to start the new year!” -Samner, Viewing the launch from Mission Control
The Nova Rocket, KSEA’s most powerful heavy lifter, carries the station into space!
Most Kerbals around the Space Center will typically stop what they’re working on, and gather to watch Nova launches – the massive rockets are quite the sight to see, and launch very rarely!
The second stage separates, as the first stage heads back to a fiery reentry into Kerbin’s oceans! At a 2000 km apogee, the station circularizes!
“We’re showing all systems nominal. Let’s send the signal to start up the reactor.” -Gene, at Mission Control
The nuclear reactor starts up – and the boards all show green!
“Reactor at full output – I think we’re OK to go!” -Glenica, at the Science Station at Mission Control
The DSV-class engine fires… and alarm bells go off!
“That thing isn’t getting enough cooling! Let’s power it down to 50 percent power… otherwise it might explode!” -Glenica
The engine is cooled down, but engineers start scratching notes in their design books for the next Sarnus-bound rocket to use this design!
Sarnus Station speeds toward Sarnus… it will arrive in just over 3 years! Once in orbit, crews from visiting DSV’s will have a home to rest at when exploring around Sarnus!
“These nuclear engines have really opened up the solar system to exploration – a trip to Sarnus in just 3 years! Who would have thought it possible!” -Edan
After the success at growing plants on the orbital Kerbitat One station, the Aurora 26 crew board the Command Module and detach from the station !
“We learned a lot from that mission – even though it didn’t go like we planned! We just need to figure out how to keep a supply of water and fertilizer somehow sustainable!” -Samner
Aurora 26 burns through the atmosphere toward White Mesa!
“Chute has deployed! We’re touching down about 50k south of the White Mesa facility!” -Edan
A Nebula Rocket that had been prepared for a Crew Vehicle launch is quickly retrofitted with an experimental new payload: the DSV Supply Craft! Designed to carry a versatile payload to the bay of Horizon Class DSVs, delivering fertilizer to Kerbitat One should be a good first test!
The Nebula Rocket blasts off!
The payload detaches, and the first stage turns around and heads back to KSC! The DSV Supply Craft continues it’s launch to orbit!
The spacecraft approaches Kerbitat One…
… and docks!
Back at Spacedock, Aurora 26 departs for Kerbitat One!
“Hopefully that fertilizer does the trick!” -Edan
Edan brings Aurora 26 into alignment with Kerbitat One, and docks!
“Looks like a good connection! Let’s get that fertilizer transferred over too!” -Gilian
The Kerbals begin unloading the payload from the service vehicle, and Samner studies the plants. The crew waits patiently… until after many hours have passed….
“It’s working! It’s working! The plants are growing! I had to use water from our crew vehicle to start the processes, but it looks like it’s going! That means we’ll need to leave before long, but there should be enough water to run the greenhouse for a while!” -Samner
After the successful mission, the crew begins preparations for heading home!
Kerbal States | Kerbin Space Exploration Administration 