Shepely

Year 24, Day 1 (Odyssey Leaves Kerbin, Heading to Sarnus and Tekto!)

sayburstuff Year 24 , , , , , ,

In orbit of Kerbin, Jeb, Shepley, and Gillian prepare the newly commissioned Deep Space Vehicle Odyssey to leave orbit!

“What a great way to kick off the start of a New Year! Jeb, you are clear to depart… Odyssey good luck Odyssey!“

-Gene, supervising at Mission Control

“Just about finished checking all the scientific instrumentation! We’re good!”
-Shepley

DSV-5 Crew Mission 1 – Tekto Exploration

  • Crew: Mission Commander Jeb, Mission Scientist Shepely, Mission Engineer, Gillian .
  • Mission: Explore and if possible land on Tekto!
  • Result: Mission in Progress

“OK – science good! Gillian, reactors ready? We’re going to need every bit of those reactors energy to power two of these LF-9 engines!“
-Jeb

“Radiators are on, showing cooling has started!   Starting reactors 1 and 2… port reactor climbing to 100 percent power. Starboard reactor same…. both reactors are showing full power!  -Gillian

With pre-flight checks complete, Jeb undocks from Crew Vehicle 4! With a loud clunk and some whirs, the two craft detach, and start to drift away from each other. With a brief reverse thrust of Odyssey’s RCS system, Jeb gives the ship a good distance for maneuvering!

“We are clear! Preparing course for burn to Sarnus!“
-Jeb

“I show full power to the engines! Temperatures nominal.. I show good for burn!
-Gillian

“Just about finished checking all the scientific instrumentation!”
-Shepley

“OK – Pedal to the metal! Thrust at 100 percent!“
-Jeb

The two colossal LF-9 engines fire! Powered by two Discovery class reactor assemblies together generating 6,000 e/c per second this is the first time TWO have been run simultaneously on a spacecraft!

“Things are heating up… but we are still within mission parameters!“
-Gillian

After quite a long burn, Jeb throttles down! Odyssey is now rocketing away – heading right toward an intercept with Sarnus!

“Trajectory looks good everybody! Just a little under three years and we’ll be at Sarnus!“
-Jeb

“I checked the cryo-systems during the burn! Glykerol levels are good, and the freezing systems are ready to go! “
-Shepley

Everyone locks their stations, and heads to the aft of the crew compartment!

“Brr! It’s always so cold in the cryo-chambers! Let’s get this space-nap going! “
-Gillian

“Oh – the deep space relays have been deployed too! See you guys in orbit of Sarnus!“
-Shepley

“Communications are good Odyssey – we’ll see you soon!“
-Gene, supervising at Mission Control

After triple checking the ‘wake up’ timer is correct, the crew enters cryo-sleep for the trip to Sarnus!

Kerbin Space Exploration Administration | Space Program Funding

Funding / IncomeCosts
Next Funding Period: – 8 daysSpace Center Costs: -136,000
Current Reputation: 453Assigned Kerbal Wages: – 65,000
Unassigned Kerbal Wages: -5000
Estimated Gross Funding: + 905,459Vessel Maintenance: -108,204
Project Reserve: +175,747 (savings)Launch Costs: -222,426
Estimated Net Funding:+368,829 (available)

Gillian

Year 23, Day 424 (Crew and Lander for DSV-6 Odyssey Tekto Mission Launches To DSV-6 Odyssey!)

sayburstuff Year 23 , , , , , , ,

“Alright people.. we are going to Tekto! Get up there to Odyssey and let’s make some history!”
-Gene

While the mission specifics are not quite done beyond a misson to Tekto (one of the more interesting moons of Sarnus), a crew has been chosen for DSV-6 Odyssey’s first mission!

A team of veteran Kerbonauts has been chosen to fly Odyssey’s maiden journey: Mission Commander Jeb, Mission Scientist Shepely, and Mission Engineer, Gillian!

DSV-5 Crew Mission 1 – Tekto Exploration

  • Crew: Mission Commander Jeb, Mission Scientist Shepely, Mission Engineer, Gillian .
  • Mission: Explore and if possible land on Tekto!
  • Result: Mission in Progress

Blast off! The Neidon III booster blasts off, carrying the crew, and a variant of the VINCENT lander, to orbit!

“We are go! Hold on everyone, approaching maximum dynamic pressure!“
-Jeb

The solid rocket boosters detach! Ground crews scramble to their recovery vehicles to start refurbishing the boosters!

The rocket continues its journey to orbit, finally reaching an altitude of 200k meter, where it circularizes!

Crew Vehicle 4 detaches from the booster!

The Crew Vehicle detaches from the lander, and begins the docking and transposition manuever!

Jeb starts manuevers to dock with Odyssey!

“Let’s go check out Odyssey! Starting rendezvouses!”
-Jeb

Only the running lights of Odyssey are visible as the Crew Vehicle approaches Odyssey!

Suddenly, the rising sun illuminates the Deep Space Vehicle!

“I caught a glimpse of Odyssey out the window! She’s big!”
–Shepley

“We are at zero relative motion… Mission Control we are going to start docking procedures! Issuing remote commands to Odyssey to open the docking shield!”
-Jeb

The signal is received by Odyssey….

… and the protective cover on the docking port opens!

“Detaching from lander… moving to relative port… RCS systems nominal…”
-Jeb

As the lander stays at a safe distance, the Crew Vehicle begins docking maneuvers!

“OK… we are the pipe, five by five! Connection in 5…4…3…2….”
-Jeb

“…1! I show a good connection!”
-Jeb

“Confirmed! Seals are good – vehicle integrity good!“
-Gillian

“OK switching controls over to the lander! I have a good connection! Starting docking maneuver!“
-Jeb

Jeb remotely pilots the lander so that it’s directly above the landing bay! Then, slowly, uses RCS to “land” in the bay!

“Just about… almost… OK!“
-Jeb

“Another good docking! I show we have the lander firmly docked in the cargo bay! Time to inspect the ship and make sure we are good for departure!
-Gillian

“We better hurry! The transfer window to Sarnus won’t last forever!“
–Shepley

Kerbin Space Exploration Administration | Space Program Funding

Current Funds: 147,128Assigned Kerbal Wages: 65,000
Next Funding Period: -14dUnassigned Kerbal Wages: 5,000
Current Reputation: 453Vessel Maintenance: 107,185
Estimated Gross Funding:905,459Launch Costs: 170,866
Space Center Costs: 136,000Estimated Net Funding: 421,408

Year 21, Day 137 (Explorer 7 Returns to Kerbin from Duna!)

sayburstuff Year 21 , , , ,

As Explorer 7 speeds towards it’s intercept with Kerbin, the automated systems thaw the frozen crew!

“Brr! I could use a hot chocolate!”

-Dunwin

“Me too! Waking from cryo-sleep is always so chilly!”

-Shepely

“Well, don’t worry! It’s about to get a whole lot warmer!”

-Malcolm

One by one, the crew suit up, and transfer over to the Command Module!

Once inside, everyone straps in for the re-entry!

Explorer 7 heats up, but Duna-bound spacecraft are well shielded for these fast reentries!

“Hold on! Hold on! Almost there!”

-Malcolm

The chute deploys once the spacecraft is slow enough to be safe!

“Looks like a good deploy!”

-Dunwin

Explorer 7 sets down in the grassy fields west of the Space Center! Rescue craft are dispatched to recover the three Kerbals and the trove of data recovered from Duna!

Year 20, Day 271 (Explorer 7 Departs Duna!)

sayburstuff Year 20 , , , , ,

After two successful Duna landings it’s time for the Explorer 7 crew to return home! Malcolm performs an EVA to give Duna Spaceport, the Advanced Duna Lander, and the Explorer spacecraft a final inspection before departing!

“Everything looks good out here! This view never gets boring!”
-Malcolm

After boarding Explorer 7, Malcolm detaches the spacecraft…

… and Explorer 7 slowly drifts away from Duna Spaceport!

“There’s only enough fuel reserves for one more landing from the Spaceport! The next mission will need to have a reserve fuel supply or KSEA needs to send another refueling mission out!”
-Dunwin

“Well if you ask me how we get here isn’t as important as getting here! The scientific data we’ve acquired this mission should keep us busy for years!”
-Shepely

As Explorer 7 drifts further and further the departure window is met, and Malcolm fires the spacecraft’s engine!

“All systems are nominal… engine burn to Kerbin nearly complete!”
-Malcolm

As Explorer 7 leaves the Duna system, the crew prepares for their EVA to the Cryonic section to hibernate for the trip home! At KSEA, mission planners are debating how to do the next mission – is it time to send the DSV’s to Duna, or continue with the Explorer program?

Year 20, Day 10 (Explorer 7 Second Duna Landing!)

sayburstuff Year 20 , , , , ,

Malcolm, Dunwin and Shepely head down for the second landing! Since this will be a landing at the Highlands, the Advanced Duna Lander has to expend a good deal of fuel to slow down before entering the atmosphere!

“We’re heading in! Approach looking good!”
-Malcolm

The landing parachute deploys, and the lander pitches up…. while the engine throttles up again to slow the descent!

Shepely and Dunwin head out to explore the surface!

“It’s so pretty!”
-Shepely

Next, Malcolm plants a flag….

…and the crew poses for their landing portrait!

“Mission Control has received your picture… lookin’ good!”
-Gene, at Mission Control

Shepley gets the scientific equipment set up, while Malcolm and Dunwin supervise!

Well, let’s get our little campsite going! We have a few weeks to work here on the surface!
-Shepely

Year 19, Day 214 (Explorer 7 Crew Return to Duna Spaceport!)

sayburstuff Year 19 , , , , ,

After 40 days on the surface of Duna, the Explorer 7 crew prepares to come home!

“All our surface experiments should be OK when we take off, as long as there isn’t too much dust kicked up!”
-Shepely

“Engines firing! All systems go!”
-Malcolm

“Looks like we’re still getting a signal from the surface… blast off must not have been too damaging! Lander systems all good too!”
-Dunwin

Malcolm pilots the Advanced Duna Lander to a rendezvous with the station…

…and docks with Duna Spaceport!

“Great work Explorer 7! Get some rest everyone!”
-Gene, at Mission Control

Year 19, Day 174 (Explorer 7 Crew Explores Duna’s Southern Basin!)

sayburstuff Year 19 , , , , ,

Malcolm, Dunwin, and Shepely leave the lander and set foot on the dusty red surface of Duna!

“We made it!! The satellite scans show the anomaly is 800m away … Sorry we couldn’t land closer!”

-Malcolm

“It’s ok! I can walk that far, no problem! Should be plenty of life support and EVA fuel!“

-Shepely

Shepely heads west, toward the anomalous reading the survey satellite detected…

After a long walk, and a few ‘EVA hops’, Shepely arrives at the anomaly!

“Wow! It’s huge! Looks like another mysterious Monolith! The dimensions look identical to the one by the space center and I’m Mun and Minmus… Fascinating!”

-Shepely

Next, Shepely explores the region around the Monolith!

Not too far from the Monolith is a large Duna Rock!

“Hmmm… Can’t get much of a sample with my tools… We’ll need a rover arm to really get a good sample!”

-Shepely

Next, Shepely heads over to an odd rock formation…

The strange blueish hued stones are quite odd!

“Weird! These look like big stone blueberries! I’ll get a good sample!

-Shepely

After gathering some Duna Blueberry samples, Shepely heads back to the lander!

Malcolm helps Shepely load his samples into the lander, then all 3 Kerbals begin unloading the surface science equipment for Shepely to set up!

“This looks like a good spot! Good thing we brought the RTG power supplies… Not enough solar power is available down here!”

-Shepely

“Lookin’ good!”

-Malcolm

“Yeah! The ground science equipment should be fully deployed… The relay satellites in orbit should be able to have ongoing communication with Kerbin!”

-Dunwin

Before heading back to the Spaceport there’s just one thing to do…

Pose for a landing portrait!

“Smile! This is for the history books!”

-Malcolm

Year 19, Day 171 (Explorer 7 Arrives at Duna Spaceport!)

sayburstuff Year 19 , , , , , , ,

Explorer 7 performs a circularization manuever as it passes it’s closest point with Duna!

“I’m showing a circular orbit – nice work!”
-Shepely

Next, Malcolm performs the rendezvous maneuver, and intercepts Duna Spaceport!

“Firing thrusters… just need to get lined up with the docking port!”
-Malcolm

Explorer 7 moves in to dock…

…and makes a solid connection with the spaceport!

“OK!  Time to get out there and reposition the Advanced Lander!”
-Malcolm

“Be careful out there!  There’s a lot of hardware operating very closely!”
-Dunwin

“It’s beautiful out here! The station and lander look to be in great shape! Hard to believe the Spaceport has been here for 13 years!

-Malcolm

Malcolm uses his EVA pack to maneuver over to the Advanced Lander…

…then grabs the handholds and climbs inside!

“It’s nice and roomy in here! Much cozier than the Mun Landers!”

-Malcolm

Using only RCS thrusters, Malcolm detaches from the Ground Science cargo payload that came with the lander (and will remain attached to the Spaceport, to be used on future missions) and moves away from the station!

“The lander is oriented away from the station, and momentum is carrying us away… ejecting engine fairing!”

-Malcolm

The interstage fairing protecting the engine (which allowed the Ground Science payload to be carried inline with the lander) ejects! The momentum away from the Spaceport will carry the fairing out and away from the station!

The Advanced Lander drifts slowly over the spaceport!

“RCS thrusters firing… Forward momentum should be enough to dock…”

-Malcolm

“I show you at .1 m/s … Alignment good…”

-Dunwin

With a loud ‘CLUNK!’ and some mechanical ‘whirs’ Explorer 7 is docked and securely attached to Duna Spaceport! Malcolm climbs over and the Explorer 7 crew prepares for their landing!

Year 19, Day 155 (Explorer 7 Crew Thaw, Prepare For Duna Mission!)

sayburstuff Year 19 , , , ,

Explorer 7 is just days away from reaching Duna’s sphere of influence! Mission Control sends the automated signal to thaw the crew from Cryo-Stasis!

“Mission Control this is Malcolm on Explorer 7… we’re all thawed out and ready for our mission!”
-Malcolm

“… I could use something hot to drink though!”
-Shepely

Dunwin checks over the ship’s systems and makes sure everything is looking good!

“Explorer handled the transit just fine… all systems are good!”
-Dunwin