Upgrades

Year 21, Day 245 (Mun Spaceport Upgrade Mission Launches!)

sayburstuff Year 21 , , , ,

The Nebula Rocket carrying the Mun Spaceport adapters launches!

At a 200k apoapsis, the first stage turns around, and returns to Kerbin! Meanwhile, the second stage ejects it’s fairing…

…and heads to Mun!

Circularizing orbit around Mun, the remotely piloted vehicle rendezvouses with Mun Spaceport until…

The tiny craft arrives at the massive orbital research and refueling depot!

“Mission Control – we show the spacecraft at station keeping – we’re ready for control handover!”

-Summer

Control of the upgrade modules is given to Mun Spaceport, and Summer (carefully!) pilots the three small modules into position!

The first Module goes on in an unoccupied bay…

Then the second module goes on opposite it!

“Ready for the last module! This one will be a little tricky, it’s going on the underside of the station!”
-Summer

Depsite some difficulty, Summer flawlessly docks the small module to the underside of the station!

With all three adapter modules in place (and their disposable installation craft drifting safely away) Mun Spaceport is ready for future spacecraft!

Year 20, Day 199 (New Spaceport Fueling Port Launches!)

sayburstuff Year 20 , , , , ,

A massive Nova Rocket is chosen to launch the next section for the Spacedock upgrade project! Only a Nova could carry both the Modular Refueling Vehicle and the new 4-sided fuel port segment!

The solid rockets detach, and the Nova Rocket carries payload to orbit!

The protective aerodynamic fairing detaches, and the craft begins the slow and dreadfully dull rendevous maneuvers – made quite tiresome by the craft’s massive side and under-powered RCS thrusters!

“We’re gonna need more coffee at Mission Control… this is going to be a long one!”
-Gene

Finally, the segment arrives at Spacedock!

The old refueling vehicle drifts away, while the new section moves in slowly. Engineers plan to use a tug vehicle to bring the segment back to Spacedock… eventually!

The new section is aligned…

…and Spacedock itself is slowly oriented up as the docking maneuver continues… finally connecting!

“Connection seems solid! I think we’re good to start pumping fuel! Someone should probably go bring the Endeavor back!”
-Sean

“Mirphe and I can handle that!”
-Summer

Mirphe and Summer leave in Crew Vehicle 1…

… and dock with Endeavor!

“We’re connected! Summer, you should try piloting the Endeavor!“
-Mirphe

“Oh wow, this thing handles surprisingly well for how big it is! Bringing Endeavor in to dock!”
-Summer

Mirphe detaches the Crew Vehicle and Summer brings the Endeavor in to dock!

Endeavor docks at the new docking segment!

“I’m heading home too!”
-Mirphe

With Endeavor and Crew Vehicle 1 docked, the Spacedock upgrades are (for now) complete! The only thing to add are more modular refueling vehicles to the base!

“Good work up there! Get some rest!”
-Gene, at Mission Control

Year 1, Day 50

sayburstuff Year 1 ,

Engineers begin major upgrades on the Space Center launch facility. Meanwhile, scientists begin testing larger and more powerful rockets and components.  Clearly to get to orbit we’re going to need a bigger rocket!

It’s not clear yet if this is the end for the Horizon missions, or if the existing launch vehicle design can be upgraded somehow!