Career Modernization Program

[Zylark]

Foreword: Nearing the end of the tech-tree, and some various ships and stations certainly show their age and at the time limited available parts to tinker with. Also, during the career I've introduced a few mods and such to get things done that in stock is rather difficult if not impossible. So this little series will cover the modernization program of my space flying or stationed thingy-mah-bobs-and-stuff. Not as a narrative as such, but more through a series of News Articles and Press Releases.

Mods used BTW: MechJeb, B9, KAS, Lazor DockingCam, AviationLights, Kethane, InfernalRobotics, KerbalAlarmclock

Karch 14th, KSC

Amidst rumors of a near disaster during the docking of the MultiXplorer craft of Minmus fame after returning from a lengthy Duna mission, KSC revealed today that indeed current orbital infrastructure assets may not be entirely scaled to handle ongoing and future missions. Wernher von Kerman had no comment as to future plans to remedy the situation. According to von Kerman, the KSC is awaiting a commissioned report from the College of Heuristical Empirically Evolved and Simplified Engineering before submitting any proposals to Congress.

Kapril 3rd, CHEESE

The College of Heuristical Empirically Evolved and Simplified Engineering released the first chapter of the Enhanced Design Asset Modernization report. This first release points to several weaknesses of Kerbin Station, who though having served KSC and the KSP well for years now, do show some signs of that early eagerness and inexperience in designing and day to day operations of such large installations.

Some experienced Kerbanauts have in confidence told reporters from KNN that even the thought of docking with the Kerbin Station make them feel as if time is crawling to a stand-still. "It's so cramped!" said one. "You practically have to squeeze your ship in-between god-only-knows what else is already parked there, and the facilities are not lush by any standard!" Another chimed in "Yeah, there is only room for four, and considering the day to day crew working there haven't had a shower for like, uhm, yeah, years, it's not a place you want to spend more time than necessary. If any. I prefer to just stay in the ship I arrived in actually, given a choice!".

According to CHEESE their plans for a new orbital station will soon be presented. And yes, it will have room for even the biggest ships to dock. And yes, there will be capacity for more than four Kerbanauts. Yes, there will be snacks. And yes, indeed, a shower will be included. Well, a washing-basin at least. More like a washing-cloth-humidifier-with-liquid-soap-dispenser. And plenty of air-freshener.

Edited January 15, 2014 by Zylark
getting pictures to work

[Zylark]

Kapril 25th, KSC

Having passed the Congressional Review of Extra-Kerbin Asset Management hearing last week, EDAM is now well underway. CREAM allocated funds for the basic infrastructure of the new station.

Amidst a recent flurry of activity in the Vehicle Assembly Building, KSC will later tonight roll out the first stage of the new and as of yet un-named Kerbin Space Station. Some activity have also been noticed in the Space Plane Hangar. Representatives of KSC won't comment on what is going on there, apart from saying that funding of the new Space Station to completion required some extra funds. The Kethane Resource Industrial Mining and Excavation Corporation have supplied this in return for use of KSC launch facilities and lifter rockets. No details on what they are planning so far, and KRIMECo founder and Chairman, Jebediah Kerman is unavailable for comment. His Chief Operational Officer, Bill Kerman, said that "Orange Spacesuits don't come cheap you know. So we go to expand where we can, as cheap -err- within available budgets!"

Kapril 26th, KSC

First stage is ready for launch and awaiting final inspection on the launchpad.

Launch is scheduled later today according to Wernher von Kerman. As per usual, press or any other civilians will not be allowed on site during launch. "We all know what happened last time!" von Kerman commented. "We're still paying the compensation claim after that unfortunate little mishap."

Kapril 28th, KSC

Second stage ready for launch. No information as of yet how the first stage launch went, but von Kerman looks happy, so KNN is assuming success.

Kapril 30th, KSC

Third stage ready for launch. Again, no information have been leaked on how the two previous launches went. Von Kerman though looks positively ecstatic, so again we here at KNN are assuming it all went well.

Kay 2nd, KSC

During todays' press-conference it was confirmed that indeed everything is going swimmingly. All launches went well and have reached their designated orbital height of roughly 200km over the Kerbin waters. Which is some 60km higher than the current station. Reasons for the new orbit was given as making transfers to and from KSC and the new station easier for the mission planners.

"The difficult job still awaits though" said von Kerman. The new station still have to be assembled whilst in orbit. Two of our more experienced Kerbanauts, Guston and Germore are already busy doing this. Meanwhile we are pleased to present this picture of the as-of-yet to be assembled space station taken by Germore Kerman as he approached the station earlier today in the Station Assembly Tug.

When asked if there are any more launches required, von Kerman said that "To get the thing operational, no. To complete it to full capacity, yes. Also we've obliged ourselves to install a module that KRIMEco is currently assembling." More information will follow as it is released.

Edited January 15, 2014 by Zylark

[Zylark]

Kay 6th, KSC

Following the success and swiftness of the new space station construction under the EDAM project guidelines, KSC, KRIMECo, CREAM and CHEESE will cement the great cooperation in this project and what is to come, by announcing the Advanced Kethane Mining Enterprise. CREAM supports this as it means less spent from Congress. KRIMECo likes it due to guaranteed access to KSC launch facilities. KSC thinks they might become self-funding under this new Association. And CHEESE will do all the design-work. In celebration, the new orbital station have been named AKME Station.

Appointed CEO of AKME, Jebediah Kerman is still unavailable for comment. But appointed Press-Officer, Bob Kerman, informed us that Jebediah is on a fact finding mission on Mun. To review existing mining facilities there and report on its potential for optimization. He provided us with this photo taken by Jebediah:

"Clearly there is room for improvement, it's a mess!" He added, though no details as of yet.

Edited January 15, 2014 by Zylark

[Zylark]

[note: Been a slight delay in progress. On Saturday, as I was to start getting a bit on with the modernization program, my cat came for his usual cuddles demand, stomping all over the keyboard. And apparently also hitting the F9 key for a few seconds. Naturally, my last quicksave was from before I started this series. So basically had to launch and assemble the entire AKME Station once again. But now back on track - and quicksaving a bit more often. And cat gets an overdose of cuddles before I start playing

]

Kay 20th, KSC

Today the new AKME conglomerate revealed what they have been tinkering with in the Hangar. A new massive Kethane miner and refinery. And a new launcher to carry big heavy things into orbit. Wernher von Kerman is almost turning blue with pride in the new launcher stage. When CHEESE presented him with the plans for the new Large Kethane Miner reports said he grew quiet and mumbled something about "not having anything that would throw that thing any higher than 30.000 meters at best - on a good day assuming all goes well and some hitherto unknown gravity hole exist somewhere around Kerbin." and then slinking away to his office not being seen for days.

Our reporter from KNN lost count of the amount of Solid Rocket Boosters after a good dozen. As for the main propulsion stages, von Kerman commented that "We've had this new engine laying about for a while now, not really having had any application for it as it guzzles fuel slightly faster than just lighting a fuse to a fuel-tank and exploding it in one big fireball. But it do provide an impressive amount of lift - so we bolted eight of them to the main lifter stage. And a more traditional engine in the middle."

Kay 24th, KSC

The new launch stage seems to have worked, as courtecy of AKME, KSC presented us with pictures of the new LKM meeting up with the old Kerbin Station and Mun Station.

Drying up Kerbin Station after squeezing in with a very narrow margin. Wernher von Kerman informed us that eventhough KS is now obsolete, it was full of fuel that the new LKM needed to make the transfer to Mun orbit. He also revealed that the old KS will get a sort of a make-over. "We'll keep the docking ports, plug in the new Fuel Tank Hub in a slightly modified configuration, de-orbit the habitat and solar arrays. Basically making it into an unmanned Fuel Depot for outgoing traffic. But that is all a bit in the future. Speaking of unmanned, Doden Kerman, the last crew of the Kerbin Station, closed it for business after the fuel-transfer to the Large Kethane Miner and entered the LKM as part of the crew with Bill and Bob who is also riding out to Mun to oversee the first running of this new apparatus and further operational needs of Mun Base.

Getting the LKM to Mun Base is a complicated affair. Arriving at Mun orbit, the LKM needed to top off its center tank and RCS reserves. Von Kerman explained that the LKM do not use the most efficient engines, a low profile was more important than efficiency, so to make a landing on Mun some more fuel was needed. As for the RCS, he explained that the LKM is not entirely balanced, so the RCS tanks serve mainly as ballast to even the weight out during transport. "It is a bit cumbersome to move around." he said. "But that is fine, it's not supposed to move a lot."

He also commented that "Mun Station will also receive a bit of an upgrade. But it is a bit more complicated. For one thing, we got two crew on the Science Module, and they flat out refuse to get out. We suspect them of growing some very suspicious potent snacks in there. Either way, to pry them out, we need to dismantle the station around Mun, de-orbit what we don't need. Then tug the Science Module to Kerbin orbit, slap a ton of parachutes onto it and then de-orbit the thing in a safe manner. Finally when on the ground, applying an industrial size can-opener to it and find out what the crew have been up to. It's a bit of a project..."

Finally we was presented two pictures of the LKM after safe arrival at Mun Base. The first together with the old installations there, and the last with Jebediah, Bill and Bob - the combined heads of AKME - posing with the new fully functional Large Kethane Miner.

As what is to happen with the old installations, von Kerman said that "The old mobile Kethane Rig is already prepped for transit to Minmus and explore the fields there to find a nice flat spot to set up shop. The old Fuel-Rover, that ungainly prone to tip over thingie, will be replaced pretty soon - probably on the same shipment that will send a shuttle to the Base in order to pick up Jeb, Bill and Bob. As for the Habitat, we're thinking of keeping that for the time-being. It's a bit overkill in crew capacity and a bit underwhelming in power-output. But for night-time-operations it's all we got at the moment."

Edited January 20, 2014 by Zylark
formatting