Pipcard

Y1, D413 to D463 - Crewed Minmus orbit and landing (note: 2.5x scale Kerbin has more than 426 days in a year) Y1, D413 - Denebola 16 (Gledorf and Bill) launched on a Yellow Dwarf 1-2L2S, entering a polar orbit around Minmus on Day 420 to observe every biome while using a new extended habitation module and folding solar panels. They returned to Kerbin on Day 430. Y1, D435 - The Tejat 1 lander launched, arriving in Minmus orbit on Day 444 to wait for the crew. It was identical to the Alhena 1 Mun lander, but with a seismic accelerometer. Y1, D444 - Denebola 17 (Valentina and Jebmund) lifted off from Kerbin, docking with Tejat 1 nine days later. They landed in the Flats biome on Day 454 and deployed a couple of surface experiments. But since a lander designed for the Mun was now being used in the lower gravity of Minmus, they had a lot more fuel to lift off and explore five more biomes: Lowlands, Slopes, Midlands, Greater Flats, and Highlands. They returned to Kerbin on Day 463 with a huge amount of scientific data that dwarfed any previous mission (almost 4000 science points).

[ARA] Y1, D382 - The Gemini 18, 19, and 20 relay satellites enter Minmus orbit (2.5x scale) Y1, D382 - The Gemini 21 rover lands on the north pole of Minmus Y1, D392 - Gemini 22, the first Minmus sample return mission (Great Flats)

Y1, D372 to D402 - Minmus relays, rover, and sample return Y1, D372 - A Yellow Dwarf 1-4S (4 SRBs) launched the relay satellites designated Gemini 18 through 20, which entered Minmus orbit from Day 381 to 382. Y1, D373 - A Yellow Dwarf 1-2S launched the Gemini 21 rover, which landed on the north Pole region of Minmus on Day 382. Y1, D385 - A Yellow Dwarf 1-2L launched the Gemini 22 sample return probe, landing on Minmus's Great Flats on Day 392 and returning to Kerbin on Day 402. (I haven't brought this up until now, but I've noticed a bug in which certain engines (such as the Terrier or Spark) do not properly show Waterfall plumes (from Stock Waterfall Effects) when in orbit around Minmus. But outside of Minmus, the exhaust plumes are normal. And not all engines are affected.) edit: I found the solution to the issue. edit 2: I think I may also have to remove refraction from the config files of Stock Waterfall Effects as well, since every time I load, I keep having to remove them.

[ARA] Y1, D339 - Denebola 14, the first crewed Mun orbiter Y1, D359 - Denebola 15 docks to Alhena 1, the first crewed Mun lander

Y1, D337 to D361 - Crewed Mun orbit and landing Y1, D337 - A Yellow Dwarf 1-2L launched Denebola 14 (Dofel and Jonford), the first crewed spacecraft to orbit the Mun (Day 339). It first went an equatorial elliptical orbit, then performed a plane change maneuver (at a high and slow position) to enter a polar orbit. From there, the two astronauts observed all the different regions of the Mun for four days before returning to Kerbin (Day 344). Y1, D356 - A Yellow Dwarf 1-2L2S (with both liquid and solid rocket boosters) launched Alhena 1, the first crewed Munar lander. However, it wasn't launched with any Kerbals on board, and waited in a 25 km orbit around the Mun. Jebediah and Bob Kerman would launch on Denebola 15 on Day 358. They docked and transferred to Alhena 1, which then proceeded to make the first crewed landing on the Mun (Northwest Crater) on Day 359. Jebediah planted the flag of the Aerospace Research Agency, while Bob set up the Go-ob surface experiment, control station, and solar panels (which were brought along with Denebola 15). They launched back into orbit, transferred to the Denebola capsule, and returned to Kerbin (Day 361).

[ARA] Y1, D288 - The new Yellow Dwarf 1 rocket (2S configuration) launches three relay sats (Gemini 13 to 15) to the Mun Y1, D306 - The Gemini 16 rover is the first spacecraft to land on the Mun's far side Y1, D320 - The Yellow Dwarf 1-2L rocket launches Gemini 17, the first Munar sample return mission

Y1, D288 to D323 - Munar relays, rover, and sample return Mun probes Y1, D288 - The new Yellow Dwarf 1 rocket (2S configuration) was the first to use 2.5 m diameter tanks (and payload fairings). The methalox first and second stages used two "Deinonychus" and three "Buzzard" methalox engines, respectively, assisted by two "Thumper" SRBs. It could lift 6 tonnes to low Kerbin orbit. The first launch carried the Gemini 13 to 15 relay satellites to a 1000 km orbit around the Mun (Day 291). This would enable communications between Kerbin and spacecraft on the far side. Y1, D304 - A Yellow Dwarf 1-2S launched Gemini 16, the first Munar rover, which investigated the Lowlands biome of the far side (Day 306). Y1, D320 - With two liquid rocket boosters, the Yellow Dwarf 1-2L configuration could lift 12 tonnes to LKO. It launched Gemini 17, the first sample return mission to and from the Mun (East Farside Crater). Only the small data storage unit returned to Kerbin. Rescues Y1, D299 - Denebola 12 (Valentina) rescued Camsey Kerman. Y1, D314 - Denebola 13 (Jebediah) rescued Marnard Kerman. After having rescued 8 astronauts for a total of 12, ARA would take a break from orbital rescue contracts (for now).

[ARA] Y1, D238 - Gemini 10, the first Minmus lander probe (Midlands biome) Y1, D271 - Gemini 11 and 12 land in Minmus's Greater Flats and Flats biomes

Y1, D220 to D271 - Minmus lander probes Rescues Y1, D220 - Denebola 9 (Valentina) rescued Handorf Kerman. Y1, D229 - Denebola 10 (Jebediah) rescued Bobkin Kerman. Y1, D255 - Denebola 11 (Dofel) rescued Jebmund Kerman. Minmus probes Y1, D227 - Gemini 10 was launched, becoming the first Minmus lander probe (Midlands biome) on Day 237. Y1, D247 - Gemini 11 and Gemini 12 were launched, landing in the Greater Flats and Flats biomes on Day 271. Both probes entered orbit on Day 255 but had to wait for the side facing Kerbin to be in sunlight. Gemini 10 Gemini 11 and 12

[ARA] Y1, D201 - Gemini 8, the first Minmus impact probe Y1, D202 - Denebola 6, the first rescue mission Y1, D217 - Gemini 9, the first Minmus orbiter

Y1, D194 to D217 - Minmus impact and orbiter, rescues in Kerbin orbit Y1, D194 - Gemini 8 launched on a Red Dwarf 2-2L, becoming the first Minmus impactor on Day 201. Y1, D202 - Denebola 6 (Valentina) and Denebola 7 (Jebediah) launched on the same day. These two flights would be the first rescue missions, recovering Kerbals from other agencies that were stranded in orbit. Denebola 6 and 7 would return Dofel and Jonford Kerman, respectively, and both would be recruited by ARA. On Day 211, Denebola 8 (now piloted by Dofel) would recover Gledorf Kerman in the agency's first night launch. Y1, D209 - A Red Dwarf 2-4L launched Gemini 9, the first Minmus orbiter (Day 217).

Nice.

[ARA] Y1, D176 - Gemini 6 lands in the Mun's East Crater Y1, D176 - Denebola 4, the first orbital docking Y1, D192 - Gemini 7, the first Minmus flyby Y1, D193 - Denebola 5, the first crewed mission to last 1 week

Y1, D174 to D193 - First docking, Minmus flyby, and 7-day stay Y1, D174 - Gemini 6 is launched, landing in the Mun's East Crater on Day 176. Y1, D176 - Denebola 4 (Valentina and Bob Kerman) makes the first docking with the Leo 5 target vehicle, while also testing orbital propellant transfer. Y1, D185 - Gemini 7 is launched by a Red Dwarf 2-4L to become the first probe to fly by Minmus, Kerbin's smaller and more distant moon, on Day 192. This mission happens concurrently with the following mission below. Y1, D186 - Denebola 5 (Jebediah and Bill Kerman) is the first crewed mission to spend one week (7 days) in orbit (until Day 193). It also tests the use of life support Supplies.

[ARA] Y1, D152 - Denebola 2, the first spacewalk ' Y1, D162 - Gemini 5 lands on the Mun's Northwest Crater Y1, D165 - Denebola 3 makes the first orbital rendezvous with the Leo 5 target vehicle

Y1, D152 to D166 - First spacewalk and rendezvous Y1, D152 - In the Denebola 2 mission, the first extravehicular activity (EVA / spacewalk) is conducted by Valentina and Bob Kerman. Both astronauts observe the various biomes of Kerbin from outside their spacecraft. (I finally decided to install Blackrack's volumetric clouds from their Patreon subscription) Y1, D160 - Gemini 5 is launched and lands on the Mun's Northwest Crater on Day 162. Y1, D164 - A Red Dwarf 2 with no boosters launches Leo 5. It is intended as a target vehicle for the first orbital rendezvous, performed by Denebola 3 (Jebediah and Bill Kerman) on Day 165.

[ARA] Y1, D132 - Gemini 3, the first probe to orbit the Mun Y1, D140 - Denebola 1, the first two-crew spacecraft (yes, I get the irony of this not being called Gemini) Y1, D148 - Gemini 4, the first probe to land on the Mun

Y1, D130 to D148 - Mun orbit/lander probes and 2-crew spacecraft Y1, D130 - The Gemini 3 spacecraft was launched on a Red Dwarf 2 with four liquid rocket boosters (RD-2-4L), and became the first probe to orbit the Mun on Day 132. The launch pad had been upgraded to support rockets weighing over 18 tonnes, and was now known as the "Alpha Arae Launch Complex." Y1, D140 - Denebola 1, the first spacecraft to carry 2 people (Jebediah and Bill Kerman), was launched on an Red Dwarf 2-4L (this time without fins as engine gimballing provided enough control). It reached 250 km and orbited a few times before returning to the ocean east of the space center. (Yes, I notice the irony in a program called "Gemini" not referring to a 2-person crew capsule. But here I'm using constellation names for uncrewed missions to general destinations.) Y1, D146 - Gemini 4 was launched by a Red Dwarf 2-6L (6 liquid rocket boosters) and became the first probe to land on the Mun (Midlands biome) on Day 148.

[ARA] Y1, D101 - Gemini 1 (named for the twin moons of Kerbin), the first Munar flyby probe Y1, D109 - Nunki 4, the first crewed orbital spacecraft, piloted by Valentina Kerman Y1, D118 - Gemini 2, the first Munar impact probe

Y1, D101 to D118 - First Mun probes and crewed orbiter Y1, D101 - The Gemini program, named for its destinations being the "twin" moons of Kerbin, began with Gemini 1. Launched by a Red Dwarf 2-2L, the probe reached the Mun (28,500 km from Kerbin) in one day, performing a flyby as close as 55 km. By Day 110, it had become the first spacecraft to escape Kerbin and orbit Kerbol. Y1, D109 - Piloted by Valentina Kerman and launched by a Red Dwarf 2-2L, Nunki 4 was the first crewed spacecraft to orbit Kerbin. It entered a 650 x 108 km orbit and completed 1 full revolution before de-orbiting and splashing down near the space center. Y1, D113 - Gemini 2, launched by a Red Dwarf 2, was the first space probe to impact the Mun on Day 118. It took over 4 days to get to the Mun as it had to wait for the Mun's Kerbin-facing side to be in daytime.

[ARA] Leo 3, the first satellite recovery from orbit, launched by a Red Dwarf 2 rocket Leo 4, the first keostationary satellite Nunki 1 and 2, the first crewed suborbital flights Nunki 3, the first crewed flight into space

Y1, D71 to D91 - Orbital return, keostationary sat, and crewed hops Y1, D71 - The new and improved Red Dwarf 2 launch vehicle greatly increased payload capacity through the use of high-performance MR-1 "Composognathus" engines, which used liquid methane and oxidizer (methalox) instead of the standard liquid fuel/lox combination. The second stage had the LV-909 "Terrier" engine, offering comparable efficiency in vacuum while using liquid fuel/lox. With up to two liquid rocket boosters, the RD-2-2L rocket could lift payloads in excess of 1000 kg to orbit. The Red Dwarf 2 first launched with the Leo 3 satellite, an experiment in collecting scientific data and returning it to Kerbin using a data storage unit protected by a heat shield. This way, only a small mass (without the heavy scientific equipment) would need to be slowed down for recovery. It also used a more advanced probe core that had small reaction wheels for rotation. Leo 4 entered a orbit as high as 700 km before de-orbiting, re-entering Kerbin's atmosphere, and splashing down in the seas west of the KSC. Y1, D78 - Leo 4 was launched as a small communications test satellite on a Red Dwarf 2 (with no boosters). Using a small yet powerful "Spark" engine, it entered a keostationary orbit 5900 km above the ground. This was synchronized with (rescaled) Kerbin's rotation period of 7 hours and 29 minutes, and appeared to be fixed in the sky if observed from the ground. Y1, D84 & 85 - Nunki 1 was the first crewed suborbital flight, a one-person capsule piloted by Jebediah Kerman and launched by a Brown Dwarf 1 rocket. As the rocket was actively controlled, the fins did not need to be twisted for spin stabilization. It was followed on the next day by Nunki 2, flown by Valentina Kerman. Both flights reached an altitude of about 40 km. Y1, D91 - Piloted by Jebediah, Nunki 3 was the first crewed flight into space, launched by a Brown Dwarf 2 rocket (which used the first stage of Red Dwarf 2). It reached 110 km before splashing down in the waters near the space center.

I like it when alternate space timelines acknowledge the accomplishments of a Japanese space program.

Leo 1, the first satellite of the Aerospace Research Agency, launched by a Red Dwarf 1 rocket Ascella 1, the first aircraft

Y1, D37 to D57 - First satellites and aircraft Y1, D37 - Red Dwarf 1 was the first rocket capable of reaching orbit (~5300-5400 m/s of Delta-v in 2.5x scale). It carried Leo 1, the first satellite of the Aerospace Research Agency. Leo (the lion) would be the designation for missions to Kerbin orbit. The RD-1 had a stretched Brown Dwarf liquid rocket stage assisted by two "Shrimp" SRBs on the sides. A new probe core and larger fins allowed for a controlled ascent, and two "Mite" SRBs on top of the first stage (with reaction control system thrusters for steering in the vacuum of space) provided the final boosts. Leo 1 transmitted temperature data from up to 800 km above Kerbin using an extendable antenna. The satellite only had batteries for power, so it could only operate for a short time. Y1, D38 and 39 - Using the same instruments as before, Sagittarius 7 and Sagittarius 8 gathered more data from the upper atmosphere. Y1, D42 - Ascella 1, ARA's first aircraft, was complete. Known for his determination, Jebediah Kerman had been hired to be the first test pilot. But before it took off, it tested scientific equipment and taxiing capabilities around the Kerbal Space Center, which turned out to be very valuable for the research and development division. Solar panels provided a quick way to recharge after transmitting data. After its tour of the facilities, it was time for a short test flight. Taking off to the east, it turned around and headed for the grasslands to the west before going back towards the ocean, then returning to the grassy plains surrounding the space center. (note: the LY-01 and LY-05 landing gear are very fragile. I had to maximize the spring and dampening, and also had to save and reload a few times during landing.) Tour of the Kerbal Space Center First flight Y1, D47 - Sagittarius 9 carried the first "Science Jr." devices, used to expose materials to various conditions, to the upper atmosphere. The Brown Dwarf 1 rocket and its payload were recovered separately. Y1, D57 - Leo 2 was launched by a Red Dwarf 1-4S (with 4 SRBs) to a orbit over Kerbin's poles. This required more fuel as Kerbin's rotation was not contributing to the speed of the vehicle during launch. To prepare for more advanced missions and complex vehicles, the Vehicle Assembly Building, Tracking Station, and Mission Control facilities had been upgraded.