czokletmuss

I agree - the (o o o) version is much better in my humble opinion. I vote for the vertical sleep stations.

What can be said other than "awesome"?

I think I got a flu or something, so there may be more typos/errors than normally - just saying. Next update - well, I would love to write it tomorrow, but I can't guarantee it now. I would also like to post something new for the Space Race in the next few days. Thank you Thx! Conflict among the crew is one of the challenges for the long space travel in RL - astronauts who work on ISS spend more than 18 months training together to make sure they can make a good team (http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/shuttle/support/training/isstraining/).

CHAPTER 18 MINING: DRES *** BERTY v.2.0.8: Commander, Automatic Miner Unit has detected kethane deposit. Landing in progress. BILL: Very good. Let me know if something happens. BERTY v.2.0.8: Affirmative. BERTY v.2.0.8: Warning. Connection with Automatic Miner Unit lost. Searching. BILL: What? How?! BERTY, report. BERTY v.2.0.8: Connection lost. On-board computer is now in control. Rebooting. BILL: My Kod, this is our only source of fuel! BERTY, reestablish control over the AMU at once! BERTY v.2.0.8: Affirmative. Connection secured. Checking. BILL: Tell me everything is alright. BERTY v.2.0.8: Automatic Miner Unit has landed. Drill operational. Solar panels operational. No damage to the landing legs. Warning. RCS thruster A3 non responsive. BILL: Damage assessment. Can we dock safely without one thruster? BERTY v.2.0.8: Affirmative. According to new docking protocol, docking operation with vessel which RCS or SAS system is damaged requires presence of two pilots in the command module and one engineer-supervisor. BILL: Whew! Alright than – start the drilling and tell Rozer and Ned that their presence here will be required in what, 4 hours? BERTY v.2.0.8: Randez-vous with the Automatic Miner Unit is expected to begin in 3 hours and 23 minutes. BILL: Just tell them. And notify me when kethane tanks are full – I have a feeling that this won't be “business as usualâ€Â. *** BERTY v.2.0.8: Kethane tanks are full. Drilling completed. BILL: Okay. Retract the first drill BERTY. Gently. BERTY v.2.0.8: Affirmative. BILL: Good. Now, as soon as we can confirm that… BERTY v.2.0.8: Warning. RCS thruster A4 non responsive. BILL: Weird. Check the electronics and… BERTY v.2.0.8: Warning. RCS thruster A1 non responsive. Automatic Miner Unit is moving with the velocity of 1,3 m/s. BILL: What the…? Are engines online? BERTY v.2.0.8: Negative. 1,5 m/s. Multiple failures in the drill B detected. BILL: Are you sure you're getting the right data? AMU can't move if… In which direction? BERTY v.2.0.8: South-west. 1,8 m/s. BILL: On-board computer landed in the crater when he lost contact with you, right? BERTY v.2.0.8: Affirmative. 1,9 m/s. BILL: Holy crap, it's sliding down the crater! Initiate emergency ascent protocol! BERTY v.2.0.8: Negative. Drill B not retracted. BILL: Override! BERTY v.2.0.8: Affirmative. Emergency ascent protocol initiated. BILL: Crap. Plot the course for the randez-vous with “Proteusâ€Â. Is the AMU still capable of docking? BERTY v.2.0.8: Negative. RCS thruster A1, A4 and A3 non responsive. Safe approach to the mothership impossible. BILL: According to the docking protocol, yes, but we can still catch it using the robotic arm and then repair it, right? BERTY v.2.0.8: I'm sorry, commander, I can't answer to that question without more data about the condition of the Automatic Miner Unit. BILL: Hmm. When we can expect AMU to approach “Proteusâ€Â? BERTY v.2.0.8: Randez-vous is expected to happen in 68 years, 35 days, 3 hours and 15 minutes. BILL: What?! Err, can you please double-check all systems of the AMU? And I want Rozer and Ned here ASAP. BERTY v.2.0.8: Affirmative. *** ROZER: We need the kethane. We have to try this. NED: Really? You know that the AMU weighs more than 50 tones, right? Do you have any idea how severe the damage can be if it collides with us? ROZER: I understand this. But without AMU we can't continue our mission. NED: No, we can't. But we h]ave enough fuel to execute transfer burn to Duna and wait for cargo from home. Or abort to Kerbin. ROZER: Aborting the mission is out of the question. IMV “Proteus†is fully operational, all we need is more fuel – not on Duna's orbit but later, while exploring joolian moons. NED: Maybe but do we need to put everyone in jeopardy trying to capture the AMU? Bill, say something. And where's Jeb? He's the most… ROZER: He's on cleaning duty. NED: You sent our best pilot to look out for mold?! Bill, this is just…! BILL: He's still suspended and I can't do anything about it, Ned. You know the protocol. NED: Well of course, let the bureaucrats back on Kerbin dictate us what to do. Listen, I can go and… BILL: No. Unless we really need to, we are doing everything by the book. ROZER: With all due respect commander, I don't think we can just ignore the rules when we want too. There was already one casualty. NED: … BILL: … ROZER: BERTY, without AMU when we will run out of fuel according to the plan? BERTY v.2.0.8: Assuming there won't be any trajectory corrections, “Proteus†will run out of fuel during Phase 9. ROZER: That's Tylo's SOI. Bill, we need the fuel. Even if AMU is broken beyond repair, we can still take everything and then just leave it here. But we need the fuel. NED: We have enough! We can't risk any damage to the ship. For Kod's sake, it's 50 tones we are talking about. BILL: BERTY, tell dr Johndon we need him to operate the robotic arm. BERTY v.2.0.8: Affirmative. ROZER: Commander? BILL: We're going for it. [*** BILL: :sigh: Alright, 6th approach. Take it easy, doctor. JOHNDON: I'm t-trying, commander, but it's moving too f-fast. NED: It won't work, Bill. I'm sorry, Johndon is the best guy for this work but you have to open your eyes. We're lucky that nothing has happened so far – can we abandon this idea for good? 'Cause this space ballet is just a waste of time. BERTY v.2.0.8: Proximity alert. ROZER: Cancel alarm. So what do you propose than? Without additional fuel there will be no more landings on Dres. We will fail. NED: No, we won't – we've men down there who at this very moment… JOHNDON: F-f-f…! BILL: What is it doctor? JOHNDON: I m-m-missed it again! BILL: Damn! NED: So now what? ROZER: We have to try again. NED: Again? And what if this time there will be collision? We can't… JEB: I'll do it. NED: Jeb! How long…? JEB: If the common berthing mechanism is intact, I can use LAMGML to dock to the AMU and use lander's RCS system to approach slow and precise enough so that doctor Johndon can catch us. ROZER: Wait a second, you are still suspended, you can't do this. JEB: Bill? BILL: He's right. I can't let you do this. JEB: Listen. I can do this. You know that. I now I'm suspended but we really need what AMU carries and mission control is months of flight from here. You can say that I didn't want to listen to you, but please, let me try this. ROZER: Commander, you can't allow him to… BILL: You said it yourself, captain Rozer – we need the AMU. BERTY, prepare the LAMGML “Beta†for undocking. BERTY v.2.0.8: Affirmative. ROZER: The mission control… BILL: That was an order, captain! I'm the commander of this ship and all the responsibility is mine. Dismissed. *** JEB: Docked. Checking connection… Okay, it appears I can switch to manual control. BILL: Doctor Johndon? JOHNDON: I'm r-ready. BILL: Alright. You can begin the approach. JEB: Copy that. BILL: Take your time, Jeb. BERTY v.2.0.8: Proximity alert. BILL: Cancel alarm. Keep us posted about the distance though. BERTY v.2.0.8: Affirmative. 30 meters. BILL: Doctor? JOHNDON: Almost t-there. BERTY v.2.0.8: 25 meters. NED: You can do it, Jeb. ROZER: I thought you say that this is a bad idea. BERTY v.2.0.8: 20 meters. NED: Because it is. But if there is anyone who can do this, it's him. ROZER: We'll see about that. BERTY v.2.0.8: 15 meters. BILL: Talk to me Jeb. JEB: It's hard to stabilize but it's looking… BERTY v.2.0.8: 10 meters. BILL: What are you waiting for? Catch him! JOHNDON: He's coming t-too fast! BERTY v.2.0.8: 5 meters. NED: Oh crap! BILL: Pull up, pull up! BERTY v.2.0.8: 3 meters. BILL: For the love of Kod, what was that?! JEB: I don't know, the AMU's RCS was non responsive for a few seconds! NED: Man, that was close. BERTY v.2.0.8: 10 meters. JEB: I'll gain some distance and try again. BILL: No, it's too dangerous. ROZER: Commander? BILL: Wait until you are far enough, then undock and come back to “Proteusâ€Â. JEB: But what about AMU? BILL: Leave it. We can't risk collision. NED: :sigh: BILL: BERTY, I want you too… JEB: I think I'll try one more time. BILL: What? Jeb, I'm your superior and that was an order – abandon the AMU and return to the ship. Do you copy? JEB: Negative, Bill. BILL: Jeb, stop screwing around. I command you to…! JEB: I'm sorry. BILL: Jeb? Jeb! BERTY v.2.0.8: Contact with the LAMGML “Beta†lost. BILL: Where is he?! ROZER: I told you! BILL: Shut up! BERTY, initiate… BERTY v.2.0.8: 35 meters. BILL: Frak! Seal all the hatches! Turn on the RCS! BERTY v.2.0.8: Affirmative. 30 meters. NED: My Kod, Jeb! BILL: Prepare for impact! Johndon! JOHNDON: I'm t-t-t… I g-got him! BILL: Status report. BERTY v.2.0.8: All systems nominal. LAMGML “Beta†was captured by the robotic arm B. Should I start transferring the fuel and kethane gas, commander? BILL: Huh. He did it. Jeb, you son of a…! NED: Bill? ROZER: Sir? Why are you laughing? BILL: I'm alright, I'm alright, it's just… well, what did I expect? ROZER: Are you going to report this unacceptable behavior, commander? BILL: Report? No way – he did what he promised to do. KSC won't hear even a word about it. This little mutiny though… BERTY? BERTY v.2.0.8: Yes, commander? BILL: I'm revoking all flight permissions and access to the landers for captain Jebediah indefinitely as soon as he return with LAMGML. BERTY v.2.0.8: Affirmative. NED: Are you sure that this is the best way to handle it? BILL: It's not your call, Ned. And you, Rozer – don't look so grim. We have the AMU and all the precious kethane. Aerobraking or not, Duna or Kerbin – we're safe now. *** MISSION STATUS ***

Thanks! Jeb-Bill relations will be flashed out, that's for sure Well, to be honest Dres is one of the most boring targets; Moho is close to Sun and hard to get, Eve has a moon and dense atmosphere, Duna has Ike and is the best place for colonization, Jool and moons it's like another miniature solar system, Eeloo is challenging to get to. And Dres just kinda floats there

Like "every Wednesday and Friday"? Nope.

Oops, correcting. As I said before, there WILL be updates but they will be LESS frequent than these for the Grand Tour. So if you like the prologue don't worry, there will be moar

Good People have different motivations and characters, it would be very unrealistic to make every single one of the crew members to behave in the same way. That's not everything of course However Universe Replacer is the new "must have". I would LOVE to have some custom spacesuits for "Proteus" - I hope devs will add one day features like this.

CHAPTER 17 DRES ORBIT INSERTION; DRES LANDING 121 DAYS AFTER THE DRES TRANSFER BURN *** BERTY v.2.0.8: Orbit injection burn completed. Dres orbit achieved. BILL: Prepare AMU for undocking. BERTY v.2.0.8: Checking. All systems operational. Kethane scanner online. Automatic Miner Unit ready for undocking. BILL: Release it. BERTY v.2.0.8: Affirmative. BERTY v.2.0.8: Automatic Miner Unit released. Executing mining protocol 001/D/A. BILL: Good. Circularize as soon as we can. I want nice equatorial orbit at, let's see… 205 kilometers. BERTY v.2.0.8: Affirmative . BILL: What about Ned and VCA? BERTY v.2.0.8: Chief engineer Ned and his team is prepared for the Vehicle Condition Assessment, commander. We can proceed immediately after establishing new orbit. BILL: Mhm. And start orbital scanning, we need to find viable landing site. BERTY v.2.0.8: Affirmative. *** JOHNDON: …completely f-fused. There is no w-way we can repair that Ned, just like you said. NED: Oh really? What a pity nobody foresaw that and thus saved us dragging this dead weight for few months. BERTY v.2.0.8: Ned, you have described this very scenario 46 times since we have left Eve's sphere of influence. NED: :sigh: I know, BERTY, I was being ironic. BERTY v.2.0.8: The use of words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of its literal meaning is a very inefficient way of communicating, Ned. NED: Thank you BERTY, I've never thought about this like that. BERTY v.2.0.8: You are welcome. NED: :sigh: JOHNDON: Uh, N-ned? Linguistics is an interesting topic to d-discuss but, uhm … NED: I'm sorry. Check the elbow pitch joint, please – maybe we at least could cannibalize it. JOHNDON: Copy that. BERTY v.2.0.8: Ned, I've to remind you that according to the new safety protocol none of the parts can be removed permanently without the approval of the mission control. Moreover, removing the robotic arm B would cause imbalance of the whole spacecraft and therefore is not advised. NED: But we can save some fuel this way! It's not like we will aerobrake before randez-vous with the Payload B above Duna anyways, so… JOHNDON: Uhm, the joint is broken. I don't think that we can salvage anything. NED: Crap! Are you sure? JOHNDON: Y-yes. Should I proceed to the heat shield? NED: I guess so. BERTY? BERTY v.2.0.8: Heat shield ready for visual inspection. NED: You heard it. Damn, I wish I could help you Johndon. Are you sure you can handle it? JOHNDON: Sure, no p-problem Ned. BERTY v.2.0.8: Please remember that according to the new EVA safety protocol only one supervised crew member can… NED: BERTY, please. Because of this stupid changes we're only wasting our time. JOHNDON: Approaching the heat shield. BERTY v.2.0.8: Safety has the highest priority, Ned. NED: Yeah, like any procedure can guarantee that there will be no accident. BERTY v.2.0.8: Quantitative risk assessment… NED: Forget it, BERTY. Let's just focus on the EVA, alright? I would feel much more secure with the unfolded and checked shield. BERTY v.2.0.8: Affirmative. *** DANREY: Unfolding solar panels. Okay, “Proteusâ€Â, we're ready. BILL: Copy that. GENANAND: It's so good to finally see some solid surface. After all these weeks… It's like discovering new land after spending weeks on the dark ocean, don't you think Sid? SIDELY: Whatever. BILL: You are go for orbit change, I repeat, you are go for orbit change. DANREY: Roger. GENANAND: You are still worrying about captain Jeb, am I right? SIDELY: Yes Genanand, I am. And I still think that spending some time on the surface will help him. GENANAND: Well, he's still suspended after what he has done. SIDELY: Rozer provoked him. GENANAND: But he did punch him, Sid. Listen, I know you are good friends but it's not our call. DANREY: I would gladly hand over this landing to him, Mr. Sidely, he's much better pilot than I am. GENANAND: Thank you Dan, but we all know that you need this, that's what the doctors said. Unfortunately, anxiety attack is not reason enough for some people. SIDELY: Oh really? So maybe you could explain one thing for me – how come while going to land on a dwarf planet we're not taking geologist with us? GENANAND: Now wait a second… SIDELY: Do we really need physicist down there? Or maybe this decision was affected by EECO back on Kerbin who just happens to be the old friend of this physicist? I wonder. GENANAND: Are you suggesting that I… SIDELY: I'm not suggesting anything. It's just that some of the KSC's recent decisions are quite… puzzling. GENANAND: If you think that your beloved “commander†Jebediah should… DANREY: Hey! Mr. Sidely, Mr. Genanand – I understand that you have, uhm, issues to talk about but as long as you are with me we're going to concentrate on the mission, okay? So please, behave like kerbonauts. SIDELY: … GENANAND: … DANREY: :sigh: It's going to take some time before we land, so maybe, uhm, maybe you would like to listen to some music? If nobody wants to talk, I mean. GENANAND: Yes. DANREY: Great, great. I hope you like classical music. *** DANREY: And touchdown! We've landed in the canyon! SIDELY: Hooray. GENANAND: This is incredible! Can we proceed with the EVA? DANREY: Yup. I need to take care of the LAMGML first, but you are free to go. GENANAND: Absolutely astounding. Alright, I'm going to make a first step… And so we've come to the asteroid belt. SIDELY: Very creative. GENANAND: I see some interesting rocks, I'm going to investigate. GENANAND: Okay, I took some samples. Come on, people, it'll be dark soon. SIDELY: Wow. GENANAND: Incredible, isn't it? SIDELY: Yeah. We're in a geological heaven and we don't have a geologist. How clever. DANREY: Gentlemen, please. We have work to do. Mr.. Sidely, could you plant the flag so that we can finish the formalities and focus on the samples? SIDELY: Sure. SIDELY: There. Another rock conquered by the brave crew of “Proteusâ€Â. :sigh: DANREY: Say what you want, Mr. Sidely, but we are the first ones. SIDELY: It's not a race, Dan. And if it is, we've lost 12 years ago when “Jingwei†landed – remember? DANREY: Well of course! Yang Liwe, Zhai Zhigang and Liu Wang, first people to set foot on Duna. One of the reasons why I decided to became a kerbonaut, you know? GENANAND: Such a shame we didn't make it. SIDELY: It's not about flag waving, doctor. GENANAND: Maybe, but we are here now and it's our flag you just planted. And we could've been on Duna too; besides, this whole Duna Direct idea? One of us figured this out, not one of them. SIDELY: I'm not surprised to find out that we have even less in common than I thought, doctor Genanand. It was Kubrin's idea – nobody listened to him, so he found people who did. Science doesn't care about national pride. GENANAND: Said one of the “Kadmos†trio. DANREY: Can we please focus on the mission? SIDELY: Oh, yes, we have to. What could be more important than our mission? After all, it's the only thing that matters, right? *** MISSION STATUS ***

Small update: I would like to release 3 chapters during this week (Sunday included) but considering work I have to do in RL right now I'm not promising anything; however, you should expect at least one new chapter in a next few days

Crap, you are right! Fixed already, so you can use the banner.

Soon (10char)

I guess in this case the last one will be on board the Dragon rather than SLS (cheaper).

Always check the first page of the thread, there are all the links and updated crew and mission status. NEXT CHAPTER WILL BE REALESED IN 2-3 DAYS (PROBABLY) I need a little break and I have to actually play a game to know what will happen

CHAPTER 16 DRES TRANSFER BURN *** BERTY v.2.0.8: Oxium level 30%. BERTY v.2.0.8: Oxium level 25%. Jeb, you should immediately return to the ship. BERTY v.2.0.8: Oxium level 20%. Jeb, your oxium level is dangerously low. Please return to the ship immediately. Can you hear me? JEB: Yes. *** …his personal belongings for his family. It's a tragic loss not only for you but also for the whole KASA. We can't even imagine the emotional burden with which you have to struggle right now. But we all have to carry this burden and carry on. Vice executive director Bob Kerman was always very clear about this – the mission have to be continued no matter what. You will not be alone though. We're all still in shock but be sure that this tragic accident gave us all a lesson – a tragic, painful lesson but a lesson nonetheless. As a scientists, we have to draw conclusions and do everything we can so that none of this will ever happen again. In the next weeks expect changes in the safety protocol, EVA standards and other various risk mitigating actions. Furthermore, all crew members are obliged to partake in a psychological evaluation, which from now on will be obligatory executed at least once per week. NED: Bull****. There will be some organizational changes as well. The mission cannot continue without an efficient leadership. After careful deliberation, captain Bill was choosed as a new mission commander. All the security clearances, obligations and duties of the tragically deceased vice executive director Bob Kerman are now yours, commander Bill. SID: Jeb? Are you…? JEB: I'm fine. On-board AI will introduce you to all the details. You are advised to start preparing for your new position as soon as possible. More changes will follow but in this moment the most important task for IMV “Proteus†is to prepare for the interplanetary transfer. As you know, there are two nearing transfer windows, one for Duna and one for Dres. We understand that you want to leave the Eve's sphere of influence quickly, but it will be ill-advised considering the amount of work yet to be done and general crew condition. That's why it was decided to proceed accordingly to the plan and wait another 9 days for the transfer to Dres. Journey to the asteroid belt will be long. We hope that before your encounter with Dres we will solve all our current problems and reevaluate mission protocols. NED: How long? SID: Four months. Gentlemen, you have done great things and some of you paid the highest price for your discoveries. Completely new image of Moho's evolution and interactions with Sun's corona, rich kethane deposits on Gilly and the most detailed informations about Eve's atmosphere and conditions on surface ever acquired – this is your legacy. There is still much to be discovered and learned, but you've already pushed the boundaries of our understanding of the Universe. And for this, the whole world will remember you forever. KSC out. BERTY v.2.0.8: End of transmission. BILL: You've heard it. If there are any questions… Alright. Today is the last day of mourning. Tomorrow we work. Dismissed. *** BERTY v.2.0.8: Initiating psychological evaluation. Recording E/B-2/01 – doctor Harsen. Please proceed. HARSEN: Well, uhm. This… this is really tough time for me. For us all, I think. BERTY v.2.0.8: Recording E/C-2/01 – doctor Orson. ORSON: Shocking, I think that's the most accurate description. However, I prefer to concentrate on my work right now – as a nuclear propulsion specialist I've to be 100% sure that there won't be any surprises with the engines. This is the most important thing right now. BERTY v.2.0.8: Recording E/B-1/01 – commander Bill.. BILL: He was a good friend. He didn't deserve this. That's all what I have to say. BERTY v.2.0.8: Recording E/F-1/01 – lieutenant Danrey. DANREY: …terrified. We shouldn't – he shouldn't have done it. But we did. We sent him to hell. Kod, what have we done? BERTY v.2.0.8: Recording E/F-2/02 – doctor Corald. CORALD: …nothing more to be done. Medically speaking, it was a miracle he survived so long. I find some comfort in fact that in his final hours he didn't feel much pain – most of his sensory nerves were destroyed. During the surgery… BERTY v.2.0.8: Recording E/A-2/01 – chief engineer Nedfurt. NED: Frak you! Frak you and this whole frakin evaluation! You sit back there on Kerbin and you have no idea what…! BERTY v.2.0.8: Recording E/D-1/01 – captain Rozer. ROZER: We will complete the mission. That's what matters now. That's the only thing that matters. BERTY v.2.0.8: Recording E/D-2/01 – doctor Johndon. JOHNDON: Director Bob w-was… I m-mean, t-this t-tragic accident… oh, K-kod… Ahem. Could - could we d-do this later, I don't think I c-can… BERTY v.2.0.8: Recording E/E-3/03 – doctor Fertop. FERTOP: …what your life actually matter, you know? We all knew the risk but aren't we going too far? Can scientific gains really justify all this? I don't know the answer to this. But I believe Bob did. BERTY v.2.0.8: Recording E/A-1/04 – captain Jebediah. JEB: … BERTY v.2.0.8: Recording E/A-3/02 – professor Sidely. SID: …would like it. I, umh, I find it adequate. Ahem. And now 'tis done: more durable than brass/ My monument shall be, and raise its head/ O'er royal pyramids: it shall not dread/ Corroding rain or angry Boreas,/ Nor the long lapse of immemorial time./ I shall not wholly die: large residue/ Shall 'scape the queen of funerals. *** MISSION STATUS ***

Thank you, I really appreciate it mate. Eve is a harsh mistress. Thanks, I corrected this. He will live in our memories - and in the Space Race AAR! That was great! Thank you in the name of the crew.

CHAPTER 15 ORBITAL OPERATIONS: EVE *** Commander's log, entry 20. That bloody idiot did it. I told him, but he didn't want to listen. Goddamn lunatic. And for what? We recovered him 2 hours ago. BERTY and the doctors took care of him the moment the pressure was equalized. We had to start spinning the “Proteus†in order to give them some gravity, so that they could start hospitalizing him. As soon as he regains his consciousness I'm gonna have some talk with him. Commander's log, entry 21. We have seen the recording from the landing. My Kod, he really went to hell – pressure like at the bottom of the ocean, radiation, storms, toxic atmosphere. There is no life down there. And the temperature! I can still hear this screams. I hope he will be okay. Commander's log, entry 22. Dr Corald and dr Cambo still don't let anybody into the medic bay. We have passed the news to Kerbin. They ordered immediate return of our Gilly and Eve Transfer Vehicle crew. Do they want to abort the mission? Anyways, Gilly team was scheduled to return tomorrow, so that's not a big deal. They have found lots of kethane – some good news finally. Commander's log, entry 23. Diagnosis – over 90% of the body in burns. Third degree mostly, but some of them fourth degree; I've never though that there are higher degrees than third but they exist. Not only skin but also muscle, tendon and ligament are destroyed. They have to perform skin grafting. My Kod, Bob… Commander's log, entry 24. Absolutely horrifying day. We've had to stop rotating the ship to take care of the Eve Transfer Module. Doctors take advantage of the zero-G to take a closer look at some of the burns. Liquid cooling and ventilation garment melted and covered his wounds. They had to manually remove the plastic. Then, when the Eve Transfer Module with its 130 tonnes was just a several dozens of meters from the mothership, he regained consciousness and… sweet Kod, the screams… The rest of us couldn't do anything – we can't even enter the medic bay because of the risk of infection. But we all have heard this inhuman yelling. It was just what, half a minute before the doctors gave him sedative to knock him out, but it seemed to take forever. Everything is louder on board the spacecraft but this… my Kod. Commander's log, entry 24. They cut all the dead tissue, grafted the skin and put him in the hyperbaric chamber. I saw him today. The bleeding shred of a man covered in bandages. And his face – my Kod, his face… New orders came from Kerbin – we're to cease all activity until he's stable “one way or anotherâ€Â. I still can't believe that they used these words. Commander's log, entry 25. I talked with dr Corald. He said Bob's lucky he didn't get any infection. He's strong, so there is a chance of recovery. Commander's log, entry 26. Gilly team has returned. I had to tell them what happened two days ago. The ship is very quiet now. Commander's log, entry 27. Necrosis. They had to amputate his right hand. Even if he survive, he'll never fly again. Hell, he'll probably never walk again. This is all like a terrible dream. Commander's log, entry 28. High fever. Antibiotics. Kidney failure. They allowed his wife to make a call. She asked if he's going to be alright. I lied to her. I can't take it anymore. Commander's log, entry 29. He's much better now. He was conscious for a several minutes and he even tried to say something to the doctors. The treatment seems to be working. Thank Kod. Commander's log, entry 30. I'm so happy - he's really on the mend. Dr Corald and dr Cambo are much more optimistic now. They say that we're past the worst, the most dangerous phase. I hope I'll have a chance to talk with him soon. I hope he'll forgive me. I even started to think again about the mission and our next target. Commander's log, entry 31. He died today. *** MISSION STATUS ***

Shiny! Now I can't stop using Mal's voice for him too

Wait, the SLS is a heavy lifter, right? NASA isn't planning to use this giant rocket to send tiny Orion to ISS, is it? 'Cause it has no economical justification.

http://youtu.be/r3EFAqysOvU Sorry, I just have to! Please Mr. Mod do not delete this for the sake of hilarity!

I still wonder - will it be canceled or not?

Oops, double post by accident!

Thank you guys; next chapter is coming probably today Speaking of graphics - I'm proud to anounce that the Grand Tour will be from now one using the awesome mod Universe Replacer which changes the vanilla skybox for a real life photo of our solar system's night sky: Check it out, it's definitely worth installing!

Looks really cool. Btw, how did you posted the imgur window? :?

In the right upper corner of the post there is a number (#1 for example). Click it and your browser will reload the page and in the window you will have the link to this very post.