Nessa: an alternate history for NASA

[Mister Dilsby]

Great STS, and I really like the look of those color coded flight suits, those will become standard Kerbfleet issue at some point

[B-STRK]

For MLV's, I think that is a very good question. I can see a few different answers:

Answer 1 - The MLV format is less for increased Delta V (My saturn V has oodles of untapped Delta V and can be stretched quite a bit) but is more for lifting heavy or wide loads what will be combating atmosphere's longer. These MLV's don't need onion staging - treat the LFBs as just parts of the S-IC stage.

Answer 2 - Tweaables! Use the adapter parts to make pointed noses (they carry a lot less fuel than they look like they should) at the same height your S-IC stage ends. Adjust thrust levels of S-IC to ~ 75% - Your LFB will provide ample lift early on and when they burn out you'll still have a while on the S-IC. With fuel burned + altitude you should have enough TWR to make it through your burn now.

Answer 3 - When none of the above work - either go NOVA or go onion. This is my general plan, but after getting MOLAB to Mun with enough fuel in the tranfer stage to de-orbit it and still having ~ 1/8th of a tank left on my MLV-4SB... I'm wondering where I'll need this, especially once I get a station with fuel depots for my Shuttle to top off and aid in Duna ship construction.

My solution for my MOLAB (which isn't a LAB, BTW) was more of an Option #3: stretch the SIVB. I didn't want to lock myself yet into either the MLV, INT, or Nova options (the way I read the rules, it's three rockets, and the first two are already picked for you: SIB and SV, so the player has to pick among Nova/MLV/INT) until I finished comparative tests. The storyline I drew up provided a sort of justification, in the sense that a stretch Saturn SIVB is still, "technically speaking", a stretch SIVB, so it's still Apollo hardware, and in any case a stretch SIVB is part of the Nova/MLV/INT proposal, anyway. So I'm not locked into a final choice by going for the stretch. I could also justify that with real life research in that many of the MLV proposals involve stretched stages as well as strap-on boosters.

I'm just hoping Greg gives me a pass on that one. The mission packages are getting heavier by the launch. Especially the MOLAB-that-isn't-a-LAB launch, my God, I think the fairings account for a third of the payload weight!

[loch.ness]

I read the rules as a minimum of 3 rockets with the first 2 picked for it. I've already used SIB, SV, INT, and 1 MLV variant (not to mention the SV-Shuttle, Redstone, Atlas, and Titan rockets.)

I used Gemini to send crew to Skylab because that was part of the original plan. Titan and Gemini are definitely not Apollo hardware, but it also wasn't technically an AAP mission so I'm pretty sure that will clear it.

My MOLAB (which is a lab in this case) used a custom landing engine cluster which was new. Almost nothing on the mobile laboratory itself uses Apollo tech, but it was launched with what is basically a Saturn V with 4 SRBs strapped to it. I'd considered trying to use docking ports to link it to 4 LEMs and land it like that - but I figured this would work.

I've got three different plans for how I might tackle Duna when the time comes.

1 - Go read DeathEngineering's posts and try to copy the ideas.

2 - Let Bob go Star-Trek on us. Launch the ships using Apollo lifters and try to make variations of Apollo tech with a decidely Star-Trek look.

3 - Do an Apollo themed Constellation mission.

I'm already working on option 4 - Mix all of the above.

[B-STRK]

I read the rules as a minimum of 3 rockets with the first 2 picked for it. I've already used SIB, SV, INT, and 1 MLV variant (not to mention the SV-Shuttle, Redstone, Atlas, and Titan rockets.)

I used Gemini to send crew to Skylab because that was part of the original plan. Titan and Gemini are definitely not Apollo hardware, but it also wasn't technically an AAP mission so I'm pretty sure that will clear it.

My MOLAB (which is a lab in this case) used a custom landing engine cluster which was new. Almost nothing on the mobile laboratory itself uses Apollo tech, but it was launched with what is basically a Saturn V with 4 SRBs strapped to it. I'd considered trying to use docking ports to link it to 4 LEMs and land it like that - but I figured this would work.

I've got three different plans for how I might tackle Duna when the time comes.

1 - Go read DeathEngineering's posts and try to copy the ideas.

2 - Let Bob go Star-Trek on us. Launch the ships using Apollo lifters and try to make variations of Apollo tech with a decidely Star-Trek look.

3 - Do an Apollo themed Constellation mission.

I'm already working on option 4 - Mix all of the above.

Well, looking at the rules with with the eyes of a lawyer law student, the "must build three rockets" could swing either way (minimum or maximum), but I think I found a loophole with the MLV. Since the rule says "Build at least one of the latter four designs", it can be interpreted to mean that the prospective player may, if he wishes to, build all four latter designs. Either way, I think it's time to change up my SII. The 3.75 form factor won't be suitable for upcoming hardware launches.

I've asked D-E in the challenge thread about some fly-by parameters , and the numbers he had are daunting. 900+ days for a Duna fly-by? In my case (Snacks!), that means a minimum of four hitchhiker cans (or two of the 3.75m equivalents in Taurus and Nertea Station Expansion mods)--maybe more for a safety factor. Would you know if shorter trips are possible, and at what cost? And as for a Star Trek pastiche, hey, your latest picture over at the main challenge thread makes for a great probe. On a more practical note, though, you could try replicating the shuttlecraft using your available parts, and have them as orbital and munar taxis. They can be launched and delivered using Apollo hardware, and will spare the use of CSM for Kerbin-recovery flights and the LM for other exploration missions. (I've taken that approach in my own storyline, creating a wholly different LM Taxi to support base and surface operations, in order to stop spamming the munar surface with descent stages just to take people to the Mun's surface. I'm still looking to see if the LM Taxi was meant to be reusable, though I can't find any confirmation or denial in the available material.)

[loch.ness]

Re: Snack Budget

I used to use Snacks and planned constellation inspired trip to Duna back in 0.90 (never finished it - but everything landed).

Snacks should average at 0.5/Kerbal/Kerbin-Day (6hr).

A Hitchhiker can has 800 snacks.

Your CSM should have 150 snacks.

Subtotal ~ 950 Snacks

Crew of 1 ~ 1900 days

Crew of 2 ~ 950 days

Crew of 3 ~ 633 days

I've never attempted fly-by missions before, if I've sent crews its always been with the intention of landing them - but I've also never finished a return trip. Transfer times vary ALOT and I've frequently sent probes ahead of the right transfer windows only to have the arrive after the crew did. I'm still learning all of that stuff myself.

I used to use Snacks on every install, but the mod-expansions that offer storage of snacks outside of Hitchhikers were all on media-fire or drop-box and I am unable to connect to those sites where I live and work. USI life-support provided the same general feeling as Snacks and now that it has the smaller packs which fit nicely into the CSM service bays and small green-houses for partial recycling (still loss-heavy enough that there is a time limit but useful) its firmly replaced Snacks for me. It has the added benefit that the little green-house fits exactly what I've wanted from Lack Luster or MKS (as single aesthetically pleasing part which is obviously a green-house). That it is also functionally relevant to my life-support mod and nicely balanced is wonderful.

On the Mission report front: No new posts to add today. I got MOLAB nearly to the canyons (driving in the dark a lot of the way) and I got a proto-type re-usable crew shuttle out to Munlab. Next time I get to play I'll test remote landing and return to see if everything works.

[B-STRK]

Re: Snack Budget

I used to use Snacks and planned constellation inspired trip to Duna back in 0.90 (never finished it - but everything landed).

Snacks should average at 0.5/Kerbal/Kerbin-Day (6hr).

A Hitchhiker can has 800 snacks.

Your CSM should have 150 snacks.

Subtotal ~ 950 Snacks

Crew of 1 ~ 1900 days

Crew of 2 ~ 950 days

Crew of 3 ~ 633 days

I've never attempted fly-by missions before, if I've sent crews its always been with the intention of landing them - but I've also never finished a return trip. Transfer times vary ALOT and I've frequently sent probes ahead of the right transfer windows only to have the arrive after the crew did. I'm still learning all of that stuff myself.

I used to use Snacks on every install, but the mod-expansions that offer storage of snacks outside of Hitchhikers were all on media-fire or drop-box and I am unable to connect to those sites where I live and work. USI life-support provided the same general feeling as Snacks and now that it has the smaller packs which fit nicely into the CSM service bays and small green-houses for partial recycling (still loss-heavy enough that there is a time limit but useful) its firmly replaced Snacks for me. It has the added benefit that the little green-house fits exactly what I've wanted from Lack Luster or MKS (as single aesthetically pleasing part which is obviously a green-house). That it is also functionally relevant to my life-support mod and nicely balanced is wonderful.

On the Mission report front: No new posts to add today. I got MOLAB nearly to the canyons (driving in the dark a lot of the way) and I got a proto-type re-usable crew shuttle out to Munlab. Next time I get to play I'll test remote landing and return to see if everything works.

Snacks! consumption changed once ISRU conversion from Ore --> Snacks! was implemented. It's now an average of one/day. Maybe planning a Duna orbital (no-land) mission would be easier in that regard, if I can ship the conversion kit along with the fly-by-turned-orbital crew. Anyway, I'm still holding off from a decision to send a fly-by crew. Also trying out various hab and engine configurations to max duration and dV.

Regarding the USI greenhouses, DE also used them for his stuff, and I found them... er, cute. I guess I stuck with Snacks! just to be different, and to see if I can get away with no new LS parts. Though now that the mission estimates for a fly-by are hitting high numbers, it's... well, not one strike against, but one point of weakness for the mod. The rationale was to justify hab space on a craft that under normal game mechanics (and even some LS) would not need it. One forum poster in the Skacks thread is in fact quite vocal about it. On the other hand, for a Duna fly-by running at 900 days I'd be giving the crew a literal mansion just to survive... Although I don't want to raise this in that thread, I don't want to end up starting an argument about it. (And in any case, the best solution for enforcing a reasonable amount of hab space has to be Kabin Kraziness. )

On my end, my MOLABrover is down, and in fact is well on her way to her first mission: the Elcano circumnavigation challenge. First of two posts is being constructed now.

[loch.ness]

Part 26: Keeping things moving

Gilyn: Now this is what its all worth! We're getting so much data up here.

Archibald: ZzzzzZzzZzzzZzzzzzzz

Gilyn: And its all mine... Mine! ahahahaha.

Archibald: ZzzzzZzzzZzzzzZzzz

---

Gene: Alright boys this is where we start planning the big ones.

Bill: First I want to know on whose authority Bob got an IB launch! Our funds are not limitless!

Bob: We've got tons of backers right now -

Bill: Who expect results!

Gene: As I understand it, he was launch a new probe for scientific exploration beyond our sphere of influence.

Bob: And its awesome! Take a look as it finally deployed!

Bill: Gah! Its the dinner plate thing again!

Bob: This one is stable.

Bill: Its soooo inefficient. I can feel a thousand engineers crying out.

Bob: I thought about that, if we could plan it just right we could tap the energy of them turning in their graves too... What?

Gene: I think its worth pointing out that it costs pretty much the same as a normal probe and the shape got us renewed private sector funding.

Bob: Really?

Gene: Some television people wanted to use footage of the real thing in advertisements or something. Said its what the public thinks spaceships look like.

Bill: But... no! It's structually unsound, and... poor balance... off center thrust... inefficinet. NOOOOOOooooooooo!

Gene:

Bob: He gets like this when he remembers what normal kerbals are like. What was the big stuff?

Gene: We've had a team off site working on data from Munar Regolith sent back from MOLAB. We think we could build a fuel refinery on Mun at a permanent base.

Bob: An off-world colony?

Gene: Exactly. It will still need regular supply runs and we'll need transport too and from the surface for fuel and people.

Bill: We will want to expand our stations here and at Mun to handle the higher traffic.

Gene: Edan said he thought we could work up some quick and easy designs for transmunar transport that never need to come back to kerbal. Crew, equipment, and fuel shipments between stations.

Bill: Eventually. First we need a sight and to get the initial Mun base up and running.

Bob: Wouldn't the stations being ready first help?

Bill: Everything will be built around the Mun base, and we can package enough supplies that it can wait for us. Any re-usable tug system will need fueling at its destination, so for that we'd need fuel reserves at Mun and here at Kerbin. If we build the tugs after the stations and base are complete we can balance them for LKO docking - off loading most of their fuel - Transmunar flight to Mun base docking - refueling - and back. We'd know the fuel levels needed for the station to station flight.

Bob: Life support will eventually get tricky.

Gene: We have some new scientists working on miniaturized biospheres to help with water filtering and renewable food-stuffs. There are efficiency limits, but the should prolong the viability of any base we set up.

Bob: Good. What about Minmus?

Gene: Our scanning satalight just got out there.

Bill: The dinner plate one?

Bob: No, that one just left our SOI. I'm hopeful it will make it to Duna, but maybe not.

Bill: It would make it for sure if you'd built it right.

Bob: The probe's primary purpose is to track data on Solar radiation and other deep space conditions outside of our sheltered SOI. Its already sending back a lot of information for us. If we ever want to dip our toes in the real ocean out there we'll need a better idea of what to expect.

Bill: Could have gotten all of that without looking like a cartoon spaceship.

Bob: Now it looks like a real space-ship, because it is one.

Bill: Its not going in the text books! Oh Kraken have it not go in the text books.

Gene: Relax. It only goes in those books if it actually makes it to Duna orbit.

---

Gilyn: Ahhhhh!!!!!!!

Archibald: I've already landed us, you can stop screaming.

Gilyn: Thats the second time you tried jumping a crater at night!

Archibald: Okay I get it. Next time it will be during the day.

Gilyn: Can't you just drive around them?

Archibald: Where would be the fun in that?

Gilyn: Look we're 30 km from the LZ, can we just camp until it is light?

Archibald: I guess so.

---

Gilyn: AAaahhhahh!

Archibald: I said I'd do it during the day!

Gilyn: Archy, that has to be the last one. We use the last drop of mono prop when we started to roll. We're 40 km from the LZ. We've got the regolith data we needed and the samples. Lets head back.

Archibald: We've still got plenty of food.

Gilyn: Its been days Archi. Most of that was us parked and running experiments, but there were also seconds of toilet filling terror when you tried jumping Mun-craters is a giant RV full of delicate scientific experiments.

Archibald: Good times.

Gilyn: I bet Henzer is getting lonely.

Archibald: Quite right, he should be having some of the fun too. I'll let Gene know we're turning around. I do plan to take the scenic route though, up the canyon wall and then through the flats near us.

Gilyn: I like the idea of flats.

[loch.ness]

Interlude:

MOLAB scientific specialist Gilyn Feeble:

MOLAB mission, Day 11. Rocks, rocks, and more rocks. Oh and there is dust up here too. The dust up here is the most evil stuff I've ever encountered. Its sharp, like tiny razor blades and it gets caught up in static like stray hairs. This stuff gets in our electrical equipment, shreds treads on the wheels, it even tries to get into our EVA suits. I've had to repurpos one of the washroom vacuum units for use keeping dust out of the observatory.

MOLAB is officially out of monoprop so even Archy isn't keen on driving through the Lunar night. We've got power and supplies to wait it out, and there are wonderful stars. Nights get cold up here and days get hot! I've relayed temperature data to Astha so that she can review it for habitat over-views. I'll note that living space in the lab starts feeling very cramped after a little and the ceilings are very low when you account for the lower gravity. Its very different than being on Munlab where if the walls are too far away you find yourself floating aimlessly and waiting till you brush against something. The biggest thing making quarters feel cramped though is the lack of company... that sounds strange even as I write it. Somehow being up here alone with only one other kerbal makes me feel... trapped... cut off. I feel the constant need to be in someone's presence - anyone's presence - and to be alone. It works so far as Archy has no interest in the observatory and I've got no need to sit on the driving patio. Bob did good work there.

Our regolith data shows a low but serviceable concentration of regolith in the Twin Craters, hopefully the next missions find somewhere better. The parts of this area with a view are not flat enough for a base.

MOLAB technical specialist Archibald Dustin:

Tell Bob he did a good job on the placement of the patio. We flipped yet again without the ground coming closer than 10 centimeters of my helmet. Seeing as we are out of RCS I had to rock the lab on its SAS and then give it a burst of the landing engines to right it - but nothing is broken and after some routine wheel maintenance it is right as rain.

Out of deference to Miss Feeble we've dropped Anchor, so to say, for the Munar night. Our last transmission with Henzer seemed to be about simulations for a new Munar shuttle to eventually replace the use of MALs for crew transport. He seems quite excited about it. Looking forward to getting back to Kerbin in a few weeks time, the food we have is plentiful though it is hardly satisfying. The "pizza" in our Noms container tastes rather more like ground up Pizza flavored potato-chips mixed with egg yolk and backed into small cubes. I am sure it could be worse though, this program has taught me that our fellow kerbals have no ends to their imaginations. I am wondering though if there would be no way to compliment it with a salad now and then?

[loch.ness]

Part 27: Resource Rush 1 of X

Gene: Okay... one more time here's the run down. Val you've got command of 15 and Jeb you've got command of 16, you'll be launching within hours of each other.

Jeb: I'm first?

Gene: Val is.

Jeb: But... I awlays go first.

Gene: That hasn't been true for a while now Jeb.

Val: If it helps, we're plotted on the longer course.

Jeb: So I go fastest?

Bob: Just say yes so we can get done with the briefing.

Gene: Done? Okay. Both of you will be taking a ground technician with you for rover construction, your team researcher will be taking your CSM to the station to wait out your mission.

Val: Our orbit is going to be opposite that of the station on these plans.

Gene: That's right... I don't remember why we're doing that...

Bob: It was a demand from our sponsers... they want this filmed like a race for advertisements. Apparently there are some taking bets on who will "strike rich" first.

Gene: They know we're not actually drilling yet?

Bob: Bill's talked to them.

Jeb: That sounds like reality TV right there!

Gene: Alright, well Malcan, who will be flying with Jeb, is going to deliver an extended docking arm to Munlab and keep Henzer company while he awaits 14 then.

Jeb: Ooh, so I also get the bigger rocket.

Val: Size isn't everything, that's TWR.

Bob: I thought it was Delta V that was everything.

Val: Naw, the engines need to give you a good kick for it to be fun.

Gene: Focus?

Jeb: So, its a race, Val and I are seeing who finds a good base site and a good ore level first.

Gene: Right.

Jeb; When do we start?

Gene: In the morning.

Gene: Alright, Val is away with 15. Lets get 16 loaded up.

Bill: Coming up on Lem

Bob: MAL

Bill: Grr... docking.

Val: We've got seal, talk to you again at Mun. Wish Jeb luck.

Jeb: I heard that! I don't need luck!

Malcan: My good man, after the last time you were in one of these things I wouldn't speak lightly of luck.

Jeb: That's what I meant. I've already got lots of luck, its just bad. I prefer to use my skill.

Elilina: Relax Mal, Jeb will only almost kill us. He's proven able to get home in the worst of situations.

Bill: That is one tall rocket.

Elilina: Yowsa! The aeroshell seperation scared the noms right out of me.

Malcan: A shame them we eject all of our mulch, could have been a valuable supply.

Elilina; Yuck. Why do those things do that?

Jeb: Because its awesome! It was like being inside an explosion!

Elilina: Well you would know... I guess if Jeb's still smiling we're going to be okay.

Malcan: How do you figure that?

Elilina: Because he smiles in the face of death, so when he's scared we're all but dead already.

Gene: Looks like both missions are on the way. Edan get up here with those plans - we're going to be expanding Skylab.

[B-STRK]

Betting on Val!

On the confetti, you might like to try the Stock Clamshell mod to keep some of the chaos under control. A test with pre-existing confetti had previously ripped out solar panels and antennae before. (Then again, a test with the Clamshell mod managed to rip off solar panels, too, but I blame that on forced design choices. I just made the panels retractable as a solution.)

What would be useful is a mod for tweaking clamshell separation force (would that be available in the other stock fairing mod?). You ever wonder if there's enough force in the fairing decouplers to throw them off clear when we reenter any atmospheric body?

[loch.ness]

Those might be loong odds. I opened up my game today to check to see if things were working from the 1.03 patch and found that loading flights in progress resulted in a frozen state. I'm not sure which mod(s) are doing it so I'll need to wait until they all update. I have a few more posts worth of screens already though I haven't landed either 15 or 16 yet and both are now frozen.

By Frozen I mean: The ship/model loads but parts of the UI are off - the clock does not run at all. Orbital speed correctly displays, altitude correctly displays - but mission time does not

[Mister Dilsby]

Those might be loong odds. I opened up my game today to check to see if things were working from the 1.03 patch and found that loading flights in progress resulted in a frozen state. I'm not sure which mod(s) are doing it so I'll need to wait until they all update. I have a few more posts worth of screens already though I haven't landed either 15 or 16 yet and both are now frozen.

I'm in the same boat (capsule?) -- first attempt at loading the Kerbfleet save in 1.0.3 resulted in the VAB/SPH corrupted craft bug; will try again cleaned of mods and craft. Hoping something works out for you!

[loch.ness]

Not sure: I loaded Harbor station (Not updated in Mission report yet - but a largely expanded Skylab) and Apollo XV. Neither of them seemed to work.

I did make a test craft from which to try the radiators (just to see how they look) - and that one worked fine. I didn't try loading my old craft in the VAB though, will try tonight.

If I have 15 of my people out on missions. If I have to scrub them, I pretty much loose my current space program. Jeb and Val are among the 15 too.

[B-STRK]

Until the mods have been fully updated, for those of us continuing our adventures, it would be advisable to stick to 1.0.2 for the moment (or wait...).

In fact, I feel torn about making the update. All I got is tuned for the 1.0.2 aero. And the adjustments made to the Rhino engine kinda worry me a bit (half a ton heavier, though SL isp is greater--that's sea level isp, right?), since that's usually the SIVB booster engine.

[loch.ness]

I am toying with going full SF now and testing whether or not launching a new ship (the shuttle) to skylab and entering its physics range will break the "time-lock" or not... Of course I'd need to update the MR to include completion of Skylab.

I'm worried it will destroy my save to date. On the other side - I have finished the basic requirements of the AAP even though I had so much more planned... I could claim my badge and move on... I'll be backing up my save either way, but I might have to restart my challenge entry if things go wahoonie shaped.

[loch.ness]

Originally posted by NathanKell over in general forums: This solved my issues: http://www.reddit.com/r/KerbalSpaceProgram/comments/3asi15/uncontrollable_craft_kraken_fix/

Turns out it wasn't a bug caused by a mod after-all (mods all appear to be working) - it was an issue with the heat-shields.

[B-STRK]

Originally posted by NathanKell over in general forums: This solved my issues: http://www.reddit.com/r/KerbalSpaceProgram/comments/3asi15/uncontrollable_craft_kraken_fix/

Turns out it wasn't a bug caused by a mod after-all (mods all appear to be working) - it was an issue with the heat-shields.

Cool! Barring an unknown mod incompatibility, I guess you'll be making the transition to .3?

[loch.ness]

Yep - backlog post should be up tomorrow 1 Saturn Shuttle launch and 1 MLV launch + Skylab shenanigans. I'm already loaded up in 1.0.3 (Steam and didn't think I needed to keep a backup copy after 1.0. I'll need to test new launches of the Saturn line - but even my heaviest payloads have made it off the ground with just the 5 mainsails so far - the MLV is more about boosting a heavy load enough to make orbit so far.

I'm hopeful that the drag tweaks will make my Saturn Shuttle fly better (before it dragged far too much coming in for a landing and almost always fell to pieces - I needed to save rocket fuel to get back up to speed on the landing. Once that's fixed (or at least reliable) I can export a stock equivalent to Kerbal X.

[loch.ness]

Part 28: A Safe Habor to the Stars

Edan: Intrepid is away.

Gene: Ascent is looking good, but don't relax Ed. Our simulations show that the aero forces could seriously ruin our day.

Edan: Roger flight, Katlina is keeping an eye on that.

Katlina: We're right down the line so far Gene, don't worry your pretty little waistcoat about us.

Gene: I'm not worried about you two. The two rookie lab techs with you haven't been corrupted yet.

Edan: We'll get them back safely, they're just on a training mission.

Katlina: Coming up on stage.

Gene: Alright intrepid, we've got a rookie pilot warming up over here. I'll need to talk Julsie through her gravity turn.

Edan: Wish her luck, she held up well on Intrepid's first test.

Gene: She's been promised pilot on Apollo 17 if this goes well, orbit and return mission to Minmus.

Edan: Oh, nice. Make sure it goes well. That was a bright kid.

Bob: That is one tall rocket...

Bill: Efficient though. Gene thought we'd need 2 Saturn V launches, I told him I could do it with one MLV.

Gene: Julsie, you are go for launch.

Julsie: Roger that, this is Harbor 2. lifting off.

Bob: It actually has lift?

Bill: All this time and you still doubt me?

Gene: Please be quite until we're through atmo boys.

Julsie: We've got Aero-shell seperation boys. Lining up our shot to Skylab. How're you doing Edan?

Gene: Bob, relay coms to Edan.

Bob: On it.

Edan: We're doing a payload check right now flight. 30 minutes to transfer burn, we launched a bit off the window.

Bill: Julsie won't be able to handle both of those on her own, I'll get Mary on Coms. Ground Control to Life-Guard 1. Come in LG 1.

Mary: Bill? Did Gene get fired?

Bill: Naw, we've just got a busy day down here. There is a launch on its way up with some equipment we'll want you to help bring back. Fire up LG 1 and get ready to intercept.

Mary: Will do. Astha - you keep everyone else civil while I'm gone.

Astha: I'll try Mary.

Mary: Life-guard 1 undocking in process.

Julsie: We're about 2 kilometers away. Do you see us Mary?

Mary: I've got you in the window. Man, you are pulling some major freight. Will we be able to shift that with mono-prop only?

Bill: You should be able to.

Julsie: I'll hold this steady while you grab arm 1 and then turn aruond to get arm 2.

Mary: I don't really see you having any other choice Julsie. Besides, you'll want feedback on how it handles.

Julsie: Yes I will, I'm still getting use to the controls up here. First time out of the sim and in the big chair.

Mary: You'll soon be an old hand at it.

Mary: Got arm 1, extracting it now. You should be good to turn around.

Julsie: Looks good on my end too.

Mary: You creep up on Skylab, leave me time to dock and lock before you begin your approach.

Julsie: No problem. Nice and slow is the ticket.

Edan: Wow, looking good up there. We've got the new hub module on its way up. Will need a pick up though.

Mary: Give us a few moments for inspection, then we're coming down.

Edan: I'll be right here waiting for you.

Mary: Don't sing or I'm turning around.

Edan: Ah... okay. For you Mary, I'll be a gentleman.

Katlina: Once you get here be careful extracting the Ops deck, the glass on the copula is a bit on the awkward side, but well worth the view.

Mary: I can see that. You just try to hold still.

Katlina: Almost got it now. Good work Mary.

Mary: Yeah, I'm awesome like that.

Katlina: When did she start acting like Jeb?

Edan: Its a pilot thing.

Mary: Alright Intrepid, thanks for the delivery, we're on our own now.

Edan: Take care Mary.

Mary: Alright Julsie, you ready for round 2?

Julsie: Am I?

Mary: Better be!

Julsie: Mary, can you tip it up for me?

Mary: Trying

Julsie: Okay, to far there.

Mary: easing it back.

Julsie: Whew, got it.

Mary now trasnfer down tot eh base.

Juslie: Whew! We're done.

Mary: Gemini had to head back to Kerbin - there just wasn't room on the base station for it the way it had been docked.

Julsie: So we're on station duty then?

Mary: Looks like it, get your team to get those LS modules running.

Julsie: What was in that stuff anyway?

Mary: Wonderful, Wondeful veg.

Edited June 27, 2015 by loch.ness