Duna 1 - A KSP Story

[KAL 9000]

The day is 1.0.4:10/24/004. The location: Administration Building, KSC, Klaatu, Kerbin. The top officials in KSP have gathered together to discuss the next giant leap for Kerbalkind: a Kerbaled mission to Duna. "First of all, I would like to thank you all for coming here to discuss the proposed Duna mission," began KAL Kerman. After some boring opening remarks, KAL turned the time over to the KSP board members to discuss the Duna mission.

Mission Plan:

Gene: "I think that we should go for a mothership assembled in Kerbin orbit and supplies delivered beforehand. There's no way we could build a single rocket with all the stuff needed."

Werner: "Zat sounds reasonable."

Rocket:

Werner: "We should use ze new KLS for ze mozership part delivery and supply launches. It is very powerful."

Jeb: "I agree, but I would like to suggest one slight design change for the KLS."

Werner: "And what would zat be?"

Jeb: "Moar Boosters!"

Werner: "We could do zat."

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The mighty KLS rolled out to the Launchpad on a crawler. Slowly, it rolled into place and began preflight checks.

"This is Kerburry Kerman, KNN reporter, and what you all are looking at is the KLS rocket, about to launch the launchpad EL has donated to the KSC for the Duna mission. It will build the base components and Kerbin Return Vehicle on-site."

"MechJeb, this is KSC, you are go for launch."

"Roger, KSC, all systems nominal."

"10...9...8...7...6..."

"Kerburry here, we're on final countdown..."

"5...4...Main Engine Start..."

"Kerburry, reporting main engine start..."

"3...2...1...Booster Ignition!"

"It's lifted off, folks!"

"Kerbal News Network, witnessing the launch of the KLS. Now, on our next story..."

Soon, the Rocketparts deliveries had lifted off, too.

5 months later...

"KSC, this is MechJeb. Trajectory checks out from here. Over."

"Roger, MechJeb. Trajectory looks good here, too. You are go for EDL. Over"

"Roger, KSC, atmospheric entry in T-minus 1 minute. Over and out."

Soon, all the supply modules had landed and the mothership, Duna Adventure, had been constructed in Kerbin orbit.

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The crew of Duna 1 has been announced:

Commander: Jebediah Kerman

Pilot: Valentina Kerman

Lead Engineer: Bill Kerman

Lead Scientist: Bob Kerman

Jeb woke up, tired, at his room in the Astronaut Complex, to his KPhone ringing "Dah Duh Dah Duh Duh Duh Dee Duh Doo Duh Duh Duh Dee Duh Doo..."

"Jeb Kerman here, what is it?"

"Jeb, have you heard the great news?"

"Val? Is that you? What news?"

"You've just been announced as the commander of Duna 1, and me, Bill, and Bob are your crewmates!"

Jeb sat up, instantly alert.

"Really? That's awesome!"

Jeb ran to the Launchpad, almost forgetting to change into his spacesuit instead of his PJs.

"Come on in, it won't bite," said Jeb, laughing, when he saw Bob, reluctant to go into a rocket he'd never been in before. "The Learstar A1's a beauty. She's almost exploded on me more than times than I can count!"

"That's what I was afraid of,†muttered Bob before clambering in.

"Learstar, you are go for launch."

"KSC, Jeb, commander's voice check. Over."

"Jeb, KSC, we copy, over."

"KSC, Val, pilot's voice check. Over."

"Val, KSC, we copy, over."

"KSC, Bill, engineer's voice check. Over."

"Bill, KSC, we copy, over."

"KSC, Bob, scientist's voice check. Over."

"Bob, KSC, we copy, over."

"Jeb here. Are we go?"

"Hang on, let me check with Gene... All systems go."

"10...9...8..."

"Skip the countdown, already. Let's burn this candle! Val, punch it!"

"Yes, sir! :D"

The Learstar A1 shot up on a column of flame.

"G-Forces at 2KG's... 3KG's... Jeb, I'm worried. What do you think?"

"YEE-HAW!"

"Never mind."

Edited October 25, 2015 by KAL 9000

[KAL 9000]

"KSC, Learstar, booster burnout."

"Learstar, KSC, you are go for booster sep."

"KSC, Learstar, booster sep."

-- 2 minutes later --

"KSC, Learstar, we have MECO."

"Learstar, KSC, you are go for ET sep."

"KSC, Learstar, ET sep."

Soon, the Learstar A1 was in orbit and approaching the Duna Adventure. It was now 150 meters out.

On the IVA computer display:

Raster Prop Monitor: Bootup: 300/512KB loaded.

Raster Prop Monitor: Bootup: Complete

©2015 Junk Systems Incorporated

DPAI: Bootup: 150/300KB loaded.

DPAI: Bootup: Complete

©2015 NavyFish

"Learstar, KSC, you are go for docking. Over."

"Copy that, KSC, beginning docking procedure. Over."

"5 meters... 4... 3... 2... 1... Hard dock!"

-- After some systems checks --

"Ok, gang, we're going to have to go through the emergency airlock. All the other airlocks are electronically controlled, and we haven't brought the power online yet."

The crew's faces: (Jeb) (Val) (Bill) (Bob)

"Ok, we're inside, I'm turning on emergency batteries now."

After the emergency batteries were on, Bill, who was an expert in all things engineering, including computer engineering, went to the Duna Adventure's main kOS terminal.

"Let's see: RCS off., SAS on., panels on. Jeb, I have extended the solar panels, we should be getting some more power. Oh yeah: Centrifuge:actions:inflate. Centrifuge:actions:spin. Centrifuge:actions:setSpin:3rpm. Jeb, the centrifuge should be at 1KG now."

Soon, the crew was in the DeepFreeze Continuedâ„¢ cryosleep unit. "Ok, KSC, I have switched to autopilot control. We will be going into cryosleep in one minute."

"Roger that, Jeb. We'll see you in five months. Over and out, for now."

-- To Be Continued --

Edited October 25, 2015 by KAL 9000

[KAL 9000]

5 months later...

Transmission #55302

Origin: KSC

Destination: Duna Adventure

transmission.begin().

DeepFreeze.cryounit("thaw", ).

DeepFreeze.cryounit("thaw", ).

DeepFreeze.cryounit("thaw", ).

DeepFreeze.cryounit("thaw", ).

autopilot.disengage().

transmission.end().

---

"KSC, this is Jeb. What's our trajectory?"

"Your trajectory is go for aerobraking. Periapsis is 10 km. Apoapsis after aerobraking is 250 km."

"Roger that, KSC, we are pointing retrograde. Atmospheric entry in T-minus 30 seconds."

"Reentry heat building. 5KG's. Everybody OK back there?"

:0.0:

"We are through aerobraking. Setting up the maneuver node to circularize our orbit."

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Jeb's callsign is .

Val's callsign is .

Bill's callsign is .

Bob's callsign is .