Spaceborne

[Mikenike]

3 hours ago, SBKerman said:

Vanguard 1

Flyby of Duna.

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Vanguard 1, still out of communication range, enters Duna's sphere of influence on day 337. It passes the red planet at a distance of 44,718,971 meters. A day later it returns to interplanetary space. While the main mission to orbit Duna and transmit science ended in failure, Vanguard 1 has proven that the UAA possess the capability to launch probes to other planets.

 

Dauntless 17

Expedition Harmony 10.

Date: Y10 D395  Launch site: KSC  Launch vehicle: Phoenix IIC  Crew: P1 Eilbin, E2 Seewin, S1 Aldkin, S1 Beasen

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After beeing delayed a few weeks while mission control was busy with the Echo satellites, Dauntless 17 finally launches the next expedition to Harmony. Eilbin, Seewin, Aldkin and Beasen will relieve the current crew who have been on the station since the latter half of year eight.

After the handover cermony, Valentina, Siesen, Eiller and Kirfal board Dauntless 15. They undock and begin their return home.

Splashdown occurs a few hours later to great fanfare. The returning kerbonauts have spent 895 days in space, made nine spacewalks, seen two modules and a docking node added, and hosted three visiting crews. Through their long mission, they have shown that it is possible to live and work in space for extended periods. This is an important stepping stone to interplanetary flights.

 

Keystone 21

Deliver supplies to Serenity station.

Date: Y10 D404  Launch site: KSC  Launch vehicle: Phoenix IID  Crew: - - -

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Keystone 21 is launched on a Phoenix IID and placed in a parking orbit around Kerbin.

Thanks to the switch of rocket from Icarus to Phoenix, the spacecraft can be launched with full fuel tanks and a dedicated transfer stage. This stage sends Keystone 1 towards Minmus.

It also performs the capture burn before being jettisoned on a trajectory to impact the small moon. This avoids the problem of accidentally leaving debris in hard to reach orbits.

Keystone 21 arrives at Serenity shortly thereafter, bringing much needed supplies to the station.

 

Tranquility Station Ops

Install experiments and boost the station's orbit.

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The last few days of year ten see some activity at Tranquility station. During a brief EVA, Madming attaches some experiments to the exterior from which Dunrie collects preliminary data. This data is stored aboard Explorer 1. The lander is scheduled to make a trip to Harmony station in low Kerbin orbit early next year and will bring science from the Mun to be processed in Harmony's lab.

A few days later, Explorer 1 is used to boost the station's orbit which has decayed over time.

 

-- -- -- END OF MISSION LOG 037 -- -- --

Spoiler

YAY, another one.

 

[SBKerman]

Kerbin System Ops

Take two Expedition 6 members from Tranquility to Harmony.

Date: Y11 D9  Launch site: Tranquility  Launch vehicle: Explorer 1  Crew: S1 Arory, S1 Dunrie

Spoiler

After two years at Tranquility, Expedition 6 is scheduled to come home. The departure is carried out in a somewhat unusual manner. On day 9, scientists Arory and Dunrie board Explorer 1. It will take them to Harmony station in low Kerbin orbit where an Intrepid M spacecraft will return the two kerbonauts to the planet. With them on the trip to Harmony they carry a large ammount of scientific Mun data to be processed in the station's lab.

Mid transit, Arory performs an EVA to collect additional data for processing.

Explorer 1 and its crew arrive at the destination two days later.

 

Intrepid M-5

Deliver first half of Expedition Tranquility 7 to Harmony station.

Date: Y11 D12  Launch site: KSC  Launch vehicle: Phoenix IIF  Crew: P2 Valentina, S1 Bob, S1 Hudsey

Spoiler

Intrepid M-5 launches with mission commander Valentina and Expedition 7 members Bob and Hudsey.

The booster overshoots the space center and lands in water, but is recovered intact.

After docking with the station, Bob and Hudsey trade places with Arory and Dunrie. The former two will continue to Tranquility aboard Explorer 1 in a few days.

 

Dauntless 18

Deliver second half of Expedition Tranquility 7 plus two tourists to the station.

Date: Y11 D18  Launch site: KSC  Launch vehicle: Phoenix IIC  Crew: P1 Neming, E1 Dudble, Madard, Jerbur

Spoiler

While Bob and Hudsey wait for Explorer 1 to be made ready for the return flight, Neming and Dudble launch aboard Dauntless 18. They make up the other half of the expedition and will arrive ahead of their colleagues. Since there are two available seats both to and from the station, space tourists Madard and Jerbur are allowed to tag along.

Booster recovery returns to normal with a pinpoint landing at the KSC.

Meanwhile, Dauntless 18 burns for the Mun.

The crew arrive at their destination and prepare for the rendevouz. This is their first mission to the Mun and Dudble seems particularly excited about it.

Dauntless 18 docks to the station on day 20. It has been a difficult approach. While on the dark side of the Mun, the spacecraft ran low on electricity for its navigation system. Neming had to manually fire the RCS thrusters to station keep with Tranquility until they entered sunlight again. Similar problems with the power supply on the new Dauntless Mk3 has also been noted on previous flights. The engineers will have to take a look at it and see if any modifications are necessary.

With the new crew in place, Wehrfurt, Madming and the two tourists undock Dauntless 7 and begin their voyage home. They splash down a day later.

After the others have left, Neming and Dudble relocate Dauntless 18 to the docking port previously used by Dauntless 7. They are now ready to start their two year mission at the station, though Expedition 7 will not begin officially until the rest of the crew arrive.

 

Keystone 22

Deliver supplies to Tranquility station.

Date: Y11 D22  Launch site: KSC  Launch vehicle: Phoenix IID  Crew: - - -

Spoiler

A Phoenix IID launches Keystone 22 on day 22. Having placed the spacecraft in orbit, the core booster returns for a safe landing. The side boosters are also recovered.

Keystone 22 later arrives at Tranquility station where Neming and Dudble quickly unload its cargo.

 

-- -- -- END OF MISSION LOG 038 -- -- --

Edited October 27, 2020 by SBKerman

[SBKerman]

Kerbin System Ops

Upgrade Explorer 1 and ferry crew from Harmony to Tranquility.

Spoiler

On day 25, Seewin performs an EVA. His primary task is to install a star tracker on Explorer 1 to improve the spacecraft's navigation system.

He also attaches a series of experiments to the outside hull of Harmony.

When Seewin's work is done, Bob and Hudsey leave the station aboard Explorer 1. They arrive at Tranquility on day 27, joining the other Expedition 7 members Neming and Dudble.

The same day, Valentina, Arory and Dunrie return to Kerbin on Intrepid M-5.

 

Echo Mun-C/Min-C

Augment relay satellite network.

Date: Y11 D34/44  Launch site: KSC  Launch vehicle: Phoenix IIF  Crew: - - -

Spoiler

To ensure good coverage in the Kerbin system, the UAA has decided to add two more communication satellites to its Mun and Minmus network. A Phoenix IIF launches Echo Mun-C on day 34. It is placed in a wide equatorial orbit around the Mun nine days later.

On day 44, a second Phoenix IIF launches Echo Min-C. It arrives in a similar orbit around Minmus on day 82. Work also begins on upgrading the tracking station at the space center.

 

Odobenus 1

Launch Mun rover and sky crane to parking orbit around Kerbin.

Date: Y11 D82  Launch site: KSC  Launch vehicle: Icarus  Crew: - - -

Spoiler

The Odobenus rover, which underwent testing last year, is ready for its first trial on the Mun. An Icarus rocket launches Odobenus 1 on day 82. Also riding inside the comically oversized fairing is an experimental sky crane which will be used to land the rover on the munar surface.

The combined payload is placed in a 150 km parking orbit, where it will wait for a transfer stage to dock with it.

After being jettisoned, it takes the Icarus second stage until day 90 to reenter the atmosphere because of the higher than usual orbit.

 

Nebula 2

Send Odobenus 1 to the Mun.

Date: Y11 D86  Launch site: KSC  Launch vehicle: Phoenix IIA  Crew: - - -

Spoiler

On day 86, a Phoenix IIA launches Nebula 2. Based on the old Serenity Transfer Stage 2, Nebula 2 is a space tug running on cryogenic fuel. It will be used to bring the Odobenus rover and its sky crane to the Mun.

Even though the tug is lightweight, the launch vehicle proves unable to bring it all the way to orbit. Nebula 2 has to fire its own engine for the final insertion burn. In doing so, it damages some of the recovery equipment on the Phoenix, leading to the loss of the booster.

Despite the troubled launch, Nebula 2 manages to reach and dock with the target a day later. Another firing of its engine then brings the whole package to the Mun.

Because it had to use some of its fuel to get to Kerbin orbit, Nebula 2 is unable to fully complete the circularization burn. A backup plan is quickly devised to fix the problem.

First, the spent space tug undocks and deorbits using its reaction control system.

Next, Neming and Dudble set out in Explorer 1 to rendevouz with the rover and sky crane combo. They dock with them and bring the 14 x 144 km orbit down to a circular 14 km.

While doing so, they notice that the hinges on the sky crane have come unlocked and the retracted arms are flopping about. To fix this, the crew reset the locks and then activate the deployment system. The arms extend successfully, making the crane ready for use. Having completed their task, Neming and Dudble undock and bring Explorer 1 to a higher orbit from where they will catch up with Tranquility again.

Meanwhile, the sky crane relocates from the front of the rover to the top.

Using the same automated landing system designed for Touchstone, the crane begins the descent towards the munar surface.

On the way down, the end caps on Odobenus 1 are jettisoned. These were used to protect the rover and to provide spacing for the docking hardware.

To everyone's surprise, the system works perfectly. After a mostly uneventful descent, Odobenus 1 sets down gently in the regolith right next to Touchstone 1.

The sky crane has enough fuel to return to orbit. There are no further plans for it, but the engineers are contemplating using it to deorbit Tranquility once a replacement station has been assembled.

Following activation, Odobenus 1 makes a short drive over to the flag planted by Wehrfurt and Madming during the first Explorer 1 landing. The rover handles well in the slightly hilly terrain, although it has to be noted that it carries no cargo weighing it down at the moment. After this initial test, Odobenus is parked a few hundred meters away, waiting for a crew to land and hook it up to Touchstone 1.

 

-- -- -- END OF MISSION LOG 039 -- -- --

Edited October 27, 2020 by SBKerman

[SBKerman]

Touchstone 2

Send a second supply vehicle to the Mun.

Date: Y11 D96  Launch site: KSC  Launch vehicle: Phoenix IID  Crew: - - -

Spoiler

Work on adapting the Keystone spacecraft for munar landings has produced a second test vehicle. It sports a larger fuel capacity and has had some parts replaced or removed to cut down on weight.

Although the dry mass of the spacecraft has been lowered, fueled up it is still heavier than the regular Keystone. However, the fuel levels in the launch vehicle has not been adjusted accordingly. Because of this, the core booster does not have the margins to target the KSC. Instead, it lands far downrange which makes for a more expensive recovery.

In space, the mission continues with Touchstone 2 being brought to munar orbit by the transfer stage.

The first part of the landing process is also handled by the transfer stage. When the fuel runs out the stage is jettisoned and the main engines takes over.

With only 18 m/s of dV left, Touchstone 2 makes a soft landing near the wreck of its predecessor. There are now enough supplies on the Mun to fill up Odobenus 1, but this operation requires boots on the ground.

 

Kerbin System Ops

Send a crew down to the Mun to transfer supplies to Odobenus rover.

Date: Y11 D101  Launch site: Tranquility  Launch vehicle: Explorer 1  Crew: P1 Neming, E1 Dudble

Spoiler

Neming and Dudble prepare to take Explorer 1 down to the surface to continue ground operations.

The landing is handled by the automated system that proved successful with both Odobenus 1 and Touchstone 2. Once again it sets the craft down at the predetermined site.

The two kerbonauts survey the area before continuing with their mission.

Odobenus is moved over to Touchstone 2 so that Dudble can hook the two vehicles up and begin the transfer. He finds the receiving connector on the rover to be a bit finicky to reach, but other than that, it all works fine.

When Touchstone 2 has been emptied, the crew move the rover to Touchstone 1 and repeat the process. After the transfer has been completed, Odobenus is sent on a short drive up a hill to see how it handles with a full load. Unlike on Kerbin, the rover has no problems with the terrain in munar gravity. Only the breaks need some adjustment to handle the increased weight.

With the supplies in their space suits running low, the crew proceeds to finish up their mission. While Neming makes her way back to the lander, Dudble removes two undamaged solar panels from Touchstone 1. He then plants an explosive device on the vehicle. With a two minute timer set, he hurridly moves to a safe distance.

Touchstone 1 is obliterated by the blast, leaving no concernable debris behind. A different method of disposal will be tested with Touchstone 2 once the kerbonauts have left.

Having stored the solar panels and some other pieces of equipment on the rover, Dudble joins Neming aboard Explorer 1.

They lift off and are soon back at Tranquility station.

Explorer 1 is refueled by Nova 1, using up the last reserves in the latter. The Nova spacecraft then undocks and deorbits. It will be replaced by Nova 3 which is scheduled to launch in the coming days.

Back on the munar surface, Touchstone 2 uses its last fuel to launch straight up into the air vacuum and fall back down. It is a test to see if this procedure can be used to dispose of the vehicle without using explosives. Unfortunately, it doesn't hit the ground with enough of an impact to be completely destroyed. Instead, it leaves a large field of debris which will have to be cleaned up by hand. It seems future Touchstones will need to be dealt with by blowing them up.

 

Nova 3

Deliver fuel to Tranquility station.

Date: Y11 D108  Launch site: KSC  Launch vehicle: Phoenix IID  Crew: - - -

Spoiler

After a launch scrub on day 104, the third flight of a Nova fuel tanker takes off four days later.

Nova 3 arrives at Tranquility on day 109, ready to support upcoming Mun landings.

 

-- -- -- END OF MISSION LOG 040 -- -- --

[SBKerman]

Kerbin System Ops

Prepare landing site for Placidity Mun base.

Date: Y11 D111  Launch site: Tranquility  Launch vehicle: Explorer 1  Crew: P1 Neming, E1 Dudble

Spoiler

Preparations for the Placidity munar base continues with a second landing by Neming and Dudble.

They scout a site near where Valentina and Kirfal landed with Spider during year six. The terrain looks favourable and the location should provide quick access to a number of different biomes.

The crew marks four different spots for the base and various support vehicles. These coordinates will later be used by the automated landing system on each craft.

Having completed the survey, the two kerbonauts return to Tranquility.

On day 114, Odobenus 1 sets out on a 600 km drive to the new Placidity site. The rover completes the journey in ten days.

 

Placidity

Launch the base to a parking orbit around Kerbin.

Date: Y11 D153  Launch site: KSC  Launch vehicle: Phoenix IID  Crew: - - -

Spoiler

It is finally time to launch the base itself. Placed within a wider than normal fairing, Placidity lifts off on a Phoenix IID booster.

It arrives in low Kerbin orbit shortly thereafter, where it will remain until it has been prepared and fueled up. A transfer stage will then bring it to the Mun.

 

Intrepid M-6

Send crew to install power truss on Placidity.

Date: Y11 D157  Launch site: KSC  Launch vehicle: Phoenix IIF  Crew: P2 Glesy, E1 Siesen, E1 Siglas

Spoiler

Intrepid M-6 takes three kerbonauts to the Placidity base in Kerbin orbit to erect a truss holding batteries and solar panels. It is an experienced crew with a total of nine missions between them. Both Glesy and Siglas have done on-orbit assembly work before.

Three days after launch, the orbits align and rendevouz is made possible. Intrepid M-6 docks to the service port on the underside of the base.

Siesen and Siglas exit the spacecraft and make their way up the Placidity structure. After having anchored themselves to some preinstalled handrails, they detach the truss from its temporary stowage.

The truss is then carfully installed in the proper position and hooked up to the base's electrical system.

Siesen then switches places on the EVA with Glesy who joins Siglas in filling the exterior storage lockers with tools and equipment. They also place some surprise presents for the first crew manning the base.

Two days later, Intrepid M-6 undocks and returns the crew to Kerbin.

 

Nebula 3

Transfer Placidity to the Mun.

Date: Y11 D166  Launch site: KSC  Launch vehicle: Phoenix IIB  Crew: - - -

Spoiler

Placidity is now ready to be transported to the Mun. First, the partially dismantled Keystone 9F leaves Harmony station and docks with the base.

The Keystone, launched almost four years ago, completes its final mission by transfering fuel over to Placidity's tanks. The old spacecraft then undocks and plunges itself into Kerbin's atmosphere where it is destroyed.

The following day, Nebula 3 launches atop a Phoenix IIB.

After some orbital maneuvering, it docks with Placidity on day 168.

The transmunar burn and insertion into orbit are successfully executed by the Nebula spacecraft, which then undocks and deorbits.

Using its integrated engines, the base begins the descent towards the surface. As a saftey precaution, the solar panels are retracted until Placidity is on the ground.

It is a precise landing by the automated system. After touchdown, the engines are shut down and the solar panels re-extended. Placidity has been positioned so that the panels can track the sun throughout the munar day, ensuring optimum battery charging.

Finally, the Odobenus rover is parked next to Placidity. The base is now ready for its first crew. However, mun station Tranquility and its lack of additional docking ports represents a bottleneck that may delay the first long term surface mission. Engineers back on Kerbin are working hard to get the replacement station ready as soon as possible.

 

-- -- -- END OF MISSION LOG 041 -- -- --

 

Another quick update on the game and this report. A couple of mods have been pruned and a few others updated. One of these updates (for Conformal Decals) required som editing of the persistent file, but I think I got it sorted out. Also, to get some more variation among my kerbonauts, I've added some additional skins to Texture Replacer. The pictures in the first post have been updated accordingly.

[SBKerman]

Kerbin System Ops

Land on Minmus.

Date: Y11 D170  Launch site: Serenity  Launch vehicle: Spider  Crew: E1 Newbin, S1 Munski

Spoiler

On day 170, Newbin and Munski take the Spider lander down to Minmus.

They set down in the flats biome.

After the obligatory flag planting Munski collects a sample of green sandstone. It will be brought back to Kerbin for analysis.

The duo lifts off and returns to Serenity a day later.

After gathering the data they collected, the crew begin dismantling the old lander. It will be replaced with a more capable craft in the future.

 

Touchstone 3

Send additional supplies to the Mun.

Date: Y11 D187  Launch site: KSC  Launch vehicle: Phoenix IID  Crew: - - -

Spoiler

Day 187 sees the launch of another Touchstone vehicle carrying supplies to the Mun.

It successfully lands near Placidity base.

 

Vanguard 2

Send probe to Moho.

Date: Y11 D210  Launch site: LKO  Launch vehicle: - - -  Crew: - - -

Spoiler

Vanguard 2, which has been stuck in low Kerbin orbit for almost a year, is finally given a new destination. On day 210, it is sent towards Moho.

A correction burn 37 days later sets it up for an encounter with the innermost planet of the solar system.

 

Dauntless 19

Expedition Serenity 3.

Date: Y11 D211  Launch site: KSC  Launch vehicle: Phoenix IIC  Crew: P1 Jeaneane, E1 Haycas, S1 Joekin, S1 Luemone

Spoiler

The next crew for Serenity station launch atop a Phoenix IIC.

They extract the EMM from the launch vehicle and begin the journey to Minmus.

After arriving at the station, they dock to the port previously occupied by Keystone 21.

Dauntless 11 undocks with the Expedition 2 crew.

Upon its return to Kerbin, the Dauntless command module separates from the service module and mission module.

Reentry is a spectacular sight as the discarded modules burn up in the atmosphere.

Hadlong, Munski, Newbin and Malbart splash down safely, ending their two year Minmus mission.

 

Keystone 23

Deliver supplies to Serenity station.

Date: Y11 D230  Launch site: KSC  Launch vehicle: Phoenix IID  Crew: - - -

Spoiler

A Phoenix IID launches Keystone 23 which will bring fresh supplies to the new crew at Serentiy.

The vehicle arrives at Minmus and docks to the station ten days later.

 

-- -- -- END OF MISSION LOG 042 -- -- --