The Kerbin Times From Kerbin For Kerbalkind ­ All the News That’s Fit to Print! 

 Issue #6, KST Y1年 D12号 

 

Romantic Rendezvous With A Kiss! 

 Corvus Inc Awarded Further Contract 

 KSC ­ After successfully       

demonstrating the capabilities for       rendezvous and docking with the launch           of two Corvus built vessels, the           manufacturer has been awarded an         immediate contract for building at least           two more technology demonstrator       vessels with enhanced capabilities. The current design consists of a           2­kerbal­capsule with an additional       nose cone, housing attitude thrusters,         docking port and main parachute, as           well as an attached propulsion orbital           attitude system, for power generation,         orbital maneuvers and re­entry. Provisions for additional equipment is         limited at best, with both vessels           performing rendezvous carrying little       

L’amour en l’univers tandis que deux capsule spatiale amarrer la première fois dans l’histoire   

 Exclusive pictures of the final approach and “docking kiss” of the two Corvus­build spacecraft 

 KSC ­ For the first time in history two kerbal­made space vessels have met each                             

other in orbit, approached to close distance and even docked with each other! 

From The Flight Director  

 Gene Kerman (archive photo) 

 Congrats Gene, this is a massive             

success you managed to pull off! “Thank you! Yes, this is indeed a             massive leap forward for our space           programme!” Why is this such an important           accomplishment?  “You need to understand that being able             to synchronize two spacecraft, bring         them close to together, and even dock             

more than just a day of supplies and no                 additional scientific equipment. The forthcoming technology     demonstrators are expected to to         somewhat larger, adding in space for           exchangeable mission specific gear and         supplies to last for a longer mission. If Corvus is successful with those new             demonstrators, a manned mission to         Mun might already be in reach soon. 

 

In what was so far the largest and most complex of all missions at KSC, two identical                                 Orbiter­3  vessels were launched in short succession at the space center. The first flight, commanded by Jebediah Kerman and also carrying scientist Lety                       Kerman, boosted itself to a high parking orbit, and started waiting (TV reception was                           bad, but reportedly they munched snacks and played music on their kPods). After orbit stabilisation, the second flight, commanded by Valentina Kerman and also                       carrying scientist Phorina Kerman, lifted off from KSC and entered a lower catch­up                         orbit. Largely thanks to near­perfect manual piloting by Valentina, the catch­up took only                       little more than half an orbit. At a distance of less than 100m, several bursts from the                                 maneuvering thrusters brought the spacecraft nose­to­nose, and then within range of                     the magnetic docking clamps, resulting in a metallic “kiss”, and the first docking was                           completed. Reportedly cookies and and stories were exchanged through the open                     airlocks. Both KSA and spacecraft manufacturer Corvus can be more than happy with the                         performance of the mission. Both spacecraft are scheduled to deorbit and land back at                           Kerbin later today, after executing a few more tests, also including spacewalks.  

them, might be the single most important             capability we need. It means that now we can think about missions to Mun or further, with the final vessel being composed of smaller individual ones, docked together. Say, a transfer ship and a lander, for example. Going further, we can now think about assembly of a full space station in orbit of practically any planetary body. Such a station could hold fuel, supplies, and equipment, or host scientists on long­term experiments. We are having a lot of ideas up our sleeves, so the coming months will be interesting for sure!” Thanks Gene, and our readers can be             assured we’ll keep you updated on           these ventures!  

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