Kerbal Space Administration

  Year 15, Day 13 The first batch of pictures from the Kerman Space Telescope have returned, and let's just say, they are ethereal! The images returned just about 3 weeks after KST was launched and put in orbit on Year 14, Day 420. These images are edited, but they have to be, since even the most stacked of space images need a little edit to show themselves. And that does NOT mean these are fake images; they are very real indeed. Now, without further ado, here are the images. We'll put captions on each image so you know what the image is photographing. Karina Nebula Atlas Nebula Andromeda Galaxy (K31) Omega Nebula Large Magellanic Kloud Small Magellanic Kloud Triangulum Galaxy (K33)

  Year 14, Day 422 We now have what the KSA meant when they said they were launching something "really cool" into space on the next Kerb-Shuttle mission... A space telescope! Specifically called the Kerman Space Telescope (KST), this is a first-of-its-kind invention that costed "a lot" to put into LKO. It's a visible-light capturing telescope just like the big observatories we have down here on Kerbin, but MUCH more expensive and, of course, in space! It was launched 2 days ago aboard KTS-2, and was just announced that it's working today. It has not yet taken any pictures, but may be expected to soon. It will first attempt to capture the Atlas Nebula, a pyramid-shaped nebula in the southern sky. If the image comes out good, they will call first mission success and continue imaging operations as long as possible. Let's cross our fingers and pray to the Kraken that this works out and everything goes well. Certified Article by the KSA

  Year 14, Day 411 The KSA has surprised us yet again with likely it's largest crewed invention yet, the Kerb-Shuttle! What the Kerb-Shuttle basically is, it has two SRBs (Solid Rocket Boosters) along with an EFT (External Fuel Tank). The main thing we want to talk about, though, is the Orbiter spaceplane. It is a spaceplane because it's something with wings that can at least glide but can make it's way to outer space. It's not an SSTO (Single-Stage To Orbit) craft, which is why it needs boosters to lift it's heavy body on takeoff, and an EFT is needed because the Orbiter itself needs to conserve weight on the way down and needs to have space for it's actual true purpose; payloads. The Kerb-Shuttle can, with a crew onboard, fly into LKO (Low Kerbin Orbit), deploy whatever payload it needs to, and glide back down to land at the KSC once more. The SRBs have parachutes so they can be recovered and the Orbiter is easily reusable since it glides back down to the runw...

Year 3, Day 140 Yesterday, the KSA launched what is likely the most important deep-space probe ever constructed, like Kioneer 10 on steroids... Voyagance 1! This probe is designed for the great planetary alignment of all the outer worlds, including Jool, Sarnus, Urlum, and Neidon. But not to just look at them through a lens, but instead go to them. Voyagance 1 carries a suite of instruments to study these distant worlds in unprecedented detail. On board are high-resolution cameras, a magnetometer to measure planetary magnetic fields, a gravitational sensor to track subtle tugs from moons, and the classic thermometer and barometer pair for atmospheric studies during flybys. Power is supplied by radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs), ensuring the probe can keep operating far from Kerbol’s light. Backup batteries provide additional security in case of unexpected power demands. Beyond its scientific payload, the probe carries a symbolic one: a polished silver record mounted to i...

  Year 3, Day 136 Gnikyv 1 was a proposed mission to Duna turned real by astronomer Karl Kerman. It was planned as an uncrewed probe to Duna similar to Evera 1, but instead of going to Eve, which was actually surprisingly easy due to the high gravitational pull, it was gonna go to Duna. Getting to Duna is significantly harder due to the low gravitational pull, about 30% of that compared to the surface of Kerbin. Due to the gravity, the SOI of this body is much smaller. But Karl wouldn't let this get past him. Partnering with the KSA, he built the most accurate launch vehicle of its time to get to Duna safely and as quickly as possible. When the Duna transfer window opened, they launched the rocket carrying the Gnikyv lander inside. After getting to orbit and running a couple background checks, they shot for orbit around the Sun. After getting into a stable orbit, they headed straight for Duna. It would take months to get there. After arrival at Duna, the lander detached from the pa...

  Year 3, Day 121 The Kioneer 10 probe, launched about a year from today ago, has now become the first interstellar kerbal-made object! The probe was meant to go for Jool, and it made it all the way there and sent back some awesome photos: It's wild to see some of Jool's moons up close and the planet itself and the crazy colors in the atmosphere and clouds - and we still don't know what makes it green! Anyway, it took photos, measured data, and completed its main mission, learning a bit more about Jool. It's likely that one day, a full fledged orbiter will go to Jool and dive extremely close to the planet's atmosphere to take crazy photos and measure data never even thought possible to be measured! Official KSA Article

  Year 2, Day 100 Evera 1, the uncrewed Eve lander, has successfully landed on the surface of Eve and scientific measurements are being taken right now! Eve also appears to be not as nice and Kerbin-like as we thought. In fact, it seems pretty deadly. If you want more details about the mission, check the last post. Here are the first images from the surface of Eve: Here are the first sounds that have come back from the surface of Eve:

  Year 1, Day 13 The KSA has worked on this project for quite a while, and finally we have gotten the first uncrewed interplanetary mission ever, Evera 1 to Eve! With Evera 1, we will once now know what the surface of that purple point of light in the sky looks like and also... What it sounds like! That's correct, Evera 1 will carry a microphone and camera onboard to take pictures and recordings of the surface of Eve. The spacecraft will take some time to get to Eve, so sit back and relax while history unfolds. It will descend through the thick atmosphere of Eve using a gigantic 10m wide inflatable heat shield which will then detach once slowed down enough. Upon landing, the probe likely only has about 1 day to transmit all data back to Kerbin. So it will quickly mine samples of the surface, take images, record sounds, log data, and then send this data back to Kerbin. More info on the mission will be coming out upon landing. Official KSA Article

  Year 1, Day 12 In the previous article, we discussed KSA planning a crewed Mun mission. And now, just a few days later, they have been completed! Mungram 1 was a partial success. Not as much data as was wanted to be captured was captured, but otherwise, it was a success! The rocket, Munship V, took off from Kerbin at the 5th hour carrying pilot Jebediah Kerman, engineer Bill Kerman, and scientist Bob Kerman. They orbited the Mun for a few hours and returned to Kerbin. Mungram 11, the technically second Mun mission was the more exciting one. This time, they took off from Kerbin into a parking orbit, and went for the Mun. After about 2 days of waiting, they arrived at the Mun and slowed into a low orbit. The LM (Lander Module) was waiting for Jebediah and Bill to enter. After entering, the LM disconnected from the Service Module and begun its descent to the surface of the Mun. After a perfect landing in a small crater not far from the East Crater Basin, Jebediah stepped out of the ...