PROJECT: UNITY - UNVEILED

Today saw the start of a new project. Named Unity, this will be the phase of the Space Program that will see the first Kerbals into space. The project has been broken down into three separate phases. The first will be the testing of a new Command Pod that will carry the first Kerbals to space, and Launch Escape System (LES). The LES will pull the command pod away to safety if anything should go wrong with the launch. The second phase will be full dummy-runs of getting the command pod to space. From there, phase-three will put Kerbals above our atmosphere.

Six Kerbals have already been selected and trained for the project. Jebediah Kerman, a long-suspected contender, is expected to lead the way as the first Kerbal in space. Five others will follow him on more demanding missions as the project progresses. Each astronaut is expected to fly at least twice.

The crew of 'Project: Unity' pose for a publicity shot. Between them is a model of the new capsule that will take them into space.

From left to right: Bob, Bill, Jebediah, Charlie, Tomdun and Lanmore

'This will be an intense project,' said Gene Kerman at the press conference. 'Phase-One and Two will be unmanned testing. It won't be until Phase-Three that we put the first Kerbals into space. And that is just the start. From there, the challenges are an upward gradient. But they are vital steps that must be accomplished before we can even think about reaching out to the Mun.'

Phase three is planned to consist of thirteen manned flights. The first manned flight will leave Kerbins atmosphere while the last manned flight is said to be two simultaneously crewed capsules performing a docking procedure in orbit. This seems to be a tall order with so few steps between the start and the finish. Sources say that twenty-five capsules have been ordered in total for the project.

Testing is due to begin soon. But the manned flight is really what we should look forward to.