KERBALS WALK IN SPACE!

KSP - Year 3, Day 277-289

Although at least one more mission was planned for the Unity project, this week saw a close to the very first milestone of manned spaceflight. A plethora of achievements were met with this final mission, including a Kerbal leaving the comfort of his capsule and drifting through space with nothing but his suit to shield him from the unforgiving environment.

Unity Twenty-Three, piloted by Bill, and Unity Twenty-Four, piloted by Lanmore, lifted off three days apart. One goal of the mission was to spend up to eight days in space. This is longer than a round trip to the Mun would take, ensuring Kerbal's can survive and function the duration with time to spare. In the end, Bill would spend eleven whole days orbiting our world.

During this lengthy time in orbit, Bill and Lanmore piloted their capsules and successfully docked their vessels together. This is a process that would be necessary during the manned Mun program. During the last mission, Jebediah was able to dock his craft with an automated docking vehicle. This time, two manned capsules performed the maneuver. A transfer of power and fuel took place to prove the umbilical systems between the two Service Modules. Orbital altitude changes also took place.

The next task became a monumental moment as Bill Kerman physically left his craft and performed an Extra Vehicular Activity (EVA). This was the first time a Kerbal had left the safety of their vehicle and drifted around with nothing but his spacesuit and a thruster pack. The initial walk lasted seven minutes and took place four days into the mission.

 A never-before-seen sight as Bill floats over Lanmore's

capsule in the first ever space-walk

 'It was the most unnatural feeling to let go of the capsule and free fall around Kerbin,' said Bob in a following press conference. 'But that unsettled feeling soon vanished as I begun to realise what I was achieving. The view of Kerbin was spectacular. No one has seen our world like I have.'

The mission was going so well that the second Link Docking Vehicle (LDV), which would have been used for the Unity Twenty-Five mission, was launched to join Bill and Lanmore for an extended mission. Once the LDV had made it's rendezvous, the green light for a second EVA for Bill was given. The mission was to leave the capsule and meet the LDV using the thrusters from his space suit. Lanmore remained in command of the two Unity spacecraft in case any emergency took place. The EVA was another success and the astronauts returned home after arguably the most successful Unity mission to date.

The second LDV looms into view as it approached the Unity craft

'These boys and their equipment fared better than we could have possibly hoped,' said Gene Kerman, the flight director at the KSC. 'It went so well, that we were able to extend the mission even further. Both Kerbal and machine were tested to the extreme and it couldn't have gone better. What a way to close out the Unity Program.'

Bill is seen crossing the 15m gap from his capsule to the LDV where

he successfully intercepted the automated craft

Twenty-five Unity capsules were ordered and built, but only twenty-four were used. Unity Twenty-Five is assembled and ready for launch, but it will be the only capsule not to see action. It is expected to be donated to a museum or even preserved at the very Space Center that created the craft.

A fine image of the Unity craft taken by Bill as he drifted around the 

vehicles during his second EVA. This is the first time an astronaut has captured 

an outside photo of their craft

The next phase of the Space Program has been name Aquarius and has just one goal: to put a Kerbal on the Mun.