The time has come to launch our first Kerbal orbital missions ans begin the Kerballed Conquest of Space! The Mercury Orbiter was well-tested without a crew, so the time has come to add a crew.  Our first Kerbal in space is scheduled to be Valentina.  She is supposed to make an orbital journey (low orbit).  The main science will be a crew and EVA report.  That may be enough to up our science levels to new MechJeb features. I spent some money to upgrade the launch pad and make Kerbal EVA possible for more science from the missions.  I also added two high-qualified pilots (Great Courage, Low Stupid) named Deblotte and Marlina.  Looks like we have 3 female pilots! <First Kerbal Orbit Prep> Skyhawk 1 (Valentina pilot) Mercury Orbital Platform craft Launch date: 1y 225d I actually forgot the comm device!  At least Valentina can bring her reports home herself.  Big goof. 129km x 119km orbit (seems less circular than it should be) Dropped the 2nd stage with plenty left.  Almost 500 in last stage and dropping stage after 89dV burn leaving 414dV. Reentry pending. 21 Ablator used.  Coming down on the peninsula. Valentina was Successful! <Skyhawk 1> Eagle 1 (Jebediah Pilot) Mercury Orbital Platform craft Launch date: 1y 226d Going for high orbit (>250km) for crew report and EVA science. Orbit 284x282km (606 dV in 2nd stage, 495 in return stage) Deorbit burn requires 183dV. Successful recovery. <Eagle 1> I need 10 more science to take advantage of MechJeb landing features.  I did manual landings but these are easier (obviously).  So I plan to send a Munar Return mission to get the last bit of Goo and Materials science from Munar Orbit so that I can get the landing features in science. Mun Orbiter Return Launch date: 1y, 226d A round trip to Mun that includes a return of goo and materials at high and low space. Good mission that took almost two weeks because of a wide orbital swing out from Kerbin. In the meanwhile, an old historical mission happened, a flyby of Eve (Venera-1).  While I didn't get the money for getting rid of those contracts, I got a LOT of science!  With these two missions I now have over 850 science and can do some advancement! <Venera Flyby> <Mun Orbital Return> I now the next two tree levels I want but there is one shortly after that will get me more MechJob capabilities and the Octo craft to start doing some cool unmanned science.  I am heading into an interesting zone at this point. Updated the research facility and added Thomptrey (Scientist) who had high value. My science limit has lifted to 500 which means I still need to spend $1.6m to get to the Octo payloads.  However, there is a lot of good new science I can get that will actually feed more science numbers.  I can develop my crew and do some landings.  I still haven't really seen Kerbal Academy contracts so I am not sure what they do. Eriksson 1 Mun Lander craft (6759 dV) Launch date: Goal: First soft landing on the Mun (unkerballed) and recovery of transmitted science and images to fulfill contract. Setting up standard ascent parameters: Turn at 98.9m/s or 20km.  50% turn to 15 deg. Accel cap at 30 m/s.  No autocorrect.  Autostage pre/post 0.5. Weird pulsing on takeoff (seemed to shift right at launch) Constant correction but it was okay. Lock gimbal for Trans Munar Injection Needed to unlock gimbal on the 2nd stage.  Odd, not sure why that was needed. Needed to extend panels as the power would not hold out for the duration.  Should add side panels to the fuel tank.  Hopefully won't adversely affect the landing. 1649 dV to land.  Set landing target at Midland Craters. Weird pulsing again as it kept not landing (need to increase touchdown speed on a small craft maybe?).  I turned off the autopilot and out it down. (813 dV in the tank) First soft landing on the Mun! <Erikssen 1 Landed> <Ericssen 1 Science> Eagle 2 (Jebediah) Mercury Orbital Platform (5023 dV) Launch date: 1y 268d This will be a night launch with Jebediah.  It is the first Kerbal Academy contract.  It costs $125k and makes no money but will increase Jeb's level (he is at one star and no bar towards the next). Mission:  Launch to equatorial orbit.  Change Incline to above 45deg.  Land. Needed to reset for more fuel.  5023 not enough and I di dno fill up the top tank.  Need to fill that.  Changed Rockomax adapter to Procedural fuel tank as well. New: 5638 dV After circ at 125km - 2128 dV 1722 needed to change inclination to 46 deg (45 needed). 402 left after incline change for return. Should be good. Used auto land and it used my dV.  I am in a descent so I simply will land. The mission was a success. Jeb got 6 experience and moved up to level 2 (2 stars). <Jeb Training Level 2>