Second Satellite in Orbit
I've managed to get a second satellite into orbit with a slightly modified launch vehicle.
FAB SPACE AGENCY has put its second satellite into orbit. The launch of Bumblebee 2 was a success!
I’ve spent some time today designing the new satellite and modifying my launch vehicle a bit, adding a crazy fairing to the final stage to protect the new satellite and its bulky antenna. After some testing, I realised I also needed to add some support struts so that the rocket wouldn’t shake itself apart in the upper atmosphere.
After that design change, it was smooth sailing during the launch. I made it into space and decoupled the boosters and the second stage to continue my burn into orbit.
Next, I blew the fairing off the payload and turned on its RCS thrusters to be able to better navigate the third stage.
After extending the satellite’s solar arrays to provide the craft with power, I circled Kerbin for a bit and then circularised the orbit. I ended up with a very nice orbit at a height of roughly 100 km that was tilted a bit from the orbit of Bumblebee 1. Neat!
In the last step, I decoupled stage three and extended the satellite’s main antenna. It’s now in a stable orbit with plenty of power from the solar cells, and lots of monopropellant left for its station-keeping RCS thrusters.
My next mission will be to get a Kerbal into orbit. The stakes are now getting higher in this here space program!
