Season 3 is a single-player game in Science mode, in a solo save rather than a shared server. In this stream Basket takes the kerbals out of the rockets and flies probes instead, "just so I stop killing my guys." The first test rockets spin out of control, struts and better-placed fins fix the worst of it, and Science 15 makes it to orbit around Kerbin. It survives reentry, splashes down in the ocean and is recovered for 35.8 science. The stream ends in the Vehicle Assembly Building with Science 16, built for a crew.
No pilots, no control
The research tree opens at 27.8 science. The commentary runs through the newest parts, "battery packs, thermometers and a different communication device," plus what is needed for an unmanned mission, and the plan follows from that: test the design with nobody on board. The VAB name field goes from Science 10 to Science 11.
Science 11 lifts off fine, but without much to steer it the rocket starts spinning as soon as it tries to turn. "Stop moving so much, jeez." A Mystery Goo observation goes out by transmitter "before you blow up," and the rocket is left to come down on its own. "That'll eventually crash into the ocean, and that's fine."
The probe core moves to the top of the stack for Science 12, which also gets boosters on the side. The VAB crew screen lists Bob Kerman, Scientist, as available, but the seat stays empty. "Okay, no person inside of it, awesome." It tilts and rolls on the way up. "Oh, I aimed the wrong way. That's why I don't put people inside of that." With the side boosters taken off, Science 13 goes much straighter, "this looks so much more safe," but it wobbles and never gets very high. The temperature scan and a Mystery Goo observation get transmitted on the way down.
Struts and fins
The next research purchase is the one that matters: "We can get struts, okay, amazing." The side boosters go back on, held with struts, with nose cones on top. The rocket is steadier off the pad but still will not pitch over. "I need to put more fins on." The fins came back in odd places after some parts were swapped, so the flight is dropped and Basket goes back to the VAB. Fins go back on symmetrically, struts go in at the top as well, and the name field now reads Science 15.
Getting into orbit
Science 15 launches with SAS on and turns over gently this time. "I'm trying to go just kind of carefully so that it doesn't freak out." The solid boosters burn out, the main stage carries on, and a maneuver node sets up the circularizing burn.
"Alright, we are in orbit." The map shows the loop around Kerbin with its periapsis at 92,766 meters. There are no solar panels yet, so SAS goes off to save the batteries. The materials bay, the goo and the thermometer get read and kept on board, and Basket waits out one full orbit "before it'll register that we orbited."
Fire and a splashdown
The first deorbit plan would bring the probe in too fast. A viewer suggests a gentler approach, so the node gets moved for a shallower pass that slows the probe in the atmosphere. After a short burn the engines and spare stages are dropped, and the capsule starts to glow. "My guess is that this will burn up and this will burn up." The flames pour off it for several minutes, and the capsule comes through whole. "Surprised the batteries are still okay."
Four parachutes open over the ocean and the probe drifts down upright, until the power runs out. "So if my battery runs out, then I don't stay upright." The capsule hangs upside down for the last stretch and hits the water slowly, in one piece. "Surprisingly, it's okay with being in the water."
The Mission Summary for Science 15 lists five experiments recovered, including "Recovery of a vessel returned from Kerbin orbit," for +35.8 science and a total of 38.
Where it ends
A look at the research tree turns up nothing new to buy, so the rest of the stream goes into the next ship. The parachutes move to the sides of the pod with one more on top, a backup antenna joins the communications device and thermometer, and a service bay gets two batteries tucked inside. "So now we have some hidden batteries." It is saved as Science 16, and the commentary sets the next step: "we'll have a human in there next time." The stream ends in the VAB with Science 16 built and not yet launched.