Season 3 is a single-player game in Science mode, in a solo save rather than a shared server. This stream picks up with Science 16 in the Vehicle Assembly Building, and this time a kerbal goes along. Bob Kerman reaches orbit and is left there with an empty fuel tank. Jebediah Kerman then flies two more rockets to orbit and back, Science 17 and Science 18, splashing down in the ocean both times. Bob is still circling Kerbin when the stream ends.
Bob in the pod
Science 16 has solid boosters for the first push, a service bay with two batteries and two goo canisters inside, an antenna and a thermometer. "I would actually like to have a scientist," so Bob Kerman, Scientist, goes into the Mk1 Command Pod. The crew screen also lists Jebediah, Bill and Valentina Kerman as available. "Looks like everybody is actually alive again." The goal, in the commentary's words: "orbit with a person."
The rocket tilts as soon as it clears the pad and then starts to tumble. "Oh, don't spin, don't spin." It comes back upright on its own, still climbing, and the commentary blames the boosters: "those solid rocket boosters didn't help us at all." Short on fuel, the commentary aims for a gentle way back down, but a prograde burn to soften the reentry pushes a little too hard. "I guess that worked, but I did too much, so now I'm actually stuck in orbit." The liquid fuel is gone.
The map shows Science 16 on a loop around Kerbin, its periapsis at 98,656 meters. "So Bob is now on a mission to see how many times you can orbit this planet," and the rescue can wait: "I'll rescue him later."
Jeb takes Science 17 up
Back in the VAB the antenna gets a mirrored twin, in case the extra 0.03 tons was pulling the rocket sideways. The solid boosters come off and more drag goes on the bottom. There is no other scientist to send, so it is a pilot this time: Jebediah Kerman in Science 17.
It spins on the turn too ("Oh, will you stop? Oh, go up, just go up"), but it settles, and a careful burn puts it in orbit with some fuel to spare. A viewer suggests that science can change depending on the biome below. Back aboard Science 16, Bob's EVA report from space just above Kerbin's Highlands comes through as new science and gets transmitted.
Then Jeb heads home. The engine is dropped, the capsule points retrograde and the flames start.
The parachutes wait for 250 meters per second, now with one on top so the pod hangs straight, and it lands in the ocean in one piece. One problem shows up on the water: "apparently the thermometer is blocking my ability to get out." The Mission Summary for Science 17 lists four experiments recovered, including "Recovery of a vessel returned from Kerbin orbit," for +40.4 science and a total of 94.
Science 18 and a look toward the Mun
The research tree offers bigger fuel tanks and smaller engines. "That's not really what I was hoping for," but a smaller engine goes on as the final stage, the thermometer comes off the hatch side, and the side boosters move lower. Jeb goes back out in the new ship, named Science 18 in the commentary and on its Mission Summary.
It somersaults again on the turn at 6,000 meters. "This is not a very good ship. Bad ship, bad ship." Once the side engines drop away it steers properly, and it reaches orbit with its periapsis at 101,626 meters and fuel left in the tank. "So now, let's see if we can get to the moon and back magically." A maneuver node is pulled out toward the Mun, but the commentary reads the plan as a long burn with no easy way home. "Jeb votes for coming back."
A second splashdown
Science 18 drops its engine, burns through reentry and comes down under parachutes over the ocean. It lands upside down ("You're upside down, that's fine"), and this time Jeb gets out: an EVA report, a surface sample from the water, a goo observation and a temperature reading. The Mission Summary for Science 18 lists seven experiments for +18.3 science, and the total after the research purchase in between reads 67.
Where it ends
The research tree has the next parts just out of reach, and the commentary settles on saving up for them. The stream ends in the VAB with the commentary comparing engines and planning a ship that does not spin. Jebediah is home, Science 17 and 18 are recovered, and Bob Kerman is still in orbit aboard Science 16 with no liquid fuel.