Year 23, Day 328 (Aurora 29 Arrives at Mun – and Lobert Gets a Surprise!)

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After just a day in space, Aurora 29 enters Mun’s gravitational sphere of influence!

Aurora 29 Mission Summary

  • Crew: Mission Commander Summer, Mission Scientist Gilian, Mission Engineer, Lobert .
  • Mission: Crewed mission to Mun. Land near Polar Mun Crater on Mun, perform scan with large scanning arm, return data to Kerbin.

“Oh wow! Mun looks so big!”
-Lobert

“It’s about to get a whole lot bigger!”
-Summer

This generation of Aurora Spacecraft perform a docking and transposition maneuver to utilize thrust from the Crew Vehicle to enter Mun orbit! First, the Crew Vehicle will form a transposition maneuver – separating from the Munar Transfer Stage and relying solely on the Crew Vehicle for propulsion to enter Mun Orbit!

“Disengaging launch clamps with the lander..commencing rotation… “
-Summer

“We are clear! Rotation looks on target!”
-Lobert

The Crew Vehicle docks with the lander!

The Munar Transfer stage, having done its job, detaches, and just the Crew Vehicle and the Lander head toward Mun!

“Orbital insertion complete… we are in a stable orbit!”
-Summer

“Orbital insertion complete… we are in a stable orbit!”
-Summer

Now it’s time to head down to Mun! The mission plan had Gilian and Summer heading down to the surface, but Gilian has a surprise!

“Summer – what would you think about Lobert heading down in my place, really make this a memorable first mission?”
-Gilian

“Great idea! What do you think Lobert? You ready to explore Mun??”
-Summer

“Wow! Yea! Can I try on my space suit and give it a try on a spacewalk first!??!?“
-Lobert

“Go for it! We’ll both have to do one to get over to the lander anyway!”
-Summer

Lobert suits up, and heads outside the ship!

“Guys…. Space is awesome! I can’t wait to get down to Mun!“
-Lobert

After just another day Lobert and Summer will head down to Mun!

Year 23, Day 326 (Aurora 29 Departs for Mun!)

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“Starting burn to Mun… Now!”
-Summer

The Munar Transfer Stage fires, accelerating the crew toward Mun!

“Burn complete – looks like we’re on course. Nice work! !“
-Gilian

Aurora 29 Mission Summary

  • Crew: Mission Commander Summer, Mission Scientist Gilian, Mission Engineer, Lobert .
  • Mission: Crewed mission to Mun. Land near Polar Mun Crater on Mun, perform scan with large scanning arm, return data to Kerbin.

Year 23, Day 325 (N-4 Booster Returns to Kerbin After Aurora 29 Mission!)

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As the Aurora 29 crew prepare for their transit to Mun, Mission Control supervises the return of the N-4 booster!

Using RCS thrusters, the N-4 Neidon Rocket drifts to a safe distance from the Crew Vehicle and then fires a precise short burst to return to Kerbin!

“Re-entry has started, tracking give me status on trajectories!
-Gene

N-4 Soars through the atmosphere, heating up as it hurtles toward the Space Center!

The rocket transitions from hypersonic speeds to subsonic! The gear deploys…

… and the booster slowly approaches the Space Center!

“Looking good! Stay focused, that Booster is almost home!”
-Gene

The booster touches down! Despite the excellent performance of the Neidon II, work is already underway to upgrade the booster with more capable landing gear!

“That’s right – the Neidon rocket is getting another rework! We’re pretty sure this will be the last one for a while, but we’re going to upgrade the landing gear and add a reserve fuel tank to the craft. Hopefully this gets rid of the lingering instability some of the rockets have had! ”
-Gene

Work is already underway on “Neidon III” !

Year 23, Day 325 (Aurora 29 Launches for Mun!)

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It’s going to be a dawn launch for Aurora 29!  Gene is supervising the final launch checks, listening to each department give a “Go!”

Aurora 29 Mission Summary

  • Crew: Mission Commander Summer, Mission Scientist Gilian, Mission Engineer, Lobert .
  • Mission: Crewed mission to Mun. Land near Polar Mun Crater on Mun, perform scan with large scanning arm, return data to Kerbin.

“Alright people that’s a go for launch countdown!“
-Gene, at Mission Control

The Torodial Aerospike engine fires, then the Jool-Rocket derived Solids Rockets fire! Blast Off!

Aurora 29 lifts of the launchpad, lighting up the Space Center!

“We have liftoff!  Hold on everybody! “
-Summer

Rookie engineer Lobert is all smiles, excitedly waving his arms as the rocket blasts off!

“Oh boy! Oh boy!  We’re going to space! I can’t believe it!”
-Lobert

Looking out the window, Lobert takes in the amazing view!

“Wow – incredible!  I can almost see the pyramids from here!”
-Lobert

Aurora 29 rockets into the sky, breaking past the cloud layer and officially entering “Space!”

“Hold on Lobert – the solids are about to eject, might be a little bumpy!”
-Gilian

“Solid eject good, clean sep.  Aerospike status nominal.”
-Summer

Aurora 2 continues its ascent, climbing above the atmosphere!

“We are good to eject the fairing – atmosphere reading  is good!”
-Lobert

The fairing ejects, and Aurora 29 continues climbing to orbital altitude!

After circularizing orbit, the Neidon rocket separates from the Aurora 29 Crew Module, Lander, and Munar Transfer stage!

“N-4 is clear – looks like good communication with the ground as well – confirm Mission Control?“
-Summer

“Roger that – Mission Control has a solid connection .  Once we get this rocket landed we’ll get our crew underway to Mun!”
-Gene

Year 23, Day 316 (Aurora 29 Begins Final System Checks!)

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Ground crews around the Space Center begin final preparations for the launch of Aurora 29!

Among the changes:

  • Simulations showed that the Sarnus solid rocket boosters were insufficient for carrying the Aurora 29 paylod (due to the heavier Munar transfer stage.)  Heavier Jool Rocket boosters will be attached instead, with a few segments removed!
  • Multiple simulations and calculations have been done on the new Vincent Lander.  These have shown that the existing landing gear are insufficient for the craft’s high mass. A new landing gear system has been installed that should allievealleviate this issue for both Mun and Duna.  The margins to fit within a standard DSV bay remain very tight however.

Due to a small clerical error Edan, who was scheduled to be the engineer on the mission, has been replaced with new recruit Lobert, on his very first mission!  (Edan it seems is in cryogenic sleep on board the DSV Explorer, currently en-route to Sarnus!)

“I could have sworn I saw Edan around the water cooler last week… well, Lobert you’re up.  This is one heck of a first mission!
-Gene, at Misson Control

Lobert has been seen jumping and looking very excited for the mission!  Only a few lucky Kerbals get to be selected for the Space Program!

“I can’t wait!  I’m going to practice in the simulator room non-stop until launch!”
-Lobert

Year 23, Day 315 (MPV Probe Sets Course for Minmus!)

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A nearby target is chosen for the new MPV Probe – Minmus! In addition to a full testing of the probe’s capabilities the mission will also hopefully serve as a full survey of Minmus for future colony sites.

Despite being one of the earliest bodies in the Kerbol system to be explored the site has not had a full survey done looking for water, or to find a proper site for a colony!

“First Mun and Minmus, next Duna! But the real first step is matching the inclination with Minmus!” -Gene

After the inclination with Minmus is set, the probe fires its engine to intercept Minmus!

“Just six days and we can start testing this probe in Minmus orbit!” -Gene

History: The First Kerbal Landing on Minmus!
Year 2 Day 370

Year 2, Day 370 (Aurora 7 Lands On Minmus)

Year 23, Day 312 (MPV Probe Prototype Launches to Orbit!)

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Before the Aurora 29 launch engineers wanted to test the core Neidon II rocket on a uncrewed payload – while the engine systems did not change the aerodynamics were altered  enough to warrant a test launch!

The new MPV (multi-payload-vehicle) probe was chosen to be the test-payload!

“We want to make sure Aurora 29 is a perfect launch – and that means being safe!”
–Gene

The refit Neidon Rocket (N-2) blasts off from the space center!

“Telemetry shows the rocket is behaving normally – the new aerodynamic features are having minimal impact on performance at launch!“
–Seely, Supervising from Spacedock 2

As N-2 reaches orbit the rocket seems to be performing perfectly!

The protective fairing on the probe ejects, and the MPV-Probe drifts slowly away from N-2!

Next, the rocket flips orientation using RCS, fires a precise thrust of the engines…

And begins soaring through the atmosphere!

“All departments – watch for any anomalies – how are we looking?“
-Gene, at Mission Control

“So far, so good – we are apraching the transition to subsonic …!“
–Seely, Supervising from Spacedock 2

Re-entry of the Neidon Rockets have always suffered from instabilities at the supersonic/subsonic boundary – everyone holds their breath as the rocket passes the barrier…

“Oh wow!  N-2 maintained attitude through the transition – she’s flying like a spaceplane toward landing!“
–Seely, Supervising from Spacedock 2

“Great work people!”
-Gene, at Mission Control

N-2 begins its landing burn, just east of the main launch platform!

“Landing gear is deployed… hydraulics have locked… telemetry nominal…”
–Seely, Supervising from Spacedock 2

N-2 sets down perfectly!  Crews will recover the rocket soon!

Year 23, Day 311 (Aurora 29 Mun Mission Announced!)

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Mission Control is excited to announce the next Aurora mission – Aurora 29! This will be the first test of multiple new systems:

  • Neidon 6 Rocket will be equipped with Sarnus-class Solid Rocket boosters.
  • This will be the first test of the new VINCENT lander.

Summer, Gilian, and new recruit Lobert are all training for the mission which will launch in about a week. The mission is considered to have moderate risk, however safety systems such as the well-tested Launch Escape system should balance out any risk testing Solid Rockets on a new platform.

Crew Vehicle 5 will take three Kerbals to Mun and back using a newly developed Crew Vehicle Munar Transfer Stage, designed to provide about 1000 d/v once launched to a 100k Kerbin Orbit.

Year 23, Day 310 (DSV-4 Endeavor Departs Laythe, Heading Home!)

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In orbit of Laythe, DSV Endeavor undocks from Laythe Spaceport!

“Docking port is clear, aft thrusters firing…”
-Val

As Val gets the craft underway, Robart and Kerlorf stow all the collected science and head to the cryo chambers for the return home!

The trip home will take a little over a year – everyone heads to a very chilly sleep!

“Mission Control registers a good connection – thanks for your patience Endeavor! See you soon!”
-Gene, at Mission Control

Year 23, Day 239 (DSV-2 Discovery Returns Home From Duna, Docks at Spacedock 2!)

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Approaching Kerbin, alarm bells go off on Discovery, waking up from Cryosleep, (the crew) is surprised to discover a series of interesting transmissions from Mission Control!

“Attention DSV Discovery – Spacedock has exploded!  Attempt no dockings! Everyone is evacuating now!”
-Recorded Message from Gene at the VAB

Mirphe, Seely, and Tamre are all a little shocked to say the least!

“We better listen to the rest of these recordings!”
-Mirphe

Mirphe, Seely, and Tamre are all a little shocked to say the least!

“Attention DSV Discovery – important follow up: We’re all ok but really do NOT approach Spacedock.”
-Recorded Message from Gene at the VAB

Mirphe frowns and plays the next message…

“Good News DSV Discovery! There is a new Spacedock!  Please contact Mission Control when you wake up!”
-Recorded Message from Gene at the VAB

“Let’s do our capture orbit, and figure out where to go from there!”
-Mirphe

Mirphe fires the nuclear engines and Discovery is captured into a 200k orbit of Kerbin!

“Welcome home Discovery! We have a bit of a surprise for you – a new Spacedock! Proceed to the following orbital coordinates!”
-Gene, at Mission Control

The new Spacedock, located at a lower orbit has been fully assembled, with the Lithium Fuel Depot docked and ready to refuel the Kerbal States fleet of exploration ships!

“We are coasting in reverse until we are lined up with the DSV Terminal… that’s a big station!”
-Mirphe

Discovery continues moving, relative to the station, backwards until it is lined up with the docking port. The craft is brought to station-keeping (no movement, relative to the station) before Mirphe pilots the craft into docking!

“I’ll get all the science data loaded up for a return to Kerbin!”
-Tamre

“Mirphe, looks like a great alignment with the docking port. We are good to dock!”
-Seely

Discovery moves slowly forward until the docking ports engage!

“Discovery shows a good connection!”
-Mirphe

“Confirmed Discovery! Welcome to Spacedock!”
-Sean