Orbiting Mun, Aurora 29 Crew Vehicle and its VINCENT lander undock!
“Docking clamps show clear… reverse thrusters firing!”
-Summer
Aurora 29 drifts away from its lander! Once they are a few hundred meters away Summer begins plotting the return course to Kerbin!
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.
“We are clear of the lander! Course input to the computer – Gilian can you verify that? Should be a 100km approach before circ…”
-Summer
Gilian, the mission Science Specialist, double checks Summer’s planned maneuver!
“Calculations look good! Looks like a close approach at 100km – fuel levels are good to circularize the orbit!”
-Gillian
Lobert thinks about the conversation he just heard, and asks a question!
“Wouldn’t it save fuel and time to just calculate the re-entry so we approach directly into the atmosphere, and skip the circularization burn?”
-Lobert
Summer nods and shows Lobert how the math works for that! After a few minutes…
“See? It takes a long time, and it’s really complicated! Fuel is cheap so we usually don’t bother with it!”
-Summer
“That makes sense! I suppose that it’s a little safer too since we can can maneuver to Spacedock if needed too!”
-Lobert
As the spacecraft approaches Kerbin the crew prepares for the circularization burn!
At an altitude of 100km Aurora 29’s engine fires!
“Engine burn is good. Temperatures nominal!”
-Lobert
“Burn complete! Orbit looks good – Mission Control we have arrived in Kerbin Orbit – verify you are good for craft re-entry?”
-Summer
“We have you on radar! Ground crews are standing by for recovery – you are good for landing!”
-Gene at Mission Control
Summer fires the engines again, and then detaches the CRV’s command module!
“Hold on! It gets a little bumpy from here!”
-Gillian
Ground telescopes track Aurora 29’s re-entry – it looks like a big ball of fire and plasma! The engine and fuel module of the CRV can be seen burning up in the atmosphere as well!
After the firey re-entry, the parachutes deploy from the CRV!
“Almost home! All we have to do now is wait until we touch down!”
-Summer
After the firey re-entry, the parachutes deploy from the CRV!
“Hey I can see the VAB out the window! What a great ride!”
-Lobert
The CRV sets down just west of the Space Center!
Kerbal States | Kerbin Space Exploration Administration 