KSEA releases blueprints and announces construction of the next generation of Aurora Crew Vehicles, the Mk10!
This new design solves (hopefully) a problem the space program has had for sometime – resupply missions to Kerbin Spaceport have often required specialized equipment or utilizing expensive and overpowered launch vehicles for taking snacks and other essentials to Kerbin Orbit.
The streamlined design also forgoes the traditional escape tower for integrated landing rockets that double as an escape system and to slow the spacecraft down on return to Kerbin! Not shown is the integrated parachute that blueprint designers forgot to make note of.
Owing to the difficulties in communicating with the Discovery’s mission at Laythe, KSEA authorizes construction of two new relay satellites for the Jool system! Based on the recent Planetary Survey probes, these expansions to the Deep Space Relay Network Relays should allow for more uninterrupted communication with Laythe Spaceport, and all the explorations planned!
Bob plants a flag and places the plaque for the second landing site! Bob insisted that they ‘suit up’ as the temperature was getting cold enough it might be dangerous!
Then, all three Kerbals climb back into Endurance. Bob is so captivated by all the new science data he doesn’t even complain about the tight science bay! Next, Jeb opens the VTOL bays, and fires Endurance’s aerospike VTOLs!
“Fuel flow is steady… we have good lift… brakes off, gear up… here we go!” -Jeb
Endurance blasts off, it’s air-fueled engines taking it higher and higher!
Once high enough, the RAPIER engines switch over to full rocket mode!
“We’re almost to orbit!”
-Jeb
Endurance reaches the Spaceport and docks!
“We’re getting so much interesting data here! We have to go back down as soon as possible!” -Bob
“We need to be more careful next time though, these missions keep using up almost all of Endurance’s fuel! We barely had enough to get back!” -Jeb
KSEA engineers start running simulations to see if there’s an ideal flight profile to take to save fuel! Meanwhile, Bill oversees the refueling of Endurance!
The next Explorer spacecraft is designed, Explorer 7! This spacecraft was designed as a lower cost spacecraft that would require fewer launches to prepare. Previous Explorer spacecraft required two launches: one for the spacecraft and another to deliver crew.
This was largely due to the nuclear fuel component that was part of the Pathfinder-derived vehicles.
The new design features a new Mk10 crew module at the top, which allows emergency escape options on launch. Once in orbit, the crew fires a transfer burn to Duna, then exits the vehicle and climbs from a ladder into the cryogenic stasis chamber. They’ll reverse the procedure once they arrive at Duna Spaceport!
Explorer 7 costs less than 1/10th the cost of the much more versatile and longer range Deep Space Vehicle Discovery, and is more suited to visiting Duna (and possibly Eve) than further flung missions such as Jool and beyond!
The next Duna Mission won’t be for another year – once the launch is closer, a crew will be chosen and a new mission patch will be released!
Mission Control OK’s the next landing, at Laythe’s peaks, along the equator! As the Laythe missions progress, a few things are already clear: solar panels do NOT work well this far out, and the Deep Space Relay Network needs significant improvements around Laythe! In fact, once the Endurance lands, all communications is lost with Kerbin! A new X-10 is under construction, that will launch to Jool at the next window to supplement operations and provide a backup!
Jeb, Bill, and Bob fly through the alien atmosphere, until they spot the landing site!
“That’s the spot! “ -Jeb
The X-10’s dual mode RAPIER engines allow very specific landing selection, something that can be tricky on atmospheric planets! Jeb pilots Endurance until it’s right on top of the target!
Luly wants to check out an “island” near the landing site, so Val rockets the lander over to the little hill!
“I’m going to get a sample of that green sandstone!” -Luly
“Huh… it’s looking more and more like Minmus once had several liquid oceans… but it’s too small, and it’s too cold…. how mysterious! We better get this sample back to Kerbin!” -Luly
Explorations continue on the island, where an even bigger rock is found!
“This one’s even rockier and even greener!” -Luly
After a continued examination, Luly and Val determine it’s time to return to the ACV!
Eventually, the lander returns to orbit!
“Mission Control, this is Aurora 20 – we’re headin’ home!” -Val
Later, the ACV command module splashes down, west of the space center.
“Welcome home! Let’s get those samples to the lab! I wonder if they’re edible…” -Gene
Jeb climbs out of Endurance to set foot on Laythe!
“Looks just like the deserts back on Kerbin – except for the big Jool in the sky!” -Jeb
Next, Bill squeezes his way out from the Science Bay into the cockpit, so he can get outside!
“That science bay has a seat, but that’s about it! It’s good to stretch my legs! Time to get this parachute repacked… easier here than up in orbit!” -Bill
Bob decides to walk around the landing site to see what’s nearby!
“There seems to be a lot of … stuff!… on the surface…” -Bob
“Oh hey – it’s a rock!” -Bob
Bob does a thorough examination of the strange Laythe rock… but mostly plays ‘king of the hill’ and tries to plant a flag on top!
“Bah! The stone is too strong! I can probably chip away some sample bits though!” -Bob
“Hey – speaking of flags, we need to plant one here!
Jeb plants the flag of the Kerbal States on Laythe, and everyone poses for their landing portrait!
“Once we get communications back with Kerbin, they’re gonna flip!” -Jeb
Indeed – communication from the surface appears impossible, at least with the equipment Endurance brought along!
After a full survey of the landing site, the crew heads back up!
“Ok – future missions will be longer, but the mission plan is a quick down and back! Opening VTOL bays… activating Verticle Lift Aerospikes!” -Jeb
“Fuel flow looks good!” -Bill
Endurance slices through the sky, until the friction heats up the spaceplane!
Once the atmosphere is thin enough, Endurance’s RAPIER engines switch to orbital mode, and power the rest of the flight, to circularize the orbit around Laythe!
“OK… RAPIER engines switched to off… orbital maneuvering for Laythe Spaceport!” -Jeb
Endurance reaches the spaceport, with just enough fuel to do so!
“That was a close call! We only had about 30 d/v left! We’re going to need to be careful and not stray too far from equatorial targets!” -Bob
Jeb docks Endurance at the spaceport, and the crew warms up some snacks!
After years of designing, preparation, and waiting, the day is finally here… the Discovery crew will leave the Spaceport and take their Spaceplane ‘Endurance‘ to land on Laythe!
Even the mission profile has been carefully planned, as no spaceplane has ever landed on another planet!
“OK – ‘Endurance’ is undocked from the Spaceport… using maneuvering thrusters to reach safe distance to activate engines!” -Jeb
Endurance’s solar panels deploy to soak up as much energy as possible, while the orbital maneuvering engine fires to drop the craft out of orbit!
“So far so good!” -Bill
Airbrakes deploy to create more drag, slowing the re-entry of the spaceplane! From inside the cramped science bay, Bob is growing concerned:
“What’s going on!? It’s getting hot! I can’t see anything from this seat!!” -Bob
“Everything’s fine! We’re through the worst of the heat now – on course for a chain of islands near the equator!” -Jeb
“Switching RAPIER engines to ‘air-breathing‘ – looks like a lot of flat desert down there, setting down shouldn’t be so bad!” -Jeb
“Slowing our speed, deploying Air Brakes… starting landing procedures. Hold on everyone!” -Jeb
Endurance needs to be going as slow as possible before it deploys it’s landing parachute. On Kerbin this parachute wouldn’t do a very good job of slowing an X-10, however on Laythe (combined with the VTOL engines) it should do the job just fine!
The Air Brakes retract, and the parachute deploys! The aircraft pulls up until it starts to even out…
“Ahhhhhh!” -Bob
“Hang on back there! We’re almost down!” -Bill
The VTOL bays open, and the aerospike rockets fire to slow the spacecraft! The housing of the chambers is thermally lined to protect the rest of the spacecraft, nonetheless, the rockets aren’t meant to be fired for anything but short bursts!
“Just about there! VTOL is slowing us down to about 5 m/s…. we’re in the pipe, five by five!” -Jeb
“Why do all the pilots say that before they land!?!” -Bill
Endurance sets down on Laythe!
“Finally! What a rough ride! Opening science bays… deploying ladders… antennas and solar panels deploying!” -Bob
The crew will do tests for a short time before heading out to the surface!
The Aurora 20 lander heads down to the surface of Minmus!
Val and Luly detach from the Aurora 20 command module, and head down to Minmus!
The lander touches down, right at sunrise!
“Oooo! Pretty! “ -Luly
“Ejecting rover!” -Val
The RCS system lifts the rover off the lander…
… and sets down perfectly near the lander!
The Rover-Deployer ejects, and the two Kerbals start exploring!
“As I suspected, this rover doesn’t handle very well – one sharp turn and the rover might get destroyed! As long as we keep it slow we’ll be OK though!” -Luly
The pair find a variety of green Minmus Sandstones, and take various samples of the Lesser Flats.
“Time to set up the science equipment!” -Luly
Luly and Val head back to the lander!
“There we go, all set up! This should start transmitting science back to Kerbin anytime now – and we remembered to bring all the parts this time!” -Luly
The Aurora 20 crew will remain on Minmus for a few more days to make sure all the scientific equipment is functioning properly!
The Mk2 Planetary Surveyor arrives at Minmus and is put in an 80 degrees orbit around Minmus, at an altitude of 210km! Once the high-resolution scan is done, KSEA will review good landing sites, and the Aurora 20 lander will go down!
Kerbal States | Kerbin Space Exploration Administration 