Pathfinder 1 launches it’s last probe!

The probe fires it’s retro rockets and starts to decend!

Hopefully the heat shield is sufficient to protect the fragile electronics and other components!

The probe survives the atmospheric heating and deploys it’s parachutes!

The solar panels deploy, and the probe transmits as much data as it can before the power runs out!  Sadly, the probe is only able to partially transmit it’s gravity data!

“Some data is better than none!  We’ll equip the next probe with more robust power systems! ”

-Robart, at Mission Control, Kerbin

Several important facts have been learned, such as power demands on Outer Planet missions and the importance of integrating the planetary scan with the mothership!

There were some concerns after the failure of Pathfinder 4 and Pathfinder 5 that the entire Pathfinder program might need to be scrapped, however this success guarantees a bright future for the Pathfinder Program!

As the probe transmits it’s last bit of data, it’s systems power down and the connection is lost.  This concludes the Pathfinder 1 mission, which despite a few bumps is considered a success by KSEA!

The second (and sadly, last!) landing site for the Pathfinder 1 probe has been selected – right in the middle of what is being called the “De Grasse Sea.”

This should be a good (and hopefully hard to miss) location for the second probe, which was designed for water landings (it even floats!)

The first landing site on Laythe has been chosen!  An island that KSEA is calling “Island 1” has been chosen as the first landing site as topography suggests it is the largest and flattest surface. The mostly liquid surface of Laythe may make landing… tricky.

Simulations show that the best orbit for releasing the landing probes is 200k, so Pathfinder 1 adjusts it’s orbit accordingly  – and the probe is away!

The probe fires its orbital manuevering rockets and before long begins to rocket to the surface!

“Calculations look like they were near perfect!  It’s going to set down right where we thought, on the shores of Island One – the one that looks a bit like a bunny!”

-Gene

The probe’s parachute deploys, and it slowly drifts to the surface!

Onboard cameras transmit stunning video back to Kerbin!

Pathfinder 1’s first probe is a complete success! Once on the surface the suite of sensors record and transmit vital information about Laythe back to Kerbin!

“Remarkable! I can’t wait to look at this data we’re getting back!”

-Robart, at Mission Control

Pathfinder 1 manuevers to enter a polar orbit of Laythe at an altitude of 242k.  This will be an ideal orbit to release the orbital scanner probe!

The orbital scanner ejects from the Tri-Probe mount…

… extends it’s solar array and begins mapping the surface!

Once a sufficient scan is complete, KSEA will determine the ideal landing coordinates for the two probes onboard Pathfinder 1!

In the meantime, Pathfinder 1 is instructed to reduce its orbit to 60k… an orbit KSEA engineers and scientists predict will be the best to deploy the surface probes from!

After a long journey, Pathfinder 1 reaches Jool!

Once in orbit, another small maunever is done to intercept Pathfinder 1’s target: Laythe!