After undocking with the lander, Aurora 19 powers up it’s engines and heads home!
“Now we wait!“
-Malcolm
The Aurora 19 Command Module burns through the atmosphere…
…until the parachutes can safely deploy!
Moments later, the Aurora Command Module splashes down! Rescue teams are dispatched, and towels and refreshments are prepared for the brave Kerbals of Aurora 19!
With the (hopefully temporary!) loss of the three Crew Shuttles, KSEA steps up production on multiple Aurora Crew Vehicles. 2 will be kept docked at Kerbin Spaceport in orbit, and another 2 will be on standby on the ground. Mirphe and Kimmy blast off!
“These ACV’s aren’t as fun to fly as the Crew Shuttles, but they sure are dependable! I just wish we could land them more accurately!”
-Mirphe
The ACV docks with Kerbin Spaceport!
“Easy as 1,2,3!”
-Mirphe
With the hopes of improving scanning data, KSEA launches MunScan1 – essentially a clone of KerbScan. Engineers assure the public the Aurora Rocket should be sufficient – despite the recent catastrophe on Mun!
MunSat 1 is carried to Mun!
After a brief adjustment of the satellites inclination after entering Mun’s sphere of influence, MunScan1 is circularized at an orbit of 200km, ideal for a visual scan of the surface!
The Aurora Rocket launches from KSC carrying the lander and other supplies!
Before long, remote systems guide the craft to Mun!
The lander sets down slowly… then runs out of fuel! Aurora 18’s support lander barely had fuel to travel from Kerbin and land on Mun… sadly Aurora 19’s second lander didn’t go well either!
“It’s pretty close – I’ll EVA over and see if anything’s salvagable!”
-Malcolm
Malcolm finds the lander… mostly intact!
“The damage isn’t so bad! Looks like the Communication’s dish is intact though! I’ll head back and we can get it installed!”
-Malcolm
Malcolm EVA’s across the Mun’s surface back to the lander!
“Well… this wasn’t a perfect mission, but we did get a lot of science data!”
-Luly
“We did! And next time we’ll have the right tools, and nothing will have to explode!”
-Malcolm
The lander blasts off from the surface…
… and docks with the Aurora Crew Vehicle!
While exploring the surface time got away from them, and Luly and Malcolm’s rover ran out of power! Thankfully, they were both able to get back to the lander in time.
“That was a close one!”
-Malcolm
With a new lander and science equipment on the way, the crew waits patiently on Mun’s surface!
Malcolm, Seely, and Luly are chosen to be the crew for the next Mun mission! For the first time, they’ll attempt a landing at the Mun’s north pole! The lander has been specially outfitted with a fuel cell to provide power in the uneven polar regions.
Aurora 19 blasts off!
The Sarnus Va carries the spacecraft higher and higher…
Until the Orbital/TMI stage fires, circularizing the craft!
“Everything checks out – let’s head to Mun!”
-Malcolm
Aurora 19 will be the first polar landing at Mun – a somewhat more difficult task given the inclination, and the availability of solar power at the poles.
Aurora 19 arrives at Mun! Malcolm and Luly EVA to the lander, and head down!
“Looks pretty hilly up here, but I think we have a good landing site selection…”
-Malcolm
The Aurora 19 lander touches down!
“Time to test the new and improved Rover Deployment System!”
-Malcolm
The Rover Assembly system powers up, detaches from the lander, and gently lifts up, then off to the side of the lander!
The Rover deploys successfully!
After deployment, the drone flies off until it runs out of fuel!
“Shame that things has to go crashing down! Hey! We should use the crash from the next one of those drones to test our seismic equipment!”
-Luly
Malcolm watches as Luly plants a flag at the North Pole crater!
Then, Luly gets to business planting all the science equipment, before heading off in the rover with Malcolm!
“One little problem Mission Control! We didn’t bring a communication system! We need to start double checking our science payloads before these launches!! “
-Luly
Engineers at KSEA begin work to see if they can throw together a replacement system quickly!
“We launched one lander for Aurora 18, we should probably be able to send another one just like it! We’ll get to work asap!”
-Gene
While Mission Control explores solutions to the science equipment at Aurora 19’s polar landing, Malcolm and Luly take off in the Mun Rover!
Construction starts on the next Deep Space Vehicle – Horizon! Building on the design of Discovery, Horizon will have a more powerful engine, and refined radiator systems. The massive project will take quite a while to finish. Once the spacecraft itself is complete, the rocket to launch it will be paired with it, and sent to orbit!
Like it’s predecessor, Horizon gets it’s name from KSEA’s historic programs, the Horizon Program in the early days of KSEA’s exploration of space!
Seely, Val, and Samner board Intrepid and undock from the Spaceport! For the first time, a Crew Shuttle will attempt a landing at the new Desert facility!
Ever since the facility was discovered, crews have been establishing equipment and supplies to start using the launch site and runways!
“KSC – I think we have a problem! There was a loud explosion – I think the nose cone exploded!!”
-Val
Indeed – Intrepid’s entry angle may have been off, and the nosecone has violently exploded!
“I think we’re lucky – I should be able to slow down enough to avoid anything else exploding from the re-entry heat! Landing site coming up…”
-Val
“Ok – we’re in the pipe… five by five! Hold on!”
-Val
Intrepid touches down, but skids off the runway! Not an auspicious start for the Desert Facility! KSEA decides that pending a review, ALL Crew Shuttles missions are suspended, and the Crew Shuttle program is halted until further notice!
The Sarnus Va Rocket carrying the experimental Habitat Expansion blasts off, heading to the Spaceport!
The vehicle eventually rendezvouses with the Spaceport…
… and Dunwin EVA’s to check things out!
“Looks like it made the trip up OK! Let’s get it installed!”
-Dunwin
The vehicle is remotely piloted closer and closer, until it docks!
The engineers work and before long, the centrifugal ring inflates, and starts spinning!
“We did it! This new habitat is comfy looking too! So far the Spaceport hasn’t spun out of control wildly, so far so good!”
-Dunwin
The Habitat Expansion will remain on the station while the crew tests it for future deep-space applications! They also watch some fun movies.
Kerbal States | Kerbin Space Exploration Administration 