Year 2

Year 2, Day 390 (Mountain Anomaly Mission)

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screenshot717.pngThe X5 takes off, heading west to the mountains to investigate the anomaly that satellites detected… the previous attempt to explore this region ended in disaster, when the X4 crashed! screenshot718.pngVal pilots the X-5 past the X-4 crash site, attempting to approach from a different direction!

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Success!  Val sets the X-5 down in a relatively flat area, about 1000m from the Anomaly!

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“The air sure is thin up here… better put on my helmet! ”
-Robart

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Wow!  It’s pretty up here!
-Robart

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“I found it!  Wow!  What could these things be? What could they mean?  ”
-Robart

The two explorers head back to the KSC to share their findings!

Year 2, Day 385 (Pyramid Exploration)

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Mitster and Robart take off in the X-5, heading west!

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The X-5 seems to perform best at an altitude of about 6,000-15,000 – so Mitster keeps it in that range on the flight west. Tje X-5 maintains speeds of around 850 m/s, and even reaches a new aircraft speed record of 920 m/s! 

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“Ok – coming up on the coordinates… wow! Look at that, you can see the structures from up here!”

-Robart

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“Let’s do a pass, then circle around for a landing!”
-Mitster

Robart hops out, as Mitster watches from the cockpit.

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Eventually the two scout the pyramid site – how strange! No doubt pre-ogre Kerbal Civilization built these ages ago!  Robart is able to translate some of the strange writing, and ancient form of Kerbalese:

“My name is Tut-Un Jeb-Ahn, king of kings:  Look on my works, ye MIghty, and despair!”
-Ancient Pyramid Inscription

Confused, the two take several pictures and some samples, before heading back.

“What an odd place – further study is certainly needed!”
-Robart

The X-5 returns to the Space Center, having performed it’s mission perfectly! Once back, the existing X-5 is refurbished, and construction starts on a second!

Year 2, Day 372 (First X-5 Flight)

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screenshot651.pngMitster volunteers to be the first pilot to fly the X-5!   screenshot652.png

“Ok – taking off!  WOW!  This thing has quite a kick!”
-Mitster

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Mitster takes off the runway, and banks toward the island airstrip.

“Weeeeeee!”
-Mitster

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“I’ve spotted the runway.   I’m gonna fly past it, and circle around for a landing! ”
-Mitster

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As he flies by the island, Mitster opens the science bay and runs the automated studies.

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“Ok… setting up for a landing! ”
-Mitster

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Mitster lines up for the landing… looking good!

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Success!  The X-5 sets down.

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Mitster hops out, and poses for the cameras!

 

 

 

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

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screenshot627.pngVal pilots Aurora 7 closer to Minmus, then transfers over to the lander with Bob! screenshot629.pngThe lander detaches, and Val pilots the lander to a good landing site. screenshot631.png

“I think I found a good spot!  Adjusting course…”
-Val

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The Aurora 7 Lander touches down!  The crew waits a short time for Kerbin to be in radio range before heading out! screenshot639.png

Bob is the first out!

“Wow!  It’s like the ground is made out of ‘bounce’!”
-Bob

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Val hops out next.

“Weeeeee!”

-Val

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Val and Bob are the first Kerbals on Minmus – what a day!   The two spend some time gathering space rocks and other scientific data. (Truthfully, Bob does most of the science, Val spends her time jumping around…) screenshot650.png

Before long, the power is running out, and the two have to head back to the Aurora Spacecraft.  The ship burns back to Kerbin, and should arrive in just under a week!

“That was a lot of fun!  We’ll have to come back again!”
-Val