Frontier 3, bound for Neidon, is rolled out of the VAB and launched! Frontier 4 will be done shortly, and will itself head to Urlum!
“These probe launches are expensive! It’s taking all of our budget to launch them!”
-Jeb
“We have to! The launch windows won’t be ideal for much longer… then we can get back to Mun launches!”
-Orlas
The trip to Neidon is a long one! The estimated encounter date will be Year 9, Day 270… in nearly 6 years!
The third shuttle, Intrepid, takes off on its first flight! Mitster pilots the craft up to the KSS. It’s time for a crew rotation! Unusually, one shuttle will fly up and take the crew that’s returning, and a second will launch and remain docked to the station. This will allow for evacuations in case of emergencies! The plan is to cycle shuttles docked to the KSS every time there is a crew rotation.
After the Intrepid docks with the station, Endeavor blasts off, piloted by Jeb!
For the first time, two shuttles are docked at the KSS!
Not for long though… Mitster stays behind to keep an eye on the station, while Jeb, Orlas, Robart, and Samner head back to Kerbin! Endeavor will remain docked at the station.
Aurora 11’s mission is to explore the Mun’s Northern Basin, as well as the Midland Craters located north of the Northwestern Crater, and after surveying them to investigate an anomaly located in the Northwestern Crater itself, spotted by the Mun Surveyor probe!
Onboard systems start checking the surrounding area… amazingly the seismic scanner indicates a minor quake occuring… Mun is still geologically active. Amazing!
Kimmy climbs out of the lander…
and tries to go for a stroll! Unfortunately, the hill the lander set down on is extremely steep, and she goes tumbling down the hill!
“Ahhhhhh!!!”
-Kimmy
Thankfully, Kimmy recovers.
“Careful out here Val… that hill’s pretty treacherous! Better use your EVA jets only!”
-Kimmy
Eventually, both Val and Kimmy make it out to plant a flag, then quickly head back in. But not before Val has her own chance falling down the hill!
“Note to self: look for flatter landing sites next time!”
-Val
The lander takes off, and heads down into the nearby crater.
This time – things go much better! After collecting the necessary science, Val launches, and heads back to a stable orbit to rendevous with the Aurora 11 spacecraft! Unfortunately, there wasn’t enough fuel to check out the anomaly. Maybe next time!
Aurora 11 blasts off – carrying Val, Glenica, and Kimmy to orbit! This will be both Glenica and Kimmy’s first trip to Mun! 
Arriving at Mun, the team waits for the sun to shine on the landing site before heading down!
Frontier 1 launches – once in orbit the rocket immediately follows its designed course: a one way trip to Sarnus! The rocket burns for a long time, but scientists are confident the course is correct. The transit to Sarnus should take approximately 1 year and 100 days!
Development on the Frontier probes to Sarnus is finally complete! Construction begins on two of the probes: Frontier 1’s mission is to reach Sarnus as soon as possible – this will allow testing of long range communications equipment to ensure that future probes can even be contacted! Frontier 2 will take a more fuel efficient journey, with the gamble that the communications and power systems work at the extreme ranges the mission requires. Once KSEA knows the answers to these questions more advanced missions to Sarnus will be possible!
Work begins on developing Frontier 1 & 2, the first probes being sent to Sarnus! Appropriately enough, the probes will each be launched atop the Sarnus V rocket.
The probes are an entirely new design and due to the enormous distances, will require more DeltaV than any craft yet launched!
Each probe will carry on it a plaque that will attempt to explain where the Kerbals came from… hopefully some signs of the Ogres, the creatures believed to have sent that first probe that crashed on Kerbin so long ago, may see it!
Construction also begins on a new Surveyor probe… this time for Mun. The craft, cleverly named “Mun Surveyor” should be ready soon!
Additionally, construction begins on Aurora 11, the next Mun Mission! This time Glenica and Kimmy are at the front of the line!
It’s time to rotate the crew on the KSS! Jeb, Bill, Samner, Robart, Bob, and Orlas all pile into the second Crew Shuttle… The Endeavor, and it blasts off!
After circularizing, the Endeavor starts its rendeavous to the KSS. KSEA is a little nervous about this flight… this is the Endeavor’s first flight… and it’s also the most crew ever launched into space on one vessel!
Endeavor closes in on the station…. 
Almost…. 
Almost….
Docking achieved! Jeb docks at at Docking Port 4 of the KSS. Glenica and Kimmy transfer over to the Crew Shuttle, while Bill, Bob, Orlas, Robart, and Samner all head over to the the Station.
After everyone says their ‘hellos’ and ‘goodbyes’ – Jeb, Kimmy, and Glenica head back to Kerbin!
“Space Center spotted… starting final approach!”
-Jeb
Another great landing – nice work!
“Next stop – Mun!”
-Kimmy“You said it Kimmy! Time for some deep space Science!”
-Glenica
The newly launched Kerbin Surveyor begins scans of Kerbin – right away several anomalies are detected! The X-5 is sent to investigate! Mitster and Bill fly there…. quite fast!
Sadly… they can’t find anything at the site indicated!
“We’re gonna need some more precise readings if we hope to find anything here! It might help to put a sensor package on the X-5 itself! ”
-Bill
Mitster returns the X-5 to base for refurbishment and the crew for refreshments!
Meanwhile, construction begins on two new crew shuttles – the Endeavor and the Intrepid! Along with Adventure this will raise the number of crew shuttles to three!
The mighty Sarnus-V carries Aurora 10 to orbit!
The original 3 astronauts; Jeb, Bill, and Bob will fly to Mun!
Bill is quite excited – even though he’s been with the space program since it’s early days, he’s only done missions in low Kerbing orbit. This will be his first Mun mission!
After some basic orbital manuvering, Jeb fires the engines for the transfe to Mun!
After the docking and transposition maneuver, the crew gets comfy for the short journey to Mun!
Aurora 10 arrives at Mun!
Jeb sets the lander down… and Bill hops right out!
“Wow! It’s great here! The low gravity makes it feel like you’re flying!”
-Bill
The two pose for their landing portrait, and start collecting scientific data! Aurora 10 set down in the Mun’s Northwest Crater – a first for Kerbals!
After several hours gathering Science, Bill and Jeb blast off in the lander, headed back to the Aurora 10 spacecraft! A short rendeavous and docking later, and the three are on a return trip to Kerbin! Setting down in the plains of Kerbin at night, the crew is rescued. Good work everyone!
Kerbal States | Kerbin Space Exploration Administration 