Construction is complete on the Advanced Duna Lander! The spacecraft is rolled out… and launches!
Launched on the Sarnus Va, the rover will sit in orbit for 41 days until the ideal transfer window to Duna!
In orbit, the lander ejects it’s fairing… and waits! The probe will be entirely un-crewed during it’s flight, including (hopefully) docking with the Spaceport!
The Advanced Duna Lander also includes a cargo segment on the rear that will attach to Duna Spaceport, carrying enough surface science equipment for 4 seperate landings!
Asteroid IIF-441, a class C Asteroid, enters Kerbin’s gravitational sphere of influence… and Retriever 1 burns to match planes!
Then, Retriever expands its orbit past that of the asteroid’s!
Then, with the Asteroid nearing it’s closest point with Kerbin, Retriever 1 burns it’s engine to intercept!
The maneuvers all require extreme precision! Once Retriever is close enough though, it’s fairly similar to docking with a ship in orbit!
Remarkably, Retriever 1 moves in closer to the Asteroid, having matched course!
Using RCS thrusters only, Retriever 1 moves in closer and closer…
…until it docks with the Asteroid!
“… it worked! It worked!” -Orlas, onboard Kerbin Spaceport
Next, Retriever 1 uses what is left of it’s fuel to capture the asteroid into a circular orbit of Kerbin!
There isn’t enough fuel for a perfect orbit, but a highly elliptical orbit IS achieved, and the asteroid orbits Kerbin! Plans are immediately drawn to launch Retriever 2, to bring the Asteroid in to a closer location… and allow Kerbals to explore it!
The probe enters orbit, and will attempt to intercept asteroid IIF-441, a class C Asteroid. This medium class of asteroid should be a good test of Operation: RETRIEVE!.
KSEA is excited to release plans for the next Duna Lander, the Advanced Duna Lander! Succeeding the Super Duna Lander, this new craft has greater deltaV, and additional life support and crew space – able to carry FOUR Kerbals!
The re-usable lander will launch on a Sarnus Va rocket, and travel a few days behind the Explorer 7 mission to Duna!
Having completed their mission at the Munar Arch, Tamre, Malcolm, and Dunwin take off!
They dock with the Aurora 21 Command Module, in orbit, and Malcolm returns the spacecraft to Kerbin orbit!
“Mission Control wants us to do more precise landings near the space center to recycle parts! That means we need to use up the extra fuel for entering orbit, THEN doing our descent burn!” -Malcolm
Success! Aurora 21 splashes down in the waters right next to the airstrip!
Jeb and Bill transfer over to Discovery… while Bob makes sure that every bit of science is taken on board!
“That should be the last of it! Let’s head out!” -Bob
“Moorings are clear… Discovery is clear of the Spaceport!“ -Jeb
Discovery fires it’s three atomic engines, and the massive spacecraft rockets away from Jool!
The journey back to Kerbin will take a little over 2 years – longer than Discovery’s life support reserves will last – so Jeb, Bill, and Bob transfer over to the Cryonic chamber to survive the long trip!
“See you soon Discovery!” -Gene, at Mission Control
With the transfer window back to Kerbin rapidly approaching, Jeb decides it’s time to take Endurance back to orbit!
“Pack up all the science and snacks! It’s time to take off!” -Jeb
Endurance lifts higher and higher…
… eventually reaching orbit!
“That loud pop noise was Endurance running out of primary fuel! Just in time too, we should have enough monopropellant to slow down the final leg of the rendezvous with Laythe Spaceport!” -Jeb
Thankfully, there’s enough monoprop for both slowing down, and maneuvering!
Jeb docks with Laythe Spaceport!
“You know… these missions have all been really close, let’s call it good and not try a water landing this time?” -Bill
“I dunno, I’m down for it! What’s the worst that could happen!?” -Jeb
“Hmmm… maybe Bill’s right – let’s get ready to head back to Kerbin… we can try a water landing next time!” -Bob
The X-10 Wanderer is done, and having passed basic safety tests is ready for a test flight! Val, Glenica, and Dunwin prepare to take the plane on a test flight – first to test basic landing systems, then to test a water landing! This will also be a good training flight for future crew to Laythe!
The VTOL Aerospikes work well enough on Kerbin to provide vertical thrust, however the plane can only maintain vertical flight for a short time!
“Let’s head over to the pyramids, that should be an interesting place to land!” -Val
Val sets Wanderer down right next to the pyramids! Unlike Endurance, Wanderer has much bigger parachutes to deal with the higher gravity of Kerbin!
Val, Dunwin, and Glenica all get out…
…and have a good look around the pyramids!
“Wow, these are right near the Desert Site! Hey, we should call it the ‘Pyramid’ Launch Complex!” -Glenica
After everyone has a good look around, Wanderer takes off!
“Everyone keep hold of your life preservers! We should set down slow enough, but I have no idea if Wanderer is going to even float!” -Val
All horizontal thrust is cut, and Wanderer slowly drifts down to the water!
With a loud “kursplursh!” the X-10 sets down in the water!
“Oh wow! I can’t believe it worked! If the X-10 sets down slow enough, it’s just fine!” -Dunwin
Indeed – Val gets out and confirms the space, er, watercraft, is just fine!
After a little VTOL blast to get out of the water, Wanderer heads back to the Desert Site… now called the Pyramid Launch Complex!
“Pyramid Launch Complex… I’m in the pipe, five by five!” -Val
Wanderer touches down, right where it took off! KSEA relays the information back to Laythe, however engineers are divided on actually trying this stunt on Laythe!
Kerbal States | Kerbin Space Exploration Administration 