Year 6, Day 72 (Aurora 19 Recovers Unity Crew)

sayburstuff Year 6

screenshot1808.pngAurora 19, in orbit of Mun, moves in to dock with Unity Space Station! Sean, Glenica, and Bill all transfer over!  Then, just as quickly as it arrived, Aurora 19 departs!  Seely, Kerlorf, and Luly remain on the station. screenshot1811

The reentry is hot, but the initial concerns about the added weight and potential heat risks from the new computer core turn out to be unwarranted.  screenshot1813The craft splashes down safely, just northwest of Merdian Island!  The next Aurora launch will be Aurora 20, to recover the remaining Unity Space Station crew!

Year 6, Day 70 (Aurora 19 Launches To Mun!)

sayburstuff Year 6

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Aurora 19, the Aurora Crew Vehicle that will recover the crew of MunBase One is launched at the Pyramid Launch Complex! This will be the first Aurora Crew Vehicle launched entirely automatically, taking advantage of a new, larger computer core.

The Launch goes well, and the craft begins its journey to Mun.  So far, the automated systems appear to be working well, and the Pyramid Launch Complex has been performing well.

 

Year 6, Day 48 (MunBase One Decommissioning )

sayburstuff Year 6

Mun Base One has provided insight into future base construction on other worlds, however it was neer intended as a permanent habitat on Mun – that won’t be possible until a fully self-sustaining life support system can be developed!

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The Mun Landers can only carry a crew of two , so Glenica and Sean blast off first!screenshot1379.png

The lander docks!  Sean and Glenica transfer over, then the lander procedes back to the surface on autopilot.

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The lander sets down, Bill hops in, and just as quickly takes off!

“Feels a little sad leaving MunBase One abandoned!  Maybe we can come back someday and upgrade it to be a real home on the Mun!”

-Bill

Back on Kerbin, construction begins on an Aurora Crew Vehicle to return the crew home!

 

Year 6, Day 16 (KerbStar Deep Space Relay 2 Launches!)

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screenshot1785The second Deep Space Relay satellite launches, KerbStarDeepSpace 2!  KSEA’s polar launch facility is chosen as the launch site, as the satellite needs to be launched into an extreme polar orbit, and every bit of fuel is important!

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The KSDS2 will operate at an orbit that falls outside of that of Mun, and even beyond Minmus.  It’s hoped the relay will provide better and more consistent communication with the outer worlds!

Year 6, Day 2 (Frontier 2 Investigates Atmosphere of Sarnus!)

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screenshot1777.pngFrontier 2 is instructed to attempt to dip into the atmosphere of Sarnus!  The probe will go down to an altitude of 576k, an altitude that some scientists fear might be fatal to the probe! screenshot1778.png

Thankfully the probe didn’t enter deep enough to be burned to a crisp – and KSEA engineers find new insights about Sarnus – such as how the atmosphere is so incredibly light that if there were an ocean big enough, Sarnus would float!   Next up for Frontier 2, a wider orbit will be reached, and an attempt to encounter Tekto!  KSEA estimates this will exhaust the probe’s fuel.

Year 6, Day 1 (Enterprise Upgrades KSS Power & Solar Systems!)

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screenshot1763.pngVal and Chrisnic blast off in Enterprise, delivering the long promised second power and solar expansion to the station!  screenshot1765.png

Chrisnic, one of the most experienced engineers on the KSEA team will supervise the installation!

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The module remotely guides itself into position…

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Then Chrisnic leaves Enterprise to investigate!

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Deploying solar arrays!  Wow! These are huge!   Both deployed perfectly.  Returning to Enterprise!

-Chrisnic

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Enterprise departs!  The Heavy Cargo Shuttle will be trying something new today, landing at White Mesa!  The shuttle will then be flown back to the VAB for repairs and to be readied for its next launch!

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Enterprise does its “belly flop” manuever to slow down its reentry….

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Then glides to the runway!

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A great landing! Val and Chrisnic rest up for their next mission!

Year 5, Day 422 (Unity Space Station Landing on Farside Crater, Munar Canyons!)

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Luly and Kerlorf prepare to head down in the (very) delayed USS-LS03 landing!  Both the Farside crater and the Munar Canyons will be investigated! screenshot1740.png

The Unity Research Lander undocks, and heads down to the surface!

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Luly watches as Kerlorf plants the flag at the Farside crater landing site!

“It’s time to head over to those canyons!”

-Luly

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Luly and Kerlorf land at the Munar Canyons and take readings – both are getting pretty exhausted, especially Luly!  A future Aurora mission is being planned to swap the crew out!

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The lander heads back to orbit, then sets course for Unity Space Station!

“Fuel on this one is very, very tight.  I think future landings we should keep it to just one landing… no jumps!  This isn’t Minmus afterall!”

-Luly

The next crew for the Unity Space Station is slated to be Robart and Gilian – both have experience landing on Minmus, but this will be their first time on Mun!