Kerbol One fires its engines to maneuver for its approach to the sun!
While the fate of the Kerbol 1 probe is almost certain, the exact time communications will be lost, and at what proximity to the star is unknown. KSEA hopes that a lot of interesting science can be transmitted before the probe is lost!
The final boost stage is ejected, and the probe hurdles toward the sun! In roughly 90 days we should know if the probe is successful!
Kerbol 1 blasts off! Unlike most KSEA launches, Kerbol 1 will skip orbiting Kerbin and blast on a course directly toward its target. This means an early morning launch is required, to line up the sun with the launch path!
“Wow, look at it go!”
-Val, watching from KSC
The protective fairing ejects, and Kerbol One will coast for 12 days until it is free of Kerbin’s gravity, then the interception with Kerbol will start!
After a few days on the surface at the Midlands Sea, Kimmy and Mitster head back to orbit and dock with Duna Spaceport!
“The new lander modifications seem to have fixed all the problems we were having – nicely done Dunwin!”
-Mitster
The next Explorer 2 landing won’t be for another week, to give the crew time to analyze the data from their landings and most importantly to rest up for the next!
Scientists at KSEA announce that Kerbol 1 will be launched shortly, a probe designed to get closer to Kerbin’s sun then ever before!
Mitster and Kimmy head down in the upgraded lander that was painstakingly upgraded by Dunwin using extra parts from Duna Spaceport!
You should be set to go! I’ll monitor things from up here!
-Dunwin
KSEA has chosen the Midlands Sea as the next landing site!
The lander retracts its antenna and solar arrays for the entry into Duna’s atmosphere. 
The lander touches down, and the solar arrays are deployed!
Kimmy climbs out of the lander, then Mitster – who pose for the traditional flag portrait! Kimmy and Mitster are the first Kerbals to ever set foot on the Midlands Sea!
KSEA announces that mission planning for the next Duna crew has begun! Explorer 3 will be piloted by Edan, with Glenica as the mission Science specialist and Sean as the mission Engineering specialist!
Endeavor is prepared for a mission to resupply the Kerbin Space Station with Oxygen! Edan will pilot, and scientists Samner and Glenica will head up to the station for training! 
The Crew shuttle reaches orbit!
“Now we just need to rendevous and the KSS crew can breath a little easier!”
-Edan
The docking is a success, and the oxygen tanks are transferred over! KSEA Mission planners will leave Endeavor docked for the next month, before returning to Kerbin!
The Explorer lander takes off, taking Dunwin and Mitster high into the Duna atmosphere!
“Oh wow, this lander does not perform well at all on launch. I think the center of mass might be causing her to want to tip over – better watch our ascent angle!”
-Mitster
The lander approaches Duna Spaceport…and docks!
“We’ll need to be really careful with this lander… that was a close one!”
-Mitster
“Hmm… I think I have some ideas for how to modify it using parts we have on the Spaceport! We can try for another landing after that!”
-Dunwin
Dunwin starts work on modifications to the lander… this might take a while! Meanwhile KSEA administrators think optimistically and plan for the next landing!
On board Duna Spaceport, the crew of Explorer 2 prepare for the very first Duna landing! Mitster will pilot the vehicle to the surface, with Dunwin providing the engineering expertise to deal with any unforeseen issues the lander might have. Once the craft has proven itself Kimmy will head down in the next landing. A lot of consideration was given to the first crew to head down, and the pilot/engineer combination was chosen in deference to safety, as the Duna lander hasn’t been tested “live” before! 
Kimmy watches from the Observation Lounge as the lander moves away from the station…
“I can tell you now, we’re not setting down where Mission Control planned – we’re moving too fast, and if I don’t slow us down … well, it won’t be pretty!”
-Mitster
Mitster fires the landers engines, slowing the vehicle down enough to engage the parachute…
The parachute deploys!
“Oomph! That really took the wind out of me!”
-Dunwin
The lander slowly descends to the surface…
At the last moment, the engines fire again, to set the lander down gently…
“Duna Lander to Kerbin – we have set down on Duna and all systems are go!”
-Mitster
Dunwin climbs out!
Followed by Mitster, who plants the first flag on Duna!
Cheers are heard throughout Mission Control – amazing!
“We still have some samples and exploration to do before we head back, so let’s get busy”
-Mitster
The lander overshot its landing at the anomaly by 17km – a distance much farther than walking would allow. Mission Control decides that while a small “hop” is conceivable however crew safety is paramount, so a future landing can be done to investigate the lowlands – there will be no hop!
“This lander handles much differently in an atmosphere than it did on Mun, I’m not even sure I could pilot us effectively over to the lowlands… the return to orbit will be tricky enough! ”
-Mitster
The lander will remain on the surface for a few days, then head back to Duna Spaceport!
The Frontier 5 craft in orbit of Jool is instructed to maneuver so it encounters Laythe! 
If all goes to plan, the probe will soon do a flyby of Laythe… the maneuver should also allow for the closest ever flyby of Jool. Sadly, the scientific equipment on Frontier 5 is quite primitive compared to the gravitational scanners and other equipment on more recent probes, however an analysis of the atmosphere, temperature, and pressure should all be possible. 
Frontier 5 moves closer…
Finally Frontier 5 arrives at its closest point to Jool!
The first photographs of Laythe are transmitted back to Kerbin! The planet looks remarkably similair to Kerbin!
“Oh my – that looks just like Kerbin! Astonishing! In the distance you can see Tylo. Just amazing… I can’t wait to visit!”
-Orlas
Frontier 5 moves in close and closer….
Until finally, the probe drops below 50km… but just barely! The science transmitted on Laythe’s atmosphere is of incredible scientific importance, and has made Laythe one of the most intriguing desitnations for Kerbals in the future!
Finally, Frontier 5 moves on, leaving Jool and it’s amazing moon Laythe for future probes to investigate!
Frontier 5 soars past Tylo, its sensors only able to record some basic temperature and pressure readings in the space near the moon – researching Tylo is a job for a future explorer!
