Construction of Aurora 9 begins – the tentative plan is another launch to Minmus to scout out several interesting sites. Aurora 9 will be the first test of the upgraded Mun lander, which should provide more fuel efficiency and a more compact design.
Meanwhile, a few standard communication satellite launches keep the crew at KSC entertained!
Mitster and Robart take off in the X-5, heading west!
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!
“Ok – coming up on the coordinates… wow! Look at that, you can see the structures from up here!”
-Robart
“Let’s do a pass, then circle around for a landing!”
-Mitster
Robart hops out, as Mitster watches from the cockpit.
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!
Aurora 8 returns home! 
The first Kerbals to set foot on Minmus (and Robart, who watched from orbit – sorry Robart) are quickly rescued.
Mitster volunteers to be the first pilot to fly the X-5! 
“Ok – taking off! WOW! This thing has quite a kick!”
-Mitster
Mitster takes off the runway, and banks toward the island airstrip.
“Weeeeeee!”
-Mitster
“I’ve spotted the runway. I’m gonna fly past it, and circle around for a landing! ”
-Mitster
As he flies by the island, Mitster opens the science bay and runs the automated studies.
“Ok… setting up for a landing! ”
-Mitster
Mitster lines up for the landing… looking good!
Success! The X-5 sets down.
Mitster hops out, and poses for the cameras!
Val pilots Aurora 7 closer to Minmus, then transfers over to the lander with Bob! 
The lander detaches, and Val pilots the lander to a good landing site. 
“I think I found a good spot! Adjusting course…”
-Val
The Aurora 7 Lander touches down! The crew waits a short time for Kerbin to be in radio range before heading out! 
Bob is the first out!
“Wow! It’s like the ground is made out of ‘bounce’!”
-Bob
Val hops out next.
“Weeeeee!”
-Val
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…) 
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
—–
Aurora 7 reaches Minmus! Val circularizes the orbit, and the crew prepares to get closer, and commence the first Minmus Landing! The maneuver should take about 3 days.
Aurora 7 blasts off from the Space Center! Val, Bob, and Robart are the crew – the mission: land on Minmus! 
After the burn to Minmus, Val performs the docking and transposition maneuver, and Aurora 7 begins its 5 day journey to Minmus!
“Hang tight everybody, we’ll be there soon!”
-Val
After a very long design and simulation phase, the final X-5 design is released! The new design will hopefully allow KSEA to explore the far reaches of Kerbin’s surface. The first flight will be a test flight to the airfield, then a longer mission to the rumored pyramids in the deserts, west of the Space Center!
The Explorer 1 probe reaches Eve! Mission Control has some spotty communications issues at first, but a slight readjustment of the Kerbin LongSat allows uninterrupted communications. 
At a 100k orbit, the probe is instructed to ciruclarize orbit – success! Onboard equipment begins testing – initial readings indicate that Eve is big, and quite purple!
Aurora 6 arrives at Mun! After a few short maneuvers, the craft is brought into a fairly close 40k orbit.
Mitster and Bob move into the Lander, and separate!
The lander moves lower, and lower…
Almost there!
Mitster hops out!
Followed by Bob!
Mitster plants the flag!
The two pose, then start collecting some rocks and other scientific data. 
After several difficult but exciting hours collecting Mun-stuff, Mitster and Bob blast off, and head to a rendezvous with the Aurora 6 Spacecraft! 
After docking, Mitster and Bob transfer over, being sure to take all their vaulable science with them!
“That exterior illumination sure proved valuable – docking on the dark side of Mun would have been a real trick without ’em!”
-Chrisnic
Mitster makes a small course correction on the way back to Kerbin…
“If these numbers are right, I think we’ll set down just outside of the Space Center! Really!”
-Mitster
The Aurora Spacecraft is designed with a fairly large “reserve” fuel pool, to allow corrections for… imprecise maneuvers. This extra fuel lets Mitster correct a rather wide departure from Mun into a fairly precise return maneuver for Aurora 6!
The crew makes it to the surface – welcome home guys! 
The crew returns to KSC, and shakes lots of Mun-dust out of their boots!
