Summer and Orlas blast off from Aurora Crater!
“I think we found a great site for the new Base!”
-Summer
“Agreed! It’s not just scenic either… there’s a lot of interesting science to be done at that location!”
-Orlas
Summer pilots the lander to a rendevous with Mun Spaceport…
… and docks!
“Alright, let’s get ready for the arrival of Aurora Base! “
-Summer
There has been renewed interest among researchers on Kerbin to explore one of the most hazardous planets: Eve! Missions to the cloudy purple planet have been frequently plagued by problems. The intense temperature, the high gravity, and the super dense atmosphere make Eve fairly easy for small spacecraft to land but nearly impossible for large vehicles set down – let alone take off from again!
To facilitate missions a new upgraded communications network is required, and with the upcoming window a Sarnus rocket will carry two small relay probes, identical to those carried by Aurora 23 for DSV-3 Horizon’s mission to Sarnus!
A Modular Payload Vehicle, carrying Life Support supplies for Spacedock, blasts off from the White Mesa Rocket Complex!
The first stage ejects, and returns to KSC, while the second stage continues on to orbit.
The spacecraft arrives at Spacedock…
… and docks!
“Oh good – new snacks!”
-Jeb
“The oxygen and water is nice too!”
-Sean
As Explorer 7 speeds towards it’s intercept with Kerbin, the automated systems thaw the frozen crew!
“Brr! I could use a hot chocolate!”
-Dunwin
“Me too! Waking from cryo-sleep is always so chilly!”
-Shepely
“Well, don’t worry! It’s about to get a whole lot warmer!”
-Malcolm
One by one, the crew suit up, and transfer over to the Command Module!
Once inside, everyone straps in for the re-entry!
Explorer 7 heats up, but Duna-bound spacecraft are well shielded for these fast reentries!
“Hold on! Hold on! Almost there!”
-Malcolm
The chute deploys once the spacecraft is slow enough to be safe!
“Looks like a good deploy!”
-Dunwin
Explorer 7 sets down in the grassy fields west of the Space Center! Rescue craft are dispatched to recover the three Kerbals and the trove of data recovered from Duna!
The second Laythe Crew Vehicle spaceplane is launched from KSC!
The spacecraft enters orbit… and waits!
Resolute will leave Kerbin in about 400 days for an express trip to Jool/Laythe. This new Laythe Crew Vehicle is almost identical to the current LCV-1 Endurance, but with improved science payloads (including water detection systems) and improved power systems. The solar panels have been removed, and the craft’s onboard power supply has been buffed up to survive longer on Laythe!
“I can’t wait to fly that on Laythe!”
-Edan, at Mission Control
While scientists are still grumbling that the lack of water means the outpost will likely never be self-sustaining, KSEA is nonetheless excited to release plans for Aurora Base – the next Munar Outpost! The name was chosen to honor the Aurora Program, which paved the way for every crewed KSEA mission!
The site chosen by Orlas and Summer has been named Aurora Crater.
Unlike previous Munar Outposts, this one will have a greenhouse and supplies to make habitability long term, if not permanent (with minor support from Kerbin.)
Construction has already begun, and the Outpost will be launched on a Jool-X rocket soon!
After traveling for several days, Summer and Orlas have still not found any water on Mun!
“These surface readings are a 1:1 match for orbital readings… there appears to be NO detectable water here at all! We can try digging with equipment in future missions… but I don’t think we should plan on any base that has water sourced from Mun itself!”
-Orlas
“Some good news though… we’ve found a nice flat area that is rich in most other resources! It’s also quite scenic!”
-Summer
Mission Control review the data… there’s a lot of disappointment that Mun seems to have no water, but Orlas helpfully makes a point:
“There are plenty of other worlds to colonize! We can use Mun as a testbed for future sites that may also not have water, for long term but not self-sustaining colonies!”
-Orlas
At the original landing site for Aurora 27, the lander is remotely piloted up…
…and then to the new site found by Summer and Orlas!
“Look! There it is! These new landers are so advanced!”
-Orlas
The two Kerbals drive the rover back to the lander, and camp out while Mission Control decides the next move!
Summer, Gillian, and Orlas blast off in Aurora 27 – launched on top of a Sarnus Va Rocket!
This will be Summer’s first command, and the first mission to Mun specifically to find water!
So far, orbital scans have indicated that there is NO water… but that can’t be right! Aurora 27’s mission is specifically to find water along the Mun’s equator!
“Here we go! The Sarnus has a real kick to it compared to the Crew Rockets… Wow!”
-Summer
The solid rockets detach, then the second stage breaks free, and the fairing explodes outward!
“Mission Control confirms orbit – you’re up Summer!”
-Gilian
Summer detaches from the lander, spins the Crew Module around….
“Roger that! Transposition maneuver… complete!”
-Summer
…and docks again!
Aurora 27 fires it’s engines, entering Mun Orbit!
Until it eventually arrives at Mun Spaceport!
The Lander / Rover detaches, and is flown remotely, docking to the station….
… while Summer docks the Crew Module by hand!
“Alright everyone – no time to lose! Let’s get down to the surface and find some water!”
-Summer
“Certainly there’s SOME water down there… the orbital sensors have read nothing but zero percent!”
-Orlas
The lander undocks, then sets down on Mun, along the Equator just west of the Northwest Crater!
“Mission Control – this is Summer… Aurora 27 has touched down on the Mun!”
-Summer
The rover is lifted off the lander, and touches down!
“Rover is clear of the lander… “
-Orlas
After the Rover deployment is done, Summer climbs out of the spacecraft!
“Oh wow! Oh wow!”
-Summer
“It’s beautiful out here!”
-Summer
Orlas leaves the Crew Lander and climbs down to join Summer…
“It sure is!”
-Orlas
The two share a moment admiring the stark, austere beauty of Mun…
… and then head out looking for Water!
The rover has enough supplies to last several days on the surface. Hopefully by then the crew will find some of Mun’s precious water!
After a remarkably fast voyage, DSV-2 Discovery arrives at Duna, using the planet’s moon, Ike, to assist in slowing down the approach! The Crew is automatically revived from Cryo-Sleep!
“Rise and shine everybody! We have some exploring to do!”
-Mirphe
“Reactor is powered up – we’re good for firing main engines!”
-Seely
The three mighty nuclear engines on Discovery fire, slowing the spacecraft down and entering orbit, slowly, of Duna!
“By my calculations, we’ll have 5200 d/v remaining after we reach the Spaceport… not bad!”
-Tamre
Discovery achieves high orbit! Mirphe begins to rendevous with Duna Spaceport!
“Just a few more maneuvers and we’ll be docked! I can see the Spaceport out the front window!”
-Mirphe
Discovery slows down, matching speeds with Duna Spaceport…
…then slowly reorients for the final docking maneuver!
“Alright – we’re in the pipe, five by five… approaching the docking port at 1 m/s…. nice and slow….”
-Mirphe
With a ‘thunk’ and the whir of motors, Discovery docks with Duna Spaceport! The mighty spacecraft is nearly twice as long as the station!
“Life support looks good on the station… it’ll take a little time to equalize between Discovery and the Spaceport… but I think we have a good connection!“
-Tamre
The crew prepares to transfer over to the habitat sections of the station, and get ready for the next Duna Landing!
With Mun Spaceport (mostly) functional, Bill, Gilian, and Edan need to return to Kerbin! Summer departs in Crew Vehicle 5 to rescue them!
“If we’re going to be using these Crew Vehicles for trips back and forth to Mun, they’re going to need a better second stage – this will be a tight mission for DeltaV!“
-Summer
Crew Vehicle 5 departs Kerbin…
… Eventually arriving at Mun, and docking with Mun Spaceport!
Bill, Gilian, and Edan all board and buckle in for a quick return trip to Kerbin!
“There’s not enough fuel to do a full orbital return, so we’re going to try for touchdown near White Mesa… hold on everyone!”
-Summer
Crew Vehicle 5 misses the mark, landing 40km or so from White Mesa!
“Close enough! Rescue crews are on the way!”
-Gene, at Mission Control
Kerbal States | Kerbin Space Exploration Administration 