DSV-5 Intrepid’s first mission has now been fully planned, and a crew selected! Carson will be mission commander, Bob will be the Science specialist, and Sondo will be the Engineering Specialist!
For the first time a Sarnus Va rocket will deliver both the crew and the mission payload – Crew Vehicle 1 was designed initially as the replacement for the Aurora Crew Vehicle, but this is the first time it will be fully integrated into the stack!
This will also be the first test of the DSV-Lander – designed to fit into the DSV Payload bay! The Sarnus Va launch will also include the new DSV Science & Relay Satellite, that will be docked with the nose of the spacecraft and deployed in orbit of Moho!
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!
Aurora 24 blasts off, heading for Mun! While some say that the Mun missions have become routine, the Kerbals who fly them know that space travel is never routine! In fact, even the simplest mission is quite dangerous and even deadly!
“Where’s the landing site this time? ” -Mirphe
“The northeast basin! We’ve never been there before!” -Luly
Mirphe and Luly transfer over to the lander…
… and head down to Mun’s surface!
“We’re almost there…. contact!” -Mirphe
“OK… deploy the rover!” -Luly
The rover detaches, and the RCS deployer lifts it up… and then gently sets it down next to the lander!
Next, Mirphe and Luly head out to explore!
Luly plants the flag at the Northern Basin, then salutes while the cameras on the lander take their portrait!
“For all Kerbalkind!” -Luly
Luly deploys the scientific instrumentation, while Mirphe supervises!
“Mmmhmmm. Looking very scientific – carry on!” -Mirphe
Next, the RCS deployer detaches from the lander, and expends all it’s fuel to fly up and away from the landing site! The seismic sensor will get interesting results from the impact!
“I feel a little bad littering on Mun! But I guess it IS for science!” -Luly
Luly and Mirphe explore the surface in the rover!
After scouting out the landing site, the two return to the lander to rest! Mun missions have been getting longer and longer, training the crew for the rigors of landings on very distant worlds!
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!
The Aurora 20 lander heads down to the surface of Minmus!
Val and Luly detach from the Aurora 20 command module, and head down to Minmus!
The lander touches down, right at sunrise!
“Oooo! Pretty! “ -Luly
“Ejecting rover!” -Val
The RCS system lifts the rover off the lander…
… and sets down perfectly near the lander!
The Rover-Deployer ejects, and the two Kerbals start exploring!
“As I suspected, this rover doesn’t handle very well – one sharp turn and the rover might get destroyed! As long as we keep it slow we’ll be OK though!” -Luly
The pair find a variety of green Minmus Sandstones, and take various samples of the Lesser Flats.
“Time to set up the science equipment!” -Luly
Luly and Val head back to the lander!
“There we go, all set up! This should start transmitting science back to Kerbin anytime now – and we remembered to bring all the parts this time!” -Luly
The Aurora 20 crew will remain on Minmus for a few more days to make sure all the scientific equipment is functioning properly!
Kerbal States | Kerbin Space Exploration Administration 