Aurora Program

Year 2, Day 254 (Mun Lander Announced)

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KSEA unveils the design for the Mun Lander!  A prototype is being built to experiment with on Kerbin, and allow crews to practice the vehicle!   The lander itself is designed to operate in the very low gravity of Mun and Minmus… the practice lander will be built with a heavier engine to allow more thrust, simulating the Munar environment.

Once training is complete, the Aurora Program will have a Crew Vehicle, a Lander, and the powerful Sarnus V-Heavy rocket to carry them both to Mun and beyond!  All of Kerbin is abuzz with excitement!

Year 2, Day 204 (Station Service Vehicle Announced)

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To conduct ongoing research at the Kerbin Space Station, regular deliveries of science vehicles will be needed.  KSEA scientists and engineers have been working on two designs – one, a re-usable space plane, the other a more standard cargo pod based off the Aurora Program’s design.

After hours and hours and hours and hours of simulation, the Space Plane plan is thrown in the trash bin… the much simpler Aurora Program-derived vehicle is given the green light!  Using the most recent version of the Discovery Rocket, the Discovery 5, the SSV is launched into orbit, and can carry a small payload to the KSS, and return the payload back to the surface.

In addition to ferrying science experiments, this should also provide a simple means of delivering food and other important supplies!

Year 2, Day 169 (Aurora 2 Launch)

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screenshot388.pngAurora 2 launches from Cape Kerman!  The re-designed Aurora Crew Vehicle is carried into low orbit, Jeb and rookie scientist Samner are both looking forward to spending some time in space! screenshot391

While Samner will be working on any number of interesting science experiments, Jeb is there solely to assist with the construction of the station.  A good pilot is needed to guide some of the Modules into place!

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“Almost there…. ”
-Jeb

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“Almost… ”
-Jeb

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“Got it!”
-Jeb

Aurora 2 docks with the Kerbin Space Station!  Now the combined crews just wait for the Science Module to launch!

Year 2, Day 164

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Engineers start working on the successor to the Discovery Rocket – the Sarnus!  Sarnus 1 will (hopefully!) be able to take not just the Aurora Crew Vehicle to Mun and Minmus, but also a lander.  Details are still being worked out, but recent advances in rocket technology promise some major advances!

Work is also proceeding simultaneously on the next Kerbin Space Station module – a science module designed to allow a permanent science lab in orbit! The expansion will be nearly the size of the existing Space Station, and provide room for many more Kerbals, as well as new equipment and a more easily accessible docking ring.

Everyone agrees that while Orlas’s recent piloting of the Cupola Module was heroic, it’s probably a good idea to have a pilot stationed, at least temporarily, on the KSS.  No one is sure who it’ll be yet, but the next Aurora Mission is looking to be pretty clear – deliver more crew to the KSS, including a pilot!

Year 2, Day 131 (Aurora 1 Launch)

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screenshot337.pngAurora 1 launches from Cape Kerman! screenshot342

Valentina expertly pilots the craft to orbit, carrying rookie scientists Kimmy and Glenica.  They’ll join Orlas at the new Kerbal Space Station!

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“I see the station… moving in to rendezvous… ”

-Val

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“Got it!  We’re docked!”

-Val

Aurora 1 successfully docks with the Kerbin Space Station!  Glenica and Kimmy head over and meet Orlas.

“Hey everybody!  Did someone bring cards…?”

-Orlas

Year 2, Day 115 (Aurora Program Announced)

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All of Kerbin is excited as KSEA announces the next phase of the space program: AURORA! AuroraCrewVehicle.png

The Aurora Program is designed to reach Mun and Minmus.  The first test vehicle is the Aurora Crew Vehicle – designed solely to test the command pod, and provide a reliable means of taking crew to orbit and back.  The first test will be Aurora 1… taking the the rest of the crew to the Kerbin Space Station!  Construction starts at once!