Dunwin

Year 23, Day 168 (Power and Light Expansion for Aurora Base on Mun Launches!)

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The Power and Lighting module for Aurora Base is fitted to a Neidon rocket!

“Let’s hope this module does the trick… there are some pretty cold nights on Mun and the power situation up there is getting critical!”
-Gene, at Mission Control

The rocket blasts off!

The second stage separates, and moves free from the booster….

… while the rocket turns around to re-enter the atmosphere!

“Telemetry is good… the booster is on course…”
-Gillian

The re-entry is easily visible from the ground as the Neidon booster hurtles toward the VAB!

“Wow! It’s coming down almost on top of the Space Center! I hope it doesn’t land on anything too expensive!”
-Gillian

Thankfully, the booster lands right next to the flagpole – avoiding any costly explosions!

“This is our best landing yet – well done people!”
-Gene, at Mission Control

Meanwhile, in a 200k orbit of Kerbin the Light and Power module begins its short journey to Mun!

Once captured into Mun orbit, the module begins its descent!

The Munar transfer stage separates, and the expansion begins its pre-programmed descent to the Mun’s surface!

“Mission Control!  I can see the module from here – looks like a good landing!  The descent stage has ejected, and we have remote control of the module!”
-Dunwin

Dunwin carefully drives the module remotely from the base, while Bill, Luly, and Orlas watch on!

“Mind the Mun Rocks Dunwin!”
-Orlas, at Aurora Base

“I’ve got it, I’ve got it!”
-Dunwin

Dunwin carefully drives the module into place, until….

… a series of loud whirs and clunks signal the automatic docking mechanisms have engaged!

“You did it Dunwin!”
-Luly

“Confirmed!  The RTGs are providing a good flow of energy to the base battery banks, and the lighting system is even working!”
-Bill

With that, everyone breathes a big sigh of relief!  The power troubles at Aurora Base have been a persistent irritation!

“Nice job people!  We saw a problem and we got it fixed!  The entire purpose of Aurora Base is to test hardware for future ground bases on other worlds – and now we know a little more!”
-Gene, at Mission Control

Year 23, Day 160 (Power Upgrade for Aurora Mun Base!)

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A small payload is being prepared to expand Aurora Base on the Mun! The expansion is simply two RTG reactors to keep the base warm overnight and an exterior lighting system, but the Mun crew is really looking forward to it!

“We’re all hoping the power and lighting expansion makes nights a little brighter and less spooky! Hopefully safer too, we all keep stubbing our toes at night! “
-Dunwin

Year 21, Day 309 (Orlas and Luly Head to Aurora Base!)

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The Mun Lander takes off from Aurora Base…

… and enters Mun orbit!

“I see the lander! Computers say it’s on track for remote docking. Technology has sure come a long way since the first days of Munar Exploration!”
-Summer

The lander docks! Luly and Orlas board, and prepare to head down to the surface!

The lander undocks, and starts it’s descent!

“This is gonna be a lot of fun!!”
-Orlas

The lander sets down near Aurora Base!

Luly hops out, and heads to the airlock!

“Wow! These modular bases snap together fast!”
-Luly

Orlas hops out, and joins Luly!

“The great thing is that we can keep expanding as time goes on! Since Mun doesn’t have any water though, we’ll always need a lifeline from Kerbin! But we can use this base to test out future colonies – like on Minmus, or Laythe!”
-Orlas

“I found the door! Let’s get inside and start up the Base’s science systems!”
-Luly

“These pre-planted seedlings are already growing – amazing!”
-Orlas

“Mission Control – Aurora Base is fully functional! All systems online!”

-Dunwin

Year 21, Day 295 (Aurora Base Mover Launches, Aurora Base Construction Begins!)

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A Sarnus Va rocket launches from the space center carrying a modified rover that had been converted to move Base modules!

“Good thing we had a Sarnus V rocket ready! It made this launch fast! That was the next scheduled Aurora Mission though, but it was worth it to get Aurora Base up and running!”

-Gene

Orbit is achieved! The second stage settles into orbit, deploying it’s solar panels!

After a rapid transit, the rover arrives at Mun…

…and heads down for a landing!

The Base Mover sets down amongst the deployed modules for Aurora Base, as Bill and Dunwin watch from the lander!

“There it is! I’ll head out and oversee the deployment of the Base Mover!”

-Dunwin

“That’s one ugly rover! Let’s get it deployed and see if it works!”

-Dunwin

The RCS Lifting crane struggles under the heavy weight – the Base Adapter Modules are pretty heavy!

The RCS lifter ejects, and goes flying away! Seismic instruments around Mun will monitor the impact and transmit the data back to Kerbin!

“Time to get moving!”

-Dunwin

Dunwin drives the Base Mover to the first module – the Green House!

“Got it! Interface looks good… Heading your way Bill!”

-Dunwin

The connection is made and the Greenhouse is connected!

Meanwhile, Bill scouts the are around Aurora Base and determines the base needs to be shifted about 50m north east to have a good flat surface!

Next, Bill and Dunwin both board the Base Mover and pick up the Science Module!

“Great! Another module installed!”

-Bill

With the base coming together so quickly, crew up on Mun Spaceport prepare to head down and start their surface mission!

“The start if this project was a bit bumpy, but this latest phase is going great!”

-Bill

“Yeah! We’ll be done before you know it!”

-Dunwin

The Habitat module is installed! Dunwin and Bill head inside after parking the Base Mover and the Rover near the base!

Mission Control orders the Lander to lift off and set down at the new Base site.

“Now we wait for the rest of the crew!”

-Bill

“I wonder how long until the Greenhouse is able to grow treats?!”

-Dunwin

Year 21, Day 250 (Bill & Dunwin Set Up Aurora Base!)

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Dunwin and Bill board the new Aurora 28 Lander and head down to Mun’s surface!

The new rover is designed to pick up the debris from the landing!

“The lander is taking us down! It feels weird being in a remotely piloted vehicle without a pilot!”
-Bill

The lander sets down at Aurora Base!

“Oh boy! We have our work cut out for us!”
-Dunwin

“Our first problem is that the modules don’t have any command or communications equipment installed! We’re not going to be able to pilot them into place!”
-Dunwin

Uh oh! KSEA engineers start working on a solution to this latest Munar problem!

“No one ever said setting up a base on The Mun was going to be easy!”
-Gene

Year 21, Day 220 (Aurora 28 Launches from Space Center!)

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Big news from the Aurora program – the Aurora Command Module has been upgraded using a modified Nebula Crew Vehicle capsule, and the lander has been modified to allow easier re-use from Mun Spaceport! These changes will allow FOUR crew to journey to Mun from now on!

The crew is announced: Two engineers, Bill and Dunwin, the Mission Commander Malcolm, and Luly will be the mission Scientist!

Aurora 28 blasts off on top of a Sarnus Va rocket!

The rocket carries the spacecraft up to a 600k orbit of Kerbin…

…then departs for Mun!

“Even with 4 crew this new module is so roomy!”
-Bill

This will be the first launch for the 4-crew variant of the Aurora Spacecraft… the module is identical to the Nebula Crew Vehicle which has a perfect record!

The Crew Lander is slightly modified with more fuel and life support and an improved refueling system!

Aurora 28 arrives at Mun Spaceport!

“Aurora 28… we have you on tracking… our docking ports are all full though!”
-Summer

The old lander ejects, as does the Aurora 27 Command Module, and Aurora 28 docks!

“We need to get some adapters up here to make more room for more spacecraft!”
-Malcolm

Plans are begun for some expansions to the Spaceport to allow for more docking ports… while the crew prepares to head down to Aurora Base!

Year 21, Day 137 (Explorer 7 Returns to Kerbin from Duna!)

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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!

Year 20, Day 271 (Explorer 7 Departs Duna!)

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After two successful Duna landings it’s time for the Explorer 7 crew to return home! Malcolm performs an EVA to give Duna Spaceport, the Advanced Duna Lander, and the Explorer spacecraft a final inspection before departing!

“Everything looks good out here! This view never gets boring!”
-Malcolm

After boarding Explorer 7, Malcolm detaches the spacecraft…

… and Explorer 7 slowly drifts away from Duna Spaceport!

“There’s only enough fuel reserves for one more landing from the Spaceport! The next mission will need to have a reserve fuel supply or KSEA needs to send another refueling mission out!”
-Dunwin

“Well if you ask me how we get here isn’t as important as getting here! The scientific data we’ve acquired this mission should keep us busy for years!”
-Shepely

As Explorer 7 drifts further and further the departure window is met, and Malcolm fires the spacecraft’s engine!

“All systems are nominal… engine burn to Kerbin nearly complete!”
-Malcolm

As Explorer 7 leaves the Duna system, the crew prepares for their EVA to the Cryonic section to hibernate for the trip home! At KSEA, mission planners are debating how to do the next mission – is it time to send the DSV’s to Duna, or continue with the Explorer program?

Year 20, Day 10 (Explorer 7 Second Duna Landing!)

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Malcolm, Dunwin and Shepely head down for the second landing! Since this will be a landing at the Highlands, the Advanced Duna Lander has to expend a good deal of fuel to slow down before entering the atmosphere!

“We’re heading in! Approach looking good!”
-Malcolm

The landing parachute deploys, and the lander pitches up…. while the engine throttles up again to slow the descent!

Shepely and Dunwin head out to explore the surface!

“It’s so pretty!”
-Shepely

Next, Malcolm plants a flag….

…and the crew poses for their landing portrait!

“Mission Control has received your picture… lookin’ good!”
-Gene, at Mission Control

Shepley gets the scientific equipment set up, while Malcolm and Dunwin supervise!

Well, let’s get our little campsite going! We have a few weeks to work here on the surface!
-Shepely

Year 19, Day 214 (Explorer 7 Crew Return to Duna Spaceport!)

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After 40 days on the surface of Duna, the Explorer 7 crew prepares to come home!

“All our surface experiments should be OK when we take off, as long as there isn’t too much dust kicked up!”
-Shepely

“Engines firing! All systems go!”
-Malcolm

“Looks like we’re still getting a signal from the surface… blast off must not have been too damaging! Lander systems all good too!”
-Dunwin

Malcolm pilots the Advanced Duna Lander to a rendezvous with the station…

…and docks with Duna Spaceport!

“Great work Explorer 7! Get some rest everyone!”
-Gene, at Mission Control