“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!”
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 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
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!
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!
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?
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!
Malcolm, Dunwin, and Shepely leave the lander and set foot on the dusty red surface of Duna!
“We made it!! The satellite scans show the anomaly is 800m away … Sorry we couldn’t land closer!”
-Malcolm
“It’s ok! I can walk that far, no problem! Should be plenty of life support and EVA fuel!“
-Shepely
Shepely heads west, toward the anomalous reading the survey satellite detected…
After a long walk, and a few ‘EVA hops’, Shepely arrives at the anomaly!
“Wow! It’s huge! Looks like another mysterious Monolith! The dimensions look identical to the one by the space center and I’m Mun and Minmus… Fascinating!”
-Shepely
Next, Shepely explores the region around the Monolith!
Not too far from the Monolith is a large Duna Rock!
“Hmmm… Can’t get much of a sample with my tools… We’ll need a rover arm to really get a good sample!”
-Shepely
Next, Shepely heads over to an odd rock formation…
The strange blueish hued stones are quite odd!
“Weird! These look like big stone blueberries! I’ll get a good sample!
-Shepely
After gathering some Duna Blueberry samples, Shepely heads back to the lander!
Malcolm helps Shepely load his samples into the lander, then all 3 Kerbals begin unloading the surface science equipment for Shepely to set up!
“This looks like a good spot! Good thing we brought the RTG power supplies… Not enough solar power is available down here!”
-Shepely
“Lookin’ good!”
-Malcolm
“Yeah! The ground science equipment should be fully deployed… The relay satellites in orbit should be able to have ongoing communication with Kerbin!”
-Dunwin
Before heading back to the Spaceport there’s just one thing to do…
The lander fires it’s aerospike engine! This mission will be to investigate some anomalous readings detected from orbit!
Unlike previous Duna Landers that entered the atmosphere “engine first”, the Advanced Duna Lander enters “nose first” like a spaceplane!
The rear airbrakes provide just enough lift!
“Lander is on course for target… Atmosphere is slowing us down a bit more than expected… We’ll need a short engine burn to adjust our approach!” -Malcolm
The engine fires, and the lander accelerates enough to stay on target!
“Oh wow! We’re really close to the surface! Speed is down to 200 m/s…. Is that enough to deploy the parachute?”
-Dunwin
“Not quite! Almost at target…. Almost… Deploy the chute!!”
-Malcolm
The landing parachute deploys! The airbrakes retract and the landing gear deploys!
This is one of the most dangerous phases of the mission, as the landing gear and airbrakes must retract with the parachute cords clear so nothing gets jammed or tangled! The chute then lifts the nose up, and orient’s the lander for landing!
“Chute is deployed, gear is down and locked! Starting slow burn to decelerate!”
-Malcolm
The lander slows to just 1 m/s as it gently sets down!
“Mission Control, this is Explorer 7 Lander .. we have set down on Duna! All systems are good!”
-Malcolm
On Kerbin, cheers fill Mission Control! The new lander performed perfectly!
“Nice work everyone!”
-Gene, at Mission Control
Malcolm, Dunwin, and Shepely will rest for a day, then suit up and head outside!
Kerbal States | Kerbin Space Exploration Administration 