Edan

Year 3, Day 372 (MunBase One Launches! )

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Shortly before launch, the final plans for the next MunBase are released: MunBase One!

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With funds running low, another MunBase launch is attempted. The new base is designated as “MunBase One.”

Because of the negative associations with “Alpha” from the MunBase Alpha disaster, KSEA felt a new name might be best. Also, it uses less room on those patches.

screenshot378.pngThe launch is successful… and MunBase One’s fairings eject.  This time, large solar arrays like those on Explorer and the KSS deploy to help keep the base powered on its journey to Mun!  Additionally, the capacitors have been removed, and a new battery, combined with a longer range relay antenna, are located at the center of the base!

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Finally, MunBase One arrives at Mun!  Mission Control orders the flight computer to begin its decent.. .screenshot386.png

Success!  MunBase One sets down!  Just under 100 meters from the initial planned site… close enough!  screenshot389.png

Up in orbit, the crew gets ready to head down and check things out!  Edan and Bill climb into the lander, and head down!  (Historians note this is the first time that a Mun Lander has been used more than once!)screenshot392.png

The lander sets down at MunBase One!  screenshot393.png

“Everything looks like it set down OK!  I’m going to head inside and see if everything’s OK!
-Bill

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Huh. Looks like the base set down about 50m from where it was supposed to!  No matter… we’ll just move the flag!

-Bill

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Bill and Edan pose for a nice landing portrait, then Bill heads inside the Base.  Edan scurries back to the lander for shelter!

“Things look fine in here!  I think we’re “Go” for you heading back up Edan… I’ll keep an eye on the base until the next crew rotation arrives!”
-Bill

The plan is for Edan to return to the Aurora 15 Spacecraft and head back to Kerbin with Bob!   Bill will remain until the MunBase One crew is assigned! screenshot400.png

Year 3, Day 350 (Aurora 15 Launches, MunBase Alpha Construction)

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Edan, Bill, and Bob blast off from the Space Center on Aurora 15!  Their mission is to find a suitable, and ideally scenic, spot for MunBase Alpha!

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After docking and transposition, the orbital stage is ejected… and Aurora 15 sails to Mun!screenshot349.png

After just a few hours, Aurora 15 arrives … and the crew starts looking for a good site!screenshot352.png

Landing confirmed!  Now to find a nice flat spot with a good view!screenshot353.png

Edan stays at the lander… while Bob heads out in his EVA jetpack to find a good spot!

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“I think this is it!  I’ll put a flag here so we know where to find it when we come back!”
-Bob

The site for MunBase Alpha will be in the center of one of the large Midland craters, in a flat area between 3 others:screenshot361.png

This location should be easy enough to set a base at, flat with few large rocks or other obstacles nearby!

Ok then – that’s a go!  Let’s start construction on MunBase Alpha at once!  Meanwhile, Edan and Bill take off, back to the orbiting Aurora Spacecraft!

Edan and Bill say hi to Bob, and share the good news!  Meanwhile, back on Kerbin, mission planners work on last minute adjustments to MunBase Alpha!  The plan is to have Aurora 15 stay in orbit, while the MunBase launches!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year 3, Day 307 (Explorer Crew Announced… and launched!)

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The crew for Explorer 1 is announced… the brave crew of Aurora 13 are chosen for the first interplanetary journey!  Mitster, Orlas, and Chrisnic excitedly put on their new Mission Patches, and head out to the waiting Crew Shuttle Adventure! screenshot283.png

Mitster pilots Adventure into orbit… the plan is to dock with Explorer, then the crew will be on their way!

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Edan lines up with Explorer, in a 80k orbit of Kerbin…

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Once in position, Endeavor undocks from its mission cargo (the atmospheric probe and LARC), and spins around, very slowly, until its lined up with the Crew Shuttle.

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Edan then uses the RCS thrusters to dock with the huge space craft!

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Mitster, Chrisnic, and Orlas all rush over to Endeavor.  Orlas gets serious, and starts going over all the mission parameters and scientific systems.  Mitster runs through the piloting systems, while Chrisnic does a survey of the ship (and checks out the great new Habitat section, that will make the journey to Eve much more comfortable!

“Good luck guys!
-Edan

The crew get comfortable and begin getting Explorer’s systems running!  It’s a long mission to Eve… so its important to make sure that everything on the new ship is in good working order before departure!

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Meanwhile, Edan takes Adventure back to the surface!

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Mitster dives Adventure, toward the Space Center, after cooling off from reentry!

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Uh oh!  A little too much speed… Adventure flies by the Space Center….

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Thankfully all Crew Shuttles have enough fuel for manuevering in just this kind of situtation… Edan pilots the Shuttle around, and heads back for a good approach!

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Ok… I’m in the pipe, five by five…

-Mitster

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Perfect landing!  Good job Edan!

 

 

Year 3, Day 156 (Aurora 12 Arrival At Mun)

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screenshot163.pngAurora 12 arrives at Mun!  This mission is to investigate the strange anomaly detected by Aurora 11 at the southern end of the Northwest Crater, and also as crew training for the rookie crew!

“You know, we should think about making a space station out here!  At the very least a fuel depot might be handy!”

-Orlas

screenshot165.pngEdan and Orlas head down in the lander! As they get closer, they spot something strange.

“What on Kerbin could that be!”
-Edan

screenshot167.pngIt looks like some kind of ancient structure – astonishing!  Edan sets the lander down…and Orlas hops out at once to investigate!  screenshot171.png

“It’s too far away to make on foot, I’ll have to use my EVA jets!”
-Orlas

Arriving at the base of the massive structure, Orlas is shocked… the object looks to be a giant monument… perhaps made out of Mun rock itself?

Get over here Edan! You have to see this yourself!
-Orlas

screenshot178.pngEdan hurries over, and the two gaze at the huge, cubical structure… then they head up to investigate!

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“Oh wow… astonishing!”
-Orlas

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“It looks like a lander… not that different from our own designs!  This flag is the same as the one on the side of the Oger space probe – it was the basis for the flag of the Kerbal States!”
-Orlas

The two look at every nook and cranny on what they agree is some kind of monument!

“I’m going to check the other side out that’s being eclipsed… ”
-Edan

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Edan and Orlas are speechless.  The two stare in wonder at the mysterious monument on Mun and wonder what kind of entities could construct such a massive object here!

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After taking lots of samples, Orlas and Edan launch back to the Aurora 12 Spacecraft…

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And head back to Kerbin!  Scientists are eager to do analysis of the materials gathered at the monument, and to examine the hundreds of images the astronauts took of the unusual anomaly!

 

Year 3, Day 142 (Changes To Explorer Program, Aurora 12 Construction)

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512x64-7.pnghe next Aurora Mission, Aurora 12, is nearly complete.  Orlas is very excited to be chosen as the scientist for the mission – it will be his first trip beyond Kerbin!  Chrisnic will be the crew engineer (who will be staying on the Command Vehicle), and the Mission Commander will be Edan (the commander of Aurora 3, Minmus.) he Mission Commander,

In other news, Initial plans for Explorer had been to launch a test craft, however administrators have decided to move ahead with a crewed mission they’re confident that if any systems fail on the transit burn a rescue will still be possible.  The mission will be quite dangerous though… however many eager Kerbals have been clamoring to get a chance for the first crewed mission to another world!!  The final crew roster hasn’t been released yet, but KSEA is working hard to get as many Kerbals trained as possible!

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screenshot434.pngAurora 3 whips around Minmus, and starts to head back to Kerbin.  Communications with Mission Control are briefly interrupted as Kerbin is eclipsed by Minmus!

“Well that was fun!  Hold on everyone! Just uh, 13 days.  Until we reach our next orbital manuever. Then… uh. A few more. ”
-Edan

The return trip is a rather long 28 days.  Hold on guys!