Explorer 2

Year 6, Day 275 (Explorer 2 Arrives At Duna!)

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After a 334 day journey, Explorer 2 arrives at Duna!

screenshot1876.pngMitster’s calculations were perfect, and the spacecraft arrives within 100k of the Duna Spaceport.

“Nicely done Mitster!”

-Dunwin

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Explorer 2 move in to rendezvous with the station…. screenshot1881.png

Counter-intuitively, Explorer must first move away from the station, taking its orbit out to nearly 120k, before moving closer again!

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Explorer 2’s Transfer stage uses up the last of its fuel, bringing the spacecraft 50meters away from the station! screenshot1891.png

“Almost there… almost there…”

-Mitster

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Mission success!  Explorer 2 docks with Duna Spaceport, and the crew flips on all the lights!

“Now we just need to get that lander over to the crew docking port, and we can make history!”

-Kimmy

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Year 6, Day 244 (Duna Spaceport Arrives at Duna!)

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Remote systems guide the Duna Spaceport closer and closer to the red planet of Duna!

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Last minute calculations showed that the best orbit that could be achieved is a 54k equitorial orbit, so the engines fire at the appropriate time!screenshot1867.png

After the orbit is circularized, the transfer stage is completely exhausted of fuel, and ejected!   Now the station will wait for the arrival of the Explorer 2 crew!screenshot1868.png

Year 5, Day 367 (Explorer 2 and Duna Spaceport Leave Kerbin!)

sayburstuff Year 5 , ,

Explorer2PatchIt’s a busy day – the Explorer 2 Crew Vehicle and Duna Spaceport will begin their journey to Duna!   The first mission to Duna will likely be the most complicated, as there are two seperate missions running concurrently – the first, delivering a spaceport and a reusable lander to Duna orbit.  The second, the crew themselves on Explorer 2!   screenshot1727.png

Explorer 2 departs as well – and performs the docking and transposition manuever to let the crew gain access to the much more comfortable Habitat Module that will be their home on the journey to Duna!

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The new Antenna installed by Chrisnic is a tight fit, but appears to be performing well!

Meanwhile, the Duna Surveyor will soon be approaching Duna, to start mapping the surface for a future landing!

Year 5, Day 360 (Explorer 2 Launches!)

sayburstuff Year 5 , , ,

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The Explorer 2 Crew Vehicle launches, carrying Mitster, Dunwin, and Kimmy into orbit!

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Once in orbit, the crew have a terrible realiziation.  The antenna to allow communication with Kerbin during the mission wasn’t installed!  Thankfully, this is just what KSEA has Crew Shuttles for!

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Endeavor launches, piloted by Val – Chrisnic is the expert engineer that was available, and will install the new antenna on Explorer 2!

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Launching from Shadow Valley is really different – not used to so many mountains surrounding us while we launch!

-Val

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The crew shuttles will be pushing their upward orbital limit on this mission, but planners are certain that its possible! screenshot1716.png

Val rendevouses Endeavor with Explorer 2…

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While Chrisnic installs the Antenna bracket, and the antenna itself.

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Then – back to Kerbin!   Endeavor heads down into Shadow Valley….

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And makes a perfect landing!  In just a few days, Explorer 2 will head to Duna!

 

Year 4, Day 360 (Aurora 16 Leaves from Mun, To Minmus!)

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screenshot1354.pngKSEA decides that it’s probably best to get Dunwin and Kimmy back to Kerbin to start their training for the Explorer 2 Mission to Duna!   Edan takes Aurora 16 and pilots it from Unity Space Station in orbit of Mun, to Minmus! screenshot1352.png

“Bye guys!  Have a fun trip to Duna!!”

-Luly

Kerlorf, Seely, and Luly remain on the station to train!

This will be the first time a vehicle has traveled from one Space Station to the other!   The trip to Minmus will take 2 weeks!