Glenica

Year 22, Day 1 (Sarnus Station Launches!)

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Sarnus Station is finally complete, and it’s rolled out just in time to launch on the first day of Year 22!

“What a fun way to start the new year!”
-Samner, Viewing the launch from Mission Control

The Nova Rocket, KSEA’s most powerful heavy lifter, carries the station into space!

Most Kerbals around the Space Center will typically stop what they’re working on, and gather to watch Nova launches – the massive rockets are quite the sight to see, and launch very rarely!

The second stage separates, as the first stage heads back to a fiery reentry into Kerbin’s oceans! At a 2000 km apogee, the station circularizes!

“We’re showing all systems nominal. Let’s send the signal to start up the reactor.”
-Gene, at Mission Control

The nuclear reactor starts up – and the boards all show green!

“Reactor at full output – I think we’re OK to go!”
-Glenica, at the Science Station at Mission Control

The DSV-class engine fires… and alarm bells go off!

“That thing isn’t getting enough cooling! Let’s power it down to 50 percent power… otherwise it might explode!”
-Glenica

The engine is cooled down, but engineers start scratching notes in their design books for the next Sarnus-bound rocket to use this design!

Sarnus Station speeds toward Sarnus… it will arrive in just over 3 years! Once in orbit, crews from visiting DSV’s will have a home to rest at when exploring around Sarnus!

“These nuclear engines have really opened up the solar system to exploration – a trip to Sarnus in just 3 years! Who would have thought it possible!”
-Edan

Year 21, Day 64 (Aqua-1 Mun Probe Launches from White Mesa!)

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The Aqua-1 Probe bound for Mun is ready at the White Mesa Facility…

…and launches!

While the re-usable first stage returns to Kerbin, the probe itself continues into orbit around Kerbin!

“Roger that, we’re showing orbit achieved – you are go for the burn to Mun!”
-Gene

After the burn, Aqua-1 continues it’s voyage to Mun…

Until it arrives, and prepares to burn into a polar orbit!

“Telemetry says Aqua-1 is in position – Glenica, you’re good to start the experiment!”
-Gene, at Mission Control

“OK – deploy arm… extend antenna … activate sensors!”
-Glenica

The antenna arm extends, and folds over 90 degrees, allowing the water sensors to start scanning unobstructed!

“200k altitude looks to be ideal. We should hopefully have some data back soon!”
-Samner, at Mission Control

Year 18, Day 401 (Kerbin Spaceport Crew Rotation… and a Surprise Asteroid Mission!)

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It’s time for a crew rotation (and life support delivery) to the Kerbin Spaceport! Orlas, Glenica, and Edan will be returning, while Val, Sean, and Kerlorf will be heading up! Val will pilot ACV-2 to orbit!

“Launch was good! We’re on course for the Spaceport!”
-Val

The ACV floats past the station, as Val maneuvers to line up with the docking extension of the station!

Success! The ACV docks! Alongside it are the previous version of the Aurora Crew Vehicle that last crew took up, as well as the Aurora 23 command vehicle from the launch that delivered crew and supplies to DSV-3 Horizon!

“Hey – I have an idea! Before we head back… let’s see if the Aurora 23 command vehicle has enough DeltaV to reach that asteroid that’s been causing Mission Control so much trouble!”
-Orlas

Mission Command considers the request and gives the OK!

“If you three want to risk it, you’ve got our OK! Just be safe!”
-Gene

“I suppose if this spacecraft can reach Mun… it should be able to reach that asteroid!”
-Edan

Orlas, Glenica, and Edan transfer over to the Aurora 23 vehicle… and depart the station! While the ACV isn’t equipped with any advanced scientific instrumentation, surface samples should be able to be collected using equipment on the ACV!

“Engines are GO!”
-Edan

Edan brings the Aurora Crew Vehicle alongside asteroid

“Ok! I’m heading out! That’s quite the space rock!”
-Orlas

Orlas uses his EVA pack to move closer and closer….

…until he lands on the asteroid!!

“I’ve landed on the asteroid! I can’t quite get a flag in here… but I think I can get a good sample!”
-Orlas

Orlas uses his EVA pack to move back to the ship…

…and climbs back inside!

“Nice work Orlas!”
-Glenica

The crew makes preparations to return to Kerbin, now that a good Asteroid Sample has been taken!

Edan plots a return course to Kerbin… and fires the engine!

Aurora 23 burns through the atmosphere, until the friction slows it down enough to deploy the parachutes!

Success!! Aurora 23 sets down on Kerbin! Recovery teams rush to rescue the crew, and the science recovered from the Asteroid!

Year 17, Day 345 (Training Flight of X-10 Wanderer!)

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The X-10 Wanderer is done, and having passed basic safety tests is ready for a test flight! Val, Glenica, and Dunwin prepare to take the plane on a test flight – first to test basic landing systems, then to test a water landing! This will also be a good training flight for future crew to Laythe!

The VTOL Aerospikes work well enough on Kerbin to provide vertical thrust, however the plane can only maintain vertical flight for a short time!

“Let’s head over to the pyramids, that should be an interesting place to land!”
-Val

Val sets Wanderer down right next to the pyramids! Unlike Endurance, Wanderer has much bigger parachutes to deal with the higher gravity of Kerbin!

Val, Dunwin, and Glenica all get out…

…and have a good look around the pyramids!

“Wow, these are right near the Desert Site! Hey, we should call it the ‘Pyramid’ Launch Complex!”
-Glenica

After everyone has a good look around, Wanderer takes off!

“Everyone keep hold of your life preservers! We should set down slow enough, but I have no idea if Wanderer is going to even float!”
-Val

All horizontal thrust is cut, and Wanderer slowly drifts down to the water!

With a loud “kursplursh!” the X-10 sets down in the water!

“Oh wow! I can’t believe it worked! If the X-10 sets down slow enough, it’s just fine!”
-Dunwin

Indeed – Val gets out and confirms the space, er, watercraft, is just fine!

After a little VTOL blast to get out of the water, Wanderer heads back to the Desert Site… now called the Pyramid Launch Complex!

“Pyramid Launch Complex… I’m in the pipe, five by five!”
-Val

Wanderer touches down, right where it took off! KSEA relays the information back to Laythe, however engineers are divided on actually trying this stunt on Laythe!

Year 16, Day 422 (Construction Starts On Future Aurora Mun Missions!)

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KSEA announces that construction has begun on 3 more Sarnus V Mun rockets! Aurora 19, 20, and 21! They are almost identical to Aurora 18, with the exception of the Rover Deployment system – Aurora 19 will test the latest iteration of this system.

“Hopefully it deploys better than the last one – what a mess!”
-Mitster

“It should! The new top-mounted lifter should be much more stable!”
-Glenica

Year 16, Day 398 (Aurora 18 Crew Explores Surface of Mun!)

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Glenica and Mitster decide to use their time waiting on Mun productively, and take the Mun Rover out for a spin! But first – Glenica plants a Kerbal Stages flag on the surface!

“I’ve never planted a flag before – that was fun!”
-Glenica

“It never gets old! Now let’s see what’s out there!”
-Mitster

Before long, the intrepid Kerbals find a strange rock – a Mun Rock!

“I’ll deploy the scanning arm! I bet the scientist back on Kerbin can’t wait to see this data!”
-Glenica

Around 2km from the landing site, Glenica spots something in the distance – a large rock formation!

“Let’s check that out!”
-Glenica

“It’s a crater! I’m going to use the EVA jets to explore it!”
-Glenica

“Wow! For a little crater, this is HUGE!”
-Glenica

Mitster and Glenica set a new record, driving nearly 5km from their landing site – eventually exploring the East Farside Crater! After scanning multiple rocks and craters, Mitster drives the two back to the landing site!

“We better check in with Mission Control and see what the plan is! Look, there’s the landing site!”
-Mitster

Before they leave, Mitster and Glenica pose for their landing portrait!

“That’s a great shot! Good news – we think you can leave the science equipment on Mun! We can communicate remotely and view the results since the communitron unit appears functional! Let’s get you back here for the next mission!
-Gene

The Aurora 18 Lander (the second one!) blasts off from Mun…

…and docks with the Aurora Crew Vehicle in orbit!

“Welcome back! Wow – that’s a lot of rocks!”
-Sean

“Time to head home and let the researchers check out all these Mun Rocks!”
Glenica

“Thrusters… FIRING!”
-Mitster

Aurora 18 heads back home!

Just before entering the atmosphere, the command module detaches…

… and hurtles through the atmosphere, protected by it’s heat shield!

The parachute deploys, and the spacecraft is rescued!

Year 16, Day 398 (Aurora 18 Crew Returns To Original Landing Site!)

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After the complicated docking/refueling with the new lander, Mitster and Glenica head back down to the surface!

“Let’s see if we can complete this mission!”
-Mitster

“I just hope all this equipment is compatible!”
-Glenica

Mitster slowly brings the lander down, within sight of the old landing site! The Mun Rover and other scientific equipment are still there!

Glenica climbs out, and begins deploying the solar arrays needed to power all the scientific experiments!

“That should do it! Let’s wait for some results and contact Mission Control!”
-Glenica

Mitster and Glenica wait in the lander for updates!

“Hang in there everyone… we don’t know how long it will take to get science from this new equipment!”
-Gene

Year 16, Day 396 (Aurora 18 Rescue Mission Launches!)

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Mission Control launches the automated mission to Mun – carrying the new Mk3 Lander! The Aurora Rockets aren’t designed for very heavy payloads, so it will be a fairly complicated operation to get the new lander to the Aurora 18 crew!

Once in orbit of Kerbin, the Lander expends much of it’s fuel for the burn to Mun…

… and then circularizing!

Then – Mission Control remotely controls the Aurora 18 Crew Vehicle, with Sean inside, to a rendezvous with the Mk3 Lander!

Success! The Lander and the ACV Dock… now the docked craft rendezvous with the Mk2 lander carrying Mitster and Glenica!

The ACV remotely transfers it’s excess fuel to the Mk3 lander – and then the lander disconnects, and heads over!

The two landers dock! Mitster and Glenica carefully move all important science data to the new lander, and prepare to disconnect!

“Glad that’s over with! Let’s get back down to Mun and finish our work!”
-Glenica

Year 16, Day 392 (Aurora 18 Blasts Off Mun After Power Emergency!)

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“I’ve been watching these power levels closely… we don’t have enough to last another night on Mun! We need to get to orbit fast!
-Mitster

Thankfully, Mission Control has a solution! A Mk3 Lander has been under development, and with great expense has been constructed quickly and will launch shortly! The new lander has enhanced fuel reserves, and carries the extra equipment needed for the landing! Once the new Lander arrives, the crews will dock in orbit, and head down again!