Year 17, Day 242 (Malcolm Test-Pilots Mk10 Aurora Crew Vehicle!)

August 15, 2020 sayburstuff Year 17 Aurora Crew Vehicle, Kerbin Spaceport, Malcolm

Malcolm blasts off in the new Mk10 Crew Vehicle!

The crew vehicle quickly reaches orbit, then Malcolm sets course for the Spaceport!

“This cabin is so roomy! Much more breathing room in here!”
-Malcolm

After rendezvousing with the Spaceport, Malcolm docks the spacecraft!

“Yikes! This centrifugal wheel is sure close to the docking ports! We should add something to make docking safer!”
-Malcolm

After some system tests, Malcolm undocks, and heads back to the surface!

The Mk10 decouples, and the command module heads back to the surface!

“Heading down… a little bumpy… but I’m on course to land just west of the Space Center!“
-Malcolm

The landing engines fire to slow down the Mk10…

… then the parachute deploys!

Malcolm climbs out, and the Mk10 is given approval for future production!

Year 17, Day 123 (Aurora 19 Crew Return Home!)

July 28, 2020 sayburstuff Year 17 Aurora 19, Aurora Program, Luly, Malcolm, Mun, Seely

After undocking with the lander, Aurora 19 powers up it’s engines and heads home!

“Now we wait!“
-Malcolm

The Aurora 19 Command Module burns through the atmosphere…

…until the parachutes can safely deploy!

Moments later, the Aurora Command Module splashes down! Rescue teams are dispatched, and towels and refreshments are prepared for the brave Kerbals of Aurora 19!

Year 17, Day 85 (Mun Rover Accident On Mun!)

July 27, 2020July 27, 2020 sayburstuff Year 17 Aurora 19, Aurora Program, Luly, Malcolm, Mun, Problems

While exploring the surface time got away from them, and Luly and Malcolm’s rover ran out of power! Thankfully, they were both able to get back to the lander in time.

“That was a close one!”
-Malcolm

With a new lander and science equipment on the way, the crew waits patiently on Mun’s surface!

Year 17, Day 76 (Aurora 19 Launches For Polar Mun Landing!)

July 26, 2020August 1, 2020 sayburstuff Year 17 Aurora 19, Aurora Program, Luly, Malcolm, Mun, Seely

Malcolm, Seely, and Luly are chosen to be the crew for the next Mun mission! For the first time, they’ll attempt a landing at the Mun’s north pole! The lander has been specially outfitted with a fuel cell to provide power in the uneven polar regions.

Aurora 19 blasts off!

The Sarnus Va carries the spacecraft higher and higher…

Until the Orbital/TMI stage fires, circularizing the craft!

“Everything checks out – let’s head to Mun!”
-Malcolm

Aurora 19 will be the first polar landing at Mun – a somewhat more difficult task given the inclination, and the availability of solar power at the poles.

Aurora 19 arrives at Mun! Malcolm and Luly EVA to the lander, and head down!

“Looks pretty hilly up here, but I think we have a good landing site selection…”
-Malcolm

The Aurora 19 lander touches down!

“Time to test the new and improved Rover Deployment System!”
-Malcolm

The Rover Assembly system powers up, detaches from the lander, and gently lifts up, then off to the side of the lander!

The Rover deploys successfully!

After deployment, the drone flies off until it runs out of fuel!

“Shame that things has to go crashing down! Hey! We should use the crash from the next one of those drones to test our seismic equipment!”
-Luly

Malcolm watches as Luly plants a flag at the North Pole crater!

Then, Luly gets to business planting all the science equipment, before heading off in the rover with Malcolm!

“One little problem Mission Control! We didn’t bring a communication system! We need to start double checking our science payloads before these launches!! “
-Luly

Engineers at KSEA begin work to see if they can throw together a replacement system quickly!

“We launched one lander for Aurora 18, we should probably be able to send another one just like it! We’ll get to work asap!”
-Gene

While Mission Control explores solutions to the science equipment at Aurora 19’s polar landing, Malcolm and Luly take off in the Mun Rover!

Year 10, Day 221 (Kerbin Spaceport Crew Delivery!)

November 11, 2018November 11, 2018 sayburstuff Year 10 Luly, Malcolm, Seely

Malcolm, Luly, and Seely blast off in an Aurora Crew Vehicle to supplement the crew on Kerbin Spaceport (and to get the newest kerbalnauts trained!)

Malcolm docks the ACV, and the crew makes themselves comfortable!

Meanwhile, another Aurora Payload Vehicle launches, carrying a new science payload to the station!

Year 9, Day 229 (Malcolm and Mirphe return home!)

October 21, 2018 sayburstuff Year 9 Aurora Crew Vehicle, Malcolm, Mirphe, Mun

As the Aurora Crew Vehicle approaches Kerbin, Malcolm carefully removes the tape over the staging switch marked “DO NOT PRESS!”

“<<audible CLUNK!>> Staging complete! Whew! That switch should have a cover over it or something! ACV on approach for a water landing!”

-Malcolm

The ACV races through the atmosphere!

Until the parachute fires, and the command module splashes down gently in the ocean!

“A rescue mission that turned into a little adventure – nicely done!”

-Gene, Mission Control

Year 9, Day 228 (Mirphe and Malcolm Head Home From Mun!)

October 21, 2018 sayburstuff Year 9 Aurora Crew Vehicle, Malcolm, Mirphe, Mun, Unity Space Station

Malcolm disconnects the ACV from Unity Station!

“Ok, we’re almost clear – you’re good to go!”

-Mirphe

Malcolm fires the ACV’s engine, and the crew are on a return to Kerbin!

Year 9, Day 226 (Mirphe and Malcolm Land on Mun!)

October 21, 2018October 21, 2018 sayburstuff Year 9 Malcolm, Mirphe, Mun, Unity Space Station

Mirphe and Maclolm finish checking the Aurora Mun Lander at Unity Space Station… it checks out! (The lander was last used by the Aurora 16 mission, on Year 4 Day 360.) Mission Command has cleared them for a landing at the Munar Lowlands, so they’re off!

“Coordinates are mapped – heading down!”

-Maclolm

The lander touches down!

“What an unexpected adventure!”

-Mirphe

“Oh wow… look up Mirphe! Kerbin looks so… small! ”

-Malcolm

After taking some time to appreciate the view, Mirphe and Malcolm climb back into the lander… and take off!

“These old Aurora Landers don’t have much for life support, we better get back to the station!”

-Mirphe

Malcolm pilots the Lander to Unity Space Station…

… and docks! The crew will remain on the station for a few days, then return to Kerbin!

Year 9, Day 223 (Rescue Mission Arrives at Unity Space Station!)

October 20, 2018 sayburstuff Year 9 Aurora Crew Vehicle, Malcolm, Mirphe, Mun, Unity

Mirphe arrives at Unity Space Station, in orbit of Mun!

“Anybody home?”

-Mirphe

“Thanks for coming so soon! But before we leave… I was thinking… maybe we could take one of the old Aurora Mun Landers down for a spin?”

-Malcolm

Malcolm and Mirphe head over to the landers and check things out… initial signs are that both of the craft are still quite space-capable, although one has more science equipment on board!