Minmus

Year 4, Day 196 (Refuelling Craft & Lander Arrive at Harmony)

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The Refuelling Vehicle arrives at Harmony! screenshot921.png

The lander separates… and the Re-fueling Vehicle docks with the station.  Sadly, the fuel on the vehicle was much less than hoped… future refueling missions that aren’t carrying a lander should deal with this issue.  screenshot923.png

The Minmus Research Lander arrives at Harmony!  Now it’s time for Robart and Samner to get some real science done!  Even with the lower than expected fuel, the station has enough reserves for 6 complete re-fills of the lander.  As the lander is preloaded with fuel, this means the station can handle 7 complete landings, which on Minmus goes a long way!

“I think we should be able to visit every biome on Minmus – exciting!”

-Robart

 

Year 4, Day 178 (Harmony Station Arrives at Minmus)

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screenshot892.pngHarmony Space Station finally reaches Minmus, and after another very long and akward burn, circularizes.

Relieved cheers and sighs can be heard all throughout Mission Control.  The mission was not a complete success however.  The amount of fuel required to get the Station into Minmus orbit has left it with less than half of the anticipated fuel reserves for it’s lander.

“I suppose we can send a fuel craft to refill the station. But a redesign for the next Space Station is clearly called for.”

-Robart

Meanwhile, Edan returns from Kerbin orbit – as engineers try to figure out the best way to deal with the situation on Minmus!

Year 4, Day 166

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Resolute is outfitted with the next (and last) Harmony Space Station module, the modified Science Module.  Edan is chosen as the pilot for this launch!

“Wow, this cockpit is so roomy compared to the Crew Shuttles!”

-Edan

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Resolute finishes its launch, piloted to just under 100k by Edan!

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“OK… approaching Harmony!”

-Edan

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“Opening cargo bay door… and releasing the Harmony Module!”

-Edan

screenshot860.pngThe module detaches… and after some tricky night-side maneuvering, attaches to Harmony.   Now it’s time for Resolute to head home!screenshot862.png

Resolute swoops in for a landing!

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Success!screenshot865.png

Edan is very pleased with himself, and insists on a photo – welcome home Edan… and good work!  Work begins at once on refurbishing Resolute.   Additionally, work begins on a NEW, as yet un-named Heavy Cargo Shuttle, to hopefully increase the capabilities of the Space Program!

 

 

 

 

 

Year 4, Day 129 (Harmony Space Station Planning)

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After some debate, scientists decide on the assembly method of the Minmus Space Station, Harmony.

First, a Sarnus V Heavy rocket will carry the Station Hub into orbit.  Then, two Heavy Cargo Shuttle launches will carry Harmony’s two modules into orbit.  Once there, the payloads will separate, and attach remotely to the orbiting Station Core.  (Resolute has already proven itself as a efficient method of carrying cargo into orbit, and since it’s the only Heavy Cargo Shuttle, engineers start work at once on getting the craft ready!)

Finally, the Station Core, still attached to the Sarnus V orbital stage, will carry the assembled station to Minmus orbit.

Initially, the plan was to launch three separate assembly missions, followed by a final crew mission.  This new method should be more efficient, and save time too!

Year 4, Day 125 (Harmony Space Station Announced!)

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KSEA announces plans for a new space station- for Minmus!  This station should provide long term habitation for a small team of scientists to perform multiple landings and other research on Kerbin’s very small neighbor!

3 separate Discovery Rocket launches should accomplish the mission, with the planned Aurora 16 launch delivering both the crew and the lander!  Should the mission go well, a similar station is planned for Mun! Once funding is available, construction on the Station’s core will begin!

Year 3, Day 272 (Aurora 14 Launches!)

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screenshot248.pngAurora 14’s crew is selected!  Val, Kimmy, and Bill will take the next Aurora Spacecraft to Mun!  This completes the “Explorer Six”, the pool of 6 astronauts that are in training to crew “Explorer” and the mission to Eve!screenshot252.png

The Aurora Spacecraft has had a slight adjustment made to its cargo bay, allowing more food and supplies to prevent a repeat of the near disaster that Aurora 13 very nearly became!

KSEA has decided to remove the on board power generator, and replace it with more supplies, as the solar panels have proven themselves for many missions as being a reliable source of energy for missions in the Kerbin sphere of influence. screenshot253.png

The first priority is to take the crew beyond Kerbin’s sphere of influence, and into ‘solar space.’ The mission will also be slightly less fuel efficient, demanding greater speeds of the spacecraft in order to maximize onboard crew resources. After reaching solar space, Aurora 14 will return to Kerbin’s SOI, and attempt a landing on Minmus, before returning to Kerbin.  It will be the most complicated mission attempted since Aurora 13! screenshot257.png

Val performs the docking and transposition maneuver, then ejects the orbital/insertion stage.  The protective cover over the Aurora Spacecraft’s engine is also ejected, and Aurora 14 rides the momentum out of Kerbin’s SOI!

 

 

Year 3, Day 183 (Aurora 13 passes Minmus Orbit)

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screenshot213.pngAurora 13 passes beyond the orbit of Minmus, carrying Kerbals further into space than ever!  screenshot214.png

“Exciting!  This is the first true solar science experiment ever done!”
-Orlas

Orlas hops out and conducts some experiments….screenshot215.png

Then the rest of the crew takes their own chances at a quick spacewalk!

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“It’s so pretty… and Kerbin looks so … small!”
-Mitster

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“The Damage to the hull doesn’t look so bad from out here!”
-Chrisnic

Everyone’s a bit confused about Chrisnic’s non sequitur, since no one even mentioned any hull damage… but once everyone’s had some fun, Mitster pilots Aurora 13 back into Kerbin Space, on a course toward Minmus!

Back on Kerbin, Frontier 9 launches, also heading to Minmus!

 

Year 3, Day 169 (Frontier 8 Launches, Aurora 13 Construction, Explorer Crews)

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Frontier 8, the probe to Moho is rolled out to the launch pad!  With a launch window coming up in 60 days, scientists are hopeful that the Frontier-probe design will be tough enough to survive a trip so close to the sun!   The launch goes well, and Frontier 8 sits in orbit, waiting for the launch window in about 60 days!

3 other Frontier Probes remain in storage:  Frontier 5 (Jool), Frontier 6 (Duna), and Frontier 7 (Neidon.)

Work also begins on Frontier 9, a survey probe for Minmus!

Additionally, construction starts on Aurora 13!   Aurora 13 and 14 will carry two different crews beyond Kerbin’s sphere of influence as training for the long flight to Eve. The entire KSC complex is abuzz with gossip regarding who the “Explorer 6” will be!  Even if a Kerbal is chosen to be one of the 6… only 3 Kerbals will ultimately be Explorer’s crew!  However, the runner up crew will most likely be in line for the next Deep Space Vehicle!