Year 2, Day 370 (Aurora 7 Lands On Minmus)

screenshot627.pngVal pilots Aurora 7 closer to Minmus, then transfers over to the lander with Bob! screenshot629.pngThe lander detaches, and Val pilots the lander to a good landing site. screenshot631.png

“I think I found a good spot!  Adjusting course…”
-Val

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The Aurora 7 Lander touches down!  The crew waits a short time for Kerbin to be in radio range before heading out! screenshot639.png

Bob is the first out!

“Wow!  It’s like the ground is made out of ‘bounce’!”
-Bob

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Val hops out next.

“Weeeeee!”

-Val

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Val and Bob are the first Kerbals on Minmus – what a day!   The two spend some time gathering space rocks and other scientific data. (Truthfully, Bob does most of the science, Val spends her time jumping around…) screenshot650.png

Before long, the power is running out, and the two have to head back to the Aurora Spacecraft.  The ship burns back to Kerbin, and should arrive in just under a week!

“That was a lot of fun!  We’ll have to come back again!”
-Val

 

 

Year 2, Day 254 (Mun Lander Announced)

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KSEA unveils the design for the Mun Lander!  A prototype is being built to experiment with on Kerbin, and allow crews to practice the vehicle!   The lander itself is designed to operate in the very low gravity of Mun and Minmus… the practice lander will be built with a heavier engine to allow more thrust, simulating the Munar environment.

Once training is complete, the Aurora Program will have a Crew Vehicle, a Lander, and the powerful Sarnus V-Heavy rocket to carry them both to Mun and beyond!  All of Kerbin is abuzz with excitement!

Year 2, Day 205

While construction continues on the massive new Station Core for the Kerbin Space Station, KSEA decides to launch a few training missions to practice for the upcoming trip to Mun and Minmus!

While KSEA has a lot of eager astronauts, the technology to perform a landing isn’t quite there yet.  While researchers… research, the crews will practice!screenshot422.png

Aurora 3 blasts off – carrying an entirely rookie crew – Edan, Robart, and Chrisnic! The mission profile is simple – launch into orbit, transit to Minmus, and return safely to Kerbin.

After orbit is achieved, the three all get their “space legs” and go for an EVA.  Everything’s going well… so Edan pilots the craft into an intercept with Minmus – good work Edan!

“Settle in everybody… this is a pretty long trip!”
-Edan

Meanwhile at KSC, construction is almost complete on 2 more Aurora Crew Vehicles.  One will always be on reserve for rescue capabilities, the other will be launched as the next Aurora mission!   The KSS Service Pod is almost ready to go as well!