Minmus

Year 2, Day 205

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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!

Year 2, Day 115 (Aurora Program Announced)

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All of Kerbin is excited as KSEA announces the next phase of the space program: AURORA! AuroraCrewVehicle.png

The Aurora Program is designed to reach Mun and Minmus.  The first test vehicle is the Aurora Crew Vehicle – designed solely to test the command pod, and provide a reliable means of taking crew to orbit and back.  The first test will be Aurora 1… taking the the rest of the crew to the Kerbin Space Station!  Construction starts at once!

Year 2, Day 71 (Scout 2 Arrival at Minmus)

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screenshot271.pngScout 2 arrives at Minmus!  Thankfully all the probe’s systems appear to be working normally. screenshot274.png

Scout 2 slowly decends…. it’s important the craft land exactly where KSEA scientists have planned, as the communications systems on board requires a direct line of sight with Kerbin.  As Minmus rotates, it will take Scout 2 out of range!   Scout 2 sets down… JUST IN TIME!  Communications go dark as Minmus’s rotation carries Scout 2 out of range!

 

Year 2, Day 01 (Discovery 1 Starts Minmus Research)

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screenshot180.pngJeb closes the orbit  of Discovery 1 to a very close 20km.screenshot181.png

Bob hops out and starts running the planned experiments!

“It’s amazing out here!  Kerbin looks so small! And Mun, it just looks super tiny!”

-Bob

The next phase is even more exciting!   Jeb adjusts the orbit so that the Discovery 1 will get very close to the surface of Minmus.   How close?  Almost 8000 meters!  screenshot186.png

Jeb maneuvers  Discovery to a nice, low pass of Minmus.

“I’m going a little ways out from the ship to get a good look!”

-Bob

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“Um… Ok… OK!  That’s enough space walking!  Minmus looks so close I can practically taste it!”

-Bob

After calming down Bob returns to Discovery 1, and the crew waits for their scheduled return!

Year 1, Day 342

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screenshot132.pngHorizion 10 will have an early, early morning launch.  “The lights on the towers make the rocket look awesome!” Jeb remarks.

screenshot133.pngHorizion 10 takes off, and settles into orbit after some initial piloting difficulty.  “Dang… wasted some fuel there!  We’ll do the math in orbit and see if I can still make it to Minmus!” Jeb says.  Fuel is tight on this mission.. so everyone is a bit nervous! screenshot134.png

Thankfully it looks like there’s enough fuel in the craft to make it to Minmus and back using a free return trajectory.  The burn is a success!  Now the REAL test… the long, long flight to Minmus.  Jeb says he’s prepared for it though!  Good luck Jeb!