After an extended stay on the surface Mitster and Kimmy double check the science equipment on the surface of Eeloo is functional and blast off for orbit!
“All systems nominal, orbital velocity and trajectory tracks good…”
-Mitster
“Systems look good! No scientific equipment problems!”
-Kimmy
Mitster rendezvouses with Horizon!
“Looking good! Horizon is ready to dock!”
-Chrisnic
Very slowly, the lander moves in to dock with the interplanetary spacecraft!
As the lander is being left behind on Eeloo orbit, Mitster docks with the front docking port, as maneuvers are more complicated when entering the DDV cargo bay!
“Docking complete! Looks like a good seal!”
-Mitster
“Let’s start moving over all the scientific data and samples! We can still do a lot of science from orbit as well, before we leave!”
After weeks in orbit calibrating equipment and scouting out a new landing site, Mission Control gives the OK to land on Eeloo! Mitster and Kimmy board the lander and undock from Horizon’s payload bay!
“Good morning! Let’s get the systems ready for the approach to Slate!”
-Chrisnic, Mission Engineer
The crew rushes to the bridge – when Mitster spots Sarnus!
“Get a picture Kimmy!” -Mitster
“Wow! That’s the first picture Kerbals have ever taken of Sarnus!” -Kimmy
“…and look how small the sun looks from out here – wow!” -Kimmy
The crew starts powering up systems and verifies full communication with the Kerbin Deep Space Relay Network! After a time delay, a message comes back from Kerbin!
“Horizon – this is Gene at Mission Control, back on Kerbin! We’re reading your transmissions loud and clear – good luck!” -Gene, at Mission Control
The Horizon speeds toward Sarnus…
…and arrives at it’s close approach to Slate, the large moon of Sarnus!
“Main engine … firing! Reactor is showing full power!” -Chrisnic
The capture burn into orbit lasts nearly 2 minutes!
Finally, the ship is captured into orbit of Slate!
“Looks like we’ve got orbit! Good work everyone! Time to disconnect the communications probe!” -Mitster
The probe drifts away from DSV-3 Horizon! The satellite arrays should provide full communication with Kerbin for missions!
As horizon orbits around Slate, the crew starts reviewing data from the orbital insertion, as well as collecting tons of new data from the Sarnusian moon!
Horizon’s cargo bay opens, and the science equipment on the lander starts collecting data! However, Kimmy is the first to crunch the numbers and has some bad news!
“Uh oh! It looks like Slate is much more massive than we thought… this data says that we’re dealing with a lot more gravity than the lander was designed for!” -Kimmy
The crew discusses the situation with Mission Control, and a novel solution is found – change the mission parameters to land on the smaller Sarnusian moon of Eeloo!
“No problem – we can transit to Eeloo in 5 days! Plugging in the maneuver!” -Mitster
Before departing, Horizon collects information over many biomes as it circles the moon – Kimmy even climbs out and conducts visual surveys for several full orbits!
5 days later, on Day 89, Horizon begins it’s maneuver to Eeloo!
The nuclear engine fires…
… and the Horizon is propelled away from Slate, toward Eeloo!
Another 5 days later on Day 94, Horizon circularizes it’s orbit around Eeloo!
“Looks like orbit has been achieved! Eeloo is pretty similar to Mun – just a bit bigger – our lander shouldn’t have an problems!”
-Chrisnic
“We just need to find a good landing site. Maybe we can repurpose one of the survey sattelites in orbit of Slate? They should have enough deltaV to make it here!” -Kimmy
Mission Control agrees, and scientists begin working on maneuvers to bring the Slate Surveyor to Eeloo!
Aurora 23 launches from Cape Kerman, carrying Mitster, Chrisnic, and Kimmy!
Once in out of the atmosphere, the protective fairing deploys, and the spacecraft starts burning to rendezvous with DSV-3 Horizon!
“There it is! Slowing us down to stationkeeping….” -Mitster
Once Aurora 23 has matched speeds exactly with Horizon, Mitster heads over to the Slate Lander!
“I’m outside the lander… it looks in good shape! So does the relay satellite we’ll be leaving in a wide orbit of Slate!” -Mitster
As the sun sets, Mitster climbs into the lander, detaches from Aurora 23, and moves closer to Horizon’s docking bay!
“This is going to be almost entirely by instruments… it’s dark in space!” -Mitster
Thankfully, Mitster is able to dock with Horizon… just as the sun comes up!
Shortly after that, Mission Control remotely pilots the Relay Satellite over to the nose of Horizon!
“OK —- powering up the basic systems… things seem good over here! I think you guys can come over to Horizon now!” -Mitster
First, Mitster EVA’s over…
…then Kimmy!
“Oh wow! Horizon is looking good! I can’t wait to wake up and be in orbit of Sarnus!” -Kimmy
Chrisnic does a full survey of Horizon to make sure every single component of the mission is ship-shape!
“OK – Horizon is OK to go! Powering up reactor…. Radiator systems are functioning… Main Engine is showing full power available! We’re good Mitster…. light that candle!” -Chrisnic
With that, Horizon’s massive engine fires, in a burn that lasts for several minutes, propelling the crew to Sarnus in just three years!
“Hold on tight everyone… once the burn is done, we’ll head to the cryo-section for a little space nap… and before you know it, we’ll be at Sarnus!” -Kimmy
The mission patch for Horizon Crew Mission 1 is announced, and it looks like Mitster, Chrisnic, and Kimmy will be the lucky FIRST Kerbals to visit the Sarnus system!
Because of Horizon’s launch to high orbit (800k) – the next Aurora Rocket, Aurora 23) originally destined for Mun, will be used to launch the crew! This will also allow the delivery of a modified Mun Lander, with increased fuel and power systems, to land on Slate! The stack will also include a relay satellite that will be left in a high equatorial orbit of Slate, to assist the polar-orbit survey/relay satellite that is already at the moon.
The Aurora Rocket launches from KSC carrying the lander and other supplies!
Before long, remote systems guide the craft to Mun!
The lander sets down slowly… then runs out of fuel! Aurora 18’s support lander barely had fuel to travel from Kerbin and land on Mun… sadly Aurora 19’s second lander didn’t go well either!
“It’s pretty close – I’ll EVA over and see if anything’s salvagable!” -Malcolm
Malcolm finds the lander… mostly intact!
“The damage isn’t so bad! Looks like the Communication’s dish is intact though! I’ll head back and we can get it installed!” -Malcolm
Malcolm EVA’s across the Mun’s surface back to the lander!
“Well… this wasn’t a perfect mission, but we did get a lot of science data!” -Luly
“We did! And next time we’ll have the right tools, and nothing will have to explode!” -Malcolm
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
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!
Kerbal States | Kerbin Space Exploration Administration 