Carson and Bob celebrate the New Year by exploring the stark, hot world of Moho! The durable rover and its life support systems keep them cool and mobile!
“Traction control on the surface looks pretty bad – I’ll see what I can do about adjusting the motors. Wish that Sondo was here – I’ll have to make some guesses on the configuration! “ -Bob
The rover works its way through the somewhat perilous terrain of the small crater, dodging around rocks, or whatever those strange shapes are! The traction adjustments seem to help, allowing the rover to brake without sliding down hills!
“You know, I like the heat, feels like I’m on an adventure! I’m getting a little light headed though….” -Carson
The lander climbs the side of the crater, navigating around the odd structures dotting the surface…
“Fascinating – previous explorations of Moho hasn’t noted these strange formations! My suspicion is these are basalt columns formed by cooled lava flows under the surface that burst up in these areas and then cooled… We should try to get some samples back to Kerbin! “ -Bob
With the sun still beating down on them, Bob climbs out of the rover and takes a sample near the strange columns!
“I wonder if the world is still volcanically active? Hopefully when we get this back to Kerbin the rest of the science team can make some sense of this! “ -Bob
“Better load those rocks up – we are going to bake if we’re out here too long!” -Carson
Carson dutifully drives the rover around the formations – aware that hitting just one the wrong way might tip the rover on its side, or worse!
“It’s hard to resist the urge to go full speed – these rovers are fun!” -Carson
“Well try ! We’re almost a thousand meters from the lander! “ -Bob
After collecting a great deal of science and surface samples, the pair head back to the lander!
Suddenly – Carson has a horrible realization that they forgot something critical!
“I just realized we forgot something! Something critical!” -Carson
“Oh no! What is it!? “ -Bob
Bob rolls his eyes as he realizes what Carson meant – the Kerbal States flag wasn’t planted when they landed!
“There we go!” -Carson
Bob configures the camera on the lander and records an image to transmit back to Kerbin – posing with “Old Kerby” for Mission Control!
The brave and somewhat forgetful Kerbals take the next few minutes gathering up all the material and science they need to take back to Kerbin… then climb back into the lander!
“Ok… hold on Bob – this new lander configuration is going to have a bit of a kick!” -Carson
The 4 small solid rockets fire, and the lander dramatically blasts off the surface!
“Ahhhhhhhhh! “ -Bob
The solid rockets fire with such force, and with the ascent angle being fairly acute, the two Kerbals see quite a bit of Moho’s surface moving quit quickly outside their window!
The small solid rockets use up their fuel and eject, and the lander uses up almost all of its fuel reaching orbit!
“Wow! That was so fun! Although, mission Control needs to think about retiring this lander. We have barely enough fuel to return to Intrepid! -Carson
“You’re right! You’re going to need to do some careful maneuvering, we have almost no margin for error in our fuel budget!“ -Bob
Carson careful fires the engine in a series of manuevers to rendevouses with the orbiting Deep Space Vehicle Intrepid!
“Look out the window Bob – we made it!” -Carson
“Yipee! Sondo, this is Bob – do you copy?“ -Bob
“Welcome back guys! Intrepid is ready for docking! I’ve activated RCS and SAS stabilization… you are go for maneuvering!” -Sondo
The lander moves closer and closer…
Until finally – connection is made! The crew is back together, and prepares for the next stage of their mission: The Voyage Home!
In Kerbin orbit, Jeb and Sean prepare DSV-5 Intrepid for it’s new crew! Instead of taking Crew Vehicle 6 back to the surface, the spacecraft is sent back to the surface – Jeb and Sean will take Crew Vehicle 1 back to Kerbin once it arrives! Meanwhile, Jeb pilots Intrepid to a higher orbit, 600k!
Crew Vehicle 6 sets down just west of the space center!
“Alright everybody, now’s the tricky part! Keep focused!”
-Gene, at Mission Control
For the first time, a Sarnus Va rocket will be used to launch a Nebula Crew Vehicle! The mission will carry Carson, Bob, and Sondo up to the Deep Space Vehicle Intrepid– as well as multiple mission payloads – a Modular-Payload Vehicle (MPV) loaded with Lithium and Monopropellant, a science satellite, and a new lander/rover combo!
“Engines are go!”
-Carson
Crew Vehicle 1 launches into space! The fairings eject once the spacecraft reaches a safe altitude and the engines fire, carrying the spacecraft to a higher than average orbit, 600k!
Carson rendezvouses with Intrepid, then separates to move clear from the stack!
At the last moment it was decided the fuel budget had room for a Modular Payload Vehicle loaded with Lithium Fuel and Monopropellant! It separates from the stack, and docks with Intrepid, topping off it’s fuel supplies!
After fuelling up Intrepid the crew will transfer over to Intrepid, swap places with Jeb and Sean! Then, the nose-science unit will attach to the front of the DSV. Finally, the most challenging task will be docking the new lander in the cargo bay!
With the Lithium fueling complete, Carson, Bob, and Sondo head to Intrepid!
“Ok – forward RCS thrust is active… systems are nominal…”
-Carson
“Oh wow – I saw Intrepid during assembly – to see it in space is quite a sight!”
-Sondo
Jeb and Sean shake hands with Sondo, Bob, and Carson! Then Jeb and Sondo head back to Kerbin!
“Good luck! Bring back some cool rocks from Moho!”
-Jeb
…setting down right by the Space Center!
With crew loading complete, it’s time to dock the nose science unit!
“This part will be easy, that lander’s going to be tricky though I just know it!”
-Carson
“I’m showing a good connection!” -Bob
After a short maneuver, Carson docks the satellite with the docking port of Intrepid!
“Ok – the communications dish has been retracted! You’re good to go Carson!”
-Sondo
Next, the most difficult part… docking the new lander!
“No problem guys – it’s just like docking the Crew Vehicles – only in an infinity smaller space with no margin for error! Hmm.”
-Carson
As the lander slowly moves into Intrepid‘s docking bay, there is a distinct metallic scratching noise as the landing gear scrape against the back of the cargo bay! The DSV-mockup at the Space Center isn’t perfect, and it turns out the lander fits much easier in the designs than actually docking!
“Tight fit… but we’re almost there! Nothing’s exploded yet!”
-Carson
Success! The lander fits snugly, but perfectly, into the cargo bay!
“Getting it out will be a lot easier once we’re at Moho!”
-Carson
Bob and Sondo check out the crew area of the Deep Space Vehicle, and make sure everything is ready to go!
“RCS fuel – check… extra snacks… check…”
-Bob
“The reactor is functioning normally – Sean did a great job starting it up – radiators, generator, it all checks out!”
-Sondo
“Looks good! Let’s get up front and get the mission to Moho started!”
-Carson
After prelaunch checks are complete, Intrepid fires it’s Colossus Engine!
“Fuel flow is good – temperatures are nominal!”
-Sondo
Intrepid speeds away from Kerbin!
“The transit burn to Moho was perfect! “
-Bob
“Ok everyone – get on your mittens, it’s time to get in the cryobeds!”
-Carson
“Looks, uh, comfy!”
-Sondo
The cryobeds freeze over, and Mission Control takes full control of the spacecraft! Intrepid will arrive at Moho later this year, on Day 383!
DSV-5 Intrepid’s first mission has now been fully planned, and a crew selected! Carson will be mission commander, Bob will be the Science specialist, and Sondo will be the Engineering Specialist!
For the first time a Sarnus Va rocket will deliver both the crew and the mission payload – Crew Vehicle 1 was designed initially as the replacement for the Aurora Crew Vehicle, but this is the first time it will be fully integrated into the stack!
This will also be the first test of the DSV-Lander – designed to fit into the DSV Payload bay! The Sarnus Va launch will also include the new DSV Science & Relay Satellite, that will be docked with the nose of the spacecraft and deployed in orbit of Moho!
After camping out on Moho for 64 days (a record!) Mirphe and Samner blast off, leaving behind all the science gear and the rover!
“Systems nominal… fuel supply will be… well, a little tight!” -Mirphe
“What’s that mean!?” -Samner
“Well, as long as I don’t make any mistakes whatsoever we probably have enough fuel to rendezvous!” -Mirphe
“Probably!?” -Samner
Thankfully, after reaching orbit there is *just* enough fuel to rendevous! The remaining fuel is a very low 12 d/v supply!
“Ok – we’re lined up … moving in to dock!” -Mirphe
“Welcome aboard! It was getting boring up here! Next time we visit we need to bring a lander that can fit everyone!” -Gillian
Samner stows all the scientific data and samples, while Gillian gets the reactor powered up!
The lander is undocked, and drifts away from Endeavor!
“Course set! We’re ready to head home!” -Mirphe
Endeavor powers up it’s nuclear engine and the spacecraft departs Moho!
The journey to Moho has taken much more fuel than initially planned – the lack of an atmosphere or any moons means very little natural assistance with slowing down!
Endeavor flies away from Moho, heading home!
Meanwhile, the crew enters cryostasis!
“Mission Control… this is Mirphe on Endeavor! Samner and Gillian have successfully entered Cryo-Stasis.. handing over Vehicle to Mission Control! Endeavor Out!” -Mirphe
“See you soon Endeavor!” -Gene, at Mission Control
Mirphe and Samner head west from the landing site, at the highlands, hoping to reach the midlands! So far the rover initially designed for Duna appears quite capable on Moho!
“Definitely no problem with power… we’re so close to the sun the solar panels are almost dangerously hot!” -Samner
Suddenly, a strange rock formation appears on the horizon…
“What could that be!?” -Mirphe
Mirphe drives the rover closer and closer!
“Temperature is rising as we approach… be careful!” -Samner
It looks like some kind of massive magma formation – Kerbal astronomers call them “Moon Frowns!” -Samner
“Well that’s a terribly silly name! “ -Mirphe
“The technical name is a Wrinkle Ridge… it’s the result of magma settling after cooling!” -Samner
“I think ‘Wrinkle Ridge’ is even sillier!” -Mirphe
Samner directs the scanning arm, taking proper measurements of the ‘Wrinkle Ridge!’
Endeavor arrives at Moho! The engines begin automatically firing to capture in orbit. Meanwhile, the crew is woken up from Cryo-Stasis!
“Brrr! We must have arrived! I need to get to the command module, I hear the engines firing!” -Mirphe
Gillian and Samner wake up too, and start preparations for entering orbit!
The burn to capture orbit is nearly 15 minutes long!
It takes a while, but eventually the final orbit is reached…
A very close 15k orbit above the surface! Another burn occurs to take Endeavor’s inclination closer to Moho’s equator – everything is being done to get as much deltaV out of the onboard lander as possible!
“Mission Control, this is Mirphe… Ideal orbit achieved! Endeavor preparing for crewed Moho Landing!” -Mirphe
Back at mission control, everyone cheers!
“Get some rest for the surface mission Endeavor!” -Gene, at Mission Control
The crew for DSV-4’s first mission is announced – Pilot Mirphe, Engineer Gillian, and Scientist Samner! The crew board Aurora 25, carrying the Moho lander and a Rover!
The rover is the exact design of the most recent Aurora mission – Aurora 24, using the RCS deployer.
Aurora 25 blasts off!
“All dials look good… systems nominal.” -Mirphe
The solids detach, and the second stage ejects shortly after, bringing Aurora 25 to orbit!
“Now we just need to rendezvous with Endeavor!” -Gillian
“Easier said than done! These DSV payload/crew missions are one of the most complicated piloting challenges!” -Samner
“Roger that! Good luck!” -Gene, at Mission Control
The Aurora 25 Crew Vehicle moves in to dock with Endeavor!
“Success! We’re docked! Switching controls over to the Moho Lander… starting Lander Docking Maneuver!” -Mirphe
The lander detaches from the rover, and slowly moves in closer and closer to Endeavor’s cargo bay! The primary communications dish is retracted to avoid any incidents!
“Almost there…. got it!” –Mirphe
Next, all cargo is unloaded from the Aurora Crew Vehicle, which disconnects!
“OK Mirphe… sensors show the ACV is clear of Endeavor. You’re good to remotely pilot the rover on over!” -Samner
Mirphe pilots the rover, using about 20% of it’s RCS fuel.
“Ok, rover captured! Let’s get the cargo bay closed and head out!” –Mirphe
“Reactor at full… radiators show nominal flow… crew and supplies stowed… I think we’re good to fire the engine!” –Gillian
“Course has been fed into the computer, we’re ready!” –Samner
With that, Mirphe fires the Colossus Engine, and the nuclear engine carries Endeavor on it’s way to Moho!
“Burn almost complete!” -Mirphe
Endeavor’s engines stop firing, and the spacecraft appears to be on course for Moho! In a few days the crew will enter cryo-stasis and rest for their interplanetary voyage!
Kerbal States | Kerbin Space Exploration Administration 