Summer and Orlas blast off from Aurora Crater!
“I think we found a great site for the new Base!”
-Summer
“Agreed! It’s not just scenic either… there’s a lot of interesting science to be done at that location!”
-Orlas
Summer pilots the lander to a rendevous with Mun Spaceport…
… and docks!
“Alright, let’s get ready for the arrival of Aurora Base! “
-Summer
While scientists are still grumbling that the lack of water means the outpost will likely never be self-sustaining, KSEA is nonetheless excited to release plans for Aurora Base – the next Munar Outpost! The name was chosen to honor the Aurora Program, which paved the way for every crewed KSEA mission!
The site chosen by Orlas and Summer has been named Aurora Crater.
Unlike previous Munar Outposts, this one will have a greenhouse and supplies to make habitability long term, if not permanent (with minor support from Kerbin.)
Construction has already begun, and the Outpost will be launched on a Jool-X rocket soon!
After traveling for several days, Summer and Orlas have still not found any water on Mun!
“These surface readings are a 1:1 match for orbital readings… there appears to be NO detectable water here at all! We can try digging with equipment in future missions… but I don’t think we should plan on any base that has water sourced from Mun itself!”
-Orlas
“Some good news though… we’ve found a nice flat area that is rich in most other resources! It’s also quite scenic!”
-Summer
Mission Control review the data… there’s a lot of disappointment that Mun seems to have no water, but Orlas helpfully makes a point:
“There are plenty of other worlds to colonize! We can use Mun as a testbed for future sites that may also not have water, for long term but not self-sustaining colonies!”
-Orlas
At the original landing site for Aurora 27, the lander is remotely piloted up…
…and then to the new site found by Summer and Orlas!
“Look! There it is! These new landers are so advanced!”
-Orlas
The two Kerbals drive the rover back to the lander, and camp out while Mission Control decides the next move!
Summer, Gillian, and Orlas blast off in Aurora 27 – launched on top of a Sarnus Va Rocket!
This will be Summer’s first command, and the first mission to Mun specifically to find water!
So far, orbital scans have indicated that there is NO water… but that can’t be right! Aurora 27’s mission is specifically to find water along the Mun’s equator!
“Here we go! The Sarnus has a real kick to it compared to the Crew Rockets… Wow!”
-Summer
The solid rockets detach, then the second stage breaks free, and the fairing explodes outward!
“Mission Control confirms orbit – you’re up Summer!”
-Gilian
Summer detaches from the lander, spins the Crew Module around….
“Roger that! Transposition maneuver… complete!”
-Summer
…and docks again!
Aurora 27 fires it’s engines, entering Mun Orbit!
Until it eventually arrives at Mun Spaceport!
The Lander / Rover detaches, and is flown remotely, docking to the station….
… while Summer docks the Crew Module by hand!
“Alright everyone – no time to lose! Let’s get down to the surface and find some water!”
-Summer
“Certainly there’s SOME water down there… the orbital sensors have read nothing but zero percent!”
-Orlas
The lander undocks, then sets down on Mun, along the Equator just west of the Northwest Crater!
“Mission Control – this is Summer… Aurora 27 has touched down on the Mun!”
-Summer
The rover is lifted off the lander, and touches down!
“Rover is clear of the lander… “
-Orlas
After the Rover deployment is done, Summer climbs out of the spacecraft!
“Oh wow! Oh wow!”
-Summer
“It’s beautiful out here!”
-Summer
Orlas leaves the Crew Lander and climbs down to join Summer…
“It sure is!”
-Orlas
The two share a moment admiring the stark, austere beauty of Mun…
… and then head out looking for Water!
The rover has enough supplies to last several days on the surface. Hopefully by then the crew will find some of Mun’s precious water!
The Aqua-1 Probe bound for Mun is ready at the White Mesa Facility…
…and launches!
While the re-usable first stage returns to Kerbin, the probe itself continues into orbit around Kerbin!
“Roger that, we’re showing orbit achieved – you are go for the burn to Mun!”
-Gene
After the burn, Aqua-1 continues it’s voyage to Mun…
Until it arrives, and prepares to burn into a polar orbit!
“Telemetry says Aqua-1 is in position – Glenica, you’re good to start the experiment!”
-Gene, at Mission Control
“OK – deploy arm… extend antenna … activate sensors!”
-Glenica
The antenna arm extends, and folds over 90 degrees, allowing the water sensors to start scanning unobstructed!
“200k altitude looks to be ideal. We should hopefully have some data back soon!”
-Samner, at Mission Control
A key to any long term colony site is finding an ideal location that has ample supplies of water. To this end, KSEA and KOAA (the Kerbin Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration) have worked together to develop the Aqua Scanner Mk1.
Launched on a Nebula Rocket, the spacecraft will travel to Mun orbit and start scanning for ideal landing sites! Once sites have been selected, Kerbals will scout them out, and then the development of an actual colony can commence!
Mission Control gives the plan to relocate the old Kerbin Spaceport to Mun a name: Operation Moving Day! The audacious plan will move the old Kerbin Spaceport… to Mun orbit!
One of the already built “Asteroid Movers” is modified with a docking port that should connect to the Spaceport, and launches on a Sarnus Va rocket!
The Station-Mover rendezvouses with Kerbin Spaceport…
…and docks!
“Remote sensors indicate a good lock! Nice work!“
-Gene
Bill, KSEA’s senior engineer will fly up in a Crew Vehicle to oversee the entire process! Edan will be the mission commander, and Gilian will be going up for her engineering expertise!
Crew Vehicle 6 carrying Edan, Bill, and Gilian blasts off from White Mesa!
“There it is – Old Kerbin Spaceport!”
-Edan
“Soon to be Mun Spaceport!”
-Gilian
“Hey – that’s catchy!”
-Bill
Crew Vehicle 6 docks!
Bill, Gilian, and Edan board the station and check things out!
Very slow control
Luly and Mirphe blast off from Mun’s surface!
Then dock with the Aurora 24 Crew Vehicle in orbit!
“That sure took a while! I almost ran out of snacks up here!”
-Seely
Mirphe burns the engines, and the Aurora 24 capsule detaches, and hurtles (safely!) to Kerbin’s surface…
Splashing down in the surface! Recovery teams are sent out at once, to recover the Kerbals and all the interesting science gathered on Mun!
Aurora 24 blasts off, heading for Mun! While some say that the Mun missions have become routine, the Kerbals who fly them know that space travel is never routine! In fact, even the simplest mission is quite dangerous and even deadly!
“Where’s the landing site this time? ”
-Mirphe
“The northeast basin! We’ve never been there before!”
-Luly
Mirphe and Luly transfer over to the lander…
… and head down to Mun’s surface!
“We’re almost there…. contact!”
-Mirphe
“OK… deploy the rover!”
-Luly
The rover detaches, and the RCS deployer lifts it up… and then gently sets it down next to the lander!
Next, Mirphe and Luly head out to explore!
Luly plants the flag at the Northern Basin, then salutes while the cameras on the lander take their portrait!
“For all Kerbalkind!”
-Luly
Luly deploys the scientific instrumentation, while Mirphe supervises!
“Mmmhmmm. Looking very scientific – carry on!”
-Mirphe
Next, the RCS deployer detaches from the lander, and expends all it’s fuel to fly up and away from the landing site! The seismic sensor will get interesting results from the impact!
“I feel a little bad littering on Mun! But I guess it IS for science!”
-Luly
Luly and Mirphe explore the surface in the rover!
After scouting out the landing site, the two return to the lander to rest! Mun missions have been getting longer and longer, training the crew for the rigors of landings on very distant worlds!
After undocking with the lander, Aurora 19 powers up it’s engines and heads home!
“Now we wait!“
-Malcolm
The Aurora 19 Command Module burns through the atmosphere…
…until the parachutes can safely deploy!
Moments later, the Aurora Command Module splashes down! Rescue teams are dispatched, and towels and refreshments are prepared for the brave Kerbals of Aurora 19!
Kerbal States | Kerbin Space Exploration Administration 