Kerbal Space Program Mission #4, part 3

Explorer 4, part 3: The voyage home

Day 9

Active project: Project Explorer

Active mission: Explorer 4

Selected vehicle: Thunder Road 3

Assigned crew: Nick Kerman

I almost forgot about Nick. Let's tune in for his atmospheric descent.

Ask me about how I almost got Nick killed again on this mission.

Nick's bringing the Explorer 4 back at about the same speed as David did in the previous mission, and in the same type of rocket. I wouldn't call it 'routine' just yet but some of the surprises and possible mishaps have been eliminated.

Don't touch the floor or sides of the cabin for the next couple minutes.

It does still give us some great photos and sense of accomplishment, though.

"There a limo ready at the landing site, right?"

Parachute successfully does not rip out of its mounting when released. That's always a plus.

That's no moon...

Again, parachute lines fail to break upon the force of opening.

...Oh wait, it is a moon. (Two moons, if you look close enough.)

Nick lands his pod on an incline and waits for recovery.

Kerbal Space Center is able to properly analyze the material experiments and confirm a great amount of scientific data, not to mention all the information from the command pod itself. These findings will bring us closer to some major R&D results soon, particularly new scientific measuring tools and experiments, in addition to bigger rocket parts and unmanned probes.

We'll put the Explorer project on hold while we focus on the new challenge of reaching the Mün.

Day 10

Active project: Munar Lander Project

Active mission: Munar Lander 1

Selected vehicle: Lightning Lander Prototype

Assigned crew: Josh Kerman

As previously outlined, the new launch vehicle needs to be able to bring our lander into orbit of Kerbin's moon. That function will have to be tested in the field (the Kerbal way of doing things), but we should at least ensure the lander can be used to perform the critical mission objectives by our selected astronaut: Josh Kerman, first Kerbal in space.

"I'm going to the moon already?"

Here we have the Munar Lander Lightning prototype on the launchpad. This test is simply confirming the lander has the capacity to maneuver, land, and allow for EVA operations upon exiting the craft. If it can be accomplished here it can do so in a lighter, airless environment.

"Because I thought you said the rocket would be bigger this time."

The new engine has a low maximum thrust but the lander is light enough to easily lift off in Kerbin's gravity.

"That was quick."

This is also a good test for my ability to perform a landing while also taking screenshots; The lander will fall more slowly in the moon's gravity so I may have sufficient opportunity for good snapshots before touchdown.

"The moon appears to be already inhabited, with its own space center that looks just like ours."

With gravity being only 1/6th of Kerbin's, Josh's spacesuit rocket pack will have enough thrust to fly him back into the command pod, assuming he can't simply jump up to the hatch. Here on Kerbin, he'll just have to settle for walking back to the command center.

"There's grass on the moon!"

Our primary objectives on the surface itself, other than getting Josh's reports of his first-hand experience of the moonscape (Münscape? Am I bugging anyone with these derived words?), will be two-fold: grabbing a surface sample and planting a flag. A substantial amount of science data is expected from a set of Mün rocks.

First Kerbin to land in the back lot and walk around in a spacesuit.

The flag will merely mark the landing site for future posterity and record-keeping. We'll humor Josh and let him put up the Kerbal Space Center's default flag. We'll take it down again as soon as he leaves.

Of course I will have no idea whether there's enough fuel to bring the lander to the Mün and back, but we'll find that out on the next mission. As always, questions and comments appreciated, whether here, on Facebook, or in person.