Kerbal Space Program Mission #7, part one

Munar Lander 4: OK, let's try this again.

This will be a brief update, but it's mainly due to the sheer volume of screenshots and events in this mission that require splitting it up. I'd like to get the next part published fairly soon, to avoid letting down my handful of readers.

Day 15

Active project: Munar Lander Project

Active mission: Munar Lander 4
Selected vehicle: Lightning 3

Assigned crew: Thong Kerman

After the electrical failure of the previous rocket, a second attempt at a rescue mission has been prepared and launched early the following morning from Kerbal Space Center.

Hurry! We have to save Josh from boredom!

Rather than being left behind as an unused design, the competing lander prototype is now serving as the third model in the program's Lightning series.

Space hasn't changed much since you were last up here.

Thong was the main proponent for using a manned vehicle bearing a spare crew module. Thus on short notice and with no volunteers he has been selected as the one to man it.

I always include a photo of the retro-burn, they make me feel nostalgic.

The launch and orbital transfer stages manage to carry the new, heavier craft into space with a decent amount of fuel left.  At least it's decent from what I can tell at this point. Command does some rough mental math based on the previous designs' fuel usage and concludes that Thong's mission does not need to abort.

What if my head explodes with dark forebodings, too?

However, Josh's landing site is still on the night side; a difficult prospect for a precision landing. We'll let Thong Kerman complete another 5 or 6 orbits until it becomes sunrise at the first Mün landing site. This will push Josh to nearly a full week spent stranded.

We'll come back to the rescue mission once it's ready to land. Stay tuned.