Around the Worlds: Part one (an Elcano challange saga)

[Mechtech]

Quote

 

 

From the desk of Gene Kerman, KSC mission control:

 

Hey Jeb, take a look at this with Bob and Bill and tell me what you think. is this doable?

 

Mission proposal

Minmus Heavy-duty Extended-range Exploration Rover (HEER) & Minmus Base Facilities (MBF)

KSC command has expressed interest in a preliminary expedition to Minmus, fo the purposes of research and surveillance of potential local launch sites, as well as the construction of basic facilities to support future scientific and colonization efforts. to that end it is suggested that KSC control consider the following mission profile:

Phase One

goals:

-construct basic planetary habitation facilities at site A (see attached map) and subsequently transfer the needed staff, parts, and assorted other items of import to said site.

-assemble the HEER science rover and attached trailer (see: HEER system proposal) locally to simplify shipping logistics and reduce cost

-survey site B (see map) for potential launch sites

-If no such sites are present, continue to site C and detach trailer unit for long-term survey mission

-after trailer detachment, continue along proposed route, periodically deploying S-177 'Earthwatch' Seismic sensor pods and S-222 'thumper' Seismic impact devices as-needed.

-return all resulting samples and data to KSC as needed either via transmission or physical return via recovery pod

Proposed equipment:

-Heavy-duty Extended-range Exploration Rover (HEER)

-Long-distance High-endurance rover based on existent Wildebeest Science rover modified for long-term habitation and survey duties

-HEER Trailer module: Extended Occupancy Remote Survey Mission (EORS)

-trailer module able to be pulled by the HEER containing advanced survey station, workshop and small inflatable habitat. intended for deployment at either Site B or Site C (see map) to begin preliminary assembly of local launch site

-S-177 Remote Sensor Pod

-small unmanned pod equipped with several seismic sensors intended for deployment in phase 2 (see below)

-S-222 Seismic Impact Experiment

-Small unmanned experiment pod equipped with an impact hammer for phase 2

 

Phase 2:

Minmus Seismic Measurement Experiment (MSM)

-after completion of phase 1, phase 2 will commence utilizing the experiment pods left behind by the HEER to conduct seismic studies on Minmus's composition.

Phase 3:

Recovery

-use of pre-existing KWD-111-M "Elevator" and KWSX-12-OR "Deorbiter" vehicles to return samples and rover team to KSC

 

Proposed route of HEER rover (subject to change)

Quote

From the desk of Jebediah Kermin:

looks pretty okay to me Gene, though Bob and Bill tell me that those cuts over the highlands might be dicey. We'll bring in Val once she's back from that board about that shuttle she keeps trying to get funded, get her thoughts on the route. other than that, we'd have to see this rover of theirs and do some testing before we commit, but I don't see anything inherently wrong with the idea. We'll talk to Val and then bring this up to the rest of the teams to get there opinion.

Fly High

-Jeb

 

 

[OrbitalBuzzsaw]

Do it. Now.

[Mechtech]

~~Sixteen Months Later~~

 

"KSC to Seeker-1, KSC to Seeker-1, report status, over."

"We read you five-by-five Gene. Jeb got the second Dragonfly docked just in time. we are full-fuel and ready to go; over."

"Rodger that Seeker. you are T-minus thirty minutes to transfer burn, recommend alignment maneuvers at this time, over."

"Copy that. beginning alignment for transfer burn in T-minus thirty. over."

~~~

"KSC to Seeker-1, KSC to Seeker-1, report status, over."

"Just finishing the last maneuver here- there we go. we are fully aligned for transfer KSC. estimate burn in T-minus two minutes, confirm that please KSC, over."

"Confirm that Seeker. commence burn in T-minus two minutes, over."

 

"Seeker-1 to KSC, Seeker-1 to KSC, we are go for burn. firing main engines now. over."

"copy that Seeker. all systems reading green. good luck out there."

"Sweet Kerm, don't let me love this up. main engines, full thrust!"

"Phew! Seeker-1 to KSC, orbital transfer burn complete, confirm trajectory status, over."

"Seeker-1, KSC. trajectory is spot-on, nice work Jeb. you are go for Minmus intercept in T-minus eight days, three hours. You'll pass out of real-time transmission range soon, so you're on your own until you get the ground station set up except for dire emergencies. KSC, out."

"Rodger that KSC. See you in a couple weeks. Seeker-1, out."

[Mechtech]

*playing Recording....*

"Circularization complete! Are you read for this guys?"

"Born ready, Jeb. alright, Pathfinder will drop first, followed by Dragonfly one and two. we'll let the warehouse land last, I for one cannot WAIT to be out of microgravity."

"Feeling the burn already Val?"

"no, I just prefer my drinks to stay in the bottles, not attempt to escape through the straw."

"alright you two, cut the chatter. Mind, you ready to land that tin can?"

"Yes sir!"

"detaching now... good, good... we are clear. panels deployed. inputting final co-ordenates into landing computer..."

"go baby go!"

"commencing deorbit bur-"

*CRRRAAANGKCH*

"THE HELL WAS THAT?"

"No damage, no damage, dragonfly two, check hull integrity"

"gods and deamons that's one hell of a dent! what the hell hit us?"

"this is Pathfinder, we've lost panel two. please confirm not a computer failure, over."

"loveing hell pathfinder! I found your damn panel, it's floating two feet from my godsdamned window!"

"Kriffing- okay, motion to keep Mind from driving anything else ever?"

"Seconded."

"Thirded!"

"yeah, yeah, computer errors are obviously the fault of the shmoe in charge of putting a number into a box..."

~~~

"Pathfinder now commencing final insertion- fuel looks good, target difference only five meters estimate."

"Breaking burn steady... fuel consumption within acceptable peramiters."

"on final approach now... steady... steady... one hundred meters and falling...."

"almost there...."

"TOUCHDOWN!"

"Pathfinder down. site looks good, nice and level. waiting on you Dragonfly."

"Confirm that, Dragonfly one decoupling now..."

"Dragonfly-1 away! Deorbit burn in three minutes, hold on to your socks!"

"A night landing Jeb? you sure?"

"Damn straight! not like it'll be the first time, remember Poineer-7?"

"I thought we agreed never to speak about that again?"

"Ha! as if-"

~~~

"oh gods, oh gods-"

"for Kerm's sake Bob, quit panicking. this thing's a pig, but it does have a lot of toys the old Pioneer rig never did, and you know I've landed those things under far worse conditions than just a lack of light."

"DON'T REMIND ME!"

"Wuss."

~~~~

"see, wha'd I tell ya. safe and sound. Bob? Bob? oh great, he's passed out again.

Dragonfly-1 to Dragonfly-2, come in, you awake up there Val?"

"You bet! my turn now?"

"you bet. just don't forget to preprogram the warehouse before you leave!"

"No sweat. Bill fixed it up while I took a nap to be all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed for this."

"alright then. comeon down, the ice-cream's fine!"

~~~

"on approach, systems look good. Dragonfly-2 is go for breaking burn."

"handles like a dream- nice and steady. I'm glad we convinced command to spring for the four-engine model, the triple was a little sluggish for my tastes."

"Aaand- DOWN! right, the warehouse should be right behind us. Bill,what's the telemetry feed look like?"

"Looks good Val. she's a little lighter on fuel than I'd prefer, but everything seems to be within tolerance. should set down within five-hundred meters."

~~~

"you know, 'within 500 meters' looked so much smaller on paper."

"MIND! you're on shlepping duty! have fun!"

"Aw man..."

~~~

"Minmus Base to KSC, Minmus Base to KSC, come in. you getting our data feed?"

"Copy that, Minmus Base. Break out the beers, you're done for now!"

~Prologue complete~

[Mechtech]

Day Zero

Jeb's log, mission day 118:

Well, today's the day. the base is set up, the rover's built, and it looks to be a beautiful day here on Minmus. We'll be setting off up the side of Mt. Sundae to look at Site B in a few hours, and I took the time to take a coupe of vanity pictures before we head out.

She's certainly a pretty sight. we've christened her Intrepid in hopes prophetic naming. the others (save Val and myself) are already aboard, running final systems checks. hauling that trailer up the mountain's going to be interesting, wouldn't be surprised if we loose it a few times. oh well. 

Here's Val with our starter flag- we're about to board for the trip, just doing a quick check on inventory- wouldn't do to forget to pack something, after all. ah well, Val's starting to get that 'get-on-with-it' expression, so I'll just finish this log and saddle up. gonna be a long trip.

~~~~~~~

A/n: please do comment. particularly on the HEER.

 

 

Edited May 4, 2016 by Mechtech

[Mechtech]

Jeb's log: mission day 118.5:

We set off from Minmus Base early in the morning so as to make the hard climb over Mt. Sundae with full light- a decision made due to the fact that we weren't sure how Intrepid would handle the steep slopes awaiting us.

we made good time across the flats, reaching the base of the mountain near mid-morning. there was some debate as to our approach, but Val made a good argument to climb the eastern face of a lesser peak, Neapolitan Ridge, before tackling Sundae itself, so we drove to the base there.

We had some initial trouble once we actually hit the slopes that necessitated some use of RCS to control, and poor Bill had to get out and fix a tire that blew out for reasons undetermined- I suspect poor assembly is to blame.

However, once the tire was fixed and we set out properly, Intrepid had no difficulty scaling even the steep sides of Neapolitan's eastern face:

We stopped for an early lunch at the peak, took the time to plant a flag. Bob took this picture of myself and Val standing next to our marker flag.

We'll be heading up the slope in about half an hour, Bill wanted to have a go-round check on the tires and suspension after the climb, just to be on the safe side- a sentiment I happen to agree with. another blown tire could spell disaster on Sundae's unforgiving slopes, especially given the extra weight of the trailer. I'm off to help Bill while Val and Bob run system-checks. should have more log time once we get to the peak.