First travel to Moho

[XB-70A]

 

I finally got an occasion during the last month to send a new crewed mission to another planet after Duna. Eve seems not to be a good choice for my underpowered vehicle and Jool's system devoid of a good launching window for the next days, so remained Moho.

The complex first launcher used for Duna needs some rework, being to heavy and having to much parts :

So the Duna Lander I gives its place to the second generation, simpler, cheaper and... not really more efficient...

Anyway, the liquid boosters and their Mainsail were recoverable. That still is a good point. And the lander also get a new styling to fit in the thinner fairing

A first test flight to the Mun :

This live experiment was concluded as satisfactory.

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So cames the time for the mission!

See you next year Dear.

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134 days after the encounter with Moho is just a question of hours :

The brown spot is hard to distinguish on this shot as just a small arc of its surface appears a bit high and on the right of the vessel.

Time for the circularization.

135 days, 45 minutes. Probably one of the community worst performances.

The huge amount of science experiments will compensate a bit the cost of this flight.

Here Sergei enjoys his first extra-vehicular sortie out of Kerbin Sphere of Influence. (Green skins problems not covered by the KSP insurance).

De-orbit goes smoothly, this huge crater being selected as the landing site.

Seconds aaaannnnnd...

We did it!!!

Like on Duna a year before, nobody escape the traditional picture of "La Famiglia".

Free sunbath for all!

Don Kermanone and his sons enjoy some peaceful time before going back to the ship for experiments.

(Take your time... the next launch window is not before some months)

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Time to go back home!

See you Moho, don't know when we will come back, but not too soon for sure.

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Back, finally.

Not enough time and fuel for a proper circularization.

... it will not be a 100% recover mission. Anyway, I was too tired at this time to make a good job.

Speed brakes extended, the craft  still weighs 29 t at the moment.

Seems like the pilot team enjoys this re-entry.

It will be closer of the KSC than what was expected.

Drague chute deployed.

But still falling at more than 260 m/s...

Fiiieeeww, I really should start to conceive a new craft fully made of stock part and much more important : LIGHTER.

Travel completed in 357 days. Next step : EVE!