Mission to Ike (with pics)

[Willtor]

It was a hot, muggy day at Kerbal Space Center when the Interplanetary Ferry launched carrying Cmdr. Raydrin and Navigator Bob. Bob arranged for a rendezvous with space dock at 75km to refuel and take on the lander carrying the experienced researcher, Jebediah. Jebediah had been in space for months, using the Mun to practice his landing technique. Raydrin said, "I have heard good things about Jebediah, but I understand the extended time in space has taken a toll on him, psychologically." "He's a professional," said Bob, "and I have no doubt he'll come through when it counts."

After a quick refuel and connection with the tiny lander, Raydrin made formal introductions. Wily old Jebediah introduced himself as the king of cheese, causing his crewmates to chuckle, nervously. Bob made calculations to leave Kerbin using a series of burns at periapsis, to conserve fuel. After a few burns, apoapsis extended beyond the Mun. It took a full day before the next burn could be performed. Trying to break the ice, Raydrin asked, "So, Jebediah, I understand you're a noted geologist. What are you expecting to find on Ike?" Jebediah giggled, and said, "Styrofoam peanuts." Again, his crewmates gave one another a look and chuckled, nervously.

Another burn and the Interplanetary Ferry was destined for the space between the orbits of Kerbin and Duna. Bob made further calculations for a burn to encounter Duna, some two months later. The time went quickly. Raydrin and Bob talked about science and philosophy and religion. They invented zero-G games with items around the pod. They watched movies and TV shows that were beamed to them from Kerbin. Jebediah played with his hands.

Eventually, the burn came.

Over the next few months, tiny course corrections were made to ensure a good trajectory and encounter with Duna. Bob arranged to put the Interplanetary Ferry inside the atmosphere to use the drag to slow the ship and turn the encounter into an orbit without using very much fuel. This had never been attempted, but Bob had watched a number of YouTube videos that assured him it would work.

Bob and Raydrin held their collective breath as the red glow of the surface engulfed the ship, which began to shake with the friction. Over the comm, Jebediah sang, Daisy over and over again, each verse faster and higher pitched than the last.

The ship achieved orbit with Duna, however, and a second aerobraking maneuver was performed to bring down the apoapsis. This second maneuver also created an encounter with Ike. "Just like I planned it," said Bob, confidently. Presently, the Interplanetary Ferry was in orbit of Duna's moon at 20km. "Time to earn your pay," said Raydrin through the headset. "Godspeed."

The lander detached and made an impressively graceful descent. The legs were extended and the lights came on, illuminating the ground below. Jebediah gently set down on the light side of the terminator, extended the ladder, and exited his vehicle.

Raydrin and Bob strained to hear of Jebediah's progress over the intercom. Jebediah was repeating a song:

Oh, I know a song that gets on everybody's nerves

Everybody's nerves

Everybody's nerves

Oh, I know a song that gets on everybody's nerves

And this is how it goes

Nevertheless, the song was punctuated with grunts and sighs that caused Raydrin and Bob to believe that he was, indeed, collecting samples. After a time, the lander lifted off and made its way to the ship. Bob had seen

for easy docking and rotated the ship till the artificial horizon faced the pole. Jebediah then did the work that connected the two pieces.

Raydrin said, "Professor Jebediah, did you get the samples you wanted?" Jebediah, for once, sounded dejected, "There were no Styrofoam peanuts." Raydrin and Bob exchanged a look and decided to leave well enough alone. Within a few minutes, Jebediah was expounding upon the improvements in DDR3 RAM over DDR2, and the other two crewmembers assumed the best.

The Interplanetary Ferry completed a second orbit of Ike and set its course to escape Duna, using a close periapsis to optimize fuel consumption. On the other side of Duna, the crew took a last wistful look at the red planet.

"Goodnight, Duna," said Bob. "Fare thee well," added Raydrin. The two smiled. "The iron beast! She is going away!" shouted Jebediah over the comm.

Again, it was months before Bob's scheduled burn to return the ship to Kerbin. The day was hotly anticipated, and when it came, a great sense of achievement reached the crew.

A few more adjustments, and Bob got a periapsis in his encounter with Kerbin inside the atmosphere at about 42km. The first look at the living planet was breathtaking.

As before, the mood was tense as the ship entered the atmosphere to perform an aerobraking maneuver. The maneuver brought the ship into an extremely elongated elliptical orbit. The ship came around a second time. A third pass brought apoapsis under 300km.

"I'd like to make a fourth pass, Commander," said Bob, enthusiastically. "My nerves can handle it," said Raydrin, "but we're pretty close to the edge." Bob nodded, emphatically, "I've calculated that we lose about 170m/s delta-v with each pass. Even with 200m/s, apoapsis is well above the atmosphere." Raydrin agreed and the ship came around again.

Unfortunately, by this time, periapsis had slipped below 38km, and the orbit decayed rapidly. "Full throttle!" shouted Raydrin, "We're losing the orbit!" A single tear fell from Bob's eye as he manned the controls. The orbit continued to decay and the ship reached 36km. KSC's operator came over the intercom, "Your apoapsis is under 75km!" Bob said, "Ground control, this is Major Bob. Tell my wife I love her!" "She knows!" shouted the operator. Jebediah's voice burst in, "Wheeeee!"

Apoapsis stabilized at 70km, and slowly began to climb. "We're making it!" said Raydrin, "We're pulling out!" As the enormous ship emerged from the atmosphere, Bob arranged for a rendezvous with space dock. "Well done, crew! I'm recommending you all for special honors," said Raydrin. "And taffy," said Jebediah, "Lots of taffy." Raydrin laughed, "Okay, and lots of taffy." "But not the rootbeer kind," said Jebediah, as space dock came into view, "I hate that flavor."