The Boys on Laythe

[Taki117]

Inspired by Brotoro's Long-Term Laythe Mission I decided to send my own Kerbals to Laythe and see how they fared.

This mission first began months in advance with a Mun base.

This was a precursor to what was to come.

Since the crew would need communications The first ship to launch was a communication probe carrier.

Its automated mission was to deposit a set of four communication satellites into a semi-synchronous orbit around Laythe, this was the start of a very long journey.

Shortly after this was launched it was decided to stage the Hab module, Science Module, and Rover in LKO so that when the transfer window opened it would be easier than trying to launch from the surface.

Here we see two of the tugs (With attached payload) docking with the Kerbal Space Station in a 200km orbit.

The Rover was the first to arrive. The plan was to drop the rover on the target island and drive it remotely to the landing zone on the coast.

Here we see the rover on approach for Jool aerobrake. Thanks to Deadly Reentry I had to be very careful about aerobraking and reentry.

After capturing the Rover (and leaving it in a highly eccentric orbit) The Probe carrier was next to arrive.

The aerobraking at Jool was treacherous at best, the atmosphere was super-heated as soon as the tug hit it.

Fortunately I got a Laythe encounter after the aerobraking and decided at this point to deploy airbrakes to assist with slowing down.

Once I got the appropriate apoapsis the protective shroud was jettisoned and my apoapsis pushed out of the atmosphere.

On the next orbit the probes were deployed and set in their ring around the moon.

The first probe is away:

And deployed:

The Hab module was the next to arrive. Aerobraking at Jool was uneventful, but when it hit Laythe Atmosphere it really lit up.

By now the rover had completed it's second pass and was ready for Laythe.

This would be the last time it would ever see space. As it plummeted towards Laythe on an unguided trajectory I could only watch and pray that nothing went wrong.

Because of the speed I was travelling and the angle I was approaching at as soon as I was slowed down enough to not overheat it was time to jettison the fairings and heat shield and come in on the sky-crane.

Thanks to a slight miscalculation the rover came in too hot and landed at a speed of about 23 m/s The wheels took the shock, but it wouldn't be going anywhere. Looks like this will be the new Landing Site.

By this time the Hab module had come around and was ready for its descent. As it hit the atmosphere slight flames licked at the heat/radiation shield (Also known as a fairing)

Once it was through the atmosphere it was time to jettison it's protective covering, deploy chutes, and but retro rockets to avoid overshooting the landing site and landing in the drink.

Once landed Poor Bobzer Kerman got the job of trekking to the Rover, repairing it, and driving it back to the Habitation module.

Unfortunately it was dark...

He first inspected the emergency ascent vehicles. Designed to get a Kerbal into orbit should something go wrong on the surface. Unfortunately one of them had exploded on landing, only one of them was going to be able to get off.

After fixing the wheels Bobzer climbed aboard for the short drive back.

At this point the Science Module, with Aller Kerman along for the ride, was ready for it's decent. It was on a truly ballistic trajectory, with no control what so ever after the final course correction. Here we see it passing just north of the Landing Site

And here we see it almost down, notice the lack of retro-rockets.

It landed just over 900m north of the landing site, so Bobzer once again had to drive over to it and push the module closer.

Once it was in place it was time to plant the flag and take the group photo that would be beamed back to KSC for record keeping.

Here we see Bobzer, Aller, and Selby posing next to the flag.

Edited December 13, 2013 by Taki117

[bsalis]

Awesome work. There is no such thing as too much Laythe.

Here we see Bobzer, Aller, and Selby posing next to the flag.

I can't see the pic! Looks missing.

[Commissioner Tadpole]

Quit making me feel bad due to the fact that I cannot into Jool!

OT: Good job!

[Taki117]

Awesome work. There is no such thing as too much Laythe.

I can't see the pic! Looks missing.

BAH! I forgot to put it in! Thank you.

[Motokid600]

Very nice. Laythe missions are always eventful. I take it your not using Deadly Reentry? Because even with a heat shield Jool aerobraking is a death sentence. ( your a blazing inferno for what... 2 minutes? lol. ) And I see your using those old un textured heatshields for cosmetics ( I do the same thing. No DR I just like the look ) But I use that large, inflatable one. Question.. where are those short, stocky landing legs from?