As you know, with Jebediah still recovering from his successful journey to Duna, Bill Kerman was chosen for the next mission, a trip to the EVE with the now proven Kerbasus-Kermes III rocket. Your press packet includes a variety of photographs from the early parts of the mission.

After EVA inspection of his vehicle in Kerbin orbit, Bill Kerman initiated his transfer burn to EVE.  The flight continues to be on nominal profile.

At T+53 days, Bill Kerman successfully entered the EVE planetary sysem, beginning a variety of scientific research programs.

At T+54 days Bill directed his vehicle into EVE's upper atmosphere to assist his deceleration into EVE orbit with aerobraking.  This maneuver was successful and Bill placed his craft into a low EVE orbit.

After several orbits, the ongoing high and low orbit science studies were done, and Bill began his descent profile.

With the lander decelerated via aerobraking, Bill deployed his parachutes to prepare his craft for landing on the plains below.  It was anticipated that in the denser atmosphere of EVE, the massive array of parachutes designed for a Duna landing should have been more than sufficient to bring his lander to a halt.

With his chutes deployed, the lander did slow, but his descent stabilized at an unexpectedly high 22 meters per second rate of fall.  This velocity is well within the capabilities of the lander engines to negate, but was our first sign of trouble. 

At 1000 meters above the EVE surface, Bill attempted to re-deploy his solar panels, which had been retracted during aerobraking.  The panels were apparently unable to handle the stress of EVE's denser atmosphere and higher gravity, immediately shattering under their own weight.  Bill remained calm, but it was immediately apparent that his successful return from EVE was now unlikely and we called in contingency teams to begin situation management and rescue planning.

Shortly thereafter, Bill's lander made first contact with the ground of EVE.  Instruments report that it was a near perfect approach, with no lateral velocity and a decent rate of 5 meters per second onto a nearly level surface.  Nonetheless, the lander's legs immediately collapsed, sending the craft into an uncontrolled roll on the ground.  The lander was almost completely destroyed.  Bill Kerman's last transmission from EVE was that he was unharmed with his capsule intact, but with no solar panels, he would lack the power for further transmissions.

Planning for a rescue operation is already under way.  Rest assured, no effort will be spared, and we will bring Bill Kerman back to Kerbin.

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