January 22, 2014

The Mun is a Harsh Mistress Part Two: Thank You Ma'am, May I Have Another?

Good morning, Kermerica!  


I'm Philmon Kerman, and I'm thrilled to be here on the Mun with Bob today.

Bob and Philmon on the Mun
I understand that the good folks back at the KSC would like me to describe for my listeners how this mission has gone so far.  

When I heard that I had been selected to be the astronaut that would rescue Bob Kerman on the Mun, I must say that I was more excited than I've ever been in my life.  Almost immediately, I ran to the vehicle assembly building to look at the mighty Kelfin I Rescue Rocket that I would shortly ride into space and to the Mun.  I must say, it made an impressive sight.

Kelfin I Rescue Rocket

With the performance of the Kermotaur having proved inadequate, the engineers once again pulled out their slide rules, dartboards, duct tape and chewing gum to produce the very finest in Kerbal rocketry.  The Kelfin Rescue Rocket has a main launch stage consisting of five very powerful boosters.  Riding atop the boosters is a relatively small stage for the transfer burn to the Mun, and then a rescue lander with space for five Kerbals.  Apparently the engineers started designing this rocket when they learned that the Kermotaur would carry five Kerbals.
Kelfin over KSC

I've flown more simulated flights than almost any of the other astronauts, and I've even flown a few of the original Kerbysseys orbital rockets, but they can't compare to the power of this baby.  I don't think anything has kicked me this hard since I left the farm years ago.

The gravity turn

I dropped the first set of boosters at the start of the gravity turn, as expected in the profile.  This baby handles like a race horse under thrust, I must say.

Headed into the Munrise

As the Mun rose over the horizon on my first orbit, I kicked the transfer stage to life.  I always enjoy orbiting Kerbin, but it was quite the thrill to set my sites higher this time.

The flight to the Mun only takes a few hours, which was spent taking notes on the performance of the Kelfin so far, and plotting how I would approach the Mun and get into an orbit above Bob's landing site.

Approaching the Mun

My approach to the Mun apparently did not exactly match Bob's, so I had a fairly large burn to obtain a circular orbit that would cross above his landing site.  As the Mun got bigger and bigger beneath me, and especially as I started to slow down, the thrill of being here above the dusty grey craters of the Mun was nearly overwhelming.

Munar insertion burn

It took several more burns before I was on a path for Bob's landing site, but finally I had a trajectory that would put me in the same crater.

Munar descent

Now that I'm done describing the mission, Bob would like to say a few words.  Here's Bob!

Thanks, Philmon.  KSC, I should report that Philmon's lander appears to be out of fuel.  Could you tell the engineers to get some new slide rules, and try again?  Thanks!


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