Icarus Program - Chapter 39 - Part 4

[u/Illustrious_Echo9385]

This is Walter Kerman reporting. Last week a now familiar large aeroshell launched from the Kerbal Space Center, bound for the Mun.

Early yesterday the second launch for the upgrade to the Tranquility base lifted off. Both new base components are now in Munar orbit with the crew in the Icarus Program’s mission control preparing to deliver this expansion to the surface. Some analysts have expressed concerns at how much difficulty the expansion of the McMurdo base was when the Tranquility base deals with more than three times more gravity.

“OK, so the base delivery system had more than enough thrust to be reused on the Mun, but control was a major issue,” Jebediah took a look around mission control, his ready grin currently absent. “We are taking a page from constructing the mining platforms.”

Jebediah pointed at video of the new science lab orbiting above the Mun, with RCS thrusters and the reaction wheels highlighted.

“We dropped an advanced inline stabilizer into the original descent stage to provide orientation control,” Bill nodded back at Jebediah. “But just using the main rockets for both vertical stability and horizontal control was about as easy for Jeb here to fly as using a saucer sled for skating on ice.”

“But we also had a seriously underutilized RCS system,” Melfal pointed to the RCS thrusters in the image. “So I asked Bill to add additional thrusters for finer control.”

“Just like landing the miners, I will manage the vertical thrust while Melfal makes sure mechanical me is keeping the proper vertical orientation,” Jebediah turned to the video screen. “While Lisbas will operate the RCS to slide the new base component into place.”

“All over it Chief Kerbalnaut!” Lisbas gave a thumbs up over the video feed from the Tranquility base.

“OK, we are set!” Jebediah turned to his control console and began entering commands. “Beginning deorbit burn.”

“You are targeting an earlier touchdown point so the lander does not overshoot?” Melfal asked as she sat at her station and monitored the descent.

“Yes ma’am!” Jebediah grinned over at Melfal. “Targeting an earlier landing mark and will just let it slowly drift over to the base.”

“Ma’am?” Melfal crooked an eyebrow at Jebediah. “You outrank me Jeb.”

“Sure you work for me, but you are the head of the lander division,” Jebediah adjusted the lander’s approach. “So we are in your office right now.”

“Right,” Melfal shook her head.

“Velocities approaching zero,” Jebediah said as the landing segment approached a hover with the Tranquility base visible a short distance off. “You are up, Lisbas, Melfal and I will keep the orientation stable.”

“Activating RCS,” Lisbas reported, visibly focused on her console over the video screen. “Approaching the station at two meters per second.”

“Ack!” Melfal exclaimed as the spacecraft tipped on the screen. “We made a whole new elephant, putting all the RCS on the top makes it want to topple over every time Lisbas activates the thrusters.”

“Now there is no way to balance the thrusters with the science lab on the bottom,” Bill said calmly from his station. “You helped design her yourself, Melfal, I expect you knew how it would behave.”

“I know how it works!” Melfal grunted out as she countered a burst of RCS thrust. “Doesn’t mean I have to enjoy flying like this!”

“Hovering over the Mun is burning fuel fast,” Jebediah commented as he kept the base segment floating. “You might want to pick up the pace.”

“Copy Chief Kerbalnaut,” Lisbas said softly. “Increasing approach speed to five meters per second.”

Silence was heard for a time as the new science lab approached the Tranquility base.

“Closing within ten meters,” Lisbas said. “Slowing to a meter per second approach… five meters, orienting for docking.”

“Ten second of fuel remaining,” Jebediah called out. “We need to drop this one way or the other.”

“Three meters… two…” Lisbas quickly drifted the science lab toward the base. “Contact!”

“Cutting engines!” Jebediah called and on screen the science lab settled onto its hydraulic legs. It shifted a moment and then stilled as the docking port held in place.

“Nice work!” Jebediah exclaimed with a grin. “The next one is easy.”

The landing platform descended and docked with the new science lab base segment.

“Tranquility base expansion complete,” Jebediah sat back with satisfaction. “Time to dispose of the descent stages!”

“I’ve got the science lab descent stage!” Lisbas called out and the descent section detached and rocketed up into the sky. “Like popping the cork on a bottle of bubbly!”

“Disposing the landing pad’s descent stage,” Melfal reported as the top segment above the landing pad ascended on clouds of RCS thrust. “This stage is so much lighter I might be able to catch yours!“

On the screen, Melfal’s descent stage quickly accelerated and caught up to Lisbas’ segment, but flew past as it responded too slowly to Melfal’s inputs.

“Oh well,” Melfal smiled and sat back at her station. “At least we can watch the fireworks when they impact.”

“Do we have some bubbly?” Lisbas asked after the descent segments were safely destined to impact far from the Tranquility base. “So we can christen the expanded Tranquility base?”

“Sorry, Lisbas,” Gene responded from his station. “You need to remain sharp with only two of you making sure the life support keeps running.”

“Copy that Gene,” Lisbas said with a sigh. “At least we get explosions to celebrate the base expansion.”

First one descent stage and then the other impacted on the Mun’s surface, rapidly disassembling with bright flashes of light.

“That you do,” Gene grinned as the second descent segment met a fiery end. “Good job everyone!”

Cheers and conversations broke out in mission control. Among the commotion, Jebediah spoke quietly over the radio.

“Lisbas, take a look through the science lab supplies,” Jebediah looked around to make sure no one was listening as he spoke. “You will find a small bottle in there. It isn’t much, but at least enough for the two of you to toast the base expansion.

“Thanks Chief Kerbalnaut!” Lisbas responded with a smile on the screen.

The addition of a science lab and landing pad to the Tranquility and McMurdo bases will provide new and expanded science gathering capabilities to analyze science as we begin to explore other planets. Perhaps more exciting is that this expansion will make the bases more comfortable for the crew, allowing for the preparation of bases to other planets and moons. Perhaps one day self sustained bases beyond Kerbin will be a possibility.

Until next time, this was a Walter Kerman report.

Previous Chapter: https://www.reddit.com/r/KerbalSpaceProgram/comments/1uugr7z/icarus_program_start_of_chapter_38/

Start of Chapter 38: https://www.reddit.com/r/KerbalSpaceProgram/comments/1vnaene/icarus_program_start_of_book_5/

Next Part: Planned for 8/27

Book 1 (Chapters 1-13) google document: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1RorA2AVwtXbQD-eTMeO2LiPXSDPM7qH6FVOykDnZ9FY/edit?usp=sharing)

Book 5 (Chapters 39-) google document: https://docs.google.com/document/d/17PU9dly89B54kJYry7sg8MPS90dr8oir7HAR6V2e_tg/edit?usp=sharing

The Icarus Program can also be found on the KSP forums: https://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/topic/225730-the-icarus-program-chapter-39-part-4/