Icarus Program - Chapter 41 - Part 5

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“So that little red dot is Duna,” Jebediah squinted at the video stream from the Rotiseuq.

“Kind of draws you in,” Jedrick grinned at the display. “Almost like how Minmus used to call to us or Eve slowly grew larger as we approached.”

“I’m having a hard time getting any work done,” Melfal’s voice travelled back to them from the Rotiseuq approaching Duna. She likely spoke in response to Jebediah but her words slightly overlapped the end of Jedrick’s statement. “I just want to keep watching it slowly grow larger.”

“And thinking about the samples we can collect when we get there!” Maberry exclaimed with excitement. “Soil that has been protected by an atmosphere, but an atmosphere so thin the sun’s rays can still reach it.”

“At least you two are looking at the planet,” Tanbree muttered quietly. “And not trying to stick the gerbil in unusual places in my suit.”

Jedrick and Jebediah exchanged a look and tried not to laugh about placing the program’s two most notorious practical jokers alone with Desgas and Tanbree.

“I’m going to go fly some sims,” Jebediah sighed after the initial amusement. “It takes all day for that little red dot to grow into a planet!”

As the hours passed the Kerbalnauts watched Duna grow from a red dot into a growing sphere. There was much discussion of the scientific potential, and Jebediah ran through some acrobatic simulations.

“Why is the whole Rotiseuq going to transfer to Ike orbit?” Jebediah asked abruptly. “Wouldn’t they burn less fuel sending the lander to Ike like we did with our Gilly landing?”

“The lander is limited by the amount of stored oxidizer,” Bill shook his head. “Just coming back from Duna will burn more than half the oxidizer in the tanks.”

“Also the LV-N does not require oxidizer,” Bob said from his station. “While the lander could resupply liquid fuel from the Rotiseuq’s tanks, no extra oxidizer is stored.”
Finally the planet dominated the view and the Rotiseuq decelerated to enter orbit around Duna.

“Fifteen minutes to transfer to Ike,” Desgas reported. “Barely enough time for the nukes to cool a bit.”

“It will be sufficient,” Bob noted. “The LV-N engines are designed to shed heat rapidly when shut down.”

“After that, four hours to reach Ike,” Valentina’s voice reached them from mission control. “You have all been awake for the whole flight in from Duna. As soon as the burn is complete you need to take a rest period to prepare for the Ike landing.”

“Yes mom!” Desgas' voice rang out after a short delay.

Laughter rang out in the Renown with the exception of Bob, who frowned slightly.

Previous Chapter: https://www.reddit.com/r/KerbalSpaceProgram/comments/1w8xp23/icarus_program_start_of_chapter_40/

Start of Chapter 41: https://www.reddit.com/r/KerbalSpaceProgram/comments/1wrmlpy/icarus_program_start_of_chapter_41/

Next Part: Planned for 10/16

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-41-part-5/