Over the last few days the Space Program has taken a big twist. Two identical communications satellites, named Ranger I and Ranger II, were launched on Union A-2A launch-vehicles just days apart and put into a high orbit around Kerbin. This was somewhat puzzling as the CommSat communications network was successfully launched last year. Why would the Program call for an additional two satellites? When I asked Gene Kerman he simply said:
'Opportunity. We have an opportunity here. A launch window to our closest planetary neighbour, Eve, is a month away. Our technology and experience is at a level now where we can send a probe out that far, so we'd be fools not to jump on the chance. But the CommSat network isn't powerful enough to transmit communications at that distance. We need something with a little more range, and the Ranger's will do that for us. Hence the name.'
Ranger II at dawn lifting off just four days after Ranger I
It seems slightly odd that we are sending a probe to Eve before we've even finished exploring our own backyard. The only probe to explore Minmus is the almost-dead Observer satellite, and that's from Kerbin orbit. Yet here we are skipping that step and going straight for Eve.
'Sure, it seems backwards,' said Gene. 'But we can head to Minmus any time. A window for Eve happens only on occasion. When we hit Minmus we plan to hit it hard, right after we've conquered the Mun. But, in the mean time, there's no harm in chucking a few probes out to take a closer peek at our other neighbours.'
An image of Eve from a ground observatory, obscured by our atmosphere. The first probe to explore it will hopefully reveal more of the planet
One concern raised was whether these additional programs would take focus away from the Celestia program to the Mun. But one of the project leaders stated:
'This has not affected the Celestia program, or any subsequent Mun programs, in any way. The Ranger satellites and any following interplanetary missions fall under a completely separate program and budget.'
An impression of a Ranger probe. These two vehicles make communications with probes as far out as Duna possible
It is good news all around. The Mun project advances unhindered and, as a bonus, we start sending probes to explore our inner planets. The Ranger's are our first step toward this. Weighing a little over a ton each, they are sizable satellites that orbit our planet at one-thousand kilometers altitude. They orbit directly opposite each other so that one Ranger will always stay in contact with an interplanetary probe while it's twin passes behind the shadow of Kerbin, allowing one-hundred percent communications coverage. Plus, two probes offer duel-redundancy.
The Eve project announcement and launch is expected within the next few days.
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