THE SECOND MISSION TO EVE TAKES OFF

KSP - Year 3, Day 243

This biggest rocket to date, provided by KW Rocketry, has been assembled to take Horizon II to Eve. The Horizon project is set explore our nearest planetary neighbour. However, this time the team plan more than just sending a probe to fly past Eve. They not only want to put a vehicle in orbit, but also send a lander to its surface.

'This is a very exciting but testing mission,' said the projects' leader. 'We need to get Horizon II into orbit, which requires a lot of fuel. Last time, we just passed by the planet. This time, we want to stay there. Once the vehicle is in orbit, the probe will detach. Then the booster with the lander will burn the rest of it's fuel and send the vehicle down to the planets surface. Hopefully.'

Horizon II leaving Kerbin with the booster that will put it into Eve

orbit. The lander is contained within the conical fairing in the center

The Arke launch vehicle, used in the latter stages of the Unity project, has been adapted with a second-stage booster, called Aether. From a high Kerbin orbit, the new booster will ignite to send the vehicle towards Eve. The orbiter-lander-booster assembly will then separate from the second-stage and continue on.

The huge Arke-Aether launch vehicle waits to take Horizon II to Eve

The lander is a relatively simple construction that will take basic surface measurements of the planet. This will gather information that can be used for more advanced vehicles in times to come. The most fascinating feature of the planet is the presence of a liquid. Thought to be too hot to have liquid water, it is at the forefront of scientific interest to find out more.

It will take around 45 days to get to Eve followed by a few days if testing once a successful orbit has been achieved. As it turns out, the Endeavor probe will be arriving at Duna only a few days after Horizon II enters Eve's orbit.