Jebediah Kerman is the first Kerbal to step foot onto another world
The moment we have been waiting
for has finally arrived. After nearly five years of build-up and
training, Kerbals have now stepped foot on the Mun. Jebediah Kerman
became the first Kerbal to walk on the surface of another world.
Shortly after, Bill followed. The training involved a lot of
hard work. The crew found themselves in different environments that
tested them to the extreme. But all that training has now paid off.
High-altitude training in a hostile environment to try and
recreate Munar conditions
Jeb looks out into a large valley in a mountain range near the KSC.
The astronauts could be face with similar obstacle
on the Mun's surface
A VTOL carries a mock Munar Lander to a remote testing range
Bill and Jeb practice setting up experiments with the mock Lander
The crew of the Aquirius XI
mission enjoyed a successful launch with the Selene V rocket
system. An unexpected wobble at launch was the only worry anyone
experienced.
The great Selene V will take Aquarius XI and her crew
to the Mun
Jeb stands next to one of the five large engines of the
first-stage booster
The crew assemble on the gantry to enter the Command Pod
Aquarius XI makes a clean getaway out of the atmosphere
After
entering Munar orbit, Jeb and Bill prepared the
Munar Lander for the eventual touchdown onto the Mun's surface. The
separation of the two vehicles went smoothly, and the Landing crew
began their descent. The chosen landing site was the
Lake of Remembrance. This had long thought to be the preferred touch
down area, is it is one of the largest 'lakes' we see on the visible
surface. Initially, the touchdown ended up a near disaster when Bill
found the Lander to be heading for a steep ridge. The MEM was put
into a hover and traversed the surface for a better site. Time was
critical, but Bill successfully landed the craft with only seven
seconds of fuel remaining.
Bob inspects the Munar Lander for docking and says farewell to Kerbin
A glimpse of the Mun's surface as they enter orbit
around the Mun
Bob wishes Jeb and Bill luck as they make their way down to the
Munar surface
After checking systems over and
securing the craft, Jeb and Bill suited up ready for their Munar EVA.
Jeb was first to descend the ladder and become the first Kerbal to
step foot onto the Munar soil. Bill shortly followed and the two
Kerbal's spent just half an hour on the surface. In that time, they
set up scientific equipment carried in the MEM's decent module,
photographed the Lander for engineering study back on Kerbin, and did
the important task of setting up the flag. Of course, there was also
a little time to admire their surroundings and have some fun in the
low gravity.
Jebediah steps out of the command pod and begins
his descent down the ladder
Once on the surface, Bill follows a few minutes later to become the
second Kerbal to walk on another world
Jeb takes the same picture as Bill descends the ladder
The flag is planted to mark this great Kerbal achievement
Equipment carried on the MEM is unpacked, assembled and laid out
Jeb demonstrates what can be done in the low gravity of the Mun
After completing all that was required on the Munar surface, the two astroauts prepared to return to the CSM. The upper-stage of the MEM would fire to return Jeb and Bill to orbit, but tension filled the room at Mission Control as to whether the engine would ignite and be able to return them to orbit. Thankfully, all went as planned the the crew managed to re-dock with Bob in the CSM. Once docking and transfers were complete, the upper-stage of the MEM was jettisoned to forever orbit the Mun and the Service Module engine burned to free the three Kerbals from Munar gravity. The trip back to Kerbin was carried out successfully and the Command Module splashed down safely.
The lander is inspected before launch
An artists impression of the upper-stage leaving the lander-stage
on the surface of the Mun
Aquarius XI splashes down safely, bringing the crew home
For all the hours of training an engineering, the effort has finally paid off. For now we live in a world where Kerbals have walked on the Mun. The Solar System is now within the grasp of Kerbalkind.
Who knows what adventures await.
