KERBALS WALK ON THE MUN!

KSP - Year 5, Day 42

 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.