Kerbal Space Program: Duna Landing

Mission: Duna Landing

Top-Left: The aerocapture maneuver. Bottom-Left: Parachutes partially deployed during aerocapture. Right: Final descent with parachutes fully deployed and engines activated.

Our mission was a return trip from the surface of Duna back to the Duna Space Station. We evaluated a number of possible landing approaches with simulations and came to the conclusion that the an aerocapture landing would be the best solution. It was also highly desirable to land in sunlight to avoid any nasty creatures that might roam the Dunian surface during the night.

Ronmon, Gerlo, Ribdon boarded the Dunollo 1 lander, refueled, and undocked from the Duna Space Station. Ronmon plotted the aerocapture maneuver, which would have the Kerbals traveling approximately a kilometer a second only ten kilometers above the surface, and Gerlo activated the engines. Shortly thereafter, the Kerbals found themselves cruising through the Dunian atmosphere.

Top-Left: Ike on the Dunian horizon. Top-Right: exiting the Dunallo 1. Bottom: Group photo in front of the Dunollo 1.

Ribdon was reminded to open the parachutes and the crew began their landing procedures. Our simulations, which had resulted in many explosions, suggested that any attempt to fully deploy parachutes at a velocity greater than 500m/s would be disastrous. The aerocapture reduced our velocity sufficient and the Kerbals activated the engines briefly during the final descent to soften the landing. The lander touched down on a small incline with no difficulties whatsoever.

Ronmon communicated the successful landing back to the station and the crew began their science experiments. While this wasn't our first landing on Duna, previous landings had been distant from the equator and the Kerbals were quite curious to determine if the laws of physics still applied to such a strange place. Gerlo was responsible for photographing the landing location and immediately spotted Ike's peculiar geostationary orbit on the horizon. The moon slowly floated over the horizon throughout the day and hid briefly behind at night.

Left: Ascending from Duna. Right: Positioning for orbital maneuvers during ascent. Ike in the background.

Not wanting to be stranded for several decades on a different orbital body, Gerlo insisted the Kerbals return to the station. Ribdon deactivated the main Poodle engine before launch due to it's low atmospheric fuel efficiency and the ascent was achieved using the smaller engines. The ascent was slow, but perfectly executed. Upon reaching vacuum, the Poodle engine was reactivated and the Kerbals rendezvoused with the station.

Top: Planning the rendezvous. Bottom: Docking with the Duna Space Station.

Gerlo boasted to the crew about being the first Kerbal to survive and return from a Duna and Ike landing. The Kerbals aboard the Duna Space Station convinced mission control to return Gerlo to Kerbin for his achievements. They were more interested in enjoying themselves in peace and Gerlo was quite excited to be celebrated back on Kerbin. Plans for an interplanetary mission home were prepared.