Launch R5-008: Expedition Dunbar-1a

Year 3, day 69.
Project: Dunbar
Mission Objectives:

1. Dock with Dunbar Alpha in orbit around Mun
2. Retrieve surface samples from Mun for analysis

Crew:

• Commander: Valentina (Pilot⭐️)
• Mission Specialists: Bob (Scientist⭐️), Joesby (Scientist)

In addition to correcting the escape tower jettison staging, heat shield jettison is now a manual procedure, to reduce the risk for unintentional re-entry without a heat shield.

The first stage falls away after MECO.

Tower jettison was nominal this time.

Coasting to apo after SECO.

After the trans Munar injection burn is complete, the upper stage is jettisoned.

The command module separates from the lander.

Docking was not nominal, and the lander drifted away. Valentina jumped into her EVA suit, and flew after the lander.

Once aboard, she enabled the automated docking procedure and the guidance computer took control.

Re-docking was nominal.

The crew settled in for the cruise to Mun.

A quick 16m/s burn puts the ship on its insertion trajectory.

The orbital insertion was performed just as the sun crested the horizon.

The initial orbit was highly eccentric, allowing the craft to zero its relative inclination with the station.

While the capsule station-keeps, Val begins docking the lander with the station.

Then, the capsule begins its final docking.

After some time, the crew was able to dock their capsule to the station.

Mission Status: docked with Dunbar Alpha in orbit around Mun.