"The Mission"

Stage 2: Transit and Arrival at Sarnus

Stage Status: Complete

The 6.5 year journey to the ringed planet was mostly uneventful for the crew of the H.M.S. Scope Creep. Many a game of checkers were played. The separation of BigPolarOne and the mid-course burns of both craft took place approximately 1.5 years in to the flight as planned, and was celebrated on board with champagne and balloons that were smuggled on board by Katie Kerman.

Arrival at Sarnus occurred on year 6, day 251 of the mission. The capture maneuver went precisely as expected for both spacecraft. BigPolarOne burned at full thrust for 8 minutes and 41 seconds, effecting 1,485m/s of velocity change to bring it to its planned capture altitude of 8.5Mm from Sarnus. The Creep on the other hand effected 1,327m/s of velocity change in 69 seconds, subjecting the crew to a peak of only 2.1 Gs of force at full thrust and low fuel. Timing, and a subsequent spend of 525m/s of velocity change brought the Creep in to her final parking orbit at 750km above the moon Eeloo.

Stage Itinerary:

  1. Separation of P.S.C.P. - Complete

  2. Mid-course maneuvers - Complete

  3. Arrival of P.S.C.P - Complete

  4. Arrival of H.M.S. Scope Creep - Complete

Notes from Kal: This was textbook, just like I planned it. I was shocked to be honest. The BigPolarOne module worked flawlessly, and the Creep's insertion stage had just the right amount of thrust for the job. Fuel levels were within my safety margin with 121m/s to spare.