CMDR PAUSANIAS - THE SHIP OF THE MIND EXPEDITION - DAY 64
12 Oct 2020Pausanias
Hi Cmdrs,When I programmed the last 800 ltyrs to TRA X-1 the route planner failed! All the way from the last Nebula I’ve been able to plot a route though, tonight I couldn’t. I’m not worried though because it’s probably down to using the Cutter with its low jump range. I plotted a random route to a system just under 500 ltyrs and then set off after it. If I’ve done it right it will leave about 300 ltyrs to go, I may finish the journey in the Asp then travel back to the Carrier before turning North East on the Arm.
I set off on the 28 jumps to the Carrier and after about 5 jumps I found this Jovian Gas Giant which I flew very close to and took this shot of a massive storm occurring. If you look closely you can see my vapour trail.
A few jumps later I found this Gas Giant which in the FSS looked very blue and interesting, however, when I reached it the planet was in much darkness, maybe because it was nearly 5,000 light seconds out from its Sun but also because there are very few systems out here creating ambient background lighting for the Galaxy.
I found an Icy Ringed Planet with Tritium in its rings and mined about 170 tons before moving off. I didn’t fill up on Tritium because I thought I’d carry on with the journey for a bit longer and find another system later. Here I’m leaving the Icy Rings behind. Look at the lack of background stars.
I jumped a few more systems and have found another Tritium hotspot to finish my mining but I did not drop into it, instead I headed for the nearest local moon I could land on for the evening, here I am approaching the moon.
I took this image nearer the surface which also shows a Nebula in the background.
Final approach with thrusters firing . . .
I have 13 jumps left to reach The Carl Sagan which should be easily achievable tomorrow.
Total Carrier jump distance since 10th August: 21,000 ltyrs - (Personal note: 38 jumps on 9 Oct)
Total Ship jump so far: 40,005
Total planets Level 3 scanned: 15,212
Total exploration data: 384,000,000 credits
Total systems with my name on: 2784
The Cutter is now 13,712 ltyrs away from Sol!
Distance to Beagle Point: 55,250 ltyrs - this is 150 more than last night
TRA X-1, approximately 580 to go . . .
P