CMDR PAUSANIAS - THE SHIP OF THE MIND EXPEDITION - DAY 90
07 Nov 2020Pausanias
SULPHUR DIOXIDE FUMAROLES ON A RED PLANET & A NEAR CRASH LANDING!Hi Cmdrs,
I went back to the other ringed planet and dropped into the Icy Ring at the Tritium hotspot and a couple of hours later I had a full load of 266 tons in the hold.
I then plotted the route to The Carl Sagan and set off on the 27 jumps to it.
Not long into the journey I found another planet with multiple Geological Signals and, since there didn’t seem to be much else to scan or make a note of, I set off towards it. This was the view on approach to a suitable landing site. All of the ejected lava seems to be following the same direction if you look.
As soon as I got out in the SRV it was obvious some of these fumaroles were quite tall, look at this group, and the lava around the base.
These were Sulphur Dioxide Fumaroles when I scanned them and a message shot off to the Codex once scanned. I found very few materials I could pick up, but, there were a few. I took this image of the whole field of fumaroles. On a red planet they look pretty impressive.
I still had 17 jumps to do and time has just run away with me today so I’ve only jumped about two further systems before needing to land somewhere for the night. Once again I found a planet with Geological Signals on, so I’ve mapped it and landed on it, BUT, I nearly came a cropper!
I didn’t notice the gravity was 1G and came in too fast with my landing gear down, when I realised it was almost too late, I quickly raised the landing gear, pulled the ships nose up and boosted, phew, I got away with it, BUT, I tried to turn the Cutter after the near miss to bank back around to the Geographical Signal area, BUT, it’s a Cutter, it doesn’t turn well so I ended up going sideways rather than turning, out of the window I could see the edge of the crater I was in coming up fast, there was nothing I could do, I side swiped the crater edge, I just managed to throw all pips to shields before impact. PHEW again, I only lost one ring of shields, and NO I haven’t got a photo of the event, I had other things on my mind! I could have lost all the mined Tritium and 2 hours would have been wasted.
I flew back to within 1km of the Geological Signal and landed, safely this time.
I’m calling it a day for the night, I’ll explore the smoking rocks out there tomorrow.
Good night Cmdrs.
Total Carrier jump distance since 10th August: 36,000 ltyrs - (Personal note: 69 jumps on 2 Nov)
Total Ship jump so far: 62,885
Total planets Level 3 scanned: 23,504
Total exploration data: 596,500,000 credits
Total systems with my name on: 3358
The Cutter is now 26,283 ltyrs away from Sol!
Distance to Beagle Point: 47,657 ltyrs
The adventure continues . . .
P