Saturn Probe

Dateline: 2069 - Preparations for the Saturn Probe Mission proceed in Mars orbit. Nuclear powered cargo transports are set off in advance for Jupiter, to pick up the Jovian gravity field and slingshot on the final leg to Saturns inner systems. Heavy duty shuttles from Mars Base deliver the cargo to the unmanned transport rockets, loading up each of the four transports with equipment for the mission. Non essential items are sent ahead of the main vessel, to rendezvous in outer Saturn orbit, cutting down on weight and space on the mission command ship, the Heimdall.

 The Heimdall has a six man crew and has been assembled in martian orbit from modules sent on from Lunar base and lifted from Mars. The main hull section comprises six ion drive engines and a number of cargo units. The crew modules Bifrost and Gungnir at the front are modified heavy shuttles designed for atmospheric re-entry and planetary landing. Near the rear are the two manipulator units with circular probe launcher units and at either side of the main ship are the twin escape and crew transfer pods. Even with the new sophisticated ion drive and a shunt from Jupiter, the voyage to Saturn will take a month. The cargo rockets sent ahead will automatically make orbit around Saturn and the Heimdall will tow them to their final destination on arrival. Final checks on board the ship are being made in anticipation of launch tomorrow. All four cargo rockets are already bound for Jupiter, using nuclear fission engines, the journey to Saturn will be faster, as they will be able to approach closer to Jupiters radiosphere and take advantage of a steeper angle of approach to gain the maximum acceleration from the massive pull of the gas giant. The Heimdalls crew are undergoing final medical checks on Cydonia Base before being shuttled to their ship for launch.