Comrade
The reason we did not make update is because flight to Sarnus takes very long. In fact several years, and we could not anticipate distance would take so long. But we did arrive and success.
Currently we need time comrade to interpret many data from P-1 mission. It is many and computer Koviet Union not big enough! But we received following series of photographs that we think will already impress world media! Because they show Koviet Union have visited first time Sarnus, over 2 billion km from planet Earth! Until now this was complete unknown world!
As spaceship reach voids of interplanetary space, one problem becomes apparent.
This problem is trajectory is to planet much more far away than ever before.
It is ca 7 times flight to Duna and you already know how hard was to find Duna, with primitive Koviet computer (impossible).
At first we try to find encounter with very economic "Hohmann" transfer, but it never became a success.
Finally we discover encounter, but he will not conserve fuel. No, in fact it almost 2 times what considered optimal (ca 1,600 m/s). But after much discussion expert comitte make decision that we no longer wait, because next launch opportunity probably the same (we simply need better computer).
Total burn to Sarnus encounter is 2,600 sekundmeter. It completely use up stage 1 (Nuclear power, and did not work to our expectation)
And then stage 2, which in fact needed for course maneuvre within Sarnus. But we have no alternative, because reach planet is absolute priorrity.
Flight takes many years, until something happens again.
Eventually we wake up spacecraft and make the small course correction. But they cannot solve main problem, that probe is heading into Sarnus system much too fast, with ~ 2,500 m/s relative movement! That is much more we would like.
After much struggle with flight trajectory, smart young technician conjures up steep maneuvre which brings us close enough to Sarnus to make pretty pictures. He also hope that encounter with moon Slate will slow us down.
Although no in Koviet Union fully understands gravity assist maneuvre, we have simple rule which may be right: That if probe fly ahead of Moon she will slow down, and if fly behind moon she will speed up. This time we fly ahead of Slate so it should make trajectory slow, not fast.
Now come right into view Sarnus (with beautiful ringy) and Slate, for first time ever.
But as we marvel beautiful image, another problem arrive. Just a little later sun will dissappear behind Sarnus, and he will limit us with electric power during critical mission stage. Without power can not operate scientific instrument like radar scanner (probe much too far away anyway).
After brief encounter probe make successful flyby from Slate and take this amazing picture. We can not slow down with almost empty tank, so flyby only takes only 2 hours. All the same this is already spectacular achievement for mission.
Now mission approach the critical moment so far. As we race towards Sarnus ringy, it will be critical that we can slow down enough to achieve orbit. If this fails, probe will go out Sarnus system at other end, and mission already over. We only have a little fuel left, so was big concern that we can not use enough to make maneuvre.
Now before critical moment is arrive, we have time to take several looks at gas planet.
We also can take look back at moons: the Eeloo (white) and the Slate.
At the closest perijelion approach, we can only hit brake full retrograde throttle and pray that it be enough.
Success! It looks we can even spare some extra fuel. The probe is now complete capture within Sarnus, and she can extend for several years. We don't know if enough fuel to do other orbits or moons, but our specialists now have most important time to think, and perhaps free weekend.
As P-1 begin first orbit of Sarnus, the mission has been success in reaching Sarnus (though most things did not work).
In any event we consider it first important step in our strategy for outer planets. It has give us experience before advanced probes will available.
