Discovery 01
The results of the Explorer had generated great enthusiasm at KSC and also a great shame, because of the loss of Explorer 01 who had failed to reach Moho. The second stage of exploration would be covered by the Discovery program.
Designated S201A Discovery 01 would use a Thor class launcher to put the nearly 12-ton probe into a 400×400 km orbit. It packed nearly 7000 m/s when it was sent off to Moho and again alignment proved hard. “For later missions, it might be better to park the craft in a near Kerbin orbit, fix the alignment, then plan the departure,” Gene discussed.
But with enough fuel left, craft left Kerbin orbit and went to sleep for 50 days before it would need to make its first inclination burn.
Discoverer 01 completed the plane change alignment with Moho, but we then discovered the planet would be missed. In 1,5 years there is another alignment that allows for at least a flyby.
Spirit 03
Granted, she was an odd name in the launch lists of the Discovery Program, but why go for something new, when you have something old that works. R001 Spirit 03 was a proven design, by adding 4 solid boosters to the Wodan it should have enough delta-v to reach Dress rather than the Mun.
It was expected that the whole stack had enough delta-v to enter orbit and perform a soft landing, using the existing Explorer craft as a relay. If that would be true remained to be seen. For now, the ejection was good and the craft was put to sleep for its long journey ahead.
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