Progeny Mk6 Block I Flight 15 (Kerbal Sounding Project 4)

the Kerbal Sounding Project has returned with a new initiative to help get the next generation of space explorers ready - student experiments will be launched on sub-orbital flights aboard the Progeny Mk6-I, using kits developed by Umbra Space Industries

dates are scheduled for the Kerbal Sounding Project missions! There will be 4 launches, carrying 2 experiments each - all of which will have been built by students, our next gen space explorers. Dates:

#1 - 11/5
#2 - 11/14
#3 - 12/5
#4 - 12/17

More info on the Ops Tracker

while a lot of work remains in the investigation, all parties involved feel a point has been reached where we can release a statement not only on the events of this past week but the events of the past few years that led up to this brazen attack: kerbalspace.agency/?p=9965

TL;DR - a sect of violent Monolithic followers remains set against our space-bound ambitions even after being secretly banished to the other side of the planet by religious leaders, where they happened upon a large unknown population of kerbs receptive to "salvation"

the radome has been completed on the tall hills west of KSC and will be hooked up to the Tracking Station by tomorrow, which means we can return to KSC next week! Due to security, it's tough working remotely for engineering and R&D teams w/o full file access

the 4 KSP experiments that will ride aboard the next two Progeny Mk6-I launches next month have arrived for final processing in the VAB, which is basically attaching them to the payload truss and flight computer. All other testing is done offsite as they are built

shortest flight analysis ever? Well there wasn't anything that wasn't routine about the last mission but if you would like a recap we have it here: kerbalspace.agency/?p=10192 - final mission coming up this week should be a solid close out to 2019 ops!

once again the convoy is heading out to the North Field to begin mounting operations, which will be directly followed by tanking operations which will set up for a wet dress rehearsal that will allow for a condensed launch timeline tomorrow - if all goes well

for obvious security reasons we were not allowed to mention that issues were being resolved with our ground radar system the last few days. SkyWatch team reports they are now ready to support the upcoming launch, we thank them for working overtime to get things patched up!

MSV Aldeny set sail earlier today for the recovery zone 325km to the east and has contacted us through Sheltered Rock to report ships passing them headed for Umbarg say a storm is working westwards & could affect recovery or launch tomorrow (not actual sail route)

🌅Sunrise/Sunset🌄
@ KSC (UTC-5)

12/18
#2🌄09:00:36 🌅11:10:57
#3🌄15:01:27 🌅17:11:48 ??🚀??
#4🌄21:02:18 🌅23:12:39

12/19
#1🌄03:03:09 🌅05:13:30

after a smooth approach and landing the Deuce has taxied back to the HAB, here's a shot of it coming in from atop Launch Control. Weather data will be analyzed & we will have a conditions update when launch procedures are scheduled to begin later today @ 18:57 UTC

[L-3h40m] weather desk has determined storm will be of low to no threat - we will actually fly over it. We are proceeding with launch procedures, now to see if any change needs to be made to the favorable local forecast made yesterday. Expect further updates at these times

[L-3h10m] nothing new here if you've been paying attention to the past few launches. Progeny Mk6-I missions are pretty standard now. We like that though, easier to manage! The major flight phases don't have L+ times as the rocket is unguided but should be similar to last flight

[L-2h45m] weather remains a GO with 75% favorable launch conditions, down from 90% yesterday because there is a small chance the storm will arrive sooner than expected. Rocket is now being initialized. No changes to bit.ly/AFCS_KSA other than launch time update

[L-1h55m] rocket remains well-behaved, no issues reported so far. Ground crew clearing back from the launch site for safety while controllers give the engines & ignition systems a thorough checkout and wrap up preflight

[L-1h30m] preflight is complete which means the rocket is ready to go. Ground crews are securing the launch site while Range Safety Officer begins to take full stock of the airspace and waters around KSC via the Tracking Station to ensure no incursions are taking place

[L-1h20m] crew out in the grasslands just west of KSC have released a weather balloon that will float up >18km into the upper atmosphere while drifting over the launch corridor and informing us before L-5min polls of any dangerous wind shear conditions

[L-45m] inside an hour now, Team A under command of Flight Director Lanalye begins launch rehearsal to perform one final all around check and ensure all consoles & systems are properly configured for the upcoming launch as well as all operators knowing their roles

[L-30m] weather desk reports surface winds are behaving, storm appears to be lingering out to sea. The last ground crew members are leaving the launch site & we have GO to begin final countdown procedures. Controllers switching back to the live rocket to reset from rehearsal

[L-15m] range is clear, rocket is ARMED for ignition & Flight Termination System is ACTIVE. We are glad to hear reports kerbs had no problems getting through security to their launch viewing locations. Please remain within marked areas or you will be removed

all quiet inside Launch Control - a good sign. As usual the students/mentors responsible for this rocket's payload are here to watch, they'll head outside shortly. Controllers giving their systems one last good look for any issues to call out at final general polls in a few mins

[L-5m] Final readiness polls complete: Wx: GO; Range: GO; Flight: GO; Tracking: GO; Ops Director: Launch permission granted! 🚀 GO PROGENY 🚀 FTS transitioning to its own internal power source, rocket itself will come off ground power at terminal count in 3min

[T-2m] Terminal launch sequence has begun as the Automated Flight Control System takes over control to manage the final steps leading up to engine ignition. Rocket is on internal power & comms, which are now being checked for drain rate & signal reception respectively

[T-1m] final health check coming up at T-30s & if all remains well you'll see the Ops Tracker switch over to live telemetry data so tune in now if you haven't already! ops.kerbalspace.agency. Manual hold still good up to T-0 tho

up, up & AWAY!! Rocket has shot off atop the flame of its lower 0.625m booster, which will accelerate it at up to 4Gs over the next 34s to push up above 13km and beyond 600m/s. It will then drop the booster & coast until the nose drops 1.5° before igniting the 2nd stage

nominal flight continues as the 3rd stage burns for space. Timeline so far is within milliseconds of the previous rocket, which is to be expected since they mass the same & we are not dealing with any weather near flight limits. Burn baby, burn! Into space!

aaaand MECO-3 just before space, rocket is now coasting up these next ~7.5min to an apokee only 2km lower than last week's at 460km, but this shouldn't translate into any huge difference in downrange travel. MSV Aldeny should already be moving to get under it

you can use this link to view where the rocket will be traveling. On page load you will see the current location but it will not automatically update after that. Trajectory is calculated and not exact but close enough for the scale shown kerbalspace.agency/Tracker/tracke…

through apokee, now for the fall back down. Science instruments remain occupied, power levels good, data drives are filling up. Rocket's spin is keeping it upright like a top so it's now pointing radial-out & will be aimed retrograde by the time it enters the atmosphere in ~8min

everything looked good going into re-entry with the rocket stable & engine taking the brunt of the heat. Comms lost shortly afterward and rocket is now below the horizon - hopefully under chute for a gentle descent into shallow waters just off the far shore. MSV Aldeny ETA <1hr

post-launch ops finishing up. Still no word from MSV Aldeny. Hopefully they are on their way back already & just can't make contact yet. Launch base is being moved back to storage in the Support Village - no more Mk6-I flights in the schedule at this time

a final routine flight analysis after quick review of telemetry data from this week's mission turned up no issues. Congrats to the rocketry teams for closing out 2019 on a high note! Maybe more KSP launches at the end of 2020? It's already being discussed kerbalspace.agency/?p=10208