Ascension Mk1 Flight 12 (Captain Jebediah)

we are pleased to hear Lead Engineer Simon report that the capsule from the pad abort of Jeb's mission has been re-certified for flight. It required only minimal repairs from the landing on hard ground but was nonetheless put through extensive testing these last few months

we've received the 1st of the three K2-X engines ordered back in August 2019 which will be test fired next week and if all is well be set aside for use with Cpt Jeb's mission in early March. The following two engines will arrive in February and March

new fuel tanks & other parts for 3 add'l Ascension Mk1 missions will be ordered over next few months to cover the flights of Jeb & Bob as well as an unkerbed test flight. This will use up all remaining lift engines by April & unsure at this time if the new engine will be ready

ever since we demonstrated it was possible to open the Mk1 capsule hatch in space then close & secure it again for safe re-entry on an unkerbed flight rumors have persisted about a spacewalk from Jeb or Bob. Official response: As of right now we have NO such plans

after a week of multiple high-G runs in the centrifuge using the latest suit, seat and strap adjustments (based on data from Murstap's tests) both Bob and Jeb report to be feeling much less fatigued and have found the stresses to be more tolerable under slightly higher and longer exposure

Captain Jeb will get his second chance to go to space next month! Mission has gotten its final approval, launch date has been decided for 3/11 @ 14:40 UTC. More information on the mission can be found at the Ops Tracker - ops.kerbalspace.agency

tickets are going fast for this upcoming launch that will see kerbals returning to space! There will be no VIP visitors and all viewing sites at KSC will be available. As always the non-ticketed areas are first-come first-serve and overflow will be held at the Support Village

final integration of Jeb's Mk1 is underway today & tomorrow. Although the new fins are both lighter and cheaper his rocket will sport the older ones as the first use of the newer ones actually replaced these, so we had them as spares & sub-orbital ascent profile is steep

once again Jeb comes out of sim training with the most mission successes. He says he wishes he and Val were a permanent crew pairing so they could go head to head more often (Jeb is Val's backup in the rotation). Bob may have lagged, but still learned from all his mistakes

Kerbin Weather Society called for a flight to investigate a gathering storm out on the Kerblantic but with Jeb in quarantine and no additional flight crew to assist Val we had to tell them to send the crew out from Sheltered Rock instead. Good thing we own our aircraft...

the doctors finally had to take away Jeb's video games - not because he wasn't getting enough sleep but his stress levels were staying quite high. He's a bit of an angry gamer... Bob in contrast has been working on his meditation twitter.com/KSA_MissionCtr…

the Ascension Mk1 passed load checks last week and was put back to horizontal for final checks consisting of a 26-page closeout process that was finished today for tomorrow's launch readiness review. It has been loaded up onto the carry vehicle to prepare for tomorrow's rollout

KWS has dispatched another flight from Sheltered Rock as the storm out to sea continues to develop. Not sure at this time whether or not it will head our way but if so it could disrupt our launch plans. They will be keeping us informed of the data that is collected

it's the crack o' dawn and the Ascension Mk1 is on its way to the launch pad, where it will be erected and later today tanked up as part of the wet dress rehearsal as final steps are taken today to prepare the Space Center for launch tomorrow!

upon the pod you can see 1 of 2 radial parachutes that will provide triple redundancy. Main chutes have never failed & can land the capsule with only 2/3 deployed but radials can be used in partial main failure or even in complete main failure 1 is enough twitter.com/KSA_MissionCtr…

all ground stations, dishes and antenna that will be supporting the upcoming mission have undergone comms checks and are good to go. One of our Tracking Station dishes is undergoing routine maintenance but the other two will be able to provide primary/backup requirements

wet dress rehearsal was good and identified a minor valve issue in the GSE that will be rectified by tomorrow so no hold up for launch. Although propellants are stable tanks have been drained so the rocket can be lowered again for crew loading

🌅Sunrise/Sunset🌄
@ KSC (UTC-4)

3/11
#2🌄07:45:21 🌅09:55:41
#3🌄13:46:12 🌅15:56:32 ??🚀??
#4🌄19:47:03 🌅21:57:23

3/12
#1🌄01:47:54 🌅03:58:14

latest report from the KWS shows that we will likely get hit by the outer bands of the storm so launch has been delayed further until tomorrow, now targeting lift off @ 15:45 UTC. Further delays are possible - we will see what happens with the weather later today

the flight crew are being roused from bed, will be given their choice breakfast and then proceed to get suited up. They aren't the only ones up super early - weather team is out to release a high-altitude balloon and pad crew is heading out to lower the rocket

[L-5h10m] weather balloon released earlier shows upper level atmospheric conditions to be within limits, surface forecast remains 90% GO. Rocket is back horizontal and capsule is awaiting crew ingress. Here is today's launch timeline, expect updates at each milestone

[L-4h57m] crew shuttle departed on schedule 3 min ago and is now passing Launch Control on its way to the pad with Jeb aboard. Bob will remain in the Astronaut Complex suited up and ready to replace Jeb at any time. According to Jeb that time would be "over my dead body!"

🌅Sunrise/Sunset🌄
@ KSC (UTC-4)

3/12
#2🌄07:48:45 🌅09:59:05 !!🚀!!
#3🌄13:49:36 🌅15:59:56
#4🌄19:50:27 🌅22:00:47

3/13
#1🌄01:51:18 🌅04:01:38

[L-4h41m] crew loading underway a few minutes late - FD Lanalye had given the pad crew special instructions to *not* allow Jeb to climb up on the rocket again. After his attempts were foiled he then refused to pose for a new photo and began to climb into the capsule

[L-4h20m] back on track as capsule hatch is sealed and pad crew begins to raise the rocket back to vertical for remounting. Bill is at the pad plugged into the capsule to maintain contact with Jeb during the process, as capsule comms to Launch Control are not yet online

[L-3h40m] rocket mounting proceeding well, Flight Director Lanalye's A team of launch controllers is now assembling for final mission briefing. Like past kerbed flights, Jeb's mission will primarily be to measure physical response to 0G & re-entry forces

Jeb's rocket is using the old-style fins but they are also the newer lighter versions, so his rocket masses 59kg less than Val's. It's amazing how much difference that can make, his ascent profile required completely different angle & power settings to still land near Ockr Relay

[L-3h10m] remounting was successful & w/o issue allowing the launch team to begin preflight operations, waking up the capsule computer and onloading flight instructions, including a new comms protocol (bit.ly/AFCS_ChangeLog) Jeb also has work to do setting up manual controls

[L-2h55m] we have a GO to begin tanking operations. Monolith chilldown in effect, no change to atmospheric pressure. Launch Escape System is armed & Jeb actually knows from past experience that if the tank happens to blow up he'll be safe from harm

[L-2h40m] tanking ops wrapped up on schedule and rocket is now 7t heavier with liquid fuel & oxidizer, bringing its total mass to 10.814t. Preflight operations are now continuing while the pad crew moves back in to clean up and prepare to lock down the launch site

"Rolling left. Check?"
"Check"
"Pitching up. Check?"
"Check"
....
call/response continues between Jeb & the pad crew as he manipulates the manual controls & they confirm movement. Rocket may operate under automated control but the kerb aboard still has plenty of preflight tasks

[L-1h55m] another planned pad evacuation underway as preflight moves into engine and ignition checks. So far issues board remains clear, valve problem from earlier this week has been fixed. Jeb is now out of things to do except chit-chat with Bill on CapCom

[L-1h30m] preflight wrapping up on schedule with 0 issues, rocket is healthy & ready to go! Launch site lockdown underway for final evacuation as Range Safety Officer begins final check with the SkyWatch team of the waters and airspace surrounding KSC

[L-1h20m] another high-altitude balloon has been released so we can get updated information on upper-level conditions before the general polling at L-5min. Wind shear constraints are a bit tighter due to the new extended interstage between the capsule and fuel tank

checking in with MSV Aldeny out in the recovery zone and in range of Ockr Relay they confirm weather and sea conditions remain good for splashdown. We're still evaluating ascent accuracy and whether for future missions to have a land target to use in event of rough seas

[L-45m] launch rehearsal is underway to uncover any final issues that may have evaded the teams during preflight. Launch site is locked down & cleared of all vehicles except for the small tanker truck carrying the nitrogen pressurization gas

[L-30m] Kat & her weather team confirm surface conditions remain green throughout our daytime launch window & we have a GO to enter into final countdown! Launch control resetting after a clean rehearsal to link back up with the live rocket. Jeb is humming contently to himself

[L-15m] RSO has confirmed airspace is clear out to our 20km exclusion zone & ascent corridor over the water is empty of vessels. Rocket Flight Termination System is ACTIVE, engine ignition ARMED. Jeb's heart rate slightly elevated as he rapidly taps his foot. Impatience, he says

[L-13m] late onload of pressurization gas underway. Modifications made to the upper liquid fuel bulkhead moved the nitrogen tanks up higher and necessitated that we also raise the capsule up a bit as well, creating a small enshrouded interstage gap

Bill is walking Jeb through a final suit integrity check followed by the switch over to internal capsule life support ahead of terminal countdown. Controllers are glued to their monitors, making final checks as well in prep for FD Lanalye to conduct final general GO/NO GO polls

[L-5m] Wx: GO; Range: GO; Flight: GO; Tracking Station: GO; Downrange Tracking: GO; Recovery: GO; Ops Director @DKerman_KSA: Launch permission granted! 🚀GO ASCENSION🚀 FTS power internal, service tower boom unlocked for retraction, AFCS ready for terminal count

[L-3m] prelim fuel tank pressurization underway to increase rigidity & allow the rocket to stand on its own atop the engine support clamp once the service tower boom swings away in the next minute. Jeb will call out his own GO shortly to confirm he is prepped for terminal count

[T-2m] all remains GO as we enter terminal countdown, AFCS has assumed control of the rocket, service boom detached & capsule now on internal power, life support and RF comms. EC drain being monitored and comm checks underway. Jeb has tasks to keep him occupied up to launch

[T-1m] tune into the Ops Tracker now if you're not already! ops.kerbalspace.agency primary poll at T-30s coming up & real-time ascent telemetry should load shortly after that. Here is the final automated event sequence prior to launch:

[ABORT] AFCS threw an automated hold just before lift off when it did not detect proper launch thrust setting. RSO is working with Jeb to safe the rocket while controllers take a close look at the telemetry data to determine whether this is an issue that can be overcome w/o scrub

rocket engine is safed, clock reset to L-5min. Jeb is of course frustrated & altho rocket would have still gone upwards at launch w/1.18 TWR, failure to set thrust properly could mean it also doesn't throttle up enough later in flight to make it to space, which would be a waste

no one is finding anything unusual in the data leading up to lift off so we will try again. K2-X cannot be relit in flight but on the ground we can restart it as many times as needed. If this 2nd attempt fails tho launch will be scrubbed for a more detailed engine investigation

work is underway to reboot the flight computer & reload op code to make sure that wasn't an issue. Lift off now targeted for 16:15 UTC. This is one of the faster launch recycles that controllers will have to perform but FD Lanalye is confident in her team's training

[L-5m] once again back to general polls, all GO. Rocket is rearmed for ignition & AFCS is back to waiting for terminal count. Everything will proceed as before (except pressurization, already completed) and hopefully this time the engine will perform as expected

[T-2m] back in terminal count, AFCS once again has control. Power levels have continued to drop since first terminal count but we still have enough battery life to give this another shot. Fuel usage from 1st attempt won't have any large impact on ascent plans

[T-1m] final 30s polls coming up, same automated sequence will follow as before. If you are tuned into the Ops Tracker keep a close eye on the telemetry data - it does show current TWR!

[ABORT] "NOOOOOOOOOO!" came Jeb's holler over the comms, followed by banging noises, as he felt the rumble of the engine subside. AFCS has still failed to detect proper lift off thrust and we will have to unfortunately scrub today's launch & rollback for a good look at the engine

we got Jeb calmed down, rocket is once again safed, including FTS & LES. We have to rehook the service boom to drain propellants before the rocket can be lowered so Jeb will have to stew out there for a while yet. At least hookup means he has continuous power for climate control

propellant drainback has been completed, service arm will now be swung away again so the rocket can be lowered for Jeb to egress from the capsule and head back to the Astronaut Complex. He and Bob will remain in quarantine until a decision is made on the next launch attempt

medical team gave Jeb his games back while he remains stuck in quarantine. Although they tend to get him a bit worked up at times, better than having him depressed thinking about the continued setbacks in his attempts to get up into space

still no diagnosis on Jeb's engine, but luckily we don't have to wait for one because the engine for Bob's flight is tested and ready. Lead Engineer Simon says they can swap it for another launch attempt next week, now targeting lift off on 3/20 @ 16:15 UTC

Lead Engineer Simon reports the engine for Jeb's rocket developed a bad fuel flow sensor in the time between static fire and launch. They will replace the part, seek higher quality from the manufacturer, and have the engine ready again for Bob's mission in April

Jeb's Ascension Mk1 has been rolled out to the pad to be hooked up & fired. We don't plan to do this before every launch moving forward, but in this case with time already wasted we certainly don't want to go through all the trouble again of reaching T-0 to suffer a similar issue

drainback of remaining propellants is underway after a successful static fire. We lit the engine, ran it to launch thrust & for good measure throttled it up to ascent TWR of 1.5, held it for 10s then went to full for 30. Not a full burn but enough to feel confident about tomorrow

🌅Sunrise/Sunset🌄
@ KSC (UTC-4)

3/20
#2🌄08:15:57 🌅10:26:17 !!🚀!!
#3🌄14:16:48 🌅16:27:08  
#4🌄20:17:39 🌅22:27:59

3/21
#1🌄02:18:30 🌅04:28:50

[L-5h10m] launch prep underway with a favorable report from the weather balloon sent up earlier to check on upper-level winds. Surface conditions remain green as well altho attention still being paid to winds from a high pressure system offshore. Countdown remains the same:

[L-4h20m] crew loading was without issue. Jeb is aboard while Bob waits in the Astronaut Complex. Rocket is being raised back to vertical for mounting and tanking. Flight briefing will be underway soon and there are no changes from last week: twitter.com/KSA_MissionCtr…

we've finally allowed the surface map to move in twice the current zoom level to make it easier to see the rocket moving & mouse over markers in the early ascent stages. A future orbital mission will provide us with higher detail hopefully in the next year or so

[L-2h55m] we have a GO for tanking ops. Flight computer is online and Monolith chilldown was performed earlier today to withhold the formation of storms. FD Lanalye is making sure no one is treating these operations as "routine", so soon from last time. Complacency is dangerous!

[L-1h30m] pre-launch ops continuing without issue, preparing now to send up the second weather balloon for a final check of upper-level conditions. Winds are picking up on the surface but trending within expected limits. Jeb's latest comment is "can we get going already?"

[L-30m] with the launch team still working no issues, fair weather both here and in the recovery zone where MSV Aldeny sailed back to yesterday, we have a GO for final countdown procedures to commence. Launch pad is evacuated and RSO is preparing to close the range

[L-15m] rocket is ARMED for ignition, LES & FTS both ACTIVE. Any incursion to the airspace exclusion zone, downrange ascent marine corridor or 500m ground blast safety radius will immediately halt the count. You don't want to be the one to make Jeb even more frustrated

[L-5m] final general polling has come back GO from all stations! Jeb is switching his suit over to internal capsule systems while the FTS does the same. Rocket fuel tanks will soon add pressure for rigidity to prep for service boom retraction. A hush falls over the crowd outside

yellow flag just popped up next to the wind readings on the main display at Launch Control. Everyone's trying to not look at it but of course it can't be ignored. If winds continue to increase and it goes red... no, we're not thinking about it. But we're still watching it

[T-2m] "GO! GO! GO!" yelled Jeb over the comms when asked for his status to move into terminal count, a play on the other word we do *not* want to hear called out three times at any point in the next two minutes. Capsule power internal, comms RF. EC monitoring active

[T-1m] back to the final seconds once again. Flight surgeon reports Jeb's heart rate is elevated as expected, no doubt as he asks himself - "can this finally be happening??" Tune in now to find out live if T-30s polls are GO via streaming telemetry: ops.kerbalspace.agency

LIFT OFF of the 12th Ascension Mk1 carrying Captain Jebediah up on his first trip into space! As the rocket clears the tower guidance will enable, throttle will push up to and hold 1.5 TWR. Once Jeb stops laughing maniacally he should begin calling out instrument readings

smooooth flight so far, engine performance nominal. Guidance right on track. Telemetry is dropping in & out but Jeb's calling out good instrument readings, all systems nominal. Rocket is through MaxQ and about to go supersonic, where the ride could start getting a little bumpy

Jeb says he's "loving the real deal" as flight continues into the upper-atmosphere w/ only minor "roll-shake" turbulence. Thrust is <50% but pitch authority remains nominal. Passing above 30km Jeb will soon get a kick as the engine throttles to full @ 40km ASL in the next minute

MECO 3km short of target altitude, rocket is a bit shallow on ascent with an apokee of 206km instead of 239km as planned. Capsule has been released & will push away on RCS thrust, then Jeb will flip over to look back at lifter & confirm good sep and increasing distance

LES push motors were triggered from within the capsule shortly after RCS push, increasing apokee to 244km. This was *not* a planned or approved action & FD Lanalye is turning purple. Jeb is actually trying to convince her that he accidentally bumped the (covered) switch

Jeb is unstrapped & floating in 0G, taking photos out the capsule window. Flight surgeon says all vitals are nominal. Lanalye is still livid but at this point in the mission there is no other need for the LES' alternate backup uses & splashdown zone shifted by only ~20km

and Jeb continues to not earn any points today when he refuses the suggestion to decouple the LES tower, saying he finds the extra effort to maneuver the capsule makes it easier to control. That is within his purview, however, as capsule commander. Coming up on apokee in <30s

with awe in his voice Jeb says he just witnessed a beautiful sight watching Mun set, although that's really from his capsule falling back down and now passing through 200km he has to reluctantly leave the window and begin preparations for re-entry

without causing any more hassle Jeb has the capsule prepped for re-entry, heat shield facing forward & LES decoupled. He will also place the capsule into a roll to help ensure the radial chutes do not get cooked. He's been looking forward to this - the centrifuge can't sim it

blazing through the atmosphere now, we expect plasma blackout to occur at any second (ops.kerbalspace.agency will show it happening) and last up to 30-60s, after which we should get confirmation of chutes popping. Descent profile at reentry was nominal

cheers & applause in Launch Control as Jeb contacts us to confirm chute deploy! Chutes are reefed & continue to decelerate him but the worst is over, similar to Val he dealt with +10G (11.2 max) for 6 seconds. MSV Aldeny hasn't had much time to get underway but are <30min out

full chute deployment, confirmed by MSV Aldeny ~20km away able to full-frame it this time with a telephoto lens as capsule drifts down at ~6m/s in the soft glow of sunset. Flotation collar is armed & heat shield will be dumped just before hitting the water

SPLASHDOWN! Welcome home to our latest space voyager - Captain Jeb! While his rash action failed at allowing him to break Val's records for altitude & duration as he'd hoped, leaving him slightly unsatisfied, he readily admits the experience was still worth it.✨🎉 Kerzzah! 🎊✨

Jeb has confirmed he is afloat, capsule is not sinking nor taking on water. While he can unstrap & stand on the seat to stretch a bit he'll have to wait for MSV Aldeny to haul him out of the water before he can exit the capsule. Taking a swim is for emergencies only. Even for him

sun has set but the capsule has been recovered w/o issue thx to night exercises as part of standard mission training. Here's a photo Jeb took while waiting. Photos from space will also be released in the coming days. Congrats to all the teams on another successful kerbed mission!

Jeb was just congratulated personally over radio by the Presider and will also get a chance to be honored in person when MSV Aldeny docks in Sheltered Rock tomorrow, now making best speed out of the recovery zone after also tracking down and collecting the heat shield

telemetry data from yesterday's mission is now available. What we thought was transmission issues in the ascent telemetry turned out to be a timing issue on the rocket that is still being investigated, only seemed to affect logging thankfully  docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d…

Capsule photos from Jeb's mission!
1) Looking back towards KSC, now covered by clouds that moved in shortly after launch
2) Looking towards splashdown zone from apokee
3) Mun setting
4) Looking south from ~160km

a tough decision has been made. The Kerbal Space Agency will be suspending launch operations for at least the next two months while we reassess Ascension & Progenitor program management. More details in this press release from @DKerman_KSA: kerbalspace.agency/?p=10854

first major hurdle of our Ascension program reassessment is out of the way with the flight analysis for Jeb's mission now published. Despite the mass issue, several new mission aspects saw positive results & puts us in a good position to move forward: kerbalspace.agency/?p=10884