The capsule that will carry our astronauts up into space undergoes rigorous testing in conjunction with the Launch Escape System to ensure that it can safely return a crew in the event of a launch or ascent failure
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
additional Ascension news includes a look at the complete assembly of the Mk1 capsule. Decision has been made for the Launch Escape System to undergo a pad abort test prior to the next Ascension launch, which will push it back closer to the middle of March
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
assuming the next Progeny Mk6-I launches on time we will have the Ascension Mk1-I out on the pad two days later for its LES test on 3/7. If that goes well, the capsule LES will be replaced & capsule re-integrated w/rocket over the following week for launch on 3/14
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
our week of operations has concluded, be sure to check out our Weekly Ops Report to get all the information on what has transpired: kerbalspace.agency/?p=8769 (BTW new altitude record is 8.683km ASL)
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
work on the next Ascension Mk1 and Progeny Mk6 rockets proceeding apace in the VAB. Lead Engineer Simon has reported all remains on schedule for our next launch attempt the following week: ops.kerbalspace.agency
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
up it goes! The Mk1 capsule begins integration today with the Ascension Mk1 lifter while the next Progeny Mk6 waits in the background for its launch attempt the following week. Note the RCS thrusters, which we neglected to include in the infographic released last month
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
additionally of note, the heat shield seen in the last posted image is a mock-up, since it will be dropped shortly after chute deploy during the LES pad abort test. The real one will be attached prior to the actual launch
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
recap and learn more about the events from this past week via our Ops Summary, including the return of a Desk Note now that @DKerman_KSA is back from his trip to Sheltered Rock kerbalspace.agency/?p=8811
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
we have liftoff!! Lower 0.625m booster has ignited with an intial force of 67.2kN to push the rocket off the pad at ~4Gs. It will burn for ~34 seconds and stage a second later. The rocket will then coast until its nose drops 1.5° before igniting the 2nd stage SRB
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
post-launch operations wrapping up, which included hauling the Progeny launch base back to the VAB so tomorrow pad workers can install the Ascension engine clamp in its place. MSV Tongjess returned the splashed down weather balloon & has returned to port in Umbarg
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
Ascension engine clamp has been installed out on the launch pad for tomorrow's rollout and pad abort test. Rocket has been loaded up onto the carry vehicle in the VAB. Test is currently scheduled for 18:30 UTC
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
high winds have prevented us from completing rollout of the Ascension Mk1, mainly the process of lifting the rocket vertical. We should have better conditions later today if a nearby storm system stays out to sea as forecast. New test time is 3/15 @ 00:45 UTC
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
forecast models are still not very reliable unfortunately and the storm system has moved inland. Pad abort test has been scrubbed for today. We will make another attempt tomorrow with rollout after 2nd sunrise and test scheduled for 19:00 UTC
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
we were able to complete rollout of the Ascension Mk1 earlier this day cycle and it is now vertical on the pad. Only the top umbilical is attached to supply power to the capsule, which will be switched on to begin preflight after 17:30 UTC
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
with the sun fully set, the Monolith temple chill down has begun. We considered leaving it alone to see if storms formed as this is a different rocket design but being already behind schedule we want to avoid further delays & any damage to the rocket itself from lightning
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
LES test proceeding as scheduled. Monolith temple chilled - once stable temps confirmed the rocket will be powered on to load test routines and prepare the systems for action. Pad crew is pulling back to 100m and standing by for recovery after the test
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
all systems looking good, now just over an hour away from test time we are holding and still making sure no storms are forming. Final test preparations will commence at 18:45 UTC if weather conditions remain stable
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
15min until test! Weather remains stable, final arming and system checks are underway now in launch control under the watchful eye of Flight Director Lanalye. Astronauts are also here to witness what they could possibly have to endure someday (hopefully never though)
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
5min until test. LES is armed for abort procedure and flight computer is standing by for the command to initiate. If all goes well the capsule will be rocketed away on an arc that takes it clear of the launch pad, then deploy chutes, drop the heat shield and land
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
test complete! That - did not quite go exactly as planned. FD Lanalye is still having her team do a quick review of video & telemetry data to determine exactly what went wrong but at least we can report the capsule appears to have somewhat survived
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
more information coming in now that pad workers have reached and inspected the capsule. Lead Engineer Simon reports heavy damage to the exterior that likely renders it unfit for future missions. LES tower is thankfully mostly intact so we can study what went wrong with it
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
here's an enhanced image from the video footage showing all 5 solid rocket motors on the LES firing very late into the abort burn. This is improper behavior indicating a design flaw - top motor only supposed to fire a short duration to tilt capsule away from rocket
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
capsule & LES are being moved back to the VAB while pad crews begin to dismount the Mk1 lifter to roll it back to the VAB - the first time we've taken one down after setting it up. Video of the abort test will be posted later today before our Ops Summary
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
here's how the pad abort test went down earlier today. Poor Bob managed to turn even greener watching it. Greggery the test dummy was aboard and only had to suffer through just under 5Gs of force during the tumble. Capsule flew about 70 meters from the pad
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
chutes normally deploy in about 8sec but they are reefed to allow safe deceleration at transonic speeds. This low in atmo & moving slower when allowed to deploy fully without reefing they can arrest descent in just over 2sec - it was barely enough to spare the capsule!
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
learn more about today's semi-successful launch escape system pad abort test and more happenings from this past week in our Ops Summary: kerbalspace.agency/?p=8845 Sadly yes, this will delay getting a kerbal aboard for a sub-orbital flight
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
LES solid rocket pitch motor atop the tower is confirmed to simply be the same as the push motors, which means the simple fix is to replace the pitch motor on the 2nd LES meant for flight with the proper one and test again, altho whether the capsule can be reused still a question
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
Lead Engineer Simon has confirmed the test capsule is no longer structurally fit for flight. New capsule is set to arrive next week, will undergo inspection the following week and then begin integration for flight. Next Ascension Mk1 launch date NET 4/16
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
although not capable of flight, the test capsule can still work for another LES pad abort test. It will be re-integrated with the fixed LES tower and mounted to a different Mk1 lifter (we have 3 other ones ready). Re-test will take place next week on 3/27
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
operations are in a bit of a lull right now but still there are things to report in our weekly Ops Summary: kerbalspace.agency/?p=8859 everyone have a happy weekend!
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
Mk1 capsule test article was re-integrated with the dummy heatshield and fixed Launch Escape System tower yesterday. Today it is being re-mounted atop an Ascension Mk1 lifter. All remains on schedule for another pad abort test of the LES tomorrow at 19:30 UTC
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
we were unable to get the Mk1 rocket/capsule out to the pad this day cycle due to adverse weather conditions. The pad crew is capable of mounting at night and as soon as conditions improve they will begin work to get everything set up for a test later today closer to 3rd sunset
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
Ascension LES pad abort test is now scheduled for tomorrow, 19:50 UTC. Rocket was moved out to the pad however a mechanical issue arose with the arm that lifts the rocket vertical. After trying to fix it out on the pad the vehicle has now been rolled back to the VAB for repairs
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
Mk1 lifter and capsule have successfully been rolled out and mounted on the launch pad, configured the same as last time with the single umbilical connected to provide power to the capsule for the test, which remains on schedule for later today @ 19:50 UTC
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
sun is rising and preparations are underway to begin powering up the capsule and run through pre-test checks. Monolith chilldown was begun earlier and while we still have some time buffered in to account for any serious weather, we don't expect any
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
30 minute to LES pad abort test, rocket is online and all systems are nominal. Team is now holding to ensure weather continues to cooperate. Pad crews are finishing securing the rocket and clearing back to prepare for recovery operations
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
10 minutes to test! Weather remains green, Flight Director Lanalye and her launch team are back to work arming the abort system and finalizing the capsule for its ejection from the stack
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
5 minutes! Unlike our first test, the adjusted LES tower should now angle the capsule up and away a good distance from the rocket as the kick motor at the top of the tower will not fire with the same duration as the 4 push motors at the base. Stand by!
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
success! The capsule flew to a height of 384m before coming down under 3 good chutes to land almost 700m from the launch pad. Almost flipped over once but after LES tower jettison aero forces turned it bottom-first along its trajectory for clean chute deploy & heat shield drop
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
recovery crews confirm the capsule is in good shape and work has begun to get everything back to the VAB. Launch control team is busy already reviewing video footage and telemetry data - we'll get a clip up later today
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
full video with additional angles will be posted tomorrow but here's a look at the capsule flying up into the air and nearly out of sight into the distance from the launch tower camera. Now that's more like it!
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
full video of yesterday's LES pad abort test now available. Data review shows everything worked perfectly. The LES will be integrated for the next Ascension launch even tho it will be uncrewed to ensure it doesn't upset the rocket's flight youtube.com/watch?v=zubZ6G…
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
next week we will have another LES pad abort test to see if we can still send the capsule off the flight path of the rocket or to the side while on the pad if the kick motor fails. In that scenario, one of the push motors will fire off a split second earlier than the others
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
another week behind us, catch up on all that happened with additional details via our Ops Summary: kerbalspace.agency/?p=8899 have a relaxing weekend, everybody!
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
test capsule is being re-integrated today with the dummy heatshield (now rather beat up but still usable) and LES tower to prep for its third pad abort test at the end of the week, currently targeting 20:00 UTC
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
Lead Engineer Simon has reported the test rocket completed integration in the VAB today and has been laid horizontal on the carry vehicle for rollout tomorrow after 2nd sunrise. Pad abort remains on schedule for 20:00 UTC
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
30 minutes to pad abort test. Rocket was rolled out and mounted the previous day cycle, Monolith is chilled and capsule is powered up. FD Lanalye and her team are beginning their system checks while pad crews close out and pull back to prep for recovery operations
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
pad abort test in 5 minutes! A single push motor will light off just 2 milliseconds before the other three to tip the capsule over slightly before it flies up and away. At least, that is the plan. Stand by...
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
recovery crews report the capsule has landed without issue around 800m from the launch pad. Flight data shows it reached a height of just over 300m, nearly as high as the last test. Kerzzah! This fine-control over the LES motors is just the beginning of our plans...
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
preliminary review of telemetry data and video footage confirm the test went off as planned. You can barely see the difference in motor ignition but it's there. LES tower impacts first (with unspent kick motor making a bit of boom) followed by heat shield after full chute deploy
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
end of the week is here at last! Catch anything you may have missed in our Ops Summary: kerbalspace.agency/?p=8916 we suggest all our rocketry crews get some rest this weekend - launch campaign for the next Ascension mission kicks off in earnest next week!
