Although Captain Jebediah came close, Commander Valentina is the one with the experience & we’re hoping she can put the Civvie back down on the runway with chute assistance
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tomorrow it will be Val's turn once again to take the Civvie up for a flight, hoping to finally bring it back down on the runway this time!
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waiting on the Wx report after sunrise, already seems to be rather breezy outside. Val is reporting to the SPH this morning regardless
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Wx report confirms that winds out of the NE @ 15-18 kts will not allow flights today - crosswind + tail wind not good for westerly takeoffs
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winds dying down with sunset. Civvie can't fly at night yet but airships can & one is picking up KerBalloon team to head out for launch site
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no joy for favorable flight weather again, Civvie remains grounded today. KerBalloon team reports on-site for launch tho, in lee of mountain
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C7 has finally broken down under Wernher's insistence that the Civvie be equipped with his scientific instruments, installed this afternoon
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Civvie has room to carry two small science instruments, is now equipped with a pressure & temperature sensor independent of craft systems
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Wx is favorable and forecasters say things look like it will stay that way. Winds light and variable, visibility unlimited, clouds at 4.6km
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Civvie is already being towed out of the HAB and Val is heading off to the ready room to suit up, walk around, climb aboard and pre-flight
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Val has begun preflight, with Jeb following along in launch control. Bill and Bob are out in the field again to monitor takeoffs & landings
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Civvie is crossing the dirt runway, taxiing down to the turf, harder surface makes run up to takeoff speed easier. Val already has clearance
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nominal takeoff, Val is climbing at 5m/s with full throttle, wings cleaned up. Will now work through the same traffic pattern as Jeb to land
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crossing over KSC at just 1.08km Val is playing chicken with the airspace floor. Lanalye is not amused, but Val always enjoys a challenge
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launch control has started Val on her turn to base and then final, shorter than the vectors they gave to Jeb so she doesn't come up short
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Val is on short final, about 1.5km out & lined up center of the runway although Bob reports she's a little high. Flight says maintain slope
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she did it! Val deployed her chute about halfway down the runway & slammed to a stop shortly afterwards. Flew way past Bob on the way in 😛
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after Val taxis back in HAB workers will repack the chute & give the undercarriage yet another looksee to ensure all good w/ the "landing"
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while the Civvie's getting checked over we pulled TDU information. Here's a helpfully-annotated figure of Val's takeoff, approach & landing
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here is Val's pattern vs. Jeb's. Note her tighter turns, greater experience from looser handling of original prototype. Now easier for her
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that's it! We're out! Everyone enjoy the holiday, see you next year! Before you go though, here's a 2017 preview: bit.ly/OpsSummary12-1…
