Fin configuration is put to the test to see how the pitch of the stabilizers will affect the spin of the rocket and the apokee
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
well, in between daytime hrs Simon & crew have managed to get the first Mk1-B parts staged. Here's what's left of our available rocket parts
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
Simon says he expects integration testing to begin tomorrow, with 2nd rocket being constructed/tested over Thurs/Fri for launches next week
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
VAB is already in high gear, wrapping up integration testing for the 1st Mk1-B so work can begin on the 2nd - assuming everything checks out
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
bit.ly/ProgenyMk1-B1 is good to go & Simon is confident they can get the 2nd one fully assembled today. Launch on Tues? Possibly!
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
we're still unsure what caused the signal noise detected in last week's launches, but we do plan to investigate further w/Mk1-B launches
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
great day - bit.ly/ProgenyMk1-B2 has been completed. VAB crew really getting dialed in. Tuesday L-0 times locked in: 15:45 & 21:45 UTC
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
MK1-B integration testing wrapping up today. Why launch on Tue? Turns out Lanalye is a bit superstitous & doesn't like launching 1st workday
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
we hope everyone has a great weekend! Here's what you may have missed this past week: bit.ly/OpsSummary9-26…
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
a full morning of launch drills is underway as Flight Director Lanalye gets everyone ready for action tomorrow. To stations!
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
warning horn just sounded. Only a drill for this morning's exercises. We don't anticipate any Mk1-Bs heading for KSC bldgs but u never know
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
there's a bucket brigade out to the launchpad simulating a booster explosion fire. Beedo! Beedoo! Beedoo! Beedoo! Beedoo!
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
morning drills were all carried out successfully. This afternoon will see review of performance & final launch readiness checks for tomorrow
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
VAB is off shift this afternoon so we snagged a pic of the two Mk1-Bs sitting around ready to be carried out tomorrow. They look magnificent
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
all teams ready for launch tomorrow, reports Lanalye. Now, we just have to keep an eye on those dark clouds gathering out over the water...
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
Launch day! Who's excited? We are! The launch clock now stands at L-3hrs and here's the timeline moving forward
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
we have reset the launch time to 16:30 UTC - will recheck weather at 16:10 UTC. Good visual observation conditions, fewer clouds, required
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
we have had a successful launch and chute deploy! Payload is descending slowly, currently 250m above the ground. Recovery crews heading out
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
success! Payload & booster are both intact, booster is damaged as expected. Both fell around 300m northeast of the pad
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
and the crowds go wild 🙂 We're looking forward to doing it again later today!
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
payload & booster are on their way back for analysis later this week & now we have a break for food & rest before launch #2 @ 21:45 UTC!
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
we have been given the GO from Wx to begin launch operations for bit.ly/ProgenyMk1-B2 and are prepping it to be trucked out to the pad
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
an Assembly member who chairs the commitee for science and education has been allowed access to view this launch. Our first visitor!
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
her visit is the first one paid to KSC by any branch of the kerbal government, and we are very gratified to have their attention already 🙂
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
L-50min: mounting operations were conducted without issue, preliminary preflight checks complete, pad crew clearing out now. All is nominal
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
L-20min: preflight complete, launch rehearsal complete, Wx check looking good as the sun comes up (tracking camera view)
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
L-5min: final checks are underway. Barring no further issues or holds we expect this flight to be similar to last. Only diff is no fin angle
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
POP goes the chute! Cheers in launch control. Another successful launch! Recovery prospects looking good too as the payload descends slowly
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
recovery crew is at the payload 203m east of the launch pad. Looks great! Thankfully didn't land on the slope & roll or worse, tumble down
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
here's a look at the booster, which actually *flew back* and landed 142m from the pad southwest, towards the tracking station! A bit scary
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
a minor collision with the payload on separation sent the booster on a more lateral trajectory that turned under & back due to body lift(?)
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
since the booster did not fall nearly as straight down upon landing as the first, it suffered slightly less damage when it landed
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
RT @justhereforksa: Booster wished to fly / Shot up into that blue sky / Thought it was a bird.
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
Assembly member says she will take her experience back to the govt, and be debriefed by the Presider himself. Wow! We are most pleased
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
Great work to all the teams today! We'll have more news on future Progenitor missions after some data analysis over the next few days
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
late start to the day to make up for overtime yesterday. Flight analysis begins of the two Mk1-B flights and we have ALL THE DATA this time
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
launch photo of Progeny Mk1-B1 from yesterday, barely past 1s after ignition. Video of Mk1-B2 flight will be posted sometime tomorrow or Fri
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
we hear the KSC grounds keepers are grumbling about the mess we're making of the lawn around the launchpad - mainly the boosters "landing"
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
tracking station reports that initial analysis shows they did indeed intercept some sort of signal interference during the Mk1-B launches
Kerbal Space Agency
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studies of the signal are ongoing, helped now by greater frequency range data collected during these last two launches
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
here's a look at the Mk1-B2 launch from Tues. You can see how the booster veered off after impacting the payload youtube.com/watch?v=dyVtY2…
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
make sure to view in HD & look at the sun after cam pans out - you will see the booster fly back and impact to the right of the launch pad!
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
also no, we do not plan to release all videos with sound at this time. But some will have sound. Maybe one day all will. Can't say right now
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
time to check out all that's transpired this past week. Missed anything? We got you covered 🙂 Good weekend to all! bit.ly/OpsSummary10-3…
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
Progenitor Program engineers say they expect the full Progeny Mk1-B flight analysis to be released with our weekly ops review on Friday
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
catch up on new developments this past week in our Weekly Ops Summary - bit.ly/OpsSummary10-1…. have a great weekend everyone!
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
holy moley @DKerman_KSA just got a phone call from the Presider himself, saying he was impressed by what his Sci/Ed chairkerb told him
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
he wished us luck on our next rocket launch tomorrow and has promised he'll make it here someday to see one himself. We're ecstatic!
