Now that we’ve confirmed booster separation works as designed, we will allow the 2nd stage to coast to max TWR before ignition & see how high that gets us
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
Simon is eager to get started on assembly of Progeny Mk2.1 rockets today. We'll be building a total of three to test various ascent profiles
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
to be a bit more specific - does the coast time between booster ignitions matter? We shall find out!
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
our Mk1-B boosters have arrived safe and sound, are in the VAB and ready to begin assembly & integration tomorrow for launch... this week!!
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
Simon reports that although the major sections for all 3 rockets will be ready, time for only 1 to undergo full rigors of final integration
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
engineers are out in the north field modifying the Progeny launch base - we'll be launching the Mk2.1 at only a 5° angle instead of 10°
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
and with the sun rising we can share the good news that the worst does look to be over, KSC dry. Bad news: water level still hasn't receded
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
we have all support staff back to work at KSC as we continue to assess facilities and ensure that no serious wind damage was also incurred
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
VAB got back to work earlier this afternoon on finishing up the second Progeny Mk1.2 rocket, HAB also back to work on the Civvie rebuild
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
some great weather outside right now, a little breezy. Hopefully things will stay niiiice and calm this next week or so for launches
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
we have good reports from Simon for both the HAB & VAB projects. Rockets should be ready by next week, will have a new launch date tomorrow
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
2nd rocket, bit.ly/ProgenyMk2_1-2 is now ready for launch! We'll be sending it up on 12/13 @ 16:50 UTC followed by a 3rd 12/15 @ 17:00 UTC
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
analysis of 1st Mk2.1 launch & more deets on upcoming 2nd & 3rd +more in weekly ops summary. Have a great weekend! bit.ly/OpsSummary12-5…
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
two launches this week and Flight Director Lanalye has her team doing drills all morning, with reviews all afternoon. Work hard train hard!
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
rain passing through today - good! Get it over with and out of here for tomorrow, hopefully. Still dark out west over the mountains though
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
we'll be testing out a new Flight Tracker feature these next two launches - real-time display of current rocket staging status via images
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
page will auto-update when a new stage event is triggered via launch control - the data to the right of image will update also as necessary
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
Lanalye reports control team ready, Simon reports launch/recovery crew ready & Drew has given final approval - launch @ 16:50 UTC tomorrow!
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
🌅Sunrise/Sunset🌄
@ KSC (UTC-5)
12/13
#2🌅09:14:27 !!🚀!!
#3🌄12:34:55 🌅15:15:18
#4🌄18:35:46 🌅21:16:09
12/14
#1🌄00:36:37 🌅03:17:00
#2🌄06:37:28
@ KSC (UTC-5)
12/13
#2🌅09:14:27 !!🚀!!
#3🌄12:34:55 🌅15:15:18
#4🌄18:35:46 🌅21:16:09
12/14
#1🌄00:36:37 🌅03:17:00
#2🌄06:37:28
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
staff already showing up for work, early launches this week! Will give us more time to work through any issues - hopefully we have none 🙂
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
we may tweet additional status reports but these major schedule points are when you should expect to hear from us as launch prep progresses
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
L-3:30 = Wx check: still dark out (and no Mun) so tough to see cloud conditions off to the distance, but it's not raining. Rollout is Go
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
launch crews are always stuck getting the rocket mounted at night. Daylight is just too short to get things setup to launch before sunset
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
mostly cloudy skies as the sun rises. Hopefully will clear a little, but Wx conditions still green. Mounting ops proceeding on schedule
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
L-2:00 = FD Lanalye & launch team gathering at launch control to review the day's procedures set in place for pre-launch, flight & recovery
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
astronauts had considered digging a bunker 15m from the launch site but Drew wouldn't approve it. Crazy astronauts: 0, sensible kerbs: 3
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
L-1:30 = mounting ops completed, pre-flight getting underway. bit.ly/ProgenyMK2_1-2 has the full details on the rocket's status
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
so did anyone check bit.ly/ProgenyMK2_1-2 & notice the EC levels? Batteries now tested briefly under full load during final integration
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
L-0:50 = no issues being worked, launch control ready to check ignition & launch systems, work crew clearing the pad to a distance of 200m
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
L-0:30 = Progeny is GO, pre-flight complete. Small issue w/ground comms when someone tripped over a cable. Launch rehearsal getting underway
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
L-0:20 = weather conditions remain green, launch rehearsal completed. No issues being worked. Quiet & calm in launch control, how we like it
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
L-0:15 = rocket is now ARMED and range safety protocol in effect - 200m radius of launch site & 2km downrange cone w/ 10km ASL ceiling
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
L-0:05 = final general polling complete: RSO = GO; Wx = GO; Tracking Station = GO; Launch Ctrl = GO; Flight = GO; Progeny = GO; All nominal!
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
L-0:02 = internal power on, EC system checks underway. Don't forget to watch bit.ly/ProgenyMK2_1-2 for in-flight updates! Here we go...
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
Launch was good, ascent nominal - apokee reached and payload fairings deployed for instrument exposure. Awaiting chute deployment at 500m
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
chute deployment confirmed at +1:24, payload is now seconds away from landing, descent rate within limits. Recovery crews enroute \[0o]/
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
recovery team reports payload is intact, 2.1km NW from launch site. No sign of the 2nd stage booster but they are checking the 1st stage now
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
damage to 1st stage booster minimal, will be great for post-flight analysis. Recovery crew now going off hunting for the 2nd stage booster
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
recovery crew report they can still find no trace of 2nd booster. Our guess, based on the northerly landing of payload, is it's in the water
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
no big deal - if we cared a lot about booster recovery we'd have chutes on them. Overall today's flight a wonderful success! Everyone happy
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
launch ops have transitioned to lunch ops and then everyone gets back to work studying the science and telemetry data we recovered
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
hoping to post the launch video later today, but in case we can't here's a booster burnout still from the static cam to tide you all over
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
telemetry data from today's flight is now available - bit.ly/ProgenyMk2_1Tl… soooo close to 5km! Can we break it? Engineers believe so, yes
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
in fact we will be using the data obtained from this & the 1st launch to determine when would be the optimal time to ignite the 2nd booster
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
launch video online. We have a surprise ready for flight 3's video later this week too 🙂 Great work today everyone! youtube.com/watch?v=VeRvaR…
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
rocketry teams are enjoying a 3-day weekend after the success of this past week. Rest well, kerbs - you deserve it!
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
all of us here are sooo ready for this weekend. Busy week! Everyone have a relaxing weekend! Catch up on everything: bit.ly/OpsSummary12-1…
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
report from the engineering team on our Progeny Mk2.1 flights has been released! Check out bit.ly/ProgenitorPR8 for all the juicy details
