Captain Jebediah heads further north to deliver yet another KerBalloon payload over an area of scientific interest for it to gather temperature data as it ascends
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Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
all participants of yesterday's mission are gathering in Launch Control for debrief. Will compare this mission to last, plan for future one
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
Bill reports that their rovers traveled a total of 561km on this trip, a little less than half the range possible with 3 UTVs to work with
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
Jeb suggested he roll the plane upside-down to let the envelope inflate prior to release & it can go straight up. Lanalye was like "Uh, no"
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
good debrief, everyone happy with how things are running. Next joint mission will be 5/16 to bit.ly/Lisnnes_Crater 84km to the north
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
OK that's enough! Everybody go home! We've had a busy week, here is our Ops Summary. Enjoy the weekend - bit.ly/OpsSummary5-8-…
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
taxiing into the HAB after a smooth landing, we're happy to welcome home our new Civvie! It will receive a KerBalloon for mission tomorrow
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
Bill & his KerBalloon team for joint mission tomorrow have the UTVs all packed up & rdy to go, they will depart like last time @ 1st sunrise
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
thx to familiar terrain & a nearly-full Mun helping to light the way UTVs are getting an early start out to bit.ly/Lisnnes_Crater
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
Bill & crew have only 118km to travel outbound this trip so they should be in place prior to 2nd sunset for KB delivery after 2nd sunrise
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
comms relay airship has arrived on station. 5.7km cloud ceiling & mostly-clear skies will let it remain stationary over the tallest peak
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
with plenty of sunlight left, UTV crew rolling into the target area & getting setup to track & follow the payload once it is deployed
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
Jeb is off to briefing with the C7 flight control team. He should have an easier time clearing these lower mountains on his outbound leg
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
Mun is even more full now, low to the west & Jeb has his taxi/takeoff clearance from Rwy27 prior to full sunrise thx to the extra light
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
after a standard departure to 800m ASL Jeb is on course now Hdg329, climbing slow to maintain faster horizontal velocity, fuel pumping aft
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
no problems clearing the mountains at 2.8km ASL, looking to lvl @ 3km. Jeb is ~7min out from drop, Bill reports they are rdy on the ground
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
good release of the KerBalloon unit, confirmed ascent from the ground and the air. Bill & crew are off tracking while Jeb heads for home
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
Jeb is over the mountains & starting his descent. Winds are calm so he's making straight-in for Rwy09, overcoming his unease of this appr
Kerbal Space Agency
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Tracking Station reports AOS for the KerBalloon, now rising through 7.1km & all nominal so far. Wx is not ideal, so may not reach max alt
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
lined up on final looking good, terrain markers just barely visible. Jeb will keep them in sight to avoid another CFIT on this approach
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
a bit fast on touchdown at 43m/s with a bouncy rollout but Jeb made a picture-perfect approach & is currently taxiing back to the HAB
Kerbal Space Agency
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only 17.3km and we are already seeing a slowing of vertical ascent velocity indicating the formation of ice on the outside of the envelope
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
Jeb has been debriefed, here's another photo, coming south over the mountain pass he usually tops going east/west - a diff perspective
Kerbal Space Agency
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Jeb admitted he actually got a bit disoriented flying over the pass from the north, thinking he had swung around all the way south of mtns
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
we saw envelope failure at 21.4km. Chutes have pre-deployed & Bill reports good transponder signal. Data only collected from 19.2km tho :/
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
we now have a pre-arranged deal with agencies on how much is paid to us for the amount of data collected past their contracted altitude
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
Bill has radioed in to say they have recovered the payload, happy they didn't have to look for it at night. They are starting back to KSC
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
comms from Bill & crew out in the wilderness to say they are rolling again after camping out prev night cycle. ETA to KSC is about 2 hours
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
making good time, the UTV column has rolled back into KSC after 300km of travel. Payload headed to R&D for data delivery tmrw to Bloeting
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
Mk4 conclusions in at last! That and more via bit.ly/OpsSummary5-15… everyone definitely deserves a nice weekend of relaxation - get to it!
