Our second foray into space tested even slower launch speeds, taking off at 4Gs while carrying a new suite of payload instruments up into the void – FOR SCIENCE!
Kerbal Space Agency
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Head of R&D Wernher reports that the negative gravioli instrument performed flawlessly & we will be including it on a future Progeny mission
Kerbal Space Agency
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bit.ly/KSA-Statement this is our Ops Summary for this week, because there's really not much else to talk about
Kerbal Space Agency
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tl;dr - the Monolith electronically fried the entire KSC campus when the Mk4 passed 70km, also managed to knock out Umbarg & Kravass
Kerbal Space Agency
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KSC full damage assessment is still underway, most staff pulling OT this weekend to inventory everything that needs to be fixed or replaced
Kerbal Space Agency
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with Sheltered Rock unaffected, we don't expect major delays for our next launch. Once airship relief slows we'll get next engine shipment
Kerbal Space Agency
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KSC damage assessment complete, tomorrow senior staff will meet to lay out the recovery plan & scientists will begin detailed Monolith study
Kerbal Space Agency
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recovery plan meeting underway while comm techs are busy finishing up repairs allowing us to speak directly to Umbarg & other cities again
Kerbal Space Agency
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it's going to take 3wks to get KSC back to full ops, but early Aug will see back-to-back Mk4 launches to clear the way for Mk5 later in Aug
Kerbal Space Agency
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we finally have data-link restored to Umbarg, which is also back in touch with Kravass which in turn has re-linked w/Sheltered Rock & Ockr
Kerbal Space Agency
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KSC recovery plan underway. Scientists have setup equipment around the Monolith, which has remained totally inactive, including thermally
Kerbal Space Agency
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KSC recovery still focused on primary systems & data recovery. Scientists have been able to examine the Monolith surface for the first time
Kerbal Space Agency
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no initial report has been released, but the fact that you can now walk up beside it has them wondering if it has become completely inert
Kerbal Space Agency
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sadly, one of our more seriously-injured launch controllers, Leselle Kerman, died in surgery today due to complications during the operation
Kerbal Space Agency
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Leselle was originally from Ockr, so now all cities have been directly affected in some way except Sheltered Rock by the Monolith Incident
Kerbal Space Agency
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the final two Progeny Mk4 LF/O engines are due to arrive today from USI, although VAB assembly work is still halted until next week
Kerbal Space Agency
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bit.ly/ProgenyMk4-3_T… data has been made available. Hi-res data ran out of memory before splashdown, will be increased for Flight 4
Kerbal Space Agency
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get the rundown on the current status of KSC, the next Mk4 launches and Monolith investigations - bit.ly/OpsSummary7-17…
Kerbal Space Agency
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senior staff & crew gathering in the Admin bldg for 1st daily ops meeting in 2wks! Been a struggle but we are gradually returning to normal
Kerbal Space Agency
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FD Lanalye reports Launch Ctrl primaries up & rdy for launch in Aug, may still be missing redundancies but that won't stop launch attempt
Kerbal Space Agency
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any lack in redundant systems only means a greater chance of a hold prior to launch, as a failed primary will have no backup to fall back on
Kerbal Space Agency
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Lead Engineer Simon just brought everyone up to speed on VAB & HAB status - both are set to resume work on Deuce and Progeny Mk4s this week
Kerbal Space Agency
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VAB had a great 1st day back at work, assembly of both new Mk4 rockets are moving along well. Simon & Bill were both there wrenching as well
Kerbal Space Agency
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Simon has our final 2 Progeny Mk4 launches, save the dates!
bit.ly/ProgenyMk4-4 @ 8/4 14:55 UTC
bit.ly/ProgenyMk4-5 @ 8/8 21:09 UTC
bit.ly/ProgenyMk4-4 @ 8/4 14:55 UTC
bit.ly/ProgenyMk4-5 @ 8/8 21:09 UTC
Kerbal Space Agency
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everyone is well rested after our first full weekend off since the Monolith Incident, ready to push forward into a launch week tomorrow!
Kerbal Space Agency
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both Mk4 payloads are being closed up today so the rockets can be topped off tmrw. VAB handling the dual-assembly without any issues so far
Kerbal Space Agency
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Simon reports both Mk4 rockets have been topped off, they look great next to one another! Yes, a simultaneous launch would be cool but, no
Kerbal Space Agency
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final integration of bit.ly/ProgenyMk4-4 is going well, Simon reports the rocket will be rolled out tomorrow on schedule. 🚀 L-2 days!! 🚀
Kerbal Space Agency
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rolled out also at 2nd sunrise bit.ly/ProgenyMk4-4 is now mounted & ready for launch readiness checkouts over the next few hours
Kerbal Space Agency
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launch readiness checks have been in progress thruout KSC since the start of today. No major issues so far. Launch Ctrl now getting started
Kerbal Space Agency
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Launch Ctrl confirms rocket is all hooked up properly & ready for preflight tomorrow. Waiting on a few more check-ins from around campus...
Kerbal Space Agency
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all KSC facilities report ready to support launch ops tomorrow & paperwork has been signed off - we are 🚀 GO FOR LAUNCH 🚀 back into space!
Kerbal Space Agency
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due to the early launch time, we will roll straight from pre-flight into final count w/o buffer time. Launch ops will begin @ 10:25 UTC
Kerbal Space Agency
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[L-4h30m] weather report aggregation has begun, officially kicking off our launch timeline. Here are the major events to expect updates on
Kerbal Space Agency
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[L-4h12m] hard to get weather reports this early (not many airships up) but looks like no storms/precipitation in the area. GO for preflight
Kerbal Space Agency
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[L-4h] Flight Director Lanalye is assembling her team in Launch Ctrl for their final pre-launch briefing. Here's a look @ our flight profile
Kerbal Space Agency
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we're starting to return to unknown territory with these last two launches. Can rocket stay upright @ launch with lower TWR? We'll find out!
Kerbal Space Agency
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🌅Sunrise/Sunset🌄
@ KSC (UTC-4)
8/4
#2🌄07:48:07 🌅10:24:57 !!🚀!!
#3🌄13:48:58 🌅16:25:48
#4🌄19:49:49 🌅22:26:39
8/5
#1🌄01:50:40 🌅04:27:30
@ KSC (UTC-4)
8/4
#2🌄07:48:07 🌅10:24:57 !!🚀!!
#3🌄13:48:58 🌅16:25:48
#4🌄19:49:49 🌅22:26:39
8/5
#1🌄01:50:40 🌅04:27:30
Kerbal Space Agency
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[L-3h47m] it's an experienced team in Launch Ctrl now, so briefing was quick & they are getting a head start on preflight operations
Kerbal Space Agency
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during this time controllers are waking up the rocket, checking connections, radio links, data rates, power flow, telemetry readouts, etc
Kerbal Space Agency
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we are GO for tanking, but fuel trucks are sticking adamantly to orig sched. Not a big deal as we could not have launched any sooner anyways
Kerbal Space Agency
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[L-3h15m] tanking operations have begun as the sun sets, loading the 3rd stage w/109kg of liquid propellants separately - no mixing yet!
Kerbal Space Agency
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[L-2h58m] tanking has been completed and now its back to Launch Ctrl to ensure all 3rd stage fuel & engine systems are in proper order
Kerbal Space Agency
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is this getting old yet? Everyone knows where they can go right? We've placed temp ground lighting to make sure areas are clearly marked
Kerbal Space Agency
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VAB and HAB rooftops are indeed open for anyone that wants to climb up there, but we do not recommend this as access is not easy or safe
Kerbal Space Agency
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[L-2h15m] Launch Ctrl now ready to move into ignition & valve checks, pad is clearing. No issues so far reported. Nominal is word of the day
Kerbal Space Agency
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engine checks underway - the USI LF/O engine is a very simple design that can only be lit once, solid fuel boosters are simpler still
Kerbal Space Agency
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as expected all engines look good, now to sit & keep careful watch on fuel levels to ensure there are no tiny tank or hose leaks anywhere
Kerbal Space Agency
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[L-1h30m] we saw it on station offshore a little while ago but MSV Lymun has called in on sched to report readiness for range monitoring
Kerbal Space Agency
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astronauts are split btween Tracking Stn & Launch Ctrl. Bob & Bill like watching Tlm data while Val & Jeb enjoy seeing controllers in action
Kerbal Space Agency
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[L-57m] MSV Tongjess is late for its scheduled check-in, but 150km downrange means over-horizon comms which means maybe we don't hear them
Kerbal Space Agency
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still no word from Tongjess. By now they would have stopped trying to keep comms clear. Will maybe receive them at L-20min check in
Kerbal Space Agency
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lack of recovery is not grounds for a launch scrub, still plenty to learn from ascent data beamed back to Tracking Station. Count continues
Kerbal Space Agency
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[L-45m] preflight is complete, still no issues being worked. Launch rehearsal underway to ensure all roles & responsibilities are clear
Kerbal Space Agency
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[L-30m] still no storms or rain, but hard to see lots of stars, sky mostly overcast. Wx gives GO for count to continue, will revisit at L-5
Kerbal Space Agency
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[L-20m] we hear Tongjess, barely, but enough to know they are on station rdy for recovery. Great news, definitely prefer a recovered payload
Kerbal Space Agency
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VAB rooftop cam gives us a great look at the coming dawn and yea, lots of clouds, both low (visual tracking) & high (triboelectrification)
Kerbal Space Agency
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[L-15m] Lymun reports no ships in range, Range Safety Officer reports pad is clear. Rocket is now ARMED, flight termination system enabled
Kerbal Space Agency
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[HOLD] Wx has halted the countdown @ L-5min due to clouds. We will wait it out. Launch window open until 45min prior to sunset - 17:04 UTC
Kerbal Space Agency
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we will post weather updates every 25 minutes unless conditions improve before then. Rocket remains healthy & on ground power. Stand by!
Kerbal Space Agency
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we are in for an early break again - clouds are looking sparse off to the northwest from which they are coming. We expect hold release soon
Kerbal Space Agency
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[L-5m] hold has been cleared, final poll complete: Wx GO, Range GO, Flight GO, Tracking GO, Launch clearance: authorized! 🚀GO PROGENY!!🚀
Kerbal Space Agency
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[T-2m] umbilicals disconnected, rocket is on internal power, monitoring EC drain, Automated Firing Control System start for terminal count
Kerbal Space Agency
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[T-1m] bit.ly/ProgenyMk4-4 has live flight updates. If no hold called at T-30s during final poll we will have launch. Get ready...
Kerbal Space Agency
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LAUNCH!! With the 1st stage booster down to 53.5% thrust the rocket has left the pad @ 4Gs pushing 70kN & burning 95.47kg of fuel per second
Kerbal Space Agency
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S1 decouple @ L+9s
S2 ignition @ L+17s (33.5% thrust)
S2 decouple @ L+24s
S3 ignition @ L+30s (50% thrust)
Chambr press & trajectory nominal
S2 ignition @ L+17s (33.5% thrust)
S2 decouple @ L+24s
S3 ignition @ L+30s (50% thrust)
Chambr press & trajectory nominal
Kerbal Space Agency
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S3 MECO @ L+1m31s
S3 Fin Shred @ L+1m49s
70km @ L+1m58s
Apokee is 120.79km
All systems remain nominal! Nothing to do now but wait & watch
S3 Fin Shred @ L+1m49s
70km @ L+1m58s
Apokee is 120.79km
All systems remain nominal! Nothing to do now but wait & watch
Kerbal Space Agency
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we are back in SPACE and passing thru apokee, everything still looking great. Next major event is re-entry, for which rocket will orient itself tail-first
Kerbal Space Agency
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coming up fast on atmospheric interface, traveling over 1km/s - Flight is concerned about large precession causing us to come in sidewaysish
Kerbal Space Agency
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temporary signal loss due to the heat of re-entry ionizing the surrounding air & blocking signals from the rocket. Standing by...
Kerbal Space Agency
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we did not regain signal to the rocket before it passed below the horizon. We must now await word from Tongjess - if we can hear it! Arrrgh!
Kerbal Space Agency
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this is something we plan at some point hopefully by the end of the year during the upcoming Progeny Mk5 program twitter.com/DKerman_KSA/st…
Kerbal Space Agency
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still no word. We've done some plotting & rocket should be splashed down ~130km downrange, so Tongjess will take ~20min to reach it
Kerbal Space Agency
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recovery successful!! Tongjess has managed to get in contact with us & is finishing up to head back with the payload. Claps & handshakes!
Kerbal Space Agency
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moving into post-launch cleanup, VAB workers also getting back to bit.ly/ProgenyMk4-5, which will undergo final closeouts today
Kerbal Space Agency
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post-launch activities winding down, here is a launch photo from VAB. We won't be posting video, same ascent as last youtube.com/watch?v=_dGUkT…
Kerbal Space Agency
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Tongjess has returned with the payload. We'll have flight details in today's op summary but full analysis will not be completed until Monday
Kerbal Space Agency
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5th Mk4 is ready for rollout on Monday reports Simon. bit.ly/ProgenyMk4-4 has final update. Ops summary: bit.ly/OpsSummary7-31…
Kerbal Space Agency
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check out a comparison of the last 3 Mk4 launches for an idea of how TWR affects the rocket during initial ascent youtube.com/watch?v=SEvVtM…
Kerbal Space Agency
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note how it's not just the speed that is affected but burn time as well, 6Gs burnt out in 6s, 4Gs in 9s & 2Gs took 17s - big diff from 4-2!
