The first flight of 2018 takes the Progeny to new heights as we test out what we felt were our best ascent procedures to date, shattering several records along the way and increasing our knowledge of space flight
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
Progenitor team have reviewed last week's launch data and completed fault analysis on the second stage booster. Check out the full report for details on what to expect from the Progeny rockets next year: kerbalspace.agency/?p=6246
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
Mortimer has just signed off on the final purchase order for 2017, which will get us the parts we need for our next Progeny Mk5 Block I launch scheduled for no earlier than 1/15/18. He's now preparing our year-end financial report for tomorrow
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
VAB & HAB both passed their inspection today, clearing the way for crews to get things setup over the weekend so operations on the Deuce and Progeny Mk5 can get started full swing on Monday
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
Lead Engineer Simon has VAB crews pulling extra shifts to makeup for the lost time last week and Mk5 Block I assembly is well underway. We are targeting a launch for 1/19 @ 19:29 UTC - bit.ly/ProgenyMk5B1-4
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
upcoming Progeny launch via the Ops Tracker will still have status updates similar to the old Flight Tracker as we use the launch to code for and test the general updating of page information. Will eventually reach the point of live telemetry, hopefully by 1st Ascension launch
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
all three stages for next week's bit.ly/ProgenyMk5B1-4 launch have been assembled and will be stacked and integrated to kick off next week. Payload is also undergoing final prep over at the R&D campus
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
not bad for our first week of 2018 right? Catch up on anything you may have missed along with additional details via our bit.ly/OpsSummary1-8-… and we hope you all enjoy a relaxing weekend!
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
science instruments for the next Mk5 launch have been integrated to the payload truss and delivered to the VAB to mount on the third stage. Stages one and two have already been stacked and stage three will go on top tomorrow followed by final integration into Thursday
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
final stacking operations are underway in the VAB to "top off" the Mk5 and clear the way for final integration checks. Tomorrow the rocket will be laid horizontal and loaded onto the carry vehicle for transport to the pad Friday
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
the code for the upcoming rocket flight has been given final approval and uploaded to our Github, you can check out the details at bit.ly/AFCS_ChangeLog, just operational updates for this launch, no major changes to AFCS itself
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
looks like Genesis isn't the only program having a bad day - Progenitor has announced a structural problem with the 0.35->0.625m adapter was discovered during final checkouts. Launch has been delayed, now targeting 1/23 @ 19:42 UTC
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
Mk5 is being demated so the size adapter can be replaced today for launch early next week. The relatively quick turnaround is due to having a spare on hand that has been sitting in storage since Oct waiting to be used for the Block II launch
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
the lack of a rocket launch has made this past week no less exciting, that's for sure. Catch up on all that happened along with additional information via bit.ly/OpsSummary1-15…
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
today KSC will undergo launch readiness checks while the Mk5 takes another pass at final integration. Rainy overcast skies since yesterday are keeping the Deuce grounded but weather is passing and we hope to send it off to KGA sometime after 3rd sunrise
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
VWU-324(E) will be coming down away from any surface ops, scientists are logging it for future research trips - hopefully soon we'll have satellites to help us check these sites out
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
Bill & Bob report the three KerBalloons prepped to support upper-level wind monitoring for the launch are ready. We have parts for 5 more on hand if needed, more are always ordered each launch to maintain a surplus (usually not all are used)
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
Tracking Station reports they have uncovered a serious ground wiring issue affecting their control consoles when linking to the external feed that runs out to the pad. Technicians are working the problem
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
in similar fashion to this photo, the Mk5 has been loaded onto the carry vehicle and parked for rollout tomorrow after passing final integration checks. Flight Director Lanalye says here team is ready as long as Tracking Station repairs wrap up soon
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
Tracking Station needs to call in additional tech support from Umbarg - looks like inspection crews last month were very careless with the wiring when taking a look at the core structural elements of the building. Launch is officially delayed to 1/24 @ 13:45 UTC
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
Tracking Station repairs are off to a good start, we will be rolling out the Mk5 after 3rd sunrise to begin initial pad checkouts. Once TS is able to receive pad data again the rocket will be checked out as well
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
the Mk5 stands ready out on the pad as an early sunset arrives thanks to Mun. Tracking Station repairs remain ongoing but we're still looking to launch early tomorrow
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
technicians are still repairing wires and running cable - we admit this is partly our fault as well for failing to properly label or tag everything when it was first installed. Launch has been pushed back to 1/24 @ 19:46 UTC
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
🌅Sunrise/Sunset🌄
@ KSC (UTC-5)
1/24
#2🌅07:59:53 🌄11:50:23
#3🌅14:00:44 !!🚀!! 🌄17:51:14
#4🌅20:01:35 🌄23:52:05
1/25
#1🌅02:02:26 🌄05:52:56
@ KSC (UTC-5)
1/24
#2🌅07:59:53 🌄11:50:23
#3🌅14:00:44 !!🚀!! 🌄17:51:14
#4🌅20:01:35 🌄23:52:05
1/25
#1🌅02:02:26 🌄05:52:56
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
wrapping up work on the Tracking Station, technicians assure us all will be in order when we begin preflight @ 15:36 UTC. Here is our timeline for the day
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
[L-4h10m] meteorologists are starting to pull together data from Umbarg and Kravass as well as airships plying their routes to get an idea of what weather conditions may be heading our way later
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
weather kerbs have put a halt on the countdown & issued severe weather notices for the campus - looks like a strong line of storms is heading our way from the southwest, likely fallout from VWU-324(E)'s impact earlier this wk. We'd hoped it wouldn't get here this fast, or at all
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
launch base & rocket are being secured to tie downs on the pad in anticipation of strong winds. FD Lanalye will still run her team through drills today and also perform checkouts on the rocket to ensure repairs went well
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
leading edge of the storm has arrived. There is a good chance it will pass and allow us to attempt a launch later today so we will continue to hold the countdown at L-4h10m
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
one hour remains in our daylight launch window, storm rages on. Causeway has been shut down due to high winds - any shuttle buses crossing it could be blown over! Rocket remains healthy on the pad, Lanalye reports testing has gone well and repairs are good
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
decision made to scrub the launch, storm is abating but operators have been working since early today - best to get them some rest & we will continue our launch attempt early again tomorrow. New L-0 time set for 14:48 UTC
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
[L-4h10m] everyone is well rested and countdown to launch of bit.ly/ProgenyMk5B1-4 has resumed! Here is our schedule again of the major event times when you can expect an update. Weather report gathering has begun, storms moved out yesterday leaving behind mostly-cloudy skies
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
[L-3h40m] launch control team assembling to run through the execution of today's flight while the pad crew heads out to check on the rocket and launch base to ensure everything weathered the storm okay
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
flight profile today will be similar to last launch, the diff being increased thrust for the 2nd stage booster & no coast period for the third stage, which will ignite 2 seconds after the 2nd stage booster is spent, 1s after it is decoupled. It will thrust initially at 2.5 TWR
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
[L-3h10m] we have a GO from Wx to continue preflight operations, the only concern right now being surface winds out of the SE. Pad crews report rocket is looking good, controllers waking it up to onload operations code (bit.ly/AFCS_ChangeLog)
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
[L-2h55m] rocket has accepted its instructions and the AFCS is standing by for terminal count. Controllers have configured the 3rd stage booster for fueling and given the GO for pad crews to begin pumping 109kg of liquid propellants onboard
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
🌅Sunrise/Sunset🌄
@ KSC (UTC-5)
1/25
#2🌅08:03:17 !!🚀!! 🌄11:53:47
#3🌅14:04:08 🌄17:54:38
#4🌅20:04:59 🌄23:55:29
1/26
#1🌅02:05:50 🌄05:56:20
@ KSC (UTC-5)
1/25
#2🌅08:03:17 !!🚀!! 🌄11:53:47
#3🌅14:04:08 🌄17:54:38
#4🌅20:04:59 🌄23:55:29
1/26
#1🌅02:05:50 🌄05:56:20
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
[L-2h40m] fueling has wrapped up, now we enter a period of monitoring tank levels to ensure no leaks in the fuel system. During this time pad crews will secure the pad and further tests of the rocket systems will be carried out
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
balloon team heading out to MSV Tongjess holding just offshore so they can launch from the range monitoring location as winds are coming out of the east and we want the balloon to stay within the rocket ascent corridor on its way up
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
[L-1h55m] no issues being worked, fuel levels holding, pad secure. QRT sheltering in the bunker while rest of pad crew evacuates outside of 300m blast radius so launch controllers can perform engine checkouts of all three boosters
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
[L-1h30m] all systems remain nominal, preflight has been completed. Range Safety Officer now working with MSV Tongjess, on station 14km offshore, to setup the eastern range to monitor for incursions and track vehicle ascent
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
[L-1h20m] we have balloon release, heading up past 18km to check up on @upperlevelwinds for any shear conditions. Surface winds remain a concern but thankfully have not increased with sunrise and skies have improved to only partly cloudy
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
we've been too busy to setup additional viewing areas as planned so ticket sales were limited again and sold out fast. Please stay within the designated areas for your safety and follow all instructions by KSC staff
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
[L-1h] MSV Lymun should be on station 180km downrange by now for recovery operations. As with last time, we don't expect to hear from them at that distance but they will still attempt to make contact at set periods over the next hour. Ahhh! One hour left!!
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
[L-45m] AFCS control has been confirmed, rocket stands ready for terminal count. Launch team performing their full flight dress rehearsal to ensure everyone knows what they are doing
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
we just received a patchy transmission from Lymun but it sounds like they are out there and ready to scoop up a rocket!
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
[L-30m] launch rehearsal concluded, Wx reports conditions are YELLOW for surface winds, so they will be monitored closely but we are otherwise cleared to proceed into the final countdown. Pad is secure, rocket remains nominal, range is clear
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
surface wind concern is due to the rocket standing up from drag at the nose at launch, winds from the east can tip it over at this early phase so it falls west as it ascends over KSC, in which case the RSO would trigger the Flight Termination System
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
[L-15m] range safety protocol is now in effect, rocket has enabled its Flight Termination System and boosters are ARMED. Any incursion by vessel or kerbs into the range will halt the countdown
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
HOLD called by Wx as a band of thick clouds passes overhead. Tongjess reports that we have clearer skies on the way and a new L-0 time has been loaded onto the rocket for 15:00 UTC, so not a long wait - keep thinking calm thoughts tho for winds. No gusts allowed!
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
launch controllers using the extra time to perform additional vehicle checks. Can you ever have to many checks? We don't think so. Control room largely quiet as everyone prepares their stations for final general polling at L-5m
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
[L-5m] skies look great, final polling is in - Wx: GO (will continue to monitor surface winds up to T-0); Range: GO; Flight: GO; Tracking: GO; Ops Director: Launch permission granted! 🚀 GO PROGENY 🚀
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
[T-2m] terminal count! Switch-over to internal power in progress, AFCS is now in charge, RF comm checks being performed as ground umbilicals are pulled. Tune in to bit.ly/ProgenyMk5B1-4 for real-time status updates of major flight events
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
[T-1m] we're still bumping up against the wind limit but as long as no gusts pass through... Flight Director Lanalye has not allowed any leeway, if speeds tick over into the red even for a second a hold will be called
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
booster ignition and lift-off!! Progeny Mk5 has cleared the launch base and is on its way, making the first trip up into space for 2018! Pitch over is nominal and the rocket is tracking east, will be over the horizon shortly for Lymun to spot
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
ascent extremely nominal, 1st & 2nd booster drops w/o issue, AoA within constraints, 3rd stage booster has just now lit and is throttling up to full - we've already achieved an apokee outside of the atmosphere!
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
BECO and the Mk5 is heading far uphill to an apokee of 546.46km!! This is going to be just one of several shattered records. Time to apokee is just under 9 minutes. Battery consumption is a concern but we should have more than enough to last until splashdown
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
passing through 300km and once again we are back in a region of high-radiation, which so far has only been probed out to 500km so we will see if conditions change at all past that point
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
MSV Tongjess is heading over to where the Wx balloon splashed down about 15 mins ago to retrieve it from the water, then exchange it for another high-altitude balloon it will carry out to bit.ly/Sector_GV-001 after picking up Bill, Bob & crew tomorrow
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
just now passing through apokee, no change to radiation levels, holding steady at 10.010 rad/h. Rocket is so high if Bob & Bill had a large enough dish they could receive line of sight telemetry data too all the way over at bit.ly/Site_0B-RZ
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
almost halfway back down - we are concerned about our chances for recovery given that traveling just shy of 500km led to a near-total loss of the payload and for that we (inadvertently) came in broadside instead of straight up and down
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
about to fall below 100km and approaching the atmosphere at >2km/s. Currently 129km downrange, Lymun should have been tracking it since shortly after launch and already be well underway on a course to intercept
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
comm signal lost passing through 50km, rocket will be below the horizon when it deploys its chute so all we can do now is proceed with post-flight operations and wait for Lymun to report in, they have about 50km to travel, a little over an hour away
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
wrapping up post-flight ops. Both boosters splashed downrange & crews report pad and launch base remain in good shape. MSV Tongjess has departed to head west to meet up with the KB team. We're expecting to hear from MSV Lymun within the next hour or so
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
news at last! Lymun is on her way back with a mangled rocket found engine-up bobbing in the ocean - not how it is supposed to land. They could also find no trace of the chute, which indicates deployment likely did not go well
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
the rocket, or what's left of it, has been returned to KSC and just at a glance it looks like it somehow came down nose first and ruined everything above the probe core - fairings half tore off, payload took on water and that flipped the rocket end up after splashdown
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
Progenitor engineers will be giving this flight a close look over the next several days, we'll have an overview of the flight in tomorrow's ops report but besides the bad landing we broke several bit.ly/KSARecords:
Heaviest Rocket Launched: 1.707t
Highest Altitude over Kerbin: 546.460km
Fastest Velocity in Atmosphere: 1,912.7m/s
Longest Mission Distance: 1,116.200km
Heaviest Rocket Launched: 1.707t
Highest Altitude over Kerbin: 546.460km
Fastest Velocity in Atmosphere: 1,912.7m/s
Longest Mission Distance: 1,116.200km
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
yesterday was our 28th rocket launch in 500 days of operation. Here's a look back at the cadence for the Progeny rockets. We expect the next 100 days to be somewhere in between the last 200
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
rocket assessment reveals everything above the probe core was critically damaged upon impact. Science data was mostly lost but we managed to negotiate half our completion fee from Bloeting based on the data that was able to be recovered
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
only telemetry data is stored in the probe core, which suffered just minor damage so it was fully recovered and is now available for perusal at bit.ly/Mk5_Tlm_1-25-18 - we are still have trouble with the HDR logger so no graph included again
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
it was Ops Tracker v3.0.0 that powered the live staging updates yesterday - what did everyone think? Check out the details on the update here: github.com/KSAMissionCtrl…
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
lots of Mk5 analysis ongoing. This recent flight will be compared closely to the second flight, which was the first successful Block I launch and made it almost 500km up following a much different ascent profile
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
previous plots were from tracking data, here's a closer look at the ascents from the onboard telemetry. The 2nd flight was more aggressive while the 4th flight was more efficient
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
check out all the details in the official report for the final Progeny Mk5 flight and get ready for the next launch, the first Mk6, scheduled for 2/15 @ 21:01 UTC!! kerbalspace.agency/?p=6728
