Commander Valentina and Captain Jebediah take a newly-designed and constructed Deuce out for a shakedown flight with the primary goal of testing the new Pegasus engines designed for aircraft use
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Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
review of data from the last Deuce flight shows that Jeb & Val definitely flew into radiation coming from outer space. We'll have more in the Ops Summary covering the implications of these findings - which are actually exciting and good
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
we are ready to close out this week, so head on over to bit.ly/OpSummary2-12-… to get the latest details on our two high-profile missions this past week. Enjoy your weekend everyone!
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
advanced flight training program is coming together over at Sheltered Rock as Jeb, Val, Aldeny & Helta fly patterns in the Deuce and Civvies. Although in this case the pattern is around a mountain rather than the airport!
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
the advanced flight school at Sheltered Rock is set to begin pilot training next month, eventually receiving new Deuce aircraft as well as C7's new plant comes online in May. Jeb and Val will be returning to KSC tomorrow
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
Val & Jeb's return home was delayed when bit.ly/GenesisProgram signed a new contract earlier, forcing them to re-plan their flight and not departing before weather closed in. Conditions permitting they'll fly home tomorrow
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
Jeb & Val are still stuck at Sheltered Rock due to adverse weather but if they can make it home in time today bit.ly/GenesisProgram has a Civvie contract ready for more atmospheric samples over the western Grasslands to continue pollen monitoring
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
doesn't look like Jeb & Val will be making it home today either. Airships can manage high winds as they can always point into it for takeoff/landing. The K-3X will be larger & more capable of handling >20kts crosswinds
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
KSC Operations Cease Indefinitely Due to Legal Injunction: kerbalspace.agency/?p=6892
Don't panic! Sadly our operational capacity has been drastically reduced but the KSA is not being shut down
Don't panic! Sadly our operational capacity has been drastically reduced but the KSA is not being shut down
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
sunset from the Umbarg access tunnel as we end our last day of operations at KSC for at least the next 2-3 weeks. The last of onsite staff will be departing tomorrow after final equipment shutdowns are complete
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
the R-3350-26W Duplex-Cyclone ("Dee Psych") engine will be what powers the Deuce moving forward, as well as the K-3X. It is the 1st engine designed specifically for fixed-wing flight and is 1.5x more powerful than the current PT6 in use, with three 4m propeller blades and nine cylinders. Image is to scale
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
the C7 assembly facility at Sheltered Rock have received the Deuce parts we shipped out of KSC so construction can continue while the HAB is not operational. We still plan to have the new Deuce completed by next month
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
the High Court has ruled that the injunction against surface operations is legal, which means our team of lawyers now has to get to work writing up amendments to the current laws that will have to be cleared through Assembly. This could take months!!
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
fortunately we expect to have majority support in the Assembly as well as the backing of the Presider so hopes are high we can get all this ratified in a matter of weeks instead. Still - well played, Monolithic followers. Well played.
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
the fight to resume surface operations continues, get additional information on that and more via bit.ly/OpSummary3-5-18 - a relaxing weekend is wished upon all
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
our legal team isn't just *our* legal team, unfortunately, so while we'd like them to get these laws rewritten and put through for review by the Assembly posthaste they do have to deal with the needs of their other clients as well
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
find out more about the Ascension Mk1 designs released earlier this week via bit.ly/OpSummary3-12-… and tell us - are you doing anything sciencey this weekend?
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
Jeb & Val have returned to Sheltered Rock to resume their Deuce flight instruction & training to prep for the new aircraft next month while Bob & Bill are embedding themselves with a research team heading south to see if radiation exists over that pole too
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
not much to review this week, so here's an update on the shutdown as well as details of Extremis Phase Two calculations: bit.ly/OpSummary3-19-…
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
the amended laws have been submitted to the Assembly, which should get around to reviewing them sometime next week. We did our best to speed up the legislative process but there's only so much that can be done...
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
we are one step closer to getting operations back underway at KSC. That and more in bit.ly/OpSummary3-26-… - we hope everyone enjoys a relaxing weekend!
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
Jeb & Val report the new Deuce is ready - at least, the main pieces of it are. Final assembly in the main hangar at SRG will not be possible until lawful occupation of permanent surface structures is possible again
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
bit.ly/OpSummary4-2-18 gives some additional details on what our objectives are for the first Ascension flights prior to going for orbit. Have a great weekend everyone!
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
KSC will re-open for operations this week! We will endeavor to show the Presider that his potential "sacrifice" will not be in vain and we thank him immensely for his support. Read more on the operations restart here: kerbalspace.agency/?p=7024
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
the engines for the new Deuce have arrived at SRG for final assembly to begin, which should wrap up in 2 weeks time so Jeb and Val can carry out flight testing with them
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
shortly after sunrise and KSC stands ready to resume operations as we complete our initial move back onto campus today. Will take another week or so to complete the transition but activities will pick up & a rocket will be back on the pad soon!
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
Jeb & Val report from Sheltered Rock that the new Deuce with the new engines will complete its final ground check outs today at SRG. They plan to begin test flights on Monday
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
poor weather over Sheltered Rock has delayed flight testing, we're hoping for better conditions after 3rd sunrise later today. Val & Jeb have instead been spending some extra time in the sim working with flight instructors and students
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
Jeb & Val have completed inspection and preflight, Deuce is fired up and ready to taxi out for flight testing to begin. Weather much more favorable this day cycle with clouds up at 5km, winds 3-6kts out of the SW. Up north there at 1km ASL temp is 61°F (closer to 80 down here)
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
parked at the top of Rwy22, without managing to clip a wing in the process, Jeb has announced their intention to takeoff on the CTAF and Val is advancing the throttles to start their run
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
we have report of good takeoff and climb out, departing to the west for a shallower climb but they will continue once over the mountains and see just how high these engines can take them while monitoring performance during the ascent
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
passing through 5km ASL, data relayed shows performance of both engines is nominal. Here's a look at the climb profile from relayed data compared to the last flight that went for an altitude record (started at KGA)
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
elevator trim has been maxed out, Deuce is now passing through 7km but probably won't make it much higher - at least not anytime soon as it will slowly climb as it burns off fuel. Engines still throttled to 100%, all readings still nominal
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
Flight has called off the climb attempt just shy of 7.4km ASL, satisfied with engine data. Val will now step the throttle back to record additional data during descent as they vector back towards the airfield
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
80% throttle could not maintain >7km but was more of a "powered glide" than a descent with only mm/s of altitude loss. Great fuel savings for a long distance cruise. Now down to 60% and descending ~2m/s - elevator trim still maxed out
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
with everything going so well Val was given permission to shut down one of her engines. 60% throttle w/full rudder trim allowed level flight, anything higher needed aileron compensation as well but full thrust single-engine was flyable. Both now running again
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
Val is lining up for an approach from the south, which has only ever been done with a Deuce in the simulator. It is an extremely steep approach of 10-12° - once you clear the last high ridge it's pretty much reverse thrust all the way down to control speed
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
although she just proved something crazy that can be done in the sim can be done in real life, Val still had to step on the brakes so hard the aircraft nearly nosed over into the runway. Jeb says he had a few moments of concern for his mortality on that approach
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
engineers will be reviewing and validating the data collected from today's flight - if all looks good tomorrow Jeb & Val will be back up in the air to put the aircraft through some high-G maneuvers that the old engines couldn't handle
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
preliminary flight report for yesterday's launch is included in our review of events this past week - get more details via bit.ly/OpSummary4-23-…
