Crews trek overland aboard Utility Task Vehicles to release a balloon over Zone MOI24 in the desert region to collect material science data for Probodobodyne Inc
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
satisfied with the data collected on the previous mission, Probodobodyne Inc have signed on for another contract with bit.ly/KerBalloonProg… for next week after Bob, Bill & the KB crew construct a high-altitude balloon these next two days
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
UTVs are setting out with sunrise to have all day for their 143km traversal out to bit.ly/Zone_MOI24, looking to release a balloon next sunrise if sky conditions are favorable, but they have provisions to stay 3 days if needed to wait things out
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
KerBalloon crew had to turn around and drive to Umbarg with mechanical issues. They will need to lay over the rest of the day for repairs and try again tomorrow to reach their release site
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
KerBalloon team made it out to the desert safely, relay comms airship will keep us in touch but can't relay telemetry. Balloon will be able to see Umbarg's comm tower soon after release however, and they will pass the data on to us
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
calm, dry desert air means clear skies for balloon release, now ascending towards max altitude of 24.9km, where the pressure falls below 1kPa and the envelope is no longer able to contain its expanding gas
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
balloon has cleared the horizon passing through 6.8km ASL and Umbarg has a lock on the signal. Drifting northwest, UTV crews are working to keep pace on the ground. Hopefully it stays out of the water
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
we've had envelope failure at max altitude - score one for dry desert air keeping any ice from forming on the envelope during its ascent. Balloon will be coming back down for crews to recover on land then head back for KSC next day cycle
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
an exhausted KB crew have rolled into Umbarg, seeing no point in continuing overland to KSC when they could rest sooner. They'll return to KSC tomorrow with the payload that was successfully recovered
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
what a week! Lots to do now before we're ready to send up the second Mk1 next month, learn about that and more on what else transpired at KSC via bit.ly/OpSummary6-4-18
