Crews make an overland trek to climb a bit up the mountains and release from Zone MO247 to gather material science data, including mystery goo, for WinterOwl Field Research
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Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
bit.ly/KerBalloonProg… is taking on another materials science mission and will piggyback them on the inline goo containment unit so we can see how the bacteria handle the upper-atmosphere, which not only lacks oxygen but radiation protection
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
Maritime Weather Service has reports of a strong storm they want to investigate closer by launching a balloon into it by tomorrow before it dissipates. bit.ly/KerBalloonProg… can accommodate the short notice w/instrument swap of unused balloon from Ascension launch
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
KB crews left earlier today for bit.ly/Site_Q3P-010. The short notice meant they had to hitch a ride aboard a merchant vessel set to sail by. Cheaper, but ultimately will take them longer to get back to KSC to perform the mission this one postponed
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
balloon on this mission will just transmit data and not be recovered, however we have been reimbursed the cost of the reusable parts that will be lost, and sometimes sacrifices must be made in the pursuit of science
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
KB crew made it to Sheltered Rock, even passing through the edge of the storm turned out to be a rough ride. They'll hop an airship back to KSC and prep to run their next mission by the end of the week
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
it's still fairly dark out but UTVs have departed for bit.ly/Zone_MO247 and will hit the rough highlands by the time the sun has risen high enough to provide useful relief on the terrain to help them navigate to the release site
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
UTVs made the climb with only minor troubles, now at 1.2km and preparing for release under mostly clear skies. Not ideal, but they were supposed to run this mission earlier this week so they don't have time to wait for better conditions
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
we have release and signal acquisition, crew is packing up and hopping back into the UTVs to follow. This will be the goo's first ride into the upper atmosphere and scientists are eager to see how lack of oxygen + higher radiation levels affect it
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
balloon was tracking east back towards KSC but a shift in winds as it neared the upper atmosphere is sweeping it back west over the mountains, much to the annoyance of the balloon crew, who will have to drive around them
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
envelope failure has sent the payload plummeting back towards Kerbin, goo containment unit successfully exposed the sample and is now closed back up for the descent. UTvs will continue navigating around the mountains to reach the area next day cycle to hunt it down
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
airship relay was on station with 3rd sunrise earlier and just passed on report from the UTVs that they have reached the landing site and are recovering the payload. They'll be back after 4th sunrise if no troubles arise on the traverse
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
bit.ly/OpSummary6-11-… has all the info you need to stay on top of all that is going on, with additional details that are too verbose for tweets during the week
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
all three UTvs have safely returned to KSC and a team of lab technicians on call have come in to move the goo sample back to the hazmat area so an initial study can be performed immediately
