After numerous delays, Flight Officers Aldeny and Tedman perform more release testing to see if they can get the rocket to pitch up closer to the 85° nominal ascent angle as it flies free of the aircraft
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Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
initial results from today's mission show the rocket pitched up to 77° after being released at 44° (great flying, Ted!). This is only 1° more than expected based on data from the first test and shows an elevated release still won't kick the rocket over too much
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
Deuce performance data also shows its capable of a greater climb angle, so rocket will be remounted again for a final test tomorrow that will see it detached from ~52° to reach its 85° optimal ascent angle - still no engine fire, just a drop & recovery
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
storms are moving through the area bringing high winds and rain. Ted and Aldy will be on standby hoping for better weather, ground crews braved the elements to get the rocket remounted and ready for another release test
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
rocket carry/release standing down until next day cycle. Weather has also so far prevented the astronaut crew from performing wet capsule exercises thanks to excessive waves heights, even in the bay, due to winds
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
3rd sunrise approaches and weather remains poor for both flight crew and astronaut crew. Don't think they're sitting around twiddling their toes though, everyone still has plenty of indoor work to keep them busy. Still continuing to hope for better weather later today
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
we're calling it - all crews standing down for the weekend. Everyone will be back ready to go on Monday! Catch up on everything that happened this week via bit.ly/OpSummary7-9-18
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
Aldeny came down sick over the weekend, having an averse reaction to the allergy medication. Doctors have changed up his prescription and he's getting better but still unfit to fly today. Jeb & Val are tied up with capsule testing so Deuce flight delayed to Wed
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
Flight Officers Tedman & Aldeny spend all day on standby waiting for good flying conditions but will have to try again tomorrow. Weather also has to be conducive to a good release environment 7km up, which makes it tougher sometimes for the mission to get off the ground
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
2nd sunrise is coming, Tedman & Aldeny are getting suited up for flight. Today's mission will continue release testing of the Progeny Mk1-B off the rear of the Deuce, aiming to deploy the rocket into its nominal ascent pitch of ~85°
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
Ted & Aldy are heading out from briefing at Flight Control to perform their walk around inspection prior to climbing aboard for preflight. Weather conditions are decent, mostly cloudy with light winds and no gusts
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
unfortunately it seems the right engine of the Deuce has developed an oil leak - Aldy noticed the tarmac stain on walkaround and the routine pre-flight inspection check of the dipstick confirmed low levels. It will have to be repaired and made ready to fly again on Monday
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
thankfully the Deuce engine just has a cracked casing that is leaking out oil and won't need a new engine or major overhaul - though the engine manufacturer is going to have to take a better look at the quality of its parts & an inspection of the left engine is underway also
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
we are suspending all surface operations and pulling back all staff to Umbarg HQ due to temperatures increasing near 100°F as a high-pressure system sits over our region. We just can't keep our facilities cool enough in this heat for a proper work environment
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
this has happened before & after much investigation scientists still don't fully understand what's going on but say a mixture of ocean currents, jet stream bending and moisture levels in the air can apparently combine under the right conditions to form a very localized heat wave
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
the last episode, back in 2016, lasted several days. Hopefully this one is shorter. Either way, both Progeny launches are now suspended and will be assigned new launch dates once we can comfortably resume surface activity twitter.com/KSA_MissionCtr…
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
science team was back up on the surface earlier at mid-day to gather temperature data & took a photo as they headed back to Umbarg - rarely do we see perfectly clear skies at KSC. You can almost feel the heat coming off the photo. It was baking up there, reaching 102°F!
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
latest report from the surface is the high pressure system has collapsed and strong storms are now sweeping through the region. KSC is buttoned up and shouldn't have any issues with the weather although flooding is a minor concern
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
KSC has weathered the storms and we'll be moving operations back to the campus today. We will have updates throughout the day on new dates for the various missions that were put on hold as staff get re-situated and back on track
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
we were treated to a sunset eclipse a short while ago (Mun is moving "up" off the sun in this photo). Ground crews have finished inspecting and clearing debris from the grass runways so the Deuce rocket carry/release mission can attempt to continue its mission tomorrow
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
Flight Officers Tedman & Aldeny are standing down from flight readiness after spending the day cycle waiting for a dense marine layer to clear - air temps have cooled but not as fast as the ocean water & remain higher than normal. The fog persists, endangering takeoff & landing
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
weather remains unsuitable for flight so Deuce mission will have to try again on Monday. It was a slow week, but you can still check out our weekly Ops Summary in case you missed anything: kerbalspace.agency/?p=7811
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
low clouds are rolling through but the Deuce is parked & ready, as are Aldeny & Tedman. We expect weather to improve later this day cycle. Given how much trouble the mission has had, no one is willing to miss a chance at getting airborne
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
halfway through the day cycle, but weather is looking better and time remains for the mission, which is scheduled to last less than an hour and would see the aircraft back on the ground before sunset. Deuce is already fired up and taxiing out to Rwy09
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
Aldy is in the pilot seat today and has clearance from Flight to begin his takeoff roll. He'll climb out to the east until 6km ASL before turning back towards KSC to level off at 7km and prep for release maneuver. Tedman will be in charge of release
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
Deuce is on course for KSC flyover, leveled off and ready to dip down and fly back up to release the rocket while pitched up to ~52° which should kick the rocket back and up into a pitch of ~85°
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
rocket has just landed ~7km from KSC after a clean release from the top rear of the aircraft. Ted hit the release within 0.5° of target pitch while Aldy held the nose up, then dropped to recover the aircraft from its near stall. They are now spiraling down to land
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
smooth descent and landing on Rwy09, Deuce is taxiing back to the HAB while recovery crews have already reached the rocket to haul it back for post-flight inspection. Progenitor team will pull the onboard flight data for analysis, we should have results later today
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
data from today's Progeny Mk1-B release shows the rocket only reached 74°, slightly less than the previous release test. This is likely due to the increased aircraft pitch blocking more of the airstream that was pushing the rocket upright after release
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
Deuce flight data shows it can safely pitch higher, but release margin will be a lot tighter due to the aircraft being closer to stalling, so much so that the rocket's flight computer will need to monitor and engage the release if proper conditions are met
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
the rocket will be re-mounted again for yet another test flight this week. We need to see if increasing aircraft pitch also affects the rocket further, or if pitching higher results in a similar result of only ~20° change in rocket pitch after release
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
catch up with what went on this week and learn some additional details in our Ops Summary. Everyone worked tirelessly this week and we hope you enjoy a nice break over the weekend! kerbalspace.agency/?p=7889
