Civvie Science Flight 37

both our operational aircraft have been rolled back out to the tarmac after having their electronic systems checked and repaired where necessary. Later today Ted & Aldy will take up the Deuce to ensure everything is in working order prior to its next mission

sun is rising & Flight Officer Aldeny is heading out to preflight for departure. This Civvie was not active during the Monolith EM field so its electronics are okay but it has not been flown at all this year so before starting missions we want to ensure it is in good condition

everything going great, Aldy has already turned back towards KSC and has been given clearance to begin his descent to land back on Rwy09, as weather conditions are beginning to worsen sooner than anticipated. But we have enough data to know Civvie is working just fine

after a bit of a battle with crosswinds Aldy is back on the ground taxiing to the HAB so the Atmospheric Fluid Spectro-Variometer can be attached for its science mission later this week, becoming the active Civvie while the other two stand down unless they are needed

Lead Engineer Simon reports that the Mk1-B checks out in good condition after its splashdown, has its chute repacked & nose cone reinstalled. It will be mounted back on the Deuce later today. Mounting vehicle is standing by & Civvie is rolled out for flight in the following hour

Flight Officer Aldeny is heading out from Flight Control after finishing his briefing to begin preflight. Contract calls for an evening flight with an overnight return, which will allow the collection of pollen data from later in the day than we have gathered it in the past

Aldy has signaled he is ready for taxi. Winds are calm, he will depart from Rwy27 and once past 800m ASL shall turn on course for bit.ly/Sector_ATM-06 82km to the northwest over the Grasslands of the interior plains

no issues on departure, Aldy has dropped below terrain over the Highlands and we have lost contact. At his last known rate of travel ~90m/s he should be over the target area in ~5 minutes to open the scoop and begin his collection pattern

if all is going well to the north, Aldy should be down on the deck by now, 500m AGL (~1.5km ASL) to pass through the target area - he will then come about and make 3 more passes at 1000m increments - very near to the service ceiling of the aircraft

Civvie has cleared terrain and we have regained contact with Aldeny, who reports no issues except the frigid cold at 5km ASL being only ~17°F! Thankfully he did not have to stay up there long (also cabin is unpressurized so oxygen deprivation can set in quick)

passing overhead of KSC as he begins his final descent into the traffic pattern to land Rwy09, Aldy sent us this photo he took from the cabin after sunset as he climbed through 4.6km ASL

Aldy is rolling out of a smooth landing on the runway, will taxi back to the HAB to park on the grass next to the Deuce, which now has the Mk1-B strapped back on. No word yet from the Progenitor team as to whether we will go ahead with the launch attempt tomorrow

2018 operations have officially ceased! We will resume operations on Jan 2nd, 2019. We are very pleased we were able to squeeze in so much this final week, here is one last Ops Summary to close out the year: kerbalspace.agency/?p=8189