Flight Officer Tedman takes a Civvie out with its Atmospheric Fluid Spectro-Variometer over Area ATM-07 to gather air data over a burn scar caused by fires ignited after a meteor exploded overhead
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Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
astronomers have confirmed the inbound trajectory of YGD-619(C), which entered our SOI early today. It was discovered back on 10/23 so preparations have been underway in Umbarg since then to ensure a ground impact will not cause serious damage within the underground caverns
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
at 2.6 kilotons it's actually quite light for a Class-C, meaning there's a good chance it's a loose rubble pile that will break up on entry. Still, everyone is preparing for the worst. This is the closest entry point to date near a populated area since twitter.com/KSA_MissionCtr…
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
2 hrs until atmospheric entry of YGD-619(C) & final prep is underway in Umbarg. All who could have evacuated to the other 3 cavern systems, all who remain have been moved to the inner walls away from the large open spaces in the central areas. Emergency services standing by
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
KSA HQ has been evacuated fully, as we are near the middle of the main cavern, whose ceiling is about 200m above us. Hopefully rockfall damage is minimal. We'll be standing by in Kravass to the north for word on the aftermath of the event
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
remote observation of the event was knocked offline from the compression wave of the airburst that occurred at ~4.5km ASL when YGD-619(C) slammed into the denser lower atmosphere. It had already partially broken up before hand but still was a frighteningly forceful explosion
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
reports from Umbarg are good. Very minor rock falls, keothermal power remains online and cavern officials have already said they hope to clear kerbs to return within the next 4-6 hours. Airships will soon be enroute to check out the airburst location
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
the grasslands are burning on the outskirts of the airburst area, several minor impact craters have been found. Researchers'll have to wait for the conflagration to die down bfore they can pick thru the area for meteorite samples, which could take a day or 2 depending on weather
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
KSA HQ in Umbarg is back up to full staff and operations. Specialist Bill is here helping his home cavern clean up some small rockfalls. No injuries reported during the event, tho a few minor ones have come out of cleanup ops. This near-miss wasn't a wake-up but still scary!
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
bit.ly/GenesisProgram has a new contract for the Civvie to collect more air samples over the burn scar left by the airburst from the near-miss meteor strike back in Nov. A flight was done shortly after the fire, but we were unable to accept that contract due to the KSC shutdown
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
Flight Officer Aldeny has filed his flight plan for Monday after discussing the mission with Lead Scientist Cheranne's team & ensuring we have all their needs covered to satisfy the contract. Tedman will be his standby to help ensure mission execution
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
forecast for today is not looking favorable for a Civvie flight, but Flight Officer Tedman will remain at flight readiness. Weather forecasting has improved in recent years but is still not very accurate. Conditions could improve later in the day
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
FO Tedman is standing down as 4th sunset approaches. We will give it another shot tomorrow when hopefully the winds die down and cloud cover lifts above 5km or at least mostly clears up
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
2nd sunrise is near and weather is looking good (Moho, Eve/Gilly & Jool above), although winds remain a bit on the strong side. Ted is suiting up, Civvie will depart in ~1 hour around mid-cycle so we can also get a good look at the burn scar from the air
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
Tedman is briefed and heading out to the aircraft. Aldeny has given the Civvie a walk-around inspection so Tedman can climb straight aboard and begin preflight for departure around 16:00 UTC.
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
slight delay as the ground power unit died & ground crews had to bring out another. The GPU keeps the aircraft off battery power during preflight while the engine is off & also provides the juice to crank the engine on startup without further sucking the batteries dry
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
Tedman is ready for taxi, Flight has directed him out to Rwy01 as the winds out of the north are still strong and exceeding the crosswind component of the aircraft if it were to depart from Rwy09/27
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
after a bumpy departure, getting buffeted around a bit by heavy wind gusts, Tedman has turned SW on course for the burn scar area 90km away, climbing to cruise altitude of 1.5km ASL
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
Tedman is approaching the southern end of the burn scar, preparing to descend down to 500m ASL and begin his collection runs. He will pass over the area 3 times from different directions and increasing altitude by 1km each pass
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
because the Atmospheric Fluid Spectro-Variometer can get damaged taking in air at >100m/s the Civvie starts low and climbs higher so there's never any danger of overspeed while the scoop is open and the instruments are gathering data
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
collection is complete, with one more pass for photos. Passing over Umbarg now, Tedman is slowly descending and will follow the coast and turn inland over the Cape to avoid the terrain that lies in the way of a direct approach into Rwy01
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
banking around the hills west of KSC, configuring the aircraft for final, Ted will be the first pilot to actually make this approach, although it has of course been practiced in the simulator as part of their basic training when he & Aldy first joined the program
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
because Rwy01/19 is a shorter runway, the approach has to be done slower than normal but Tedman managed not to stall out before reaching the marked runway and set the Civvie down a bit rough & bumpy but otherwise without issue and is taxiing back to the HAB
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
looking over the photos, Lead Scientist Cheranne and her team were stunned to see the extent of the damage, seen here from 3.7km ASL. Brighter areas used to have lots of trees that are now just ash
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
oh hey! We're still getting back into the habit of having to write up our weekly operations reports. Even if you don't think you missed anything this week, we also tend to elaborate on various things: kerbalspace.agency/?p=8305
