Category Archive: News

Hot on the heels of the first launch, the second mission was set to rectify several issues that ended up leading to a mission failure. Although the modifications needed for the rocket were made in time for an on-schedule launch the weather had other plans and forced a one day delay. Once the skies cleared up however all proceedings up to the terminal count were carried out with no additional issues.

The Flight

With the service boom swung away and the rocket on internal power and radio-frequency comms, final preparations for launch were carried out mainly by the AFCS, now in control of the rocket. 5s before booster ignition the support arms holding the rocket steady against any sudden wind gusts were retracted to clear the way for ascent and at T-0 the 0.625m dual-segment SRB lit off to push the rocket off the engine support at 13:30:00.04 local time to begin its ascent.

With an initial TWR of 3 the rocket quickly gained enough speed in the first seconds for the guidance fins to have the authority to begin pitching the rocket downrange, heading the direction it was already facing – direct east. However instead the rocket went into a slight roll and actually ended up briefly pointing back west before correcting with another roll back towards 90° however upon reaching that heading spun around again and continued to have trouble pointing itself in the proper direction to the consternation of controllers.

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Originally announced back in late 2019, the Mk7-B was meant to fly earlier this year however the bankruptcy of Umbra Space Industries and the following litigation led to the suspension of Progeny launches that lasted several months on top of the self-imposed general launch suspension earlier in the year. Finally, nearly a year after the last Progeny Mk7-A flight the Mk7-B conducted its first mission.

Leading up to the launch, the rocket was carefully checked out after having sat around for months since finishing assembly earlier in the year. Rollout to the launch pad was initially delayed due to mechanical problems with the carry vehicle and once out on the pad despite a good wet dress rehearsal additional delays were required thanks to some launch system upgrades that were made during the downtime between this and the previous unkerbed launch.

Two days after the new launch date operations were finally allowed to proceed in preparing the rocket for lift off. Pre-launch protocols went smoothly and weather was cooperative throughout.

The Flight

At L-2 minutes the terminal count procedures began with the AFCS taking command of the rocket as the service tower swung away to leave the spacecraft on internal power and radio comms. Leading up to the final T-30s polls battery drain rates were monitored and signal checks undertaken. With all systems GO, the rocket proceeded with final launch procedures and the support legs keeping it stable against any sudden wind gusts were retracted 5s prior to T-0.

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