The second of 4 launches carrying 2 experiments designed and built by students with mentoring from industry professionals to further study properties of the ionosphere, radiation belts, sun, zero-G, and more
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
the Kerbal Sounding Project has returned with a new initiative to help get the next generation of space explorers ready - student experiments will be launched on sub-orbital flights aboard the Progeny Mk6-I, using kits developed by Umbra Space Industries
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
submissions are already underway and dates for the launches will be announced in October. Depending on the response, the funding for the program can provide for up to 6 launches with 2 experiments on each. KSP's last activity was back in 2016-17: kerbalspace.agency/?p=1722
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
dates are scheduled for the Kerbal Sounding Project missions! There will be 4 launches, carrying 2 experiments each - all of which will have been built by students, our next gen space explorers. Dates:
#1 - 11/5
#2 - 11/14
#3 - 12/5
#4 - 12/17
More info on the Ops Tracker
#1 - 11/5
#2 - 11/14
#3 - 12/5
#4 - 12/17
More info on the Ops Tracker
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
although the program was originally announced to have the budget to fly 6 missions, not enough submissions were eligible for actual deployment. Many were just plain not feasible or not possible within the constraints of the rocket. There certainly was not a lack of submissions!
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
while a lot of work remains in the investigation, all parties involved feel a point has been reached where we can release a statement not only on the events of this past week but the events of the past few years that led up to this brazen attack: kerbalspace.agency/?p=9965
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
TL;DR - a sect of violent Monolithic followers remains set against our space-bound ambitions even after being secretly banished to the other side of the planet by religious leaders, where they happened upon a large unknown population of kerbs receptive to "salvation"
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
TL;DR (it is a lot to take in) - our current stance is to work to determine all the details of how this attack was carried out and put in place measures to prevent future attempts. We are not backing down nor is any action yet able to be taken against those responsible
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
the radome has been completed on the tall hills west of KSC and will be hooked up to the Tracking Station by tomorrow, which means we can return to KSC next week! Due to security, it's tough working remotely for engineering and R&D teams w/o full file access
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
the Kerbal Sounding Project launches have all been rescheduled due to the construction delay from evacuating KSC. The new launch dates are
#1 - 11/13
#2 - 11/22
#3 - 12/10
#4 - 12/18
Times are available on the Ops Tracker
#1 - 11/13
#2 - 11/22
#3 - 12/10
#4 - 12/18
Times are available on the Ops Tracker
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
Lead Engineer Simon reports from the Vertical Assembly Building that the Progeny integration is well on the way to being back on track to meet the updated launch schedule now that they've sidelined all Ascension work for the time being
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
final stacking of the Mk6-I took place earlier today in the VAB so checks could be carried out on load-bearing parts. All work on the Ascension side, seen in the background, has remained paused until at least next month when Progeny assembly winds down
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
flight report for last week's mission is available. We acknowledge the tilted launch base, take a look at how the third stage got bumped & discover how lucky it was not to fly so high so the rocket returned intact: kerbalspace.agency/?p=10068
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
the Progeny Mk6-I has completed final check outs and is being loaded up onto the carry vehicle now for roll out tomorrow. The non-reusable parts for the rockets scheduled to launch in December are already well on the way to being assembled into complete stages
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
the Progeny Mk6-I is on the way out to the launch site. As with the previous launch, the rocket will be fueled after mounting so Flight Director Lanalye's B team can perform a wet dress rehearsal to ensure all systems are prepped for tomorrow's launch attempt
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
tanking operations have just concluded out in the North Field. We've used some extra structural panels from other projects to give the launch base more surface area and hopefully prevent any sinkage that could affect the launch angle/heading like last flight
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
all launch readiness reports have been submitted, reviewed and approved by Operations Director @DKerman_KSA so we are GO for launch attempt tomorrow! Weather forecast shows 90% chance of favorable conditions and pre-launch operations will kick off @ 13:35 UTC
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
🌅Sunrise/Sunset🌄
@ KSC (UTC-5)
11/22
#2🌄07:32:12 🌅09:42:33 !!🚀!!
#3🌄13:33:03 🌅15:43:24
#4🌄19:33:54 🌅21:44:15
11/23
#1🌄01:34:45 🌅03:45:06
@ KSC (UTC-5)
11/22
#2🌄07:32:12 🌅09:42:33 !!🚀!!
#3🌄13:33:03 🌅15:43:24
#4🌄19:33:54 🌅21:44:15
11/23
#1🌄01:34:45 🌅03:45:06
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
[L-3h40m] launch day!! All crews have arrived at KSC to begin prepping for their roles in launch operations while weather reports are gathered from various regional sources (maritime, ground stations, airships) for an updated forecast. Updates to come at these milestones
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
[L-3h10m] Flight Director Lanalye is briefing her B team of launch controllers on today's mission, which will again stick to the now standard Mk6-I flight profile and additional checks will be undertaken to ensure rocket is oriented properly on launch
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
[L-2h45m] updated forecast shows same 90% chances of favorable launch conditions and we are GO for preflight operations to begin. Once again we are on the condensed countdown and rocket is already fueled. Flight operations are being onloaded: bit.ly/AFCS_ChangeLog
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
[L-1h55m] issues board remains clear as we reach the stage where engine ignition and fuel system checks are performed. As a safety measure against accidental engine start the launch site is being cleared of ground crew
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
[L-1h30m] we have a healthy rocket primed up and ready to go - Tracking Station is now working with the Range Safety Officer setting up for range monitoring while the ground crew performs a final check of the launch site before clearing out one last time
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
[L-1h20m] high-altitude KerBalloon has been released to begin ascent up to 25km. It will pass through 18km and into the upper atmosphere shortly before final 5min general poll to let the weather desk assess the risk of wind shear on today's ascent
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
[L-45m] controllers have begun a launch rehearsal to ensure all systems are properly setup for flight. Here is a photo from one of the crew vans as they loaded up to move everyone outside the blast radius about 20 minutes ago after the launch site was secured
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
[L-30m] final countdown procedures are GO after thumbs up from the weather desk, although they are keeping a close eye on winds coming out of the west. Too strong and they will push the rocket over into a flat trajectory & possibly cause the same issues as last launch
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
[L-15m] RSO has confirmed the range is clear, rocket is now ARMED and Flight Termination System ACTIVE. Once again the only non-KSC staff spectating the launch are those students & their mentors directly involved with the two experiments launching on this flight
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
[L-5m] Final readiness polls complete: Wx: GO; Range: GO; Flight: GO; Tracking: GO; Ops Director: Launch permission granted! 🚀 GO PROGENY 🚀 FTS transitioning to internal power ahead of terminal count as it relies on an independent power source from main batteries
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
[T-2m] rocket is switching to internal power and RF comms as the Automated Flight Control System takes command during the terminal count to handle the myriad tasks prior to launch. Battery drain monitoring & comms check is the focus of launch controllers now
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
[T-1m] final primary stations poll coming up at T-30s to confirm comms & drain rates, among other things, and then the show begins! Tune in now to the Ops Tracker if you have not already for live ascent telemetry: ops.kerbalspace.agency
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
Lift off! 0.625m lower SRB has ignited to push the rocket off the launch base with 67.2kN of force. It will burn out after 34s, carrying the rocket above 13km and in excess of 600m/s. The rocket will then coast, once its nose drops 1.5° the 2nd stage booster will ignite
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
nominal ascent so far, good staging from 2nd to 3rd booster has rocket flying straight and true, pitch is good. Apokee is already out of the atmosphere and less than 30s remain in the final push as the LF/O engine puts out 12kN of thrust through the thinning air
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
MECO-3 just before entering space now has the rocket coasting up to an apokee of 376km over the next ~6min - much closer to what was expected the first flight given the extra payload mass. By now MSV Aldeny should be receiving its telemetry as well to plot the landing zone
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
you can use this link to view where the rocket will be traveling. On page load you will see the current location but it will not automatically update after that. Trajectory is calculated and not exact but close enough for the scale shown kerbalspace.agency/Tracker/tracke…
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
about to pass through apokee all systems remain nominal and the rocket is remaining upright slowly re-orienting through natural motion to point its engine retrograde by the time it reaches the atmosphere 7min from now. Onboard drives are filling up with science data
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
we're at the top of the atmosphere now just seconds from the start of re-entry. Rocket is coming down about 45km to the north of where MSV Aldeny positioned itself which puts it around 1.5hrs away at best speed. It should already be well underway by now
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
comms lost initially due to plasma heating but were not regained before the rocket fell over the horizon. Last telemetry data shows a nominal descent into the upper atmosphere so there should be a payload for MSV Aldeny to pick up when it arrives in the area
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
post-launch operations are wrapping up and we have recently been contacted by MSV Aldeny through the Sheltered Rock aerial to confirm they have recovered the payload intact 315.383km downrange! ✨🎉 KERZZAH! 🎊✨ bring home that sweet, sweet science data!
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
early end to the week, everyone is ready to kick back for the weekend after the successful end to the first Kerbal Sounding Project launch campaign. 2 more next month! Also the ASA report was released today & we have all the details in our Ops Summary: kerbalspace.agency/?p=10060
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
the rocket was returned to KSC late yesterday and telemetry data is now available. It certainly came in wicked fast - full chute deploy was at just 58km instead of ~160km - good thing it was landing over water! Almost put too much payload onboard... docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d…
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
flight analysis is up for last week's mission. Gives you a brief look at how adding a few kilos can really affect recovery chances - we almost didn't get this one back either! Final two should be good to go though. kerbalspace.agency/?p=10098
