With support from Kravass the crew takes on another UTV traversal, heading out to Sector P-7NG4 north of the Wall to gather data about the weather boundary the terrain uplift causes
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Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
low-alt KB crew enjoyed their last traversal so much they jumped at the chance to do another, being resupplied by Kravass this time. They will set out next week after the UTVs finish up some maintenance
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
low-altitude KB crew have already set out, familiar enough with the local terrain to begin their 9-10hr journey to Kravass under darkness. Lead UTV scouts the route for safe traversal while fuel & equipment UTVs follow. Safe trip!
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
another beautiful day cycle begins here at KSC, looking west at 2nd sunrise from outside the Tracking Station. Weather reports from aircraft flying between KGA/KSC & KGA/UMB: great conditions across the northern plains, good news for our KB crew in transit. Minmus hangs above
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
sticking to the highlands & known routes across the northern plains meant no troubles with sink holes and the UTVs carrying the low-alt KerBalloon crew have arrived safely in Kravass. They will set out again tomorrow for the trip north along the Wall to their release site
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
low-alt KB crew have set out from the northern entrance to traverse to their release site this day cycle, get setup then camp out overnight and be ready for ascent after 3rd sunrise. We will pick up the balloon's telemetry through the Kravass relay antenna
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
contact! Tlm received from the KerBalloon as it passes thru 4.6km & clears the terrain that was blocking it from Kravass aerial. Rising at a nominal rate of ~5m/s on its way up to max alt of 16.5km ASL. Relayed data from the ground crew sends us this img of release looking west
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
that the clouds seem to stop over the ridgeline of the mountain range known as the Wall is not a coincidence. This large terrain upthrust regularly acts as a frontal boundary and stalls or redirects weather coming from the polar regions, keeping the northern plains temperate
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
POP! Outside air pressure has dropped below 5kPa and the expanding balloon (now over 4x larger than it started) can stretch no further, the gas within bursting forth to escape & send the payload plummeting back towards the ground. It will deploy chutes and soft land for recovery
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
unfortunately for the KB crew, the balloon got caught up in a gyre over this depression and the payload has landed within it, making it unrecoverable by UTV. An airship will be chartered for tomorrow to head out and deploy the crew so they can retrieve it
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
with airship assistance, the low-alt KerBalloon crew have successfully located and recovered the payload, although it is damaged from rolling down a steep slope. When they return to KSC tomorrow, we'll see what can be recovered. They'll depart via UTV later today
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
weather has delayed the return of the low-alt KB crew as heavy rain swept over the highlands, meaning muddy slopes. Lowlands are riddled with hidden sink holes so best to wait until tomorrow for the highlands to dry out and allow safer UTV traversal
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
the KerBalloon payload was shipped back to KSC so any data on it could be recovered before the weekend, however it was damaged beyond repair. Mission fail 🙁 Lead Scientist Cheranne has chided the team for not taking more precautions for recovering around mountainous terrain
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
glad to have the low-alt crew back safe at KSC after another 400km+ traversal coming back from Kravass. As usual UTVs will need a good washing to clean off all the mud but ride was uneventful and no serious maintenance issues are in need of attention
