The data collected from the first two flights has been used to light the 2nd stage at an optimal time to see if we can push past 5km
Kerbal Space Agency
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Simon is eager to get started on assembly of Progeny Mk2.1 rockets today. We'll be building a total of three to test various ascent profiles
Kerbal Space Agency
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to be a bit more specific - does the coast time between booster ignitions matter? We shall find out!
Kerbal Space Agency
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our Mk1-B boosters have arrived safe and sound, are in the VAB and ready to begin assembly & integration tomorrow for launch... this week!!
Kerbal Space Agency
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Simon reports that although the major sections for all 3 rockets will be ready, time for only 1 to undergo full rigors of final integration
Kerbal Space Agency
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engineers are out in the north field modifying the Progeny launch base - we'll be launching the Mk2.1 at only a 5° angle instead of 10°
Kerbal Space Agency
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we have good reports from Simon for both the HAB & VAB projects. Rockets should be ready by next week, will have a new launch date tomorrow
Kerbal Space Agency
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2nd rocket, bit.ly/ProgenyMk2_1-2 is now ready for launch! We'll be sending it up on 12/13 @ 16:50 UTC followed by a 3rd 12/15 @ 17:00 UTC
Kerbal Space Agency
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analysis of 1st Mk2.1 launch & more deets on upcoming 2nd & 3rd +more in weekly ops summary. Have a great weekend! bit.ly/OpsSummary12-5…
Kerbal Space Agency
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two launches this week and Flight Director Lanalye has her team doing drills all morning, with reviews all afternoon. Work hard train hard!
Kerbal Space Agency
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we'll be testing out a new Flight Tracker feature these next two launches - real-time display of current rocket staging status via images
Kerbal Space Agency
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page will auto-update when a new stage event is triggered via launch control - the data to the right of image will update also as necessary
Kerbal Space Agency
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telemetry data from today's flight is now available - bit.ly/ProgenyMk2_1Tl… soooo close to 5km! Can we break it? Engineers believe so, yes
Kerbal Space Agency
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in fact we will be using the data obtained from this & the 1st launch to determine when would be the optimal time to ignite the 2nd booster
Kerbal Space Agency
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launch video online. We have a surprise ready for flight 3's video later this week too 🙂 Great work today everyone! youtube.com/watch?v=VeRvaR…
Kerbal Space Agency
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the final Progeny Mk2.1 (bit.ly/ProgenyMK2_1-3) is now being loaded onto the flatbed so it can be carted out to the launch site tomorrow
Kerbal Space Agency
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time to run through the routine one last time in 2016 for the third launch of the Progeny Mk2.1 - updates will come at these milestones
Kerbal Space Agency
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L-3:30 = Wx check: Green. Waiting for sunrise for a better idea of conditions to the west, where wind is currently coming from. No rain tho
Kerbal Space Agency
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L-3:15 = truck has left the VAB carrying the rocket out to the launch site 1.2km north of the pad so it can be mounted to the launch base
Kerbal Space Agency
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crews report mounting operations going well, are happy for the sunlight now. Very clear visibility today, hopefully cloud cover stays light
Kerbal Space Agency
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L-2:00 = pre-flight briefing at launch control underway, Flight Director Lanalye & controllers going over changes to launch plan since Tue
Kerbal Space Agency
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new ascent profile has been worked out to give the Mk2.1 its best chance to punch through 5km & net us another bounty from Sounding Project
Kerbal Space Agency
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employees were allowed to bring family members to see the launch, and already spots have been staked out on rooftops & lawns around the KSC
Kerbal Space Agency
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L-1:30 = bit.ly/ProgenyMK2_1-3 has been mounted to the launch base & hooked to ground power/comms so launch ctrl can start pre-flight
Kerbal Space Agency
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L-0:50 = so far pre-flight going according to plan, no serious issues popping up. Ground crew clearing 200m out for engine/ignition checks
Kerbal Space Agency
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L-0:30 = Progeny is GO! Now that pre-flight is complete the launch crew will do a final full rehearsal of the ascent profile for today
Kerbal Space Agency
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L-0:20 = Wx check has put a hold in the countdown, a large bank of dark clouds we saw earlier to the west is rolling through. Plz no rain...
Kerbal Space Agency
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we will remain in hold until Wx tells us visual conditions past 5km are nominal. Cloud base is currently around 4km. New L-0 time TBD
Kerbal Space Agency
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daylight going fast as terminator approaches - not just weather that is a factor at this time in determining if we will be able to launch
Kerbal Space Agency
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Wx has gone from overcast to broken. Viable. Lanalye & Drew are considering whether we can still launch before sunset w/these conditions
Kerbal Space Agency
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L-0:20 = Wx is GO and we are going to sneak this launch in just before sunset! New L-0 time is 17:27 UTC and countdown has now resumed
Kerbal Space Agency
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L-0:15 = rocket has been ARMED & range safety protocol in full effect - 200m radius of launch site & 2km downrange cone w/ 10km ASL ceiling
Kerbal Space Agency
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L-0:05 = final general polling complete: RSO = GO; Wx = GO; Tracking Station = GO; Launch Ctrl = GO; Flight = GO; Progeny = GO; All nominal!
Kerbal Space Agency
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L-0:02 = check of EC systems underway after switch to internal power. bit.ly/ProgenyMK2_1-3 ready for in-flight updates! Stand by...
Kerbal Space Agency
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good launch! Apokee reached @ +0:45, chute deployment any sec now. TS says we broke 5km!! Will get exact altitude from TDU after recovery
Kerbal Space Agency
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recovery crews enroute to the payload, which touched down safely at +2:08 by what looks to be around 2km NNW from the launch site
Kerbal Space Agency
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recovery crews report payload is intact 2.4km downrange, being hauled into the rover's rear storage bay. Passed both boosters on the way out
Kerbal Space Agency
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crews stopping by to check out the first stage booster on their way back in to the VAB with the payload. Landed ~500m NNW of the launch site
Kerbal Space Agency
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2nd stage is understandably in worse shape, ~350m south of the launch site - it flew back. Both will be recovered, along w/ launch base
Kerbal Space Agency
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waning gibbous Mun rising to the east and giving work crews some nice extra illumination as they continue to clean up from this last launch
Kerbal Space Agency
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employee families are being given KSC tours by our 4 astronauts. This was our most public launch to date & it went great for spectators
Kerbal Space Agency
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everyone pretty much back to work after getting food, except for the recovery crews just now heading to the mess hall. North field all clean
Kerbal Space Agency
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we are happily submitting an official altitude from the TDU of 5.901km to the Kerbal Sounding Project for our latest bounty. Ker-ching!
Kerbal Space Agency
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we just reviewed all the various camera footage. One in particular made us rather dizzy... anyone happen to know what we're talking about?
Kerbal Space Agency
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Telemetry Data Unit has been reviewed (full analysis will take longer) & the info is online for anyone to check: bit.ly/ProgenyMk2_1Tl…
Kerbal Space Agency
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if you missed the hints, we have onboard video! Progeny Mk2.1 payload camera shows the view from 6km @ 120RPM youtube.com/watch?v=wjCLtM…
Kerbal Space Agency
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we didn't tell Wernher that a payload science instrument was removed, so he's rather annoyed we traded "sickening views" for science data
Kerbal Space Agency
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did not expect someone to beat us to it but here you go! We'll have some of our own tomorrow 🙂 twitter.com/NimbusSpace/st…
Kerbal Space Agency
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our Operations Director @DKerman_KSA has sent out a congratulatory memo to all rocketry teams for a great 2016 & start to our space program!
Kerbal Space Agency
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rocketry teams are enjoying a 3-day weekend after the success of this past week. Rest well, kerbs - you deserve it!
Kerbal Space Agency
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we took that crazy spin footage from yesterday & extracted some nice still images for you all to enjoy: bit.ly/SpinStills
Kerbal Space Agency
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all of us here are sooo ready for this weekend. Busy week! Everyone have a relaxing weekend! Catch up on everything: bit.ly/OpsSummary12-1…
Kerbal Space Agency
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report from the engineering team on our Progeny Mk2.1 flights has been released! Check out bit.ly/ProgenitorPR8 for all the juicy details
