Captain Jebediah again pilots the Civvie far inland to drop a KerBalloon unit, which was then recovered successfully by Bill & Bob and their crew. On his way back to KSC Jeb took some pressure readings.
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Kerbal Space Agency
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our day is still far from over but you can catch up on everything else from this past week in our ops summary: bit.ly/OpsSummary4-17…
Kerbal Space Agency
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DMagic Orbital Sciences was impressed with our mission for Rokea and has signed up for a similar aerial survey near the same location
Kerbal Space Agency
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as we focus resources on the upcoming Progeny Mk3 launch we are planning for this second extended joint mission to take place in early May
Kerbal Space Agency
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HAB has repaired the Civvie Production model & we're keeping it in the VAB to further prep it for next month's KerBalloon joint mission
Kerbal Space Agency
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Progenitor isn't the only program busy today. Genesis & KerBalloon teams have worked out their next joint mission plan to carry out May 8th
Kerbal Space Agency
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party on everyone! For those not able to attend, here is our weekly recap. Everyone enjoy their time off! bit.ly/OpsSummary4-24…
Kerbal Space Agency
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today Genesis & KerBalloon are prepping for their joint mission on Monday while Progenitor finishes review of Mk3 launch data from last week
Kerbal Space Agency
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UTVs are fueled up and loaded up with supplies, while the HAB finishes work later this afternoon on mounting the KerBalloon to the Civvie
Kerbal Space Agency
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KerBalloon & Genesis teams report all is rdy for the mission on Mon, set to depart earlier than last time - UTVs will roll out @ 1st sunrise
Kerbal Space Agency
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the final analysis on the Progeny Mk3 dominates the report for this short operational week. Good weekend, all! bit.ly/OpsSummary5-1-…
Kerbal Space Agency
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UTVs are set to roll out at 1st sunrise tomorrow to officially begin the second joint Genesis/KerBalloon mission. Get some rest crew!
Kerbal Space Agency
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Bob, Bill and the other 4 recovery crew members have departed KSC for their ~220km journey to the deployment area, bit.ly/Zone_6-VZLB
Kerbal Space Agency
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relay airship is on station. Winds are light, which will make station keeping easy but cloud cieling is low @ 4.6km so that will be an issue
Kerbal Space Agency
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we're also hoping the skies clear more later for the balloon drop to ensure it has the best chance possible to avoid any icing on ascent
Kerbal Space Agency
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UTVs have made their overnight stop. Dealing w/ terrain being muddier than usual has slowed their progress but so far none have gotten stuck
Kerbal Space Agency
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HAB has the Civvie prepped & ready for Jeb to taxi out in come 3rd sunrise. Payload mount slightly adjusted for better CoM/Sideslip balance
Kerbal Space Agency
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Jeb has been briefed, flight will be very similar to his last, just with a diff return route so he can pass through bit.ly/Sigrighs_Isola…
Kerbal Space Agency
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taxi/takeoff clearance granted to Cpt Jeb. Skies are mostly clear w/clouds @ 4.3km, lower than earlier today but he won't need to go >3.5km
Kerbal Space Agency
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Jeb has departed from Rwy27, winds light & variable from the WSW, he was hoping for more headwind to help lift him over the mountain pass
Kerbal Space Agency
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after failing to make it over in one go last time, Jeb is already pumping fuel out of the nose tank & setting an aggressive climb profile
Kerbal Space Agency
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success! Still just barely. Jeb will cross over the mountains & will remain in contact through the relay airship but data tlm will be lost
Kerbal Space Agency
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trimmed lvl @ 3.5km Jeb is cruising close to 100m/s and is already just over 4 minutes out from the drop zone. UTVs are close & rdy to track
Kerbal Space Agency
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Jeb reports clean release of the payload, is recovering attitude, re-balancing his fuel tanks & coming about to check on balloon ascent
Kerbal Space Agency
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we have confirmed visual on the balloon inflated & ascending from ~700m below the drop point. Jeb is vectoring around the mtns on Hdg180
Kerbal Space Agency
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although he's chilly up at 3.5km (it's ~33.5°F) Flight has denied Jeb's request to descend to or below 3km due to terrain clearance
Kerbal Space Agency
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due to low cieling, airship has to move between two stations to remain in comms w/ Civvie or UTVs. Currently talking to just Jeb now
Kerbal Space Agency
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around the southern end of the mtns & clear of high terrain Jeb is descending to 2.5km and has turned direct to his contract waypoint Hdg083
Kerbal Space Agency
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airship is on the move back to station 2 to let us keep in touch w/UTV teams as we now have AOS for Civvie, 14.5km/2min out from waypoint
Kerbal Space Agency
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the high Angle of Attack at which the Civvie's wings are attached to the fuselage means that at ~100m/s 3-4° nose-down pitch is level flight
Kerbal Space Agency
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Tracking Station reports we have just picked up signal from the KerBalloon as well, passing through 9km @ rising at a nominal 5m/s
Kerbal Space Agency
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Jeb has descended through bit.ly/Sigrighs_Isola… while taking pressure measurements & is now setup on his approach to land Rwy27
Kerbal Space Agency
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after a 5km final Jeb kissed the ground with a 40m/s touchdown and a smooth roll out - well, relatively. The runway itself is a bit bumpy
Kerbal Space Agency
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Flight is reporting a noticeable decrease in the ascent rate for the KerBalloon, which means either a gas leak or the weight of ice
Kerbal Space Agency
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we've had premature envelope failure at 21.7km, unit has armed chutes to deploy @ 1km & UTVs report a good signal from the tracking beacon
Kerbal Space Agency
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Bill has radioed in to report they have recovered the KB unit, altho Bob & another crew member had to climb a tree to get it down. hdg home!
Kerbal Space Agency
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having made good progress now that they know the areas of firmer ground to travel upon, UTVs are setting up camp for this coming night cycle
Kerbal Space Agency
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word from Bob is that they are back to rolling, hope to make it to KSC shortly after nightfall. He says Bill is driving so, yea - probably
Kerbal Space Agency
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no news will be good news, UTVs are only to report in if they encounter trouble. RF beacon every 15min lets us know they're still on channel
Kerbal Space Agency
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looking north, night looms but Bill says he recognized a boulder, is back in familiar territory & will lead the column on thru the darkness
Kerbal Space Agency
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KSC Ho!!! Bob just sent this photo from the lead UTV in the column now that they can see KSC again. He estimates they are 30-45mins out
Kerbal Space Agency
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we're happy to welcome back all 3 UTVs safe & sound from their long journey, everyone happy with today's mission & rdy for debrief tomorrow
Kerbal Space Agency
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all participants of yesterday's mission are gathering in Launch Control for debrief. Will compare this mission to last, plan for future one
Kerbal Space Agency
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Bill reports that their rovers traveled a total of 561km on this trip, a little less than half the range possible with 3 UTVs to work with
Kerbal Space Agency
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Jeb suggested he roll the plane upside-down to let the envelope inflate prior to release & it can go straight up. Lanalye was like "Uh, no"
Kerbal Space Agency
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good debrief, everyone happy with how things are running. Next joint mission will be 5/16 to bit.ly/Lisnnes_Crater 84km to the north
Kerbal Space Agency
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OK that's enough! Everybody go home! We've had a busy week, here is our Ops Summary. Enjoy the weekend - bit.ly/OpsSummary5-8-…
