Commander Valentina completes an earlier mission that Captain Jebediah had to abandon due to mechanical issues, taking atmospheric samples from the West Shore Desert
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Kerbal Space Agency
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Jeb is hdg out to inspect the Civvie for Val while she suits up & gets her brief. She'll fly around the West Shore Desert for atmo readings
Kerbal Space Agency
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Jeb says he can't see any stars, but how low are the clouds? If above 4.5km Civvie can fly, otherwise will be in clouds at service ceiling
Kerbal Space Agency
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sun is high & clouds are low. Val to remain at flight readiness as we monitor conditions. Heavy cloud cover also means KerBalloon on standby
Kerbal Space Agency
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Val is standing down, but KerBalloon still has a shot, as long as clouds clear before 3rd sunset & winds stay calm or out of the east
Kerbal Space Agency
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it's been rainy and gloomy out since earlier today & doesn't look like it's going to let up anytime soon. Still, Genesis & KB are on standby
Kerbal Space Agency
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Genesis is standing down for this day cycle, but KerBalloon can launch anytime - still awaiting clear skies & winds out of the east though
Kerbal Space Agency
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we're scrubbing all missions & calling it a week! *shakes fists at the sky* learn more of this week's activities: bit.ly/OpsSummary6-26…
Kerbal Space Agency
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Cdr Val is out to preflight, Jeb has performed the walk-around inspection for her - nice having two pilots around at the same time again 🙂
Kerbal Space Agency
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today's mission will continue where Jeb left off, flying to the West Shore Desert to gather data w/ the Atmospheric Fluid Spectro-Variometer
Kerbal Space Agency
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Val has taxi & takeoff clearance from Rwy09, winds blowing down from the north Kerblantic 4-8kts bearing 056. Clouds broken @ 5km
Kerbal Space Agency
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swinging around to hdg270 after takeoff to stay over land, reaching 800m ASL Val has been vectored hdg225 towards Umbarg, climbing for 1.5km
Kerbal Space Agency
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at 1.5km flying lvl Civvie can't go full throttle, not enough down pitch authority w/full fuel. Has to wait until tail tank empties more
Kerbal Space Agency
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Val has passed over Umbarg, her VFR waypoint that tells her to now vector hdg270 to end up arriving in the middle of the West Shore Desert
Kerbal Space Agency
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LOS from Umbarg, Val is descending to <500m to begin taking samples, will climb to 4.5km while covering the southern half of the desert
Kerbal Space Agency
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we won't be hearing from her until she completes the first 1/2 then flies back in sight of Umbarg to xmit stored data, will fill up HDD
Kerbal Space Agency
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AOS for Civvie, Val is sending us data gathered so far, streaming to Umbarg then through to us at 511.23Kb/s. Civvie can store 450Mb of data
Kerbal Space Agency
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Val has entered into an orbit to stay within sight of Umbarg but not travel closer - for aircraft orbit = flight path around a fixed point
Kerbal Space Agency
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444Mb of data received, Val is heading back for the desert's northern half. She has just over an hour to make it back to KSC before sunset
Kerbal Space Agency
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make that 448Mb of data as Val also passed along a photo of her "down on the deck" where the Grasslands start their transition to Desert
Kerbal Space Agency
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back in contact with Val as she heads home w/396Mb of data stored. Instrument sample doors closed, she can travel >100m/s & she's hustlin!
Kerbal Space Agency
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Val has switched on her avionics so she can line up with Rwy09 for a straight-in approach from out over the Highlands. Flight: Clear to land
Kerbal Space Agency
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Val has arrived back at KSC after lining up w/ the beacon 25km out and flying straight in with a clean approach. Beat the sunset!
Kerbal Space Agency
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debriefed after lunch, Val happy to have regained her bit.ly/KSARecords for longest continuous flt distance (680km) & time (2:06:28)
Kerbal Space Agency
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she also shared another image from the outboard cameras, looking north from the southern half, showing the expanse of the desert from 4.5km
Kerbal Space Agency
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closing out another great week, get caught up & learn more details via bit.ly/OpsSummary7-3-… - have a great weekend everyone!
