Commander Valentina performs her own double contract mission, but closer to home with temperature and aerial surveys over Site X4ZLX5 and Area G66T for Glowing Kraken Ind & Tarsier Space Tech
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Kerbal Space Agency
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bit.ly/GenesisProgram has signed off on 2 contracts for Cdr Val this wk - tho trying to plan extra science for the otherwise short flight
Kerbal Space Agency
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after installing temp/press instruments yesterday, HAB crew prepping to deploy Civvie #3 to the tarmac for Val to command at 2nd sunrise
Kerbal Space Agency
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Civvie awaits Val, who is just finishing up her briefing in Flight Control off in the distance. Skies looking great but wind is kicking up
Kerbal Space Agency
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Val has completed preflight, Jeb confirms all looks good externally, we're waiting on clearance for taxi/takeoff as winds are measured
Kerbal Space Agency
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still standing by. Crosswind component is a concern, don't want Civvie blown over on takeoff/landing! Winds ok now, but later? Could worsen
Kerbal Space Agency
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Flight decided Val will be remaining close enough to abort mission & land if winds show steady increase. Taxi/takeoff clearance granted
Kerbal Space Agency
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no problems departing, Val has already turned on course to bit.ly/Site_X4ZLX5, climbing thru 1.5km for 4km, spiraling up over the site
Kerbal Space Agency
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4km ASL, 11km downrange to the south Val has gathered temp data, now heading 15km east for bit.ly/Area_G66T, will spiral down to land
Kerbal Space Agency
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spiraling down past KSC, seen from 2.2km. Winds have whipped the ocean up to waves as high as 2m but are still w/in limits & not increasing
Kerbal Space Agency
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Val has spiraled down to 500m & is on her base leg, setting up for late turn to final to not get pushed off course by the time she rolls out
Kerbal Space Agency
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this won't be an easy approach to Rwy27, but it isn't that far outside of what Val has experienced in prior missions to various degrees
Kerbal Space Agency
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Bob knew this approach would be difficult & was ready with his camera. Val crabbed in great but still almost nosed down into the ground
Kerbal Space Agency
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taxiing back in, a little shaken, Val admits she's not quite sure what happened but Civvie definitely almost flipped over forwards on her
Kerbal Space Agency
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after lunch & a longer than normal debrief, we've worked out that Val forgot to reset pitch trim prior to landing, nose couldn't rise fully
Kerbal Space Agency
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a nearly disastrous mistake, chalked up to managing her approach in heavy winds. Something we hope multi-crew aircraft will help avoid
Kerbal Space Agency
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5th Mk4 is ready for rollout on Monday reports Simon. bit.ly/ProgenyMk4-4 has final update. Ops summary: bit.ly/OpsSummary7-31…
Kerbal Space Agency
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from Cdr Val's flight earlier this wk, the abandoned C7 base still has a usable runway for any emergency unable to reach KSC for some reason
