Specialists 
Bill & Bob lead another 3-day mission but manage to launch on day one – however despite the early launch & great ascent recovery operations quickly became complicated due to steep slopes
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Kerbal Space Agency
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KerBalloon program is planning a mission for tomorrow that will once again spend 3 days max waiting for good conditions
Kerbal Space Agency
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Bob, Bill & rest of KB crew are heading out in three UTVs for bit.ly/Area_X88PT - the ~112km traversal will take them 2.5-3 hours
Kerbal Space Agency
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high terrain will be a problem between launch site & us as well as launch site & Umbarg so relay airship will be on station in ~2hr
Kerbal Space Agency
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UTVs traveling along well, have been sticking to their scheduled check-ins, now rounding backside of Western Mtns, relay airship is on stn
Kerbal Space Agency
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a little over 3hrs thx to problems accessing the launch area but slopes were conquered & KB team is busy setting up camp for the nite cycle
Kerbal Space Agency
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KB team out beyond the Western Mtns are setting up the balloon for launch. Once they can see sky conditions better they will release or hold
Kerbal Space Agency
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release! Balloon is on its way up into clear skies & technicians just finished orienting VAB roof dish for AOS once it clears horizon & mtns
Kerbal Space Agency
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has anyone realized why the tracking dish is located on that side of the VAB roof? This mission is a clue, as is its current elevation...
Kerbal Space Agency
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probe has finally cleared the mtns & we have AOS, it is currently @ 11.3km and climbing well, no signs of icing yet, traveling SSE @ 8m/s
Kerbal Space Agency
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UTVs are already on the move to track it, but are having trouble keeping up over the terrain. Airship relay though able to keep it in sight
Kerbal Space Agency
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POP! 24.6km envelope has failed - a decent ascent. Chutes are armed, airship says it is coming down in an area with lots of high cliffs
Kerbal Space Agency
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rats, we were hoping it would miss the cliffs and land in a valley but the payload has been caught up on a steep slope. Assessment underway
Kerbal Space Agency
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updrafts in the area are too strong for an airship to move in, UTV crew lacks proper safety gear to climb. Will have to come back for it
Kerbal Space Agency
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UTVs will pack up & begin to head back to KSC, two will return tomorrow with the proper climbing gear to ascend & then lower the payload
Kerbal Space Agency
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dusk deepens & Bill makes the call that they are familiar enough with the terrain out in the Grasslands by now to continue through the night
Kerbal Space Agency
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taking it a bit slower through the darkness, UTVs have thankfully arrived back at KSC without any issues as the dawn begins to break
Kerbal Space Agency
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2 UTVs have set out to recover yesterday's KB payload, Bill leading while Bob stays at KSC to plan two sea launches for the end of this week
Kerbal Space Agency
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taking it slow during the nite, UTVs just leaving comm range from Umbarg & relay airship moving back on station. No traversal issues so far
Kerbal Space Agency
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after a delicate operation the payload was lowered off the cliff w/o serious damage. Crews packing up to start the long drive back home
Kerbal Space Agency
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Bill is back with the UTV crew & payload, will def be including proper climbing gear in future missions. Here's what they had to deal with
Kerbal Space Agency
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given that this isn't the first time a payload has had to be recovered off a steep slope Bill admits the lack of gear was a costly oversight
Kerbal Space Agency
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conclusion of the KerBalloon mission ends our ops for this week, catch up on what else went down w/add'l details: bit.ly/OpsSummary8-21…
