Commander Valentina takes a short flight in excellent weather to gather atmospheric sample data for Tarsier Space Technology within 4-5km of Zone X-69
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Kerbal Space Agency
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Genesis program have also signed a new contract & are negotiating for at least one more to make better use of a Civvie flight
Kerbal Space Agency
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Genesis was unable to negotiate additional contracts this week, so Cdr Val will fly just an atmo sample mission tomorrow
Kerbal Space Agency
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Bill & Bob prepping 2 KB payloads for tomorrow; VAB prepping for Mk5 booster arrival next wk; HAB readying Civvie on tarmac for flight today
Kerbal Space Agency
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Cdr Val is getting geared up ahead of her briefing. She will aim to circle up around Zone X-69 while staying w/in 4-5km of the center
Kerbal Space Agency
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Val is off to get briefed, but brightening skies are showing some low clouds. Mission needs to be able to ascend to 4.5km service ceiling
Kerbal Space Agency
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Wx constraints on this flight are keeping it grounded as clouds are currently too low. Will continue to monitor & remain at flight readiness
Kerbal Space Agency
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with an hour needed to complete today's mission Genesis is scrubbing until next sunrise, hopefully weather will improve over this nite cycle
Kerbal Space Agency
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skies already looking nicer. Here is a photo showing how things look to normal kerbal eyes. All of our other night photos use long exposures
Kerbal Space Agency
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fair weather is following 3rd sunrise & Val is back to getting suited up to head out for preflight. Jeb is already inspecting the exterior
Kerbal Space Agency
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with everything checked out, Jeb has given Val a thumbs up as she climbed into the cockpit to get the Civvie ready to taxi out & takeoff
Kerbal Space Agency
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comfortable now with preflight procedures Val has breezed thru the checklist & is rdy for taxi, winds calm, she has chosen to depart Rwy27
Kerbal Space Agency
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climbing out, Val is cleaning up the wings & climbing to 1km as she heads for her target area, then will ascend to 4.5km circling w/in 4-5km
Kerbal Space Agency
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target area reached, Val has begun her ascent. Contract agencies use airships to drop a radio beacon over the center of the target area
Kerbal Space Agency
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Val will use ping intervals from the beacon to determine if she is flying too close or too far. Not very exact, hence 1km allowed variance
Kerbal Space Agency
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passing thru 4km comes the tough part - Val needs to keep w/in 4-5km but not climb far past 4.5km ASL or risk effects of oxygen deprivation
Kerbal Space Agency
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now starting her descent from 4.5km Val did a great job; we'll know after studying flight tlm if she stayed w/in bounds but looks good!
Kerbal Space Agency
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tail tank now filled with 30% of remaining fuel to move CoM back for landing, Val has avionics on to setup for Rwy09 appr, winds still calm
Kerbal Space Agency
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missing her intital turn to the rwy, Val has swung around & is back on good slope, 17km out dropping full flaps & watching terrain markers
Kerbal Space Agency
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great landing, Val left throttle untouched since it was cut @ 4.5km to begin descent - perfect powered glide back to KSC! Data analysis tmrw
Kerbal Space Agency
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we finally have confirmation from Tarsier that all the data Val collected yesterday was within the specified constraints. Great job!
Kerbal Space Agency
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a look at Val's flight path from yesterday. Flight recorder data shows she stayed 4.221km to 4.972km from the center of the target area
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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…
