Commander Valentina looks around Area BNX-4 on behalf of L-Tech for some large marine animals that were spotted by mariners while also testing new Atmospheric Fluid Spectro-Variometer sensors
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Kerbal Space Agency
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bit.ly/GenesisProgram has two contracts lined up for Cdr Val to tackle tomorrow. We are intrigued at the possibility of big sea creatures
Kerbal Space Agency
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ever since The Impact, no large ocean animals have been spotted near shore in shallow waters - until now? Val will investigate sightings
Kerbal Space Agency
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over in Flight Ctrl Val is getting briefed on her mission for today, Wx mostly cloudy over us too but cloud ceiling high enough for flight
Kerbal Space Agency
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mariners passing a bay south of Umbarg have reported seeing water spouts from large sea animals, perhaps seeking shallows for mating?
Kerbal Space Agency
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this was a few days ago. Val will make an extended overflight of the area & if she spots something a research airship will move on station
Kerbal Space Agency
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good exterior checkout from Jeb, giving Val the thumbs up to climb on aboard & begin her preflight - which she did after stealing his shades
Kerbal Space Agency
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preflight complete, Civvie's single engine is fired up and Val is ready to taxi, has clearance out to Rwy27 w/ winds out of the southwest
Kerbal Space Agency
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climbing out at runway heading to 800m Val will clean up flaps & turn direct to bit.ly/Area_BNX-4 a little over 100km distant
Kerbal Space Agency
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leveled off @ 2.5km, this will allow Civvie to fly full throttle @ 99m/s as Val opens the vents for the Atmospheric Fluid Spectro-Variometer
Kerbal Space Agency
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instrument will be sampling air the entire flight but only storing diagnostic data as its newly-installed upgraded sensors are fully tested
Kerbal Space Agency
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we lost direct link a few mins ago but Umbarg comm tower is high enough it can relay Val's signal to us even from target area - barely
Kerbal Space Agency
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Val is over the bay and beginning to circle around the area to see if she can spot any spouts or even shapes in the clearer water from above
Kerbal Space Agency
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Val is still cruising 99m/s & occasionally going over 100m/s - a warning buzzer was installed & she says it's driving her "absolutely nuts!"
Kerbal Space Agency
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since it takes a prolonged period of >100m/s to damage the atmo instrument she's wondering why it has to trigger *instantly*!?. A good point
Kerbal Space Agency
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still flying around keeping her eyes peeled but so far Val has seen nothing but calm blue water. Signal is patchy but we managed to get this
Kerbal Space Agency
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still no sign of anything, Val says she has been flying well outside the target area to the north & south as well in case they relocated
Kerbal Space Agency
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short on daylight & fuel Val has made her last pass, is coming home. If anything was there it seems to have moved on already unfortunately
Kerbal Space Agency
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31km out from KSC Val is prepping for descent & says she's unable to close the intakes on the atmo sensor, so will have to descend carefully
Kerbal Space Agency
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Val is making a cross-wind pass over KSC to lengthen her descent so she can stay <100m/s w/60% throttle to keep alternator powering all sys
Kerbal Space Agency
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2.5km south of KSC on downwind leg getting configured for landing, flaps extended, now no problem keeping speed down. Cleared to land Rwy27
Kerbal Space Agency
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Val is taxiing in & this time did beat both her longest flight time & continuous distance bit.ly/KSARecords with 2h18m58s @ 802km
Kerbal Space Agency
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Val also beat the sunset, but not by much! She says she's glad she took the shades from Jeb, although she did it just for fun at the time
Kerbal Space Agency
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catch up on the events of this past week via bit.ly/OpsSummary10-1… - we will update it later with details of the Mk5 launch
