High-Altitude Science Survey 36

MSV Lymun is just getting underway for a ~4hr 183km trip out to the release site. With no direct water access from Ockr Bob was ferried to the shore by airship then boarded via the recovery boat

Bill reports comm systems at Ockr check out. Its radio tower sits at 4.7km allowing it to receive direct signals from up to 75.8km along the horizon - although the mountainous terrain surrounding the area shortens this distance considerably to the east & south

Bob reports that they are still working towards bit.ly/Site_1BP3, fighting against heavy seas. They don't expect good conditions when they get there but will hold station if possible to await better weather

no possibility of balloon release this day cycle but Bob reports they are holding station alright as long as seas do not worsen. Hopefully things will calm down by 3rd sunrise

MSV Lymun is already on the move to get back to bit.ly/Site_1BP3 after sailing 100km southwest yesterday to avoid rough seas. Waters are calmer, now they just have to hope for good sky conditions

Bob's location east of Ockr sees sunrise about an hour before we do, so he's already reported in that sky conditions are good but not optimal. They will wait and see what develops

Bob reports that cloud cover has been increasing all day, will stand down from release readiness until next sunrise. Seas are expected to remain within recovery limits

we have report of sky conditions continuing to deteriorate over bit.ly/Site_1BP3, Bob says they would have been better off releasing earlier today. They will continue to monitor though and still have all of tomorrow

Bob & crew did stand ready this past day cycle but had overcast skies the whole time. They have one more chance starting 2nd sunrise before they will be forced to release regardless of conditions after 3rd sunrise

we have word of balloon release, both are ascending & will be picked up by the Ockr radio tower just short of max altitude, if they make it that high - but chances are good as skies reported to be mostly clear

MSV Lymun is keeping pace with the balloons as best as possible, trying to stay equidistant as they drift apart, report slightly sub-nominal ascent speeds for both after passing through cloud height

we're still lacking telemetry & confirmed with Bill that no signals have yet been received from the balloons. Lymun reports they are still ascending however heading further east which could keep them below line of sight thanks to the mountains east of Ockr being almost as high

Lymun says both balloons came near max height but unfortunately neither got high enough or stayed close enough to be seen by Ockr. They drifted about 20km apart, recovery operations are now underway

Lymun has pulled both balloon payloads out of the water and is heading back towards shore for them and Bob to be picked up by an airship for transport back to Ockr, then back to KSC tomorrow. We will setup another opportunity for a full data relay test

Bob is back at Ockr with the payloads, here is a launch image from earlier today as both balloons begin their ascent off the rear deck. Recovery ship is berthed on the water ramp

we apologize again for failing to register our shortlink prior to publishing, causing a web bot to note the dead link & create one to a spam site :/ Horrible scammers out there. Catch up on this week's activities w/additional insight here: kerbalspace.agency/?p=6168