Progeny Mk6 Block I Flight 5 (Radiation Field Study 5)

final checkouts of the Progeny Mk6-I for next week have concluded without issue. Launch base can't use the pad with the nearly-complete Ascension service tower in the way of a northward launch so it is back out in the north field where we used to launch Mk2 rockets eastward

Sheltered Rock and Ockr comm substations report they are ready to receive and relay to us telemetry data. This will serve as a test for the upcoming Ascension Mk1 flight that will follow a similar trajectory

off the normal route, tomorrow's launch vehicle heads out past Launch Control, across the runway and out to the north field to be mounted to the launch base. There's no road on the turf, so it takes almost half an hour to cover the ~2km

🌅Sunrise/Sunset🌄
@ KSC (UTC-4)

5/29
#2🌅09:03:59 🌄12:30:40
#3🌅15:04:50 !?🚀?! 🌄18:31:31
#4🌅21:05:41

5/30
#1🌄00:32:22 🌅03:06:32
#2🌄06:33:13

ground crews are already at work troubleshooting the cable issues. The amount of power being delivered to the launch base is lower than expected, and data sent along the cables is not being read properly by computers at Launch Control

cabling issues have been resolved, Flight Director Lanalye confirms they have a good link to the rocket and Ops Director @dkerman_ksa has given the GO for things to get in motion for pre-launch ops to begin at 15:40 UTC, still targeting a lift off time of 19:50 UTC

[L-4h10m] the usual timeline of major events kicks off for today's launch ops. Weather this past day cycle was favorable, here's hoping it holds. Regional reports via airship & maritime vessels will give is a better idea of what conditions may be coming our way later today

[L-3h40m] Launch team briefing getting underway. Flight profile is unchanged because we want to fly a trajectory as close as possible to the one that launched 90° from this heading southward to see if the radiation readings match or deviate from that mission

[L-3h10m] we are GO for preflight operations, waking up the rocket to onload the final version of the flight code, which is identical to the previous flight except for the launch timecode change. bit.ly/AFCS_KSA

[L-2h55m] rocket is woke, power cables keeping it off batteries and data flow is clean. Systems are configured for fueling operations, FD Lanalye has given the GO for pad crew to begin hooking up the trucks and onloading 109kg of propellants to the third stage

[L-2h40m] fueling ops have wrapped, pad cleanup underway while further system checks that were on hold during fueling are conducted in Launch Control. Tank levels will be monitored to ensure no leaks in the system, power levels remain nominal

you'd have quite a ways to run if you want to try and disturb this launch (~1.5km), but no doubt everyone in the spectator areas have noticed the new security measures now in place. Let's have a safe launch today everyone!

[L-1h55m] issues board remains clear as preflight ops advance to booster engine and ignition system checks. Pad crew clearing to 300m safe distance. No bunker nearby for quick-response team means any sign of fire and the rocket will just have to be left to blow/burn up

launch craft from MSV Tongjess has arrived onshore to pickup the balloon team, which needs to release from the south while Tongjess heads north for range duties

[L-1h30m] MSV Tongjess has reported on station for the Range Safety Officer to begin assessing our launch corridor. Preflight operations have concluded with a healthy and primed rocket. No issues being worked

[L-1h20m] high-altitude balloon has been released, launch craft is only big enough for a single balloon so the crew is heading back to pick up another one in case we need to hold and require updated upper-atmosphere wind information

Tongjess has picked up a Civvie on radar approaching from Kravass but it was expected, the pilot filed the flight plan with us last week. She's contacted Tongjess and will be given regular vectors to stay clear of the ascent corridor. Happy viewings!

[L-45m] launch rehearsal is getting underway to ensure all systems are properly initialized and controllers are clear in their duties. Final runtime check of flight software will confirm rocket is ready to go

[L-30m] final countdown is GO! Rather strong surface winds out of the SE are of concern, weather kerbs expect gusts to develop after sunrise starts to heat things up but unsure as to how severe. They'll be keeping tabs on it

[L-15m] Tongjess reports range is clear, aircraft remains in contact and on assigned vector. RSO has the GO from FD Lanalye to arm the rocket and Flight Termination System. Pad is cleared and secured

[L-5m] Final readiness polls complete: Wx: GO; Range: GO; Flight: GO; Tracking: GO; Ops Director: Launch permission granted! 🚀 GO PROGENY 🚀 FTS transitioning to internal power, surface winds still a concern but remain within limits

[T-2m] rocket is moving to internal power and RF comms as hardlines are pulled and the AFCS takes control of the launch sequence from here on out during the terminal countdown phase. All systems remain nominal!

[T-1m] primary station status poll coming up at T-30s. If you haven't yet, tune into the Ops Tracker to see real time updates for planned staging events during ascent ops.kerbalspace.agency/?vessel=progen…

we have booster ignition and the rocket has cleared the launch base on its ascent to explore space far north of the equator! Initial boost phase will end at L+35s, pitch nominal and spin-up has begun to stabilize the rocket (Minmus is hiding in the clouds)

we're seeing a slightly shallower trajectory than planned but within acceptable range. Stage seps were clean, final boost phase underway. Momentary telemetry loss due to heating on ascent, but overall flight remains nominal

back in space, despite some deviations in the ascent apokee is just 2km lower than the third flight we are looking to mirror so pleased launch controllers all around. Launch site cleanup underway as we monitor the climb to 481km

both Sheltered Rock and Ockr have confirmed with us they have acquisition of telemetry signal. For the first time in a long time we will be able to follow the rocket all the way through to landing - no waiting to find out what happens!

just about to pass through apokee and so far radiation readings have remained at 0.01rad/hr, the normal exposure for space near Kerbin. Still a possibility of passing through a hazardous radiation region on the way down

under a minute from the atmosphere, rocket is already 369km downrange - this is a potential issue as it is almost 100km further than we anticipated and will bring it down over mountainous terrain around Sheltered Rock, which means less time to slow down before chute deploy

no rad/hr increase, atmospheric interface reached at L+18m50s, rocket is coming down over terrain as high as 1km which isn't as bad as we feared but still enough to worry about. Expecting loss of signal shortly as re-entry plasma blocks radio waves

we got word from the rocket the chute was deployed, however this occurred at 1.8km ASL, which unfortunately was around 350m AGL. It would appear that an oversight in altitude monitoring has cost us this rocket. Signal lost milliseconds later due to terrain (too soon for crash)

last known location of the rocket was passed to the airship on standby at Sheltered Rock, which will depart to the location ~50km to the north to see what remains. Rocket traveled a whopping 433km downrange!

in addition to telemetry analysis (docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d…), we'll be spending today assessing whether parts lost during yesterday's mission will affect next month's Block II launches as well as fixing the recovery routines in the AFCS to account for landing over high terrain

let's wrap up this week with bit.ly/OpSummary5-28-… - learn more about our new recruits and why female flight instructor Helta turned down our request to join the Agency