This near-miss event was made worse by a lack of precision in the data used to target its impact point. A lesson learned almost through disaster.
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
AXX-667(E) is the more hazardous of two Class-E asteroids found so far to be impacting next month - thankfully neither are anywhere near the kiloton range possible for this class of asteroid. May still cause some waves though
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
RST-650(B) kicks off March straight away, passing no closer than 3.75 Munar Distance. We are expecting a greater number of asteroids already this month at 24 with 3 impacts, one which could affect KSC
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
AXX-667(E) is in-system and thankfully new observations put it much further east, with land between us and the impact site to help deflect any large waves that may result from impact or atmospheric explosion
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
a crew returned to KSC to enact emergency flood prevention measures and Umbarg's port access tunnel has also prepped its surface doors for rapid closure if needed, as AXX-667(E) is expect to impact in just over 2 hours
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
reports coming in from a merchant vessel nearing Umbarg traveling from Sheltered Rock that a bright glow was visible over the southern horizon even in the dawn sky. Either another asteroid has hit or the original impact point was correct
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
Umbarg is closing its surface doors, advising the approaching ship to stay out in deep water. KSC is of course already evacuated so everyone is just hunkering down to see what will happen
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
while an increase in sea levels was recorded at the Umbarg doors, nothing catastrophic has come out of the event. Alert level is still high however against the chance that this was a dual-strike & second set of waves are still incoming from further away
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
Umbarg is officially standing down from large wave alert. Sea rise should not have been enough to inundate KSC but a team will check out the campus after second sunrise later today
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
KSC stayed high and dry, no damage reported to the coastline either. Asteroid Tracking Network is sure AXX-667(E) is what hit south of Umbarg, not another unknown asteroid, and is investigating why their updated impact position was off by 388km further east
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
the fight to resume surface operations continues, get additional information on that and more via bit.ly/OpSummary3-5-18 - a relaxing weekend is wished upon all
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
ATN has found the newer entry point for AXX-667(E) was calculated with data lacking the precision needed for accurate placement. Internal review will ensure all data sets are recorded with high-precision numbers & checked prior to use in calculations
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
find out more about the Ascension Mk1 designs released earlier this week via bit.ly/OpSummary3-12-… and tell us - are you doing anything sciencey this weekend?
