This flight was the second uncrewed test of the Mk1 space capsule with hopes for a possible kerbed mission to follow along a similar trajectory. After the LES mishap on the first test flight, this test flight was designed along a similar path to gather the original data we wanted without the premature LES activation affecting the parabolic arc. Additional considerations were made based on the last mission such as erecting a new communications relay tower to provide the greatest radio coverage – allowing the returning capsule to remain in contact with KSC all the way through to full chute deployment. This necessitated a different launch azimuth for a lower latitude landing target to remain in as direct a line east as possible with the radio tower.

The Flight

Launch was later in the day cycle than originally planned thanks to some poorly-connected cables in the capsule that shook loose when the service towers swung away at the start of the terminal countdown. They had been plugged in just enough to provide data, although during preflight controllers had noticed some intermittent dropouts. After holding the count and offloading the pressurized gas, the pad crew used an emergency procedure set in place for removing a disabled astronaut to access the capsule. The upper service arm was re-attached and crew clambered out to the rocket, hooked on to the Launch Escape Tower and swung around to the hatch. After fixing the cable and replacing the battery, which had powered the rocket too long during the initial troubleshoot after countdown hold to last the flight through space, the capsule was buttoned up and the countdown reset for launch.

Read the rest of this entry »